CHAPTER 2 (PART 1): A Shining Star.
All the lights in the city cannot be compared to the brightness of the night sky with its millions of stars. They were shining especially brilliantly tonight.
But not more than her, Han Xue Zhao felt. Never more than her. He took a deep whiff from his Camel Cigar.
It’s always been like this — he pushes her away, and then runs around searching for her. Why push her away, and why regret later?
He remembered her clear eyes back in the studio. He remembered the way he watched her turn from being active to vulnerable in a span of half hour. He wondered whether this is what she went through every day— running herself to the point of exhaustion.
When he saw her walk out into the Cellar Parking Area of the office building, looking totally drained, his hands tightened unconsciously on the steering wheel of his Range Rover.
He noted that she still walks pigeon-toed.
He didn’t know why, but the first thing that he’d done after the interview was done was to call up Xiao Xi and finding out whether Ming Xing has a car or not. He’d felt strangely happy when he heard that her car hasn’t been shipped from Seoul to China yet.
He’d already dropped off Serena at her place and came back here at full speed. And he felt this strange sense of relief when he saw that she hasn’t left yet.
So, it is with purpose that he drove forward towards her.
Li Ming Xing felt bone-tired as she hurried out of the cellar. Her back ached a lot. And there’s a reason for that.
Ming Xing has Spondilolysthesis, because of which one of her vertebra has parted from the other. She’s been suffering this problem ever since she could remember, and it was also why she’d stopped her work as a War Correspondent, even though she was successful in that field. Her back troubled her too much. And it’s also the reason why she walks pigeon-toed.
The only thought in her mind as of now, however, was to catch the taxi that she’d hired through a Taxi Provider App.
And when a Range Rover appeared in her path, she was pretty startled. Since when did Range Rovers start moving around as taxis, ah?!
It was only when a window of the car slid down that she recognized the ‘taxi’s’ driver: Han Xue Zhao.
“Get in,” he said, calmly.
She frowned. Why’s he being so helpful? “I have a taxi waiting outside for me.”
Is it disappointment that she saw in his face? No way! Her eyes have to be malfunctioning! “Li Ming Xing, do you trust an unknown taxi driver to drop you safely near your home more than you trust your old College friend?”
Oh, are we ‘friends’ now?! “Uh, no?”
“Then get in!”
“But the taxi?”
“I’ll pay him up.”
She hesitated a bit, but got in. The car is an SUV that is classy and looks efficient, just like its handsome owner. She could smell the scent of cigars and frowned at him.
“Since when did you start smoking?” she blurted out in an admonishing voice, before she could stop herself.
He didn’t look at her, as he calmly answered, “It’s been a while.”
Han Xue Zhao actually stopped outside the building and paid up the taxi driver who was waiting outside. Then he turned to her. “Where are you living right now?” he asked her.
“In a serviced apartment in the ABC Street,” she quietly replied to him.
“I know that place. I’ll drop you there,” he said, nodding. She silently looked at all the cars beside her on the road. All of them were people eagerly waiting to go home.
Ming Xing had always been a person who was on call for duty at all hours. She never compromised on the job assigned to her and was a perfectionist to the core. Both she and Xue Zhao were people who never backed down and faced things head-on.
Perhaps, that was what had brought her and Han Xue Zhao together even ten years ago.
CHAPTER 2 (PART II): A Shining Star.
Li Ming Xing was seriously preparing for her upcoming semester examinations.
After all, not only her rank, but also her friends’ ranks depended on the amount of hard work she puts in to study!
Ming Xing usually goofed off like anybody else normally. But when she decided to study, she was invincible, la! If anybody cares for their dear life, then they’d better not approach her when she’s studying!
So, the invincible Ming Xing decided to find a calm place to study, as she had a shift in the library after an hour.
And that calm place turned out to be the Chess Hall. What could even she do?! Chess turned out to be the most silent sport she’d ever seen, and the Chess Hall was naturally more like a meditation hall than anything else.
But who knew that even Chess has nowadays turned from a passive sport into an active sport?!
