Aoi Xiu was staring at her daughter over breakfast. Midori was trying to appear oblivious of the looks her parents gave her.
"Why don't you ask Dan to come over and have breakfast with us?"
Xiu Jin suppressed his laughter to drink his coffee.
"Uhm...he must be in the middle of preparations. Let's not bother him." Midori was cutting some dragonfruit.
"It's too early to prepare. The wedding will be in the late afternoon...unless, he's sleeping in?" Aoi gave her daughter a meaningful look.
"I...I'll go ask him then." Midori placed the fruits on the table and hurriedly went out to walk next door.
She also knows his passcode, but afraid that her parents may be secretly watching, she decided against it and pressed the doorbell.
It took her 5 tries, a minute interval in between, before Dan finally opened the door.
"What took you so long?" her irritation was apparent in her voice.
Dan was wearing a towel wrapped around his waist to cover the area down from its attachment. His hair was still dripping wet and water drops on his shoulders and torso as he was moving.
Midori gulped, blushed, and looked down.
"Why are you still so shy?" Dan chuckled.
She glared at him while pouting. "My parents want you to go over for breakfast."
"Okay. I will just wear something." he emphasized the last two words. Then he leaned in to peck on her nose before closing the door to her face.
She was stomping back to her apartment and her mom was grinning.
"So, what did he say?" Xiu Jin was into it with his wife.
"He had just finished his shower and will put on clothes first." Midori was gritting her teeth in irritation. The nerve of slamming the door on her face!
"So you walked into him showering and saw him naked?" Aoi Xiu could not help herself from grinning even more.
"What? No!" Realizing her vague words, she clarified in a panic. "He...he opened the door with wet hair...he...he said he will just put on clothes!"
"Still, no clothes." Aoi was gobbling up the fruits.
"What? Argh! You don't get it!" She pulled her hair and went to her room slamming the door shut.
"Of course we do." Xiu Jin exchanged knowing looks with his wife.
_______
That afternoon, Vanessa's wedding went on without a glitch. The celebration party proceeded to a hotel's grand ballroom.
Drapes complemented the ceiling's chandelier. Each table was covered by satin linen, with lilac table runners. In the center was a towering vase filled with calla lilies and twigs holding strings of crystals. The arch of white, red, and pink roses was stunningly located at the entrance for the entourage to pass through.
Congratulations were resounding for the newlyweds. Midori's family went up to the bride and groom to extend their best wishes.
Vanessa suddenly embraced Midori. "Midori! It's been long!"
The bride was wearing a v-neck beaded lace A-line gown with tulle skirt. Her hair was cut in a bob, adorned with crystals with a side clip. Her face looked radiant, with mauve eyeshadow blended beautifully to complement her hazel eyes, with light blush and soft pink lips.
She smiled brightly towards Midori and her parents. "Glad you could make it!"
After the formalities, the party went on to open the dance floor.
Guests started to dance. Midori's parents went to dance as well.
Watching their loving gazes towards each other was a pair of dark eyes glaring, while clutching a glass of cocktail.
Dan was dancing with Midori. He looked at her lovingly.
She was wearing a lavender silk qipao with hand-painted flowers on the skirt. She was wearing light makeup, and her hair was neatly tied in a low bun. He, on the other hand, was wearing a dust blue suit covering a light gray inner shirt, with a lavender bowtie, matched with gray oxfords.
"Hey, do you like weddings?" he suddenly asked.
Midori looked around. "Hmm..." she nodded. "...but not like this." She smiled shyly.
"I'd also like weddings...as long as mine would be with you." The sincerity in his eyes trapped hers to stare back.
Aoi Xiu went to the bar after dancing to get some cocktail. As she was waiting for her drink, a woman wearing a flaming red qipao with gold embroidery walked towards her.
"Su Linyu." Aoi Xiu was respectful, but she will not let her guard down.
"Madam Xiu. Thank you for gracing my daughter's wedding with your presence." Su Linyu was arrogantly smiling.
"I hope you will do the same and not interfere with my daughter's in the future." Her meaningful words sounded like a warning.
"I believe it is not in my family that betrayal is rampant."
"I can't force you to let go of the past, but I will not let anyone hurt my daughter." With that, Aoi Xiu lifted her glass and walked away.
_________
The following day, Dan and Midori went to bring her parents to the airport. As they were bidding goodbye, Xiu Jin brought out a platinum card.
"Hime*, sorry we cannot come back for your birthday. Please spend as much as you like. We will celebrate once we get time off, okay? You also have to focus on your schoolwork."
"Hai, otousan. Don't worry about it. I'll do my best!" Midori managed to flash her bright smile.
Aoi Xiu embraced her daughter. "Always be vigilant. I'm a call away, okay!"
"Thanks, mom. Have a safe trip!"
They waved her parents goodbye and they rode back to their place.
Midori's birthday is in five days. Dan was planning to give her a surprise, but tried to conceal it by laying out obvious plans.
"Let's grab dinner somewhere nice after this week's classes are over." He flashed his smile.
Midori thought that it was some fancy birthday dinner. "Okay." she replied nonchalantly.
____________
Meanwhile, back in City S.
"Shao, did you book our tickets?" Mei was sitting on a sofa with a bowl of chips between her thighs. She looked at her fiancé who had just arrived.
Lu Shaoting loosened his tie and hanged his coat. "I did. Did you buy a gift for her?"
"Of course I did! It is much cuter than the jasmine-scented cream souvenir she got for me from City H." She looked proud but happy as she giggled.
"Are you sure it's a good idea to intrude? What if they were 'celebrating' when we arrive?" Lu Shaoting patted her head gently as he put some chips in his mouth while he sat beside his fiancée.