Fan Fiction |
by chrysanthemum
Xiao You stepped out of the cab and stood along the pavement of Taipei. She slowly looked around, as if seeing the place for the first time. Her eyes squinted against the sunlight behind her stylish sunglasses. She felt the breeze blow gently against her face. She had to bring up her hand to keep a few strands of her long tresses out of her face. A small smile started to form on her lips as she inhaled deeply.
She was back home.
And she felt good about it, too.
Her eyes darted upwards... left... right... forward...
Her smile faded as soon as her gaze landed on that coffee shop across the street. The one where she was supposed to meet up with a man from her past.
She just flew in from Canada the night before and as soon as she'd checked in a hotel she had a long sleep to cure her jet lag. That morning, she had been surprised when her mobile phone rang and the next thing she heard was Ximen's voice filtering through the line and asking her to meet up with him that afternoon. When she asked why all he said was he had something very important to tell her.
Up to that moment that she was standing just a couple of steps away from where Ximen was, Xiao You still had no idea what that 'very important' thing was. From the very beginning, she'd been skeptical about showing up. Not because she wasn't over him yet - because she's pretty certain that she'd gotten over him a long time ago. She just didn't know what to expect.
After taking a second to breathe in and then out, she started to take a step towards the moment that had waited six long years to happen.
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Ximen sat in one of the tables in the coffee shop wearing his business suit. He'd taken some time off from work, which he rarely ever did, for this 'personal meeting'. He'd been waiting for five minutes but he didn't really mind. He purposely went to the meeting place earlier than the time they'd talked about.
He knew that Xiao You arrived the night before but knowing that she'd probably need some time to rest, he'd waited until late that morning before calling her.
He suddenly remembered the conversation they had. It was a very short exchange of words, really. Hardly even classifiable as a conversation at all. But the sound of her voice... it lingered in his memory, haunting him like the dream he'd been having for nights.
Up to then, he still didn't understand. He was way long over her. And for the longest time, he never admitted to having anything to get over with in the first place. But he knew he had to face it sooner or later. And so he did. And he got over her. Just like that.
But hearing her voice that morning... it simply stumped him. Somehow, she sounded different to him.... more mature. And she sounded like she just got out of the shower. Of course, he didn't know for sure. But still, just the idea of it made his head spin.
He slightly shook his head when he finished the thought. Fantasizing about a woman from his past - who, in a few minutes, he'd be seeing again after six years - in a public place, in broad daylight, and not to mention, in his business suit was definitely a bad idea.
He slowly breathed out and raised his eyes from the cup of coffee he was holding on the table. And as soon as he looked up, he saw a familiar figure walk through the door.
She stood there in a short, strapless red dress that did wonders for her figure and white, tight-fitting, flared jeans. On her feet were sexy, black, strappy sandals and her long, shiny, light brown hair hung loosely half-way down her back.
She looked utterly stylish and womanly. Ximen unconsciously stared at her, his jaw slightly dropped. He almost didn't recognize her until she took off her sunglasses as she started looking around.
He could still very vividly remember what she looked like six years ago. Physically, there were a couple of noticeable developments in all the right places. She'd always been beautiful. But seeing her now... she was exquisitely stunning. Simply breathtaking.
But the aura she exuded as he looked at her now was not at all like he remembered. She carried herself so differently. She exuded a kind of confidence and sophistication that Ximen had never seen in her before. She carried an air of... authority.
She had, indeed, grown up. And into one incredibly, astoundingly beautiful woman, no less.
He was brought out of his reverie when Xiao You met his gaze. Ximen smiled and stood up as Xiao You walked to his direction. The more she stepped closer to him, the more he felt that this was not the same Xiao You he used to know.
"Xiao You." Ximen greeted with a smile.
"Hello, Ximen." She greeted back with a small smile. Even the way she spoke and smiled was different. Almost corporate-like.
"Take a seat." He said, gesturing towards the chair in front of him.
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Xiao You almost felt her heart skip a beat when she spotted Ximen.
Almost.
She knew in herself that nothing Ximen said or did now would have any effect on her anymore. She was way over that phase. And now as they sat across each other, she couldn't be any more blasé.
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"Would you like to order some coffee?" Ximen offered.
"No, thanks. I'm fine." She responded.
"How have you been?" Ximen casually asked.
Xiao You just looked straight at him emotionlessly.
"If you really must know, I've been good. But I believe you didn't call me to come here for mere chitchat, did you?"
Ximen was momentarily taken aback by her austere response but was quick to hide it. He let out a soft chuckle.
"I almost forgot how straightforward you could be." He remarked as he reclined in his seat.
Xiao You ignored his words. The last thing she needed was to get nostalgic.
"So what is it you were going to tell me? I don't have all day." She asked, sounding as though she were talking to someone merely offering her a business proposal.
She had changed. She had changed so much. And Ximen sure hadn't prepared himself for it. Her rigid and stern demeanor was taking him by surprise. But of course, he remained cool and laid-back, not letting the slightest trace of amazement show on his features.
"Neither do I. I just wanted to inform you that our friends are planning to get us together. So expect them to pull all sorts of silly antics and whatnot to bring the two of us closer while you're here in Taiwan." Ximen spoke, leveling Xiao You's detached tone.
"Wait. What do you mean get us together?" Xiao You asked, with a confused - almost alarmed - expression on her face.