In the middle of the Hall, there’re a group of people surrounding a table where two young students are playing a game. Whenever one of those players made a move, huge cheers erupted. The other player was left with virtually no supporters at all.
Ming Xing frowned. Who’s so excellent that he has an entire audience on his side?!
Momentarily forgetting about her exams tomorrow, she approached the table and pushed through the crowd of spectators to take a glimpse at the great player.
Of all the people she was expecting, it turned out to be Han Xue Zhao!
She remembered their last meeting in the library. She’d recognized his name instantly, in fact. Truthfully speaking, the name of Han Xue Zhao is something that every P University student knows!
The best student in the Computer Science faculty, he’s also doing a Minor in Business Management. He’s an active member of the Debate Club, the Literature Club, the Music Club… well, almost all the clubs in P University. He has turned down internships from many companies and it’s also been rumoured that he was invited to join the Soccer Team of a province.
And not to mention, he’s the official Campus Hearththrob.
She never personally saw him playing any sport, but she’d heard enough stories about the wonders he performs in the field of Soccer, Basketball and Chess.
With so many credentials to his name, it would be a surprise if he’s without friends. Liu Jin, also of the Computer Science faculty, is known to be his most trusted friend. And Liu Jin isn’t without his own fame either, and has recently taken up an internship offer which Xue Zhao had refused previously. Even looks wise, he’s second only to Xue Zhao.
Hmm, but actually, Xue Zhao is a pretty good player. His eyes radiated his immense concentration that showed that he isn’t affected by the huge noise around him. There is firmness in his profile and an Alpha-male appearance that both psychologically as well as physically intimidated his opponent.
He was wearing a white shirt and dark black trousers, with his hair ruffled. Even the last time she’d seen him, his hair had been artfully unruly. It would probably feel great to run my fingers through his hair, ah!
Aiya, what was she thinking, la?! Ming Xing blushed crimson red when she realized that her mind was going to dirty places.
And at that very moment, as though he was aware that someone’s plotting against his hair, Xue Zhao turned away from the chess board to look at her. Looking like a deer caught in headlights, she immediately ducked behind another person.
As she had begun the process of escaping, she didn’t know that the great chess player Xue Zhao’s eyes were shining brightly. He too decided to accelerate the proceedings of this rubber match, and before Ming Xing made it till the Chess Hall’s doors, he calmly informed his opponent, “Checkmate.”
Even as all his friends and admirers burst into loud cheers for him, he didn’t care as he calmly made way through the sea of crowd to find her. He found her trying to inconspicuously tiptoe her way out of the hall.
“Li Ming Xing!” he yelled her name. His deep voice resonated across the hall and vibrated to the bones of all its inhabitants. She immediately froze in her place with an Oh Crap! expression on.
Liu Jin was shocked. “Xue Zhao, you’re actually calling out to a girl?!”
Xue Zhao gave her a one-over, as he said with a deadpan face, “The last time I checked, she’s definitely a girl.”
Everyone nervously burst into laughter, as they were under the impression that Xue Zhao’s making fun of the girl. It was as though they were all eager to please him.
Ming Xing felt offended. She gathered herself and stomped out of the Hall furiously. She heard someone’s running footsteps behind her, but didn’t stop.
“Ming Xing, wait!” she heard that deep voice call out for her.
When she saw her watch, she realized that it’s already time for her shift in the Library. So she silently headed there.
The Chief Librarian, Madam Qin, glared at her disapprovingly. “You’re late, my dear,” she informed her, shaking her head.
“I’m sorry, ma’am,” apologized Ming Xing.
Madam Qin sighed. Ming Xing coughed when the dust that rose up as the pile of books hit the desk in front of her entered her mouth and nose.
Madam Qin had returned with a giant heap of old fat books from the store room and ordered her, “Organize them according to their genre and put them in their respective bookshelves.”
Ming Xing nodded, dreading what is to come. As she sat down sorting the books, she noticed someone entering the library as if that person has run till he was out of breath.
The ‘person’ in question is Han Xue Zhao.
