Just Hang in There
Not so long after Madaam Lin and President Wang met Cheng Jia's son and fiance', they decided to leave for their important meetings.
Shuyang bid goodbye to the President as well as the Madam with a toothy grin. He hopes to see them again to play with him when Cheng Jia said that the two are very busy people. The little guy, being smart, understood that his mother is saying that they cannot play with him. If he felt down, he did not show it and just nodded and smiled, saying, "Then, Madam Lin and Uncle Z will have to take care of their health."
The two smiled back as their hearts warmed up at how considerate the child was. Zhiyong ruffled Shuyang's hair, wanting to utter words but kept it to himself. Then, he turned to leave as the little one looked at his back with an uneasy heart.
As they are nearing the exit, Zhiyong stopped his tracks when he heard Cheng Jia calling her son, 'baby', in a loving way.
He looked ahead but his mind wanders somewhere - in a memory of the past. He clenched his fist into a ball inside his pocket and slowly turned his head to see the lady with the face of his wife smiling beautifully at a child.
'Why do you have to smile like that?' he asked as if he is asking Cheng Jia.
Maybe feeling that someone is watching her, the lady looked Zhiyong's way, to catch him staring at her.
'Or maybe not. Why would he look at me with such longing eyes? But wait! This man, really. Why does he have to look so handsome like that?' Cheng Jia thought to herself.
She was drawn to his handsomeness that she didn't notice she was already staring at him like he was some delicious food, served in an expensive suit.
Then, their eyes met.
Her heartbeat went crazy, instantly, even if she was keen to look away.
'Oh! Did my boss just caught me ogling him?' she asked herself, balling her fist and stomping her foot like a kid. 'Crazy, Cheng Jia!' she said to herself before turning with her back facing him.
Zhiyong, too, was lost for a moment when they stared at each other. Then, Madam Lin put her hand on Zhiyong's shoulder.
"Dear, shall we go?" she queried.
Retracting his eyes from where it was, he replied, "Yes. Sorry, grandma. I was lost in a bit."
With a reassuring smile, Madam Lin just nodded as recognition of Zhiyong's apology. Then, they both exited the set.
Unknown to them, a pair of eyes are watching them.
'I'm sorry. Just hang in there.'
While they are on their way, Madam Lin didn't say anything to Zhiyong even though her mind is in chaos. She denied the possibility of Xinyi being alive and living as Cheng Jia, saying that she had seen her granddaughter in the coffin and that they even cremated her already. So, she calmed herself, hiding the anxiety she felt earlier.
As the Madam peeked at Wang Zhiyong, she sighed seeing him staring blankly outside the car as if he is in very deep thought.
She cannot blame him for sulking, for Xinyi's death was like the end of his world. Her passing was never an easy feat for the man sitting beside her. He was known to be tough by other people but those who knew him well knew that Xinyi was his weakness. Thus, the world seemed to lost its color when she was gone.
It is ironic how someone could love the woman whom she hated as a girl. When they met for the first time, Zhiyong was eighteen years old while Xinyi was 14. Just like any teenager, her granddaughter had been swept by the handsomeness of the man that she declared recklessly at that time that she likes him and will woo him.
Madam Lin never thought Xinyi to be as reckless as she was since she is a very naive girl who just spends her time reading and does what others would consider as boring stuffs. While others are busy dating, she would satisfy herself reading romance stories saying that it is a waste to date when all you get at the end is heartache.
Madam Lin could only sigh with the memories that are left after Xinyi was gone.
'Granddaughter, how can you leave just like that?' she shook her head.
Zhiyong who was quietly looking outside decided to lean his back on his seat seemingly tired.
"Grandmother, I'll just rest for a bit," Zhiyong muttered in a low voice.
Looking at how bad Zhiyong looked, Madam Lin answered, "Sure, Dear. I'll just wake you up when we're there."
"Thanks, grandmother," he said which was only answered with a reassuring smile, as Zhiyong's eyes slowly closed.
---
"Baby, baby," she said softly in his ears, caressing Zhiyong's face, as the man leaned his head on her shoulder.
He just made a feeble 'yes' but did not even try to open his eyes.
She smiled and turned her gaze into the wonderful sunset, which painted the sky in a pale tint of orange.
"Baby, do you think like this beautiful sunset, the world will one day be able to appreciate the wonder of our love?" she asked influenced by the marvelous sight she was seeing. It could be because of the sight in front of her that her voice emitted sadness.
Zhiyong slowly opened his eyes to see the setting sun. Then retracted in a sitting position, while the woman next to him looked at him.
He scooted closer and cupped her face.
"I'm sorry," he muttered.
She held her husband's hand, not taking away her gaze at his eyes.
"What is it for? The sorry, I mean."
"I am not a good husband," he replied.
"Baby, what do you mean?" she asked, worriedly. Thinking at the possibility that Zhiyong wronged her.
He chuckled thinking of XinYi's suspicion.
'Wife, why do you always overthink?' he asked, inwardly.
She frowned when she heard him chuckle. Then, lightly pushed him away.
Zhiyong shrugged, mouthing 'what'.
"You are making fun of me," she rolled her eyes at him.
"Don't roll your eyes like that, wife. You are turning me on."
Xinyi pretended not to hear him as she watched the sunset.
"Xinyi, my wife..." he called her, at the same time touching her hand, leaned close and gave her a peck on the cheek.
She looked at him like she was wronged. "Zhiyong, you hooligan! What was that stealing for?"
He grinned at her, putting his arm over her shoulder. He was so close that his smell is intoxicating her.
"Wife, if you ignored me again," he leaned whispering into her ear, seductively, "I'll make sure that my kiss will take you a distance ahead of that stupid sun," he nibbled her ear, leaving his wife's face beet red.
Worried he would do something sexy in an open place, though no one else is around, Xinyi stuttered as her heart's beats race like crazy. "Z-Zhiyong, baby, pl-please don't," she begged, innocently, "w-wait until we come home."
Zhiyong, pleased with how his wife reacted, pursed his lip with his eyes smiling in content while nodding.
Just as Xinyi sighed in relief, Zhiyong cupped her face with both hands to make her look at him intently.
"Mrs. Wang, I'm sorry, our love wouldn't be seen like how the world was seeing the beauty of the sunset, because it would be an understatement. I would rather it be seen as the sunrise since more people are cheering on and looking forward positively at the sunrise than the sunset. If I want people to cheer for us, there should be a lot of them. You know I would not settle for less." Xinyi nodded at Zhiyong's reply to her previous question.
The wind blew XinYi's hair into her face, which Zhiyong tucked at the back of her ear, carefully, "But, Xinyi..."
The lady focused her eyes on him again as he continued, "I don't need them to appreciate our love, because you... appreciating and holding on to what we have is more than enough for me."
"I hate you!" pushing his chest lightly, "When did you learn to be a sweet talker? You are making me tear up." came Xinyi's voice, trying to control the sob that was threatening to come out.
Then the sob was swallowed back when Zhiyong's lips crashed Xinyi's lips into a passionate kiss.
As the kiss deepened, Zhiyong held Xinyi's back as he shifted, devouring her neck which intensified the heat between two bodies in the open.
"Oh, baby please," she begged and he kissed and nibbled her ear which made her close her eyes, "Baby... not here in the open..." she continued, "Baby..."
---
Zhiyong felt a light tap on his shoulder which woke him.
It was the Madam.
'Another dream...'