When they left the shopping center, it started raining again unannounced."Bianca, now we have no choice but to take you to the campus, on Saturdays the taxis are overworked because then people usually go out late into the city."
Bianca thought she had a choice though.
"Across the street are the lights of a hotel, I can spend the night in the hotel tonight, and you can go back to your home where you live."
Actually, Bianca was too tired from wandering around the shops of the mall today, that mall has over 1000 shops, a big movie theater, plus restaurants and amusement parks, so she had to walk a lot in thin high heels. She opted for high heels because they looked at her strangely when she was shopping in shopping malls in casual sports clothes and white canvas tennis shoes.She must have gotten a lot of blisters on her toes today, she needs to buy band-aids because she didn't have any more in her room on campus, she put on the last one this morning so that her shoes wouldn't blister behind her heels.
Dr. Ling looked at her helplessly and shrugged.
"Alright, if that's what you've decided young lady, do you know what kind of hotel it is and what kind of reputation it has?"
"I don't want the faculty director to call me tomorrow saying that I didn't take enough care of you, currently his student."Bianca was tired so she tripped again with her high heel on the iron grate into the streets, to make matters worse the tip of the heel got stuck in the grate on the sidewalk.
Clumping on one leg, she tried to pull her heel out of the grate, but at that moment she collapsed on the pavement.
That made Dr. Ling laugh, and he put her on his back.
"Now don't say I didn't warn you that it's dangerous to be around at this hour for a nice girl on the sidewalk.If you want, I'll take you to a better hotel.""Which must be your property," Bianca pouted.
Doctor Ling laughed again because this girl was unlike any woman before to openly oppose him.While he was carrying her on his back like that, he noticed traces of blood on his hands while he was fixing his glasses so they wouldn't fall off his face, which often happened to him."Bianca you're bleeding, let me take a look at your leg!"
There was a shop nearby with a wooden bench to sit on, so he set her down on the bench and he crouched down in front of her to look at her leg.
"Does your leg hurt and where exactly?", he asks and hesitates to touch it himself so that Bianca wouldn't get angry.Bianca realized earlier where the pain was coming from.It was one of the blisters she got today.Slowly touched her leg around the toes and noticed where the blister had broken.
"It hurts here, I wasn't hurt when I fell, it's just a bleeding blister."
"I have a first aid kit in the car, we'll put plasters on the blister."
However, they found that the plasters in the first aid box are too small, "so let's go to my place, I don't have a pharmacy, but I have a larger selection of plasters for your blister wounds."
Bianca was surprised by his tenderness, after all it was just a blister."Bianca, I read your mind.Even a simple blister can hurt for days, if it doesn't heal for months you have to have surgery, you'd think I didn't have blisters from walking.If we walk in bad shoes, the calluses harden and hurt with every touch.""There's really no point resisting him "thought Bianca, "after all he's my new project sponsor."
During the drive, Dr. Ling turned on the TV news in the car, an old habit because every half hour a TV station broadcasts the latest news from the world of business in Shanghai."Dr. Ling was caught in town with a girlfriend lover who might be his daughter by age difference between them" announced the gossip announcer, at which point pictures of Bianca and the banker exiting the mall appeared.
The banker could not believe how much the paparazzi was able to invent and fake a scandal.
Doctor Ling didn't like someone making a clown out of him in the media, he was insulted by paparazzo journalists many times, but this time they went too far.
"Are you hungry, I haven't had dinner, and you must be too?"
At that moment, Bianca's stomach started cramping.
"It's from media pressure, Bianca don't worry we both know the truth."
Passing through the city, they came across a pharmacy that was still open.
"Sit in the car Bianca, I'll buy juices and something to eat, also plasters and bandages for your blisters."The apothecary was large and had a suit of food, so Dr. Ling bought a big bag full of sandwiches, ready meals and fruit, and for her injuries, bandages, wipes to disinfect the wounds, large band-aids and those specially designed for blisters, and socks with toes because it was recommended by the doctor in the pharmacy.
He slowly bandaged the wounds on her legs, "I bought you sandals with pads for feet and toes like nurses wear, there were no other shoes in the pharmacy."
