Next thing Xue Ting knew, they were in a cramped store room, hiding away from the army of policemen.
She was panting but trying to hold in her heavy breath as he studied her petite self holding on to his tall lean body. He saw a face he missed for over sixteen years. A face he had hoped to appear out of the blue but was five years too late. She began to feel uncomfortable at the awkward silence as she tried to speak softly.
"I think... th... they had left… " She stuttered as she tried to control her nervousness by taking a deep breath when she noticed how close they were but he continued to study her silently.
She decided to move away but he stopped her instantly by just putting force on his fingers that she was leaning on her back with as he pulled her into his embrace instead. She could feel his genuine relief feelings crushing through her bones in his embrace. Even if her mind was trying to resist, her body was doing the exact opposite as she stood quietly in his embrace.
"It's been a long time." He whispered silently.
"Have you been well?" He kissed her forehead as she savored the moments briefly; noting somewhere deep inside her was missing him too.
How could she not, after all, they had been through while growing up together? The memories, whether good or bad had been haunting her mind often.
"I've been looking for you." He finally let her off his hug as he stared into her pretty double-eyelid eyes.
She was finally hearing the words she had been fantasising about as she let herself indulge in those moments as though it was a dream she didn't want to wake up from.
Despite giving in to her inner feelings, reality forced her to grasp her ground of reality. She was agitated with the flashes of the past in her mind as she pushed him away and tried to open the door. With his quick reflex, he tightened his grip on her arms to stop her in time as he shook his head. At the same time, they heard footsteps which widened her eyes.
He gave her a stern look and shook his head again with her standing still in his embrace. She understood the signal as she waited for the sound of the footsteps to fade.
"Why were you chased? What's going on?" Xue Ting whispered when the hasty footsteps were softer.
"It's part of my mother's agenda. My mother is forcing me to marry again. I'm dodging it." He hastily explained while checking the small opening of the door to see if anyone was outside.
Xue Ting was confused. Sixteen years ago, that night, the last they ever saw each other leaving her feeling betrayed was the night she learned he was betrothed since young to a real estate tycoon family's daughter.
"Aren't you betrothed long ago? Shouldn't you have been married?" Xue Ting asked in confusion.
"What are you talking about? Betrothed? Nonsense. That's just my delusional mum's idea…" Before he could say more, he saw another batch of policemen.
He quickly shut the door quietly, trying to count his blessings. He was toying with the idea of using her as a fake wife identity which he initially left as the last resort. However, given the circumstances, he desperately hoped she would compromise.
"Ting Ting… I really need your help. I'm sorry but please say yes. Please…." He was anxious as he worried that his anxiety would overwhelm him at such crucial moments while he begged.
Xue Ting had seen the desperation in his eyes before; the same look she saw sixteen years ago and knew he was desperately needing help again. She was wondering about the possibilities of the urgency this time but the growing hasty footsteps were getting louder.
She knew the policemen were hot on their wheels but she couldn't decide quick enough that before she realised it, he pulled her out of the room and dashed in the opposite direction of the policemen.
He was rather breathless from the rush as he tried to make a dash into the ballroom but he slowed down instead. He stopped the policemen in front of him while both sides were trying to catch their breath. He signaled to the policemen that he was entering the ballroom.
He was first forced by his grandma to return back to Wai Tao which he had no way to reject due to his grandfather's failing health. Then, he was made to take responsibility to save Xavier and his career dreams.
Little did he know his mother would be using absurd ways with her actions. Despite trying his best to avoid meeting her around the house, he still couldn't avoid being taken advantage of during his inauguration ceremony. By all means, she even involved the policemen to capture him on the charge of trying to steal her inheritance. She charged him with a lawyer's letter to resume his position as the director of Xavier's jewelry branch in Cravine and marry the tycoon's daughter, Francesca by all means only then can he be let off the charges.
He had always despised Francesca from young and lamented the depth of mistakes he had made in his past life to be born as his mother's son at present.
