When Nie Zhen came back from the toilet, she couldn't find Li Han at their earlier place.
As she looked around, she noticed that some people were staring at her with eyes full of awe and admiration.
She was a bit puzzle.
After all the ruckus caused by her last year, the eyes of people when they looked at her were full of disgust and hatred.
After all, she was the alleged villainess who tried to separate the prince and the princess.
Now, disgust turned into awe and hatred turned into admiration.
This is weird... This is just so weird...
What happened in just one night?
Did they really couldn't recognize the her that was wearing a mask now?
Had they been woken up to her charms?
Did they finally realize how attractive she was?
Or was this the calm before the storm..?
She finally found Li Han at a secluded corner, undisturbed. There was only a guy at his surrounding. He was standing in front of him, as if guarding him.
She hesitated for a moment, before making her way towards him.
Luckily, no one disrupted her path. People even made way for her and cleared her path. Somehow, she had a feeling of the Red Sea being parted by Moses.
Although she heard some whispers here and there, no one bothered to approach her. It was a totally smooth journey.
"What's wrong?" That was the first question Li Han asked when she got close to him.
"I don't know. I just feel strange, somehow," she answered honestly.
As she remembered something, her face paled, "You don't supposed I'm being followed by Satan, right?" She shuddered at the thought.
"Probably. And that Satan is me," Li Han said nonchalantly.
"No way! You are such a pure and innocent guy!"
There was a violent cough in front of them after Nie Zhen said that.
Sensing their eyes on him, Tang Bolin instantly cleared his throat.
"I'm sorry," he apologized. There was a sense of dread as he noticed the glare from Li Han.
Sorry, boss... I couldn't help it...
But, you can't blame me... After all, you are the total opposite of pure and innocent! With which eyes this lady looked at you!?
Tang Bolin wanted to cry but lack the tears.
"So, what are you going to do next?" Li Han changed the subject.
Nie Zhen shrugged. "I'm not sure. Maybe just enjoy myself a bit. Anyway, I have to be home before twelve."
"Or else? Will your carriage turn back to pumpkin and the horses become mices?"
"..."
Nie Zhen was stunned for half a day. Who would have thought this seemingly indifferent man to ask something out of fairytale?
"... Well, actually, I live with my friend and she said she's gonna lock me out of the house if I got home late. She doesn't like to be disturbed when she's sleeping. After all, she appreciates her beauty sleep."
Then, she let out a hearty laugh. "What's with the pumpkin and all? Life needs to be realistic, alright."
Li Han only lowered his head and swirled his wine glass. There was a sense of melancholy emitted from his body. For a moment, Nie Zhen thought he looked so lonely.
The music changed. Some couples took the chance to dance at the centre of the hall. She could see Nie Weiqin and Chen Xu among the couple.
"Want to dance with me?"
A hand appeared in her line of sight. As she turned around to look at the owner, she saw Li Han offering his hand like a gentleman.
Her lips curled into a thin smile. As she put her hand on his, she said, "Sure, why not?"
Didn't she make the decision to enjoy herself tonight?
And so she did.
She danced, ate and laughed.
She thoroughly enjoyed the night.
And before the clock stroke twelve, she went home as mentioned earlier, leaving gossips and rumours at her heels.
***
He stood in front of the wash stand. As he peeled the mask off his face, he looked up to stare at the mirror. A deep set of dark eyes was staring back.
Memories of the past collided with the memories of this night.
"You have beautiful eyes! They are like the stars in the sky. Bright and sparkling!"
"Your eyes look like the sun!"
"Does that mean you want me to look at you from 93 million miles away?"
"Why are you being so realistic?" A laugh. "It means, I would recognize the shine in your eyes from 93 million miles away!"
"Life needs to be realistic, alright."
He closed his eyes so as to disperse the memories.
So different… yet so same…
Another flash of memory crossed his mind.
"I'm sorry… I can't be yours in this life. But, if there is ever the next life, I promise to be yours…"
It was the echo of a memory from another time, another place…
His closed eyes shot opened. There was a trace of agony and pain in his eyes. The rim of his eyes instantly turned red.
You said in the next life, you would be mine…
Next life, you said...
But, this life hadn't even ended and the next life seemed so far away…
How much longer do I need to wait..?
This waiting game was such an arduous task. It was pure torture. It was hell.
I might as well emerge as Satan...