"Now we have enough food because we will fly to the Bahama Islands, we will not go to my apartment because now there must be a lot of paparazzi of journalists in front of the apartment, we are going by car to my private plane parking."The Bahamas islands was well known for honeymooning high society young couples, Dr. Ling knew anyone could get married here within an hour, he wanted to shut down the gossip in town by marrying Bianca because they hurt her, and she was the victim of their gossip, he did not worry about himself but Bianca.
Second, he will go to Austria to buy the bank that is up for auction and give it to Bianca as a wedding present because they didn't organize a big wedding like other newlyweds, and also because he wants to give it to her because he knows that Bianca will manage the bank's capital wisely.That's why he told Bianca on the plane:"We will get married in Bahamas, when you come back to Shanghai you will officially be Mrs. Ling, and don't worry you are free to continue your studies, I have to do this for your reputation, also my bank and your university, he hasn't told her yet that he will give her the bank when he redeems in Europe."So, tell me Bianca, would you like to marry me, I know this is too fast for you, but even couples who have been seeing each other for years often get divorced after the first year of marriage because the marriage was not successful?"Bianca thought about it and felt sad, she always wanted her marriage to be out of love.
Dr. Ling could see that she was in a bad mood:"It's okay Bianca if you don't want to, we'll push through this current gossip ourselves, and it will pass, and the reporters will find someone else to gossip about.Bianca noticed that he felt guilty about this situation, so she said:
"It's not your fault, in fact I kept you on the tower, that's why the paparazzo journalists found out where you are.""No Bianca, you don't get it.""I want you to be my wife, yes from the heart, not because of the journalists who intercepted and followed us.You see, it's time for me to settle down and start a family, that's what my old mother always asks me when I visit her.Ever since I saw you for the first time, I wanted my wife to be a beautiful and special person like you Bianca, with you I feel peace and as if I could spend my whole life together, every time I accompany you to campus, I feel lonely after parting from you.Maybe it's platonic love, I've never been in love before, that's why the journalists' captions hurt me even more, but the age difference between us is not so big that you could be my daughter, as they wrote, because the age difference between us is only 10 years."
For Bianca, such a quick offer of marriage from Dr. Ling was a big surprise, but she was even more surprised by his sincere declaration of love, platonic, which is one of the strongest loves, but also the most painful love when it is not reciprocated, usually one-sided love brings emotional suffering.She watched Dr. Ling, if someone from Venice saw him next to her now, they would ask her where she met that handsome and striking man who looked like a sculpted figure from some of Michelangelo's statues, his hair cut short, always neatly arranged, no one would have given him more than 30 years, so she could be even older than him.Again, as if he had read what you were thinking, Dr. Ling began the conversation."You must be wondering how old I am because I haven't talked much about myself, today I turned 44, I am the youngest child of my parents and my mother gave birth to me quite late for women to give birth, because she could not get pregnant for a long time after she gave birth to my older brother. My parents spoiled me as a child, and in order to repay their love, I studied hard and regularly took exams, opting for science. My older brother was an economist, worked in the biggest bank in Shanghai, advanced in his career quickly, became a director, bought back the bank's shares and became the sole owner before he was 50, and then he suddenly died in his sleep.This is the reason that I became the heir and owner of the bank, my parents did not understand banking business, and I also had to learn a lot to run a bank successfully.Now it's your turn to talk a little more about yourself, the lady doesn't ask about age, so I won't ask you, only if you want to tell me yourself."
Of course, Dr. Ling knew her age, during the competition at the university, they provided the jury with accurate information and the biography of each candidate.
Bianca breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that Dr. Ling had said the correct age difference.
Bianca was not a young student by her age as everyone thought at first glance, she could thank the Mediterranean diet, good nourishing creams against UV rays and because she did not use heavy make-up, so she looked natural and fresh.
"And how old do you think I am?"
"Well, you seem to have a secret formula for a beautiful appearance, and no one would give you more than 18 years with that loose hair, that's why the paparazzi thought that you could be my daughter," he said.
