"I haven't seen this side of Tang ever, aunty. I wasn't even aware that he had such an amazing voice or that he ever wanted to be a singer", whined Mei Zhen to Mrs. Xie.
Mrs. Xie soothed her, "well, he was a completely different person while growing up and seeing these friends have probably brought that side out. As for the aspiration to be a singer, I think he himself must have forgotten it after all these years".
Mei Zhen gave a tight smile but she was seething inside. The limelight had shifted away completely from her engagement to Xie Tang's reunion with his hangers-on. As an only child of her parents and then as a successful entrepreneur, she was used to being the centre of universe in all situations.
"I know the likes of these people. Maybe they had been close to Tang while growing up but today's scenario is completely different. None of them would even show up as a spec of lint on his horizon", she thought furiously.
But they were projecting themselves to be extremely close to him. She assumed that at least one of them would try and take advantage of today's display of proximity to advance his or her own personal interest.
"If they had been so important to him, surely he would have mentioned them to me during this entire period of courtship. Especially about that green-eyed girl, who is clinging to him like a leech!! I have to keep Tang away from these three", swore Mei Zhen.
"You want to sing, 'It must have been love?' Why? I can suggest more appropriate, umm… I mean more recent songs than that", whispered Jia Li.
"I feel like singing that song. If you don't like it, I am going to go back to my exciting chore of greeting the guests. You have 10 seconds to decide", Tang hissed back.
"Don't you think you are acting a bit too bossy today? I was just trying to help you…", she tried to argue.
Tang didn't say anything but took a step away from the mike only to hear Jia Li announce, "and we are happy to present one of the group's favourite songs – It must have been love by Roxette".
With a smile, Tang took his place next to the microphone.
Lay a whisper on my pillow
Leave the winter on the ground
I wake up lonely, there's air of silence
In the bedroom and all around
Touch me now, I close my eyes and dream away
It must have been love but it's over now
It must have been good but I lost it somehow
It must have been love but it's over now
From the moment we touched 'til the time had run out
Make-believing we're together
That I'm sheltered by your heart
But in and outside I've turned to water
Like a teardrop in your palm
And it's a hard winter's day, I dream away
It must have been love but it's over now
It was all that I wanted, now I'm living without
It must…
Tang took a bow and got off the podium amongst shouts of 'once more' and 'encore'. Jia Li tried to take deep breaths surreptitiously and calm her galloping traitor heart. The song had been pure torture for her but thankfully Tang had looked totally at ease and it had helped her stay in control. His sexy voice and the proximity had caused more havoc on her senses than she could have imagined.
"I guess we should have taken our band a bit seriously back then", joked Chung looking at the positive reaction from the crowd.
"I don't think half of them even understand music and are following the crowd. And the rest are simply trying to be nice to the wealthy and influential hosts. It has nothing to do with us or our talents", remarked Li Jie dryly.