Chapter Twenty-four

At a work banquet organised by Li Wei Ran and Qin Song, the guests included all of Liang’s company’s clients, the families of Liang’s company’s major stakeholders and the media representatives were also invited.

When it was time for the surprise event Chen Yu Bai setup for Xiao Li, he took a deep breath, stood and rubbed her head. ‘I need to go somewhere for a while. Be good and stay here, don’t move from this seat.’

Xiao Li nodded her head, but Chen Yu Bai was still worried she wouldn’t sit still. He glanced at their surroundings then he stepped closer to Xiao Li and he whispered in her ear. ‘You can’t move from this seat, otherwise later I’ll punish you according to three meals plus afternoon tea and midnight snack.’

Xiao Li’s eyes widened and she quickly nodded her head. After Chen Yu Bai was rea.s.sured she’d stay in her seat, he stepped toward the stage.

The stage curtains were slowly pulled up, the banquet hall lights were all turned off including the crystal chandeliers above the dining tables so everywhere inside the banquet hall was dark.

A spotlight appeared in the middle of the stage, the band was nowhere to be seen but one black piano was left on the stage.

In front of the black piano on the stage was a handsome man. From An Xiao Li’s seat she saw he blinked frantically, the handsome man was someone dear to her.

Qin Sang lifted up her dress hem and ran in the dark toward An Xiao Li’s seat. Qin Sang abandoned public protocols and knelt down beside An Xiao Li then Qin Sang pinched An Xiao Li’s thigh hard and Qin Sang spoke in a soft voice. ‘The paparazzi are taking photos! Close your mouth and swallow your saliva.’

An Xiao Li in her dream state looked at her surroundings and she saw all the camera lens were focused on her.

An Xiao Li felt that night was going to be the most romantic moment of her life so she quickly closed her mouth and lowered her head shyly.

Unfortunately for An Xiao Li, later when Chen Yu Bai flipped through their photo alb.u.m, in one of the photos he saw her indifference expression and posture during the once in a lifetime surprise event he performed in public for her. He was angry enough to carry out his threat and punished her for three meals plus afternoon tea and midnight snack.

But in the most romantic moment of An Xiao Li’s life, her attention was solely focused on the handsome man in front of the black piano. He slowly extended his right hand and placed his beautiful long fingers on the piano and she felt the scene in front of her eyes was as beautiful as a dream. He performed a well-known piano song – ‘For Elise.’

Perhaps because Chen Yu Bai performed the piano song with only his right hand so the song didn’t sound as smooth. But An Xiao Li felt each sound was clear and harmonised with the rare gentleness on his face. The rest of the audience like An Xiao Li also felt the pure sincerity slowly drawn from Chen Yu Bai as he played each music note.

The screen on the stage was turned on. The screen displayed a maple leaf background and handwritten words that were recognisable to An Xiao Li, everyone at Liang’s company and Liang’s company’s clients. The handwriting was the same distinguished, sharp dragon and phoenix dance flowing handwriting that were evident on numerous contracts, it was written by – Chen Yu Bai.

Chen Yu Bai’s handwritten words on the screen gave off a lively aura and the words combined deeply moved An Xiao Li and everyone else in the audience.

I love you,

Not only for what you are

But for what I am when I am with you.

I love you,

Not only for what you have made of yourself,

But for what you are making of me.

I love you,

For the part of me that you bring out.

In the midst of the silence, Chen Yu Bai looked below the stage. He didn’t see anything or anyone except for his Elise who sat speechless on the same seat he asked her to sit on.

An Xiao Li’s eyes reciprocated the intensity in Chen Yu Bai’s eyes. She held in her breath and she felt her heart thumped and bloomed. In her eyes she saw a pure spotlight on her prince who shed his steely armour for her.

Chen Yu Bai never expected there was a dummy like Xiao Li who entered his life, capable of evoking the pure belief that was vulnerable as a maple leaf and buried deep in his heart. He never thought someone as strong as him could be gentle and he felt being with Xiao Li the chaotic world around him transformed into a beautiful world.

The intense look Chen Yu Bai and An Xiao Li exchanged in that moment was a silent vow. They vowed to be together with each other until death. Even after death they vowed to find each other and they’d hold hands to be together forever.

In that moment Chen Yu Bai also felt he was a dummy like Xiao Li. He saw Xiao Li was scared of embarra.s.sing him in public, because she tried to hide her face from the camera lens. But Xiao Li couldn’t hide the tears that flowed down her cheeks from him.

The usual indifferent Qin Sang who stood behind Miss dummy was also moved to tears.

After the banquet and Chen Yu Bai’s moving public declaration, Chen Yu Bai and An Xiao Li took a spa bath together at Chen Yu Bai’s house. Because both their moods were restless they were unusually quiet. In the spa she rested her back on his warm chest and she felt a strange warm sensation in her heart.

‘Chen Yu Bai,’ An Xiao Li called.

‘Um,’ Chen Yu Bai said but kept his eyes closed.

‘You could have just told me, you didn’t need to tell everyone like you did tonight,’ An Xiao Li said.

An Xiao Li avoided Chen Yu Bai’s wandering hands. She turned her body around and laid on top of his body with her head rested on his shoulder.

Chen Yu Bai still kept his eyes closed.

‘I know you’re shy,’ An Xiao Li said softly in Chen Yu Bai’s ear. She was lazy and laid motionless on his body. ‘In the past if I asked you to tell me how you felt toward me, you just threw me on the bed. It made me think you didn’t love me, but it was just you being shy.’ Her face glowed. ‘It’s like when I’m taking an exam, I need a supervisor at the exam venue to force myself to quickly finish my exam. Chen Yu Bai, you’re always shy!’

Finally Chen Yu Bai couldn’t control his feelings anymore and his face turned bright red. He didn’t say anything and kissed Xiao Li’s lips.

After a long time Chen Yu Bai and An Xiao Li stopped moving in the spa. She rested her limp body on his body. ‘Chen Yu Bai…’ He didn’t respond so she fiddled with his fingers. ‘Have I told you how I feel toward you before… I think, perhaps… I’m certain… I love you too…’ Her soft voice gradually faded and her body slid down his body. His body froze and his heart was deeply moved by her confession. He pulled her body up but he didn’t say anything because she was sound asleep.

Chen Yu Bai carried Xiao Li into his bedroom. He heard her call his name nonstop that whole night, whilst he was immersed in a strange state of bliss and sweet torment. He kept his head lowered and watched her sleep peacefully. A long time later the cool summer wind blew through the opened windows and fluttered the curtains, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and realised what was happening to him.

What Chen Yu Bai felt was the desire to lovingly dote on Xiao Li. It was the kind of desire to dote that a man felt after loving a woman. He wanted to treat Xiao Li good forever.

Chen Yu Bai felt at peace and his lips were smiling in the dark night. He wiped off the drool on Xiao Li’s face that was resting on his chest. He kissed Xiao Li’s nose, drowsiness took over and he slept together with Xiao Li in the beautiful world.

End of Chapter Twenty-four