"Of course I couldn't be your daughter because I'm not 18, but 34 years old, even though I come from a rich family of surgeons, I had difficulties enrolling in the studies I wanted to finish, that's why I took a break for several years until the next admission, in the meantime I volunteered for the Red Cross and traveled to endangered areas where the Red Cross helped and brought humanitarian aid. So, over time, I decided to study medicine in order to treat and care for the sick, and I successfully completed those studies.As you were honest and I will be with you, there was a period in my life that I try to forget, namely I got over cancer while I was living in Italy, so I couldn't even work during those years, lost all my hair from radiation, lost my fiancé, many friends forgot me in trouble, but I also gained many new ones who had sympathy for me.My father as a surgeon supported me and personally supported me to continue studying what I always wanted, so I enrolled in another study and arrived in Shanghai as a scholarship holder.Now that you've heard about my health and there's a risk of my cancer coming back, wouldn't it be better if you marry someone stronger than me, oh yes, it's a scandal the paparazzi want to make, we can tell at a media conference the truth."
"Bianca, you know when the gossip starts and the tea is spilled, it's too late to put the spilled tea back in the kettle, why shouldn't I marry the girl I love and still prove that they misled the public with false information to prevent me from buying a bank in Europe.Think how much more effect it would have against those opponents of mine than marrying you, then all the newspapers in Shanghai will announce that you are 34 and that will be proof that those paparazzo reporters lied.Come on, Bianca, tell me what you would like more, if we were to return to Shanghai right now in the midst of scandals and rumors, or if we were to return as a married couple a few days later, after all you would continue your studies as normal?"
Bianca was not naive, the scandal could reach her father's ears as well, among the business customers and patient's visitors of the hospital there were also bank owners, she did not want to disappoint him with those unpleasant gossips.What prevented her from agreeing was the fear of losing her freedom to which she was accustomed because she had no intention of getting married, but she knew that even in Venice she was already considered an old girl, which was not a very good rumor for the reputation of her father's hospital.
"OK, I agree to give you a chance to beat the false rumors and propaganda against your bank.The truth will prevail.We're going to get married despite everyone chasing you, and I don't want to be alone forever because in Venice they make fun of me behind my back for not being married yet."
Now even Dr. Ling was surprised by her final decision.
"Are you sure, don't change your mind during the wedding?"
"In that case you have to take me to the wedding as soon as possible so I don't change my mind, what I'm losing is girlish freedom which is important to us girls.From girlhood to marriage is a turning point in life that we, accustomed to the freedom of emancipated women, can hardly bear.What I get by marrying you is my freedom and I'm glad you don't dominate my decisions to continue studying.
"Everything will be your way if you think so, but you haven't said a word about me yet?""What do you mean?," Bianca laughed to herselfShe watched too many dramas and learned one thing from them -" that it is better not to tell a man that you love them."Bianca just shut up and took his hand, fell asleep like that until they were in the Bahamas, the flight was a long 17 hours, they didn't need a visa so they could land at the airport for private planes.After a day in the Bahamas, the couple is eligible to marry and they did, the Bahamas were ideal islands with parking and for private jets, Dr. Ling was able to travel to several Bahamian islands in one day.Everyone has heard of the Bahamas where the newlyweds spend their honeymoon on the fabulous white sand beaches, but Bianca did not walk on the beaches much because of the blisters that burned her, they even ordered food to the bungalow, they could watch movies on the wall TV screen in 3D dimension, Bianca watched her favorite Chinese drama while resting in the bungalow, and Dr. Ling visited the jewelry store on the island by himself, he was sorry that she couldn't walk much because she injured her wounds again.Through a video chat, he asked her to choose the ring she liked best, so Bianca decided on an unusual pink jewel.During the marriage vows on the second day and the exchange of rings and kisses, Mr. and Mrs. Ling were married partners that now the paparazzi scandal hunters will not be able to fill the press with lies and planting inflated fabricated scandals.They themselves posted pictures on social media during the wedding in the Bahamas, so the online press soon announced that the biggest Shanghai banker had married his 34-year-old girlfriend from Venice, they had a short honeymoon in Bahamas, and they were spared the gossip in business circles. Mr. and Mrs. Ling had a lot of commitments, so after the wedding, they immediately went back on their plane because it was a long flight to Shanghai. Doctor Ling hired at Bahamas a charter pilot, so he was able to rest on the spacious and soft couch