Midori ranked first in the final examinations. Dan had always beaten her until then, but even if his grades were still better, the ranking system would not honor him as top of the class come graduation.
Midori was being strangled--or is it hugged?--by Mei Ling after the program has ended. It was their graduation day.
"I can't believe you are leaving me here all alone!" Mei was pouting and sobbing.
Midori chuckled. "What are you saying? You will be entering a film and movie institute with your fiancé." She glanced at the approaching Lu Shaoting.
"I don't want him! I want you! Waaahh!" Mei made her actions exaggerated purposely.
Shaoting's brow twitched in annoyance. "What do you mean you don't want me?" He touched up his glasses, then he grabbed Mei by the shoulder and took her in his arms. "Don't you realize how embarrassing your actions are?"
"Midoriii! The big bad wolf will eat me!" She wailed while waving her arms at the chuckling Midori.
"You guys take care of each other, okay?" she said smiling.
"And you take care of him." Shaoting replied.
After taking photos for some time, Midori was again with her family.
Dan approached them, accompanied by a couple.
"Mr. Xiu, Aunty Aoi." He bowed.
"Hello, Dan." Aoi Xiu glanced at his companions. "Where are your parents?"
Dan smiled back politely with a hint of bitterness. "This is my sister, Vanessa, and her fiancé, Lin Shao Liang." He gestured in introduction.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for taking care of my little brother." They shook hands.
"I believe it is he who took good care of our Midori." Aoi Xiu replied.
"Oh! Do you mind joining us for dinner?" Xiu Jin invited enthusiastically.
They all went to the dinner reservation in a hotel branch owned by XCG.
"So, I get that these two would enter the same business school?" Xiu Jin chuckled.
"Yes. Our family has arranged their accommodation. Also, I will be in the area as I will be staying in City B to take care of business." Vanessa replied.
Finishing dinner, they bid goodbye to each other's family. Vanessa did not forget to extend her invitation for her wedding in City B. This way, they could all go and check the place they have arranged for Midori and Dan.
_________
In a month's time, the two flew to City B to get their belongings settled in and to come to school for their admission.
Dan was first to be done with his interview. He sat on a bench with his earphones on, peacefully listening to some pop music while waiting for Midori.
He closed his eyes and was about to doze off when he felt a cold and moist sensation of his cheek. It made his eyes suddenly open, awakening all his senses. He heard a small giggle.
He looked up and was shocked to see the weird girl he first met at the vending machine. He took out his earphones.
She flashed him a bright smile. "You like this, don't you?" She was holding up a bottle of green tea latté.
Dan was a bit confused. Midori liked this drink, not him.
Seeing his furrowed brows, she asked, "But isn't this the one you're buying last time?"
"Oh, that..." he remembered that he was buying Midori's drink first when this girl interrupted his purchase.
"Ah, so shameful..." she showed a pitiful face, slightly blushing from being embarrassed.
Dan felt bad for her and took the drink from her hand. "That's okay. Thank you. So, you also enrolled here?"
"Ah, yes! I will need it to help in my father's company."
Truth be told, she begged her parents to send her abroad to study. Though they have their own publishing company, it was an inheretance from her grandparents and her father was barely keeping it afloat from the time they left it in his hands.
"Ming Rushi." suddenly, a voice rang to their ears.
"Miss Xiu." The girl gave Midori a meaningful look. "Long time no see."
"I didn't expect to see you here." Midori had her poker face on, but her eyes had the intent to kill. This was the girl in the pictures! And here she is, handing Dan a drink!
Dan was still absorbing the information. Even though he met this girl a few times before, he never got to introduce himself or get her name. So it was Ming Rushi...and it seems like Midori is familiar with her.
As he did not sense the hostility between the ladies, he nonchalantly remarked, "So it was Ming Rushi? Finally got your name. I am Verdan Zhou." He held out his hand to shake.
'Finally?' Midori's mind was raging, but only the hint of her brow moving medially showed her emotions.
Rushi timidly shook his hand, glancing at the irritated Midori. "Uhm...I have to go now. Nice meeting you again!" She smiled so sweetly, more on Dan, and squint her eyes for half a second towards Midori as she was turning to leave.
Dan turned to his girl. "Where do you want to eat?" He flashed his smile like nothing happened, which made Midori even more irritated as she looked at the bottle he was holding.
"Oh, you like this, don't you?" He offered her the drink.
She glared at him. "I'm not drinking something not intended for me." With that, she stomped her foot and began walking away, as he tried to catch up.