Ming Xing ignored him and continued sorting the books. She remained silent even when he squatted beside her and said, “I’m sorry.”
She rolled her eyes. She could hear the sincerity behind his words. But really, he shouldn’t have been so flippant before, ah! She nodded to show that he’s forgiven. But still, he won’t go. Ming Xing sighed. “What now?” she asked annoyed.
“I’m looking for Laozi’s ‘The Way’. Can you look it up for me?” he asked her, his eyes wide and innocent.
She gritted her teeth and turned back to her work. “It’s in Bookshelf No. 4. You’ll probably find it in the fourth row,” she replied, without looking at him.
“I saw it. It’s not there,” tad the protest came from him.
“It has to be there. Check properly,” she denied his declaration.
“You check it, then.”
“Why should I?”
“Because that’s your job!”
“What if I don’t?”
“Madam Qin!” Xue Zhao yelled at the top of his lungs.
“Hey, what are you doing?” hissed Ming Xing, shocked.
All the inhabitants of the library were startled into staring at them. The sound of footsteps approaching them increased.
“I’m informing Madam Qin that a part-time employee under her supervision isn’t serving the customers,” he calmly enlightened Ming Xing.
“No, please, don’t!” she begged.
“Then will you get me my book?” asked Xue Zhao.
Ming Xing frantically nodded. He smirked.
“Who’s that rule-breaking, aberrant, abhorring…?” Madam Qin’s voice floated from behind them. “Oh, Xue Zhao, you’re here! Help me catch the person who just broke the sacred laws of the library!”
Xue Zhao, the ‘rule breaker’, humbly bowed as he said, “I apologize ma’am, but it was me!”
Madam Qin was shocked into speechlessness. “You… but… how?!”
“I’d suddenly realized that I haven’t greeted you in a long time, so the moment I came in, I was desperate to find you and in that desperation I’d shouted out your name aloud!” he earnestly told her.
Ming Xing saw him comfortably lie, and her jaw hung open in astonishment. She’d never seen anybody say such a cheesy lie with such expertise, ah! He’d turned on his charm to full blast and the effect can be felt even to her. He suddenly seemed so innocent and pious.
Old Madam Qin blushed: Duck out. “Oh, dear Xue Zhao, you shouldn’t have taken so much of trouble! I wouldn’t have taken it as a slight. The next time you want any book, all you have to do is inform me and I’ll get it for you, okay?”
He earnestly nodded. “Madam Qin, I’ve been searching for a book since a long time but haven’t been able to find it. Can I trouble my Junior Mei Mei here to find the book?”
When Ming Xing realized that the ‘Junior Mei Mei’ in question is her, she panicked and subtly tried to shake her head at Madam Qin. Too bad, but Madam Qin had eyes only for the charming and handsome Xue Zhao and abandoned her trusted employee.
“Of course, she’ll personally help you out whenever you want her to!”
With that, Li Ming Xing turned into Han Xue Zhao’s personal librarian.
Han Xue Zhao, the Annoyer Of The Year, was amusedly watching poor Li Ming Xing stomp over to the bookshelves with a forced smile displayed on her face. He was positively sure that she’s glowering at him internally.But all this is being done for her own ‘safety’.
Once Ming Xing disappeared from view, Xue Zhao turned to face the critters who were following her disappearing figure with their greedy eyes. One look from the towering and almighty Han Xue Zhao sent all of the possible suitors fleeing for their lives.
Satisfied, Xue Zhao walked over to the corner where Ming Xing disappeared. She was oblivious to the fact that many of her fellow students admired her tenacity and of course, her understated charm. It’s probably because she doesn’t try to be captivating that it appeals to everyone.
She’s not beautiful. No, she’s definitely not. She’s not a topper either, though she does get the second or third rank in her batch. It’s just that her intensity is infectious. And also her inextinguishable energy when it comes to talking. She’s bold and doesn’t hesitate to talk to anyone.
