When Mo Hua saw him walking out of the locker room, she felt very excited. She was happy as if she had won the contest and not Yan Xuan. She knew how proud it feels to win so she was naturally happy to see Yan Xuan ascending the podium.
Yan Xuan stood in the centre of the podium. He had a smiled pasted on his face but his eyes were worriedly searching for Mo Hua in the audience stand. He was scared that it might be a coincidence that she smiled and again she left without noticing him.
Just the thought of Mo Hua not interested in him made him uncomfortable. He started scanning the crowd eager and was trying to remember the exact location he had seen Mo Hua before the contest.
Just as he was about to give up searching for her, he spotted familiar beautiful face which is deeply rooted in his heart. His gloomy eyes immediately lit up. He gave a slight smile looking at Mo Hua.
Mo Hua was observing his expression. His eyes were searching for someone in crowd.
Just as she was thinking of the possibilities whom Yan Xuan might be searching, she saw him looking at her with tenderness. She was ready to avert her gaze shyly, she saw him giving her a slight smile.
A warm fuzzy feeling started spreading in her heart and her heart started jumping with excitement.
She locked her eyes on his face and without her consent, smile crept on her face.
Looking at her gentle yet alluring face, Yan Xuan wanted to just run towards her and hold her in his arms. He wanted to let the world know she belonged to him. But he knew he should show patience in such sensitive situation.
Their eye contact broke when Ling Chu's voice started echoing again in Pool arena. "I would like to ask our high bidder to congratulate today's winner Yan Xuan and felicitate him with trophy."
Just when Mr. Deng took one step ahead towards Yan Xuan, Deng Tia grabbed her Father's hand without letting others notice and whispered in very low voice which can be heard only by her father" Let me do it."
She was smiling graciously. Her smile was so affectionate that would instantly melt everyone's heart.
Mr. Deng nodded his head in approval. Tia Deng reached beside Yan Xuan and lifted her hand up to congratulate Yan Xuan.
With a small fake smile on his face, he accepted her handshake and said, "Thanks".
Later Ling Chu brought the trophy and placed in Deng Tia's hand.
Gasps passed from the onlookers' mouth by just looking at the trophy.
It was very unique trophy made from Black Tourmaline stone beautifully carved with some figures. One side there was a figure of swimmer diving in water and other side was a figure of person sitting in wheelchair looking at the setting sun in front of deep sea.
Deng Tia gave a fondly smile to Yan Xuan which he completely ignored. His eyes were glued to Mo Hua who was dying there in spectator stand with shyness.
XiXi who was sitting next to Mo Hua had noticed all the eye conversation her friend was having with Aqua King and decided not to interrupt them. She was going to tease her friend along with Li Mei and Xi Mian together.
Deng Tia pushed her hands forwards holding the trophy presenting Yan Xuan as a token of his today's win. Only then Yan Xuan broke the eye contact he was having with Mo Hua since he stood on the podium.
He received the trophy proudly and felt immense satisfaction when his long slender fingers were tracing the outline of the figures carved beautifully on the trophy.
Mo Hua felt tears of happiness brimming in her eyes when she saw how proud and satisfied Yan Xuan felt while receiving his award. She felt unknown connection towards Yan Xuan which was getting stronger with every moment their eyes met.
She smiled and whispered to herself, "Congratulations Yan Xuan."
He was not paying attention to his surrounding and his gaze was completely focused on the trophy placed in his hand.
Suddenly he felt something warm approaching towards his cheek but it was already very late and Den Tia had already left a peck on his cheek while whispering intimately in his ear, "Congratulations Xuan."
He was utterly shock by what just happened. His mind went so blank for a moment that he even forgot to breath. His feet wobbled the moment he thought what would Mo Hua think.
He raised his head and glanced at the direction where she was sitting but did not found her. He understood what might have happened and his heart was filled with rage towards Deng Tia.
Jerking Deng Tia's hand violently which was placed on his arm, he bowed towards the crowd and rest of the members present on the podium and rushed towards the locker room.
Just as she was feeling positive towards her connection with Yan Xuan, she saw Deng Tia leaving a peck on his right cheek. She was startled by the sudden closeness of the two of them.
'How... How can this be possible?'
'No No... this can't be true'
Mo Hua was lost in her thought and felt heart wrenching pain.
" Thud!!" She was holding her cell phone which fell on the ground making a loud noise. It broke her train of thoughts.
Just when she bent down to pic her cell phone, she heard people gossiping,
" Oooooh... Look at that... Is Deng Tia claiming Yan Xuan?"
"Looks like Yan Xuan is off market now..."
"Of course, who can be more suitable to Aqua King that the Beauty Goddess."
Feeling unbearable she quickly picked up her phone from ground and bolted towards door.
"MoMo.. Wait MoMo", XiXi tried to catch up with Mo Hua.
"MoMo please don't feel sad. It might not be what it looks like.", XiXi tried to pacify her friend.
Mo Hua was walking very fast with XiXi running behind her.
Mo Hua was in deep thought. 'Why should it matter to me?'
'It's not like we are together. We don't even know each other. Why should I react this way?'
Calming her mind, she slowed down letting XiXi to catch up. XiXi was relieved to see her friend's mood was bit calmer than before now.
Mo Hua wrapped her fingers around XiXi's arm and said, "Don't worry XiXi, I felt bad initially but then I realized who am I to him? And who is he to me? We can't just rely on assumptions that he might like me. So, let him choose whatever he like. I am not going to be sad or jealous anymore."
She gave XiXi a half-hearten smile which was clearly noticed by XiXi but she decided to not bring up that topic anymore and upset Mo Hua.
Together they started walking steadily towards their dorm. Mo Hua heart was filled with complex thoughts.