next to Bianca, who rested her head on his shoulder and fell asleep again, sleeping through the long flight, but not letting go of his hand, OK , now I understand that she loves being with me and he lets her sleep, she must be exhausted by all these unexpected events surrounding the wedding.When they arrive in Shanghai, Doctor Ling wakes her up gently," Bianca we are now above Shanghai wake up now you are a star in the sky and you can see the whole city while sleeps illuminated by neon lights," Bianca wakes up and starts crying because she realizes she slept through the whole night flight from Bahamas to Shanghai"I'm really sorry, I had no intention of sleeping all the time.""I know you slept on purpose, now don't act like in the movie, but I wanted you not to miss the view of the city at night from the plane.I'm kidding, you're exhausted and that's why you slept, you should take care because it seems you shouldn't push yourself spiritually, it drains your delicate body and you lose energy easily, even a simple blister causes you more pain because you survived cancer and your body has weakened, that's why I don't blame you for sleeping, we traveled through different time zones than the Bahamas, for some it's not a problem at all, but others like you take it harder, because you disrupted the sleep cycle, that's a perfectly valid reason, and melanin is renewed by sleep.The fact that you overslept now gives you the chance to take me on a gondola through Venice all day when we visit Italy."Bianca flinches:"We're not going to Italy right now, are we?""Not now Bianca, I have to leave for Austria during the day, I just drove you back to campus, this is the key to my apartment, you can transfer some of your things from campus by taxi when you have time, but keep your room on campus because you can rest there when you get tired in lectures.As you know the bungalow in the Bahamas is ours, we can go on vacation at any time, especially in the winter because it is as warm there all year round as in the summer, so I forgive you, as you noticed in the Bahamas many people greeted us because I used to come often business-wise, the bankers regularly organize business conferences there, but they know that they force me to drink alcohol, which I avoid, so that after the conferences I retire to my bungalow." "My parents suspect that my elder brother died suddenly because of the pressure on him to drink too much alcohol, that night before his death my elder brother had a business meeting where he stayed late and his business partners forced him to drink a lot, that's why he died at night in a dream.You don't have that in Italy, but here some like to compete to see who can drink more alcohol, also alcohol is poured in meetings as soon as the glass is empty, that's why I like that you don't drink alcohol at all," and kiss her on the forehead."What would you like me to bring you as a present from Vienna, I like Mozart chocolate balls, which are very similar to Italian balls, or would you like some Italian chocolate?""I love Mozart chocolate balls too, that would be great!"After escorting Bianca to her room on campus and helping her with her luggage, Dr. Ling took his private plane directly to Austria.At the Austrian bank, they accepted his proposal, they found nothing wrong with his business portfolio as with the previous customers they rejected, and so the contract was signed and Dr. Ling registered the bank in the name of Bianca Ling, it was his wedding gift to Bianca, and the bank in Austria was also glad that the new owner was from Europe and did not object to Bianca not being present.Soon the news spread in the media that a bank in Austria had been bought by a bank from Shanghai, Dr. Ling received many phone calls from business partners congratulating him, he even received many new businesses offers, so he was invited to Rome for a business interview, which Doctor Ling accepted and arrived in Rome that day.A large Italian food and specialty chain wanted to open a branch in Shanghai, Dr. Ling graciously accepted because he wanted to make Bianca happy and open a mall near their apartment so that she could always have access to healthy Mediterranean food nearby.In a small music CD store in the center of Rome, Doctor Ling found Bianca's favorite song, on the CD cover there was also a translation in several languages, including Chinese, after reading the lyrics of the song, which talks about the love of a young man for a girl and the motherland, and the banker himself, was deeply impressed by the song.After spending several days in Europe, Dr. Ling returned to Shanghai and picked up Bianca on campus in a sports car.Bianca joyfully ran into his arms without looking at anyone around her.When they got into the driverless sports car that drives with robotic navigation and sensors, Dr. Ling left the driving to the robot, he put a CD in the music player and soon the music of Bianca's favorite song was playing.Bela Ciao was heard from the open sports car."How did you find the CD with the song Bela Cao in Vienna?""In Vienna I found Mozart chocolates and put one in her mouth, and in Rome a CD with the song Bela Cao, but that's not all, soon we will build a big Italian food shopping center near our apartment.Oh yes, I forgot to say congratulations, Mrs. Ling I handed over the contract to you, you are now the owner of a Bank in Austria, it's my wedding present to you."