Xue Zhao didn’t even notice that a girl like her existed in his University until he’d seen her in the library all those days ago. She wasn’t like all those girls who hid behind the bookshelves to stare at him. She wasn’t like those girls who nervously stuttered or blushed when they talked to him. Her eyes were as clear and innocent as a crystal. And there was this crackling energy in her eyes that made him feel as though he could warm himself from the power radiating off them.
And now, those eyes are staring at him, as if accusing him of a great crime. “The book’s right here. How could you not find it?”
“I must have missed seeing it. I’m sorry!”
She glared at him and walked away, leaving a certain somebody who was grinning like a fool.
Li Ming Xing was ready to bet her buttons on the fact that Xue Zhao must have done this to purposely infuriate her. But ‘why’ is the Million Yuan Question!
As she turned around the corner of the bookshelf, she saw a group of girls whispering and giggling. Then she caught the name of ‘Han Xue Zhao’ coming from the lips of one of the girls and saw that they were all staring Han Xue Zhao. She felt a strange sense of discomfort and decided to walk away from there.
But her legs betrayed and carried her straight to the Giggling girls. “Making noise in the library is banned,” she found herself saying sternly.
The girls seemed taken aback and one bold girl stepped forward to say, “Uh, we’re just searching for books.”
“May I know which book, so that I can help you with it?” Ming Xing employed the use of her super-sweet tone which has the power of making people flinch.
The bold girl seemed lost for a while, before stammering, “A… A Brief History of Time.”
“And it’s written by?”
“……”
“Stephen Hawking,” Ming Xing calmly answered her own question. She hadn’t read that book yet as she isn’t that interested in Science, but she did know the book.
The girl looked down at her feet, ashamed. “And this is the Philosophy Section. The Science Section is in the extreme right of the library. So please make your way over there and stop giggling and talking over here or else I’ll personally ensure that you’ll never be allowed to step into the library,” warned Ming Xing, her fake-sweet voice treading that thin line of bitchiness.
Truthfully, Ming Xing could be the meanest person in the world if she wished to be so.
The scared girls scattered away. Ming Xing walked away surprised to find that there’s a tiny smile playing at the corner of her lips. And Han Xue Zhao’s grin widened after he watched her smackdown hidden behind the bookshelves.
The feelings were there in both the hearts. It’s just that they didn’t know how deep the feelings were until they separated.
Chapter 2 (Part III): A Shining Star.
Han Xue Zhao was watching Ming Xing staring out of the window of his car. They’d stopped at a red light, and he noticed that she’s playing with her fingers.
It’s a habit of hers when she’s nervous. He smiled to himself, feeling reassured that there’s at least something of her that he felt familiar with.
This Ming Xing is so different from the person he’d known. That incessantly chatty girl has disappeared into oblivion, leaving behind a calm and mature young woman who seems more like a stranger.
“Have you eaten anything?” he asked her.
She seemed startled. “Uh, no, I didn’t.”
“We’ll first go eat,” he informed her, and his disapproval was clear in his voice. She’s still the same, forgetting the entire world when she’s doing her work. He remembered that she used to be that way when she’s reading a book.
He drove her to a high-end restaurant and stopped his car there. She looked at the place as if lost in thought. “This place seems so familiar!” she whispered softly.
He nodded. “This was the cafe where we used to eat after the classes were done.”
She gasped in recognition. “Oh, you mean the cafe with the thatched bamboo roof and cement tables? How’s the Aunty who used to be the cook here? Her egg noodles used to be so tasty!”
“Aunty sold this place away to a corporate firm which has taken over the furnishing of the cafe. She was admitted in the hospital recently, but she’s fine. But the menu is still the same. And what’s more is that Auntie’s daughter now cooks the same egg noodles!” said Xue Zhao, his lips stretching into an unwilling smile.
It seemed as though Ming Xing is coming to life right in front of his eyes. He felt as though he’s watching the birth of a flower, slowly opening it’s petals to reveal its full glory.
“Shall we go in?” asked Xue Zhao, opening the door for her.
Ming Xing smiled and entered the restaurant. The old cement tables were replaced with expensive rosewood furniture. But the red tapestries which used hang are still there and of course, the aroma wafting in the restaurant is still the same as it was ten years ago.