The sight of seeing Xue Ting again had reignited his old hope of standing strong to fight against his mother at all odds for it was because of her that he put himself in this mess. Tonight as though the heavens were on his side, he chanced on meeting her and decided to never part ways again with her.
With that, he smirked at the idea of his plans to escape from his mother's scheming ways as he grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the hall.
"Ryan! Let go of me!" Xue Ting angrily called his English name while he stopped midway slowly still catching his breath. She was trying hard to avoid the danger of the situation which she had a bad feeling about as she struggled to loosen herself from his grip.
Qiu Wen knew she wouldn't go down without a fight. As he was done collecting his thoughts, he who was stronger than her with his height and built, instantly scooped her petite body up and barged into the ballroom.
"Qiu Wen!" She shrieked at his sudden actions which took her by surprise. She absentmindedly blurted out his Chinese name to catch his attention and she did.
As they stared into each other's eyes, she wondered if his English name was so irritating for him to hear her address him by it that she might have managed to agitate him and things could go out of control.
His Chinese name meant the warmth of fall. He used to didn't mind when others addressed him by it but sixteen years ago, after that night together with her, every time he heard his Chinese name, it was as though he was skinned alive.
Qiu Wen's heart skipped a beat at her calling out his Chinese name which he hadn't heard for a long time as the flames of agitation from minding her addressing him by his English went into ashes.
As the couple was caught in their lingering feelings for each other, none of them noticed that the crowd was staring at them, in front of the ballroom. It took everyone by surprise, especially Mrs. Tang who was exploding with anger inside her, watching her son's rebelling actions. She was struggling to remain collected to not embarrass herself any further.
It brought a wide smile to Qiu Wen's face as he watched Xue Ting's eyes twinkle in embarrassment from the long stares while being in his arms when they both realised the crowd in front of them. She didn't like the smile he flashed her as he walked a little more and stopped in the middle of the ballroom filled with fake dressy rich guests with judging stares. He put her down while helping her adjust the helm of her dress as he walked her hand in hand up the stage thereafter.
"Ting Ting, please save me." He whispered along the way. "Just follow my lead."
She as though was in a trance, couldn't get enough clarity in her mind while being nervous, gullibly nodded and trailed behind him. He grabbed two glasses of champagne on the way and passed one to her as he helped her up the stage.
Qiu Wen nervously cleared his throat as Qiu Yeh watched excitedly for a great show to unveil.
"Good evening everyone. Thank you for being here tonight." He gripped Xue Ting's hand tighter; trying to ease her nervous self and a little for himself.
"To cut the story short, as you can see, my mother has invited all of you to my inauguration ceremony and also my engagement party. Even the policemen were at work. Good job catching up with me boys!" He threw a toast up in the air as whispers of confusion were filling up the ballroom.
In the midst of her messed up consciousness, Xue Ting could identify a bewildered Mrs. Tang easily. She gave them both a fierce snarl from afar.
"I am here to announce I am married." Qiu Wen said as loud gasps of surprise were heard from the crowd. Mrs. Tang's eyes widened to the extent that she couldn't stand straight as she fumbled to hold on tight to the tall table side as Lily was trying to support her by her side.
Xue Ting couldn't believe her ears. Her eyes twinkled in awe watching the man she had loved all these years and was also trying to seek revenge from, professing his love and proposal on stage. Those words were always comforting to her during tough times. She knew it was never going to happen in this lifetime but it finally did.
"This is Sicily Liew Xue Ting, my wife. Or should I say Mrs. Tang Xue Ting." He couldn't help but let a wide smile escape his lips proudly as he winked in Qiu Yeh's direction who did a little toss gesture with his champagne glass.
Qiu Wen took a quick glance at the dumbfounded Xue Ting before kissing her in front of everyone.
"You're doing well. Keep it up with me." He whispered to her before he spoke again on the mic.
Xue Ting was wondering if she was in a dream as she pinched her left arm and it hurts that tears welled in her eyes.