The restaurant was bustling with people and she wasn’t sure that a table would be available for them. But a young woman wearing a chef’s uniform came running over to them and bowed to Xue Zhao. “Xue Zhao, your private room is ready!” said the chef.
“Thank you, Mao Mao!” replied he, smiling a little.
Mao Mao’s eyes then fell on Ming Xing and she gasped in recognition. “You… Ming Xing!”
Ming Xing nodded, feeling a bit shy. The patrons in the restaurant were all staring at her and some of them recognized her as the T.V. Anchor of the ‘Open Heart’.
But more than that, she knew who Mao Mao is. She’s the daughter of the Auntie who used to own this place. “Hi, Mao Mao! It’s been a long time!”
Mao Mao seemed to be on the verge of tears as she led them to their private room. It was an elegant room with simple but stylish furnishing.
“What would you like to have?” Mao Mao asked them both.
“I’ll have my usual Egg Noodles and pork chops,” said Xue Zhao.
“And you, Ming Xing?”
“I’ll have whatever he’s having,” Ming Xing said, her voice barely a whisper.
Once Mao Mao left, Ming Xing felt that she couldn’t face the burning stare directed at her from the other side of the table. She nervously played with her fingers and enjoyed the silence that conquered the atmosphere of the room.
Once again, it was Xue Zhao who broke the silence. “Liu Jin and Wei Xiao Xi are getting married.”
Ming Xing nodded. “I know. I met Xiao Xi in the afternoon today,” she said, smiling slightly.
“Are you attending it, then?”
Ming Xing nodded. “Do you know where it’s being held?” he asked her, a bit mockingly.
She shook her head sheepishly. “No,” she said, softly.
“I’ll come to pick you up that day. Where will you probably be?”
“Um, in the office. But there’s no need for you to go through so much of trouble!”
“It’s not an issue. After all, we’re old friends and we ought to help each other,” he cited his reason calmly.
The waitress entered and served them their meal. When Ming Xing saw the Egg Noodles, she smiled. They still gave out the same aroma! But her face contorted into a grimace when she saw that they still served the egg the same way as they did ten years ago. Scrambled egg was generously splattered in the noodles, but it was the boiled egg that troubled her the most. Ming Xing never ate the egg yellow and always had only egg white!
Suddenly, his chopsticks picked up the egg yellow from her bowl. She looked up in surprise but he was acting as though it’s normal. Then he picked the egg white from his bowl and put it in hers.
She looked down to swallow back her tears that threatened to spill from her eyes and felt that this is the tastiest meal she’d ever eaten.
Once they finished eating, they prepared to leave. Ming Xing frowned. “But, we didn’t pay the bill!” she exclaimed.
He acted as though he didn’t listen to what she said, as he got up and extended his hand to her. As if it’s an instinct, she took his hand and was shocked by the contact.
Ten years ago, she’d held this hand without any scruple but now, this small gesture seems so much more.
She tried to extricate her hand from his, but he held on firmly. They walked hand-in-hand out of the restaurant. It’s already late in the night now, and he quietly drove her to her serviced apartment building.
She secretly took out her phone. She had a hunch and she wanted to conform it.
She searched up the restaurant’s name in the internet and found that it’s now being operated by Han Enterprises and Holdings. This… it has to be a coincidence. She hesitated before touching the link to the company’s name.
The CEO of the Han Enterprises in question is Han Xue Zhao.
She felt the breath knock out of her. Why? If he truly didn’t care about the past, why did he still retain a place that held so many of their memories together?
She looked at him in a daze, as he drove oblivious to the turmoil of emotions that she’s undergoing.
Once they reached the destination, he brusquely said, “Take care. Good night.”
She nodded hazily and stepped out of the car. The car outside didn’t leave until she disappeared from view. In fact, the car didn’t leave even after a long time.
Han Xue Zhao tried to calm his racing heart that refused to slow down. Everything’s happening the same way it did ten years ago.
Loving her isn’t a choice. It’s a guilty pleasure that most of the times felt like a compulsion.