"I meant exactly that. They want us to be together." Ximen replied, feeling a little glad that he got to shatter the 'watch-out-no-one-can-break-me' facade that Xiao You initially wore.
"Who are 'they'?"
"Mei Zhuo, Xiao Qiao, Hua Ze Lei, Teng Tang Jing, Dao Ming Si, and Shan Cai."
Xiao You's confused expression was replaced by a shocked one.
"Shan Cai?"
Ximen nodded in response.
Xiao You sat back and slightly shook her head in disbelief. Shan Cai was the one who had always discouraged her about liking Ximen. And now she wants the two of them together?
*Did I miss something?* She wondered in her head.
"And how did you know about this?" She asked Ximen.
"I overheard them talking about it."
That morning when his friends had gathered in his house to surprise him for his birthday, they had thought he was out of hearing range and so they discussed about the matter openly. What they didn't know was that he came back down because he realized that he left his mobile phone somewhere and went looking for it. And although he didn't exactly intend on eavesdropping, when he heard them talking about him, he just couldn't help himself.
"Are you sure?" Xiao You asked, hoping Ximen would answer in the negative and tell her he was only kidding so she could just beat him to death later for alarming her.
"Positive." Ximen answered seriously. Xiao You couldn't mistake the look in his eyes for anything but complete earnestness.
"But why would they even think of such a thing?" Xiao You questioned, sounding slightly annoyed.
"Because, for some reason, they believe that we're meant for each other." Ximen deadpanned.
The way Ximen looked when he said it - like he thought it was the most ridiculous thing on the planet - just annoyed her. It's not as if she'd be ecstatic to end up with him either, anyway.
"And why would they think that?" She asked laughingly, with the subtle intention of spiting him.
This time, it was Ximen's turn to be miffed.
"I have no idea." He responded, making himself sound like he thought it was simply outrageous.
Xiao You had to keep herself from glaring at him.
*Why did I even like you?!* She mentally fumed.
"I just thought I should tell you so you'd know what to expect. This whole clown show would most probably begin tonight at dinner." Ximen said.
The first person Xiao You called up when she stepped foot on Taiwan was Shan Cai. She'd invited Xiao You for a get-together dinner. Shan Cai said it would be some sort of welcome dinner party for her.
"I'll remember that." Xiao You said.
"And it would probably be best if they didn't find out that we talked." Ximen said.
Xiao You didn't really understand why they shouldn't let them know. Nevertheless, she didn't ask any more questions. She simply wanted to end this whole meeting.
"Fine."
"Well, I have to go back to work." Ximen spoke as he stood up.
Xiao You watched him move and only then did she remember just how much she liked seeing Ximen in a business suit. Corporate attire never looked so good on anyone before.
*Maybe that's why.* A little voice in her head answered the question she'd asked herself earlier.
She cleared her throat and looked away when she realized that she'd been staring.
"All right." She spoke as she got up from her seat as well. "Thanks for the... warning." She spoke, unsure of the words to use.
"Sure. It was nice seeing you again." Ximen said then held out his hand to her.
Xiao You skeptically looked at his outstretched hand for one quick second, slightly afraid of what physical contact with this particular man might do to her.
*Oh, please! What's it going to do? Make your knees wobble and turn your insides to jelly?* A voice in her head laughingly spoke.
And with that, she straightened up and took Ximen's hand.
"Likewise." She said with a serious smile.
*Now that wasn't so hard, was it?* She thought to herself.
She suddenly felt like taking another hit. Just one slightly below the belt quip. Just one. She deserved that, at least.
"Ximen, just a question." Xiao You began casually as she tucked a few strands of her hair behind her left ear.
Ximen watched her as she did so.
*Darn, she's pretty.* He mentally noted but was quick to dismiss the thought.
"Why did you think it necessary to warn me about this whole thing? Did you really think I'd be vulnerable without it?"
Ximen, for once, was at a loss for the right response. The Xiao You standing in front of him now sure didn't seem to be type to be vulnerable to anything anymore.
"I mean, did you seriously think I'd fall prey to their scheme and fall for you again? Because if that's it then let me assure you right now," Xiao You looked straight at Ximen's face with unmistakable conviction. "That's not going to happen." She finished with a lopsided smile, shaking her head slightly.
"Consider me immune to your charms." Xiao You added coolly, taking hold of her purse.
"I'll see you around." She said as she put on her sunglasses and smiled sweetly to a dumbfounded Ximen before turning around to leave.
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Ximen absent-mindedly drove himself back to work. He still couldn't get Xiao You's image out of his head. He could hardly believe how much she'd changed. It was almost like he didn't know her at all.
The Xiao You he knew was sweet... soft-spoken... gentle... timid... innocent. She was the kind of girl who wouldn't hurt an ant. She was just tender and simple like that. He couldn't help but wonder what happened to that Xiao You.
It surprised him just how much it bothered him. How much he simply missed her.
Then again, it was probably a good thing she came back a different Xiao You. If she'd come back the same woman, it wouldn't be too difficult to get a little too attached again. Her cold and aloof character could help build a solid distance between the two of them.
But why could he still not get her out of his mind? Why on earth, despite all the changes in her, was he still drawn to her?
"Oh, shit!" Ximen cursed under his breath as he suddenly hit the brakes, making the other cars behind honk angrily.
He just realized that he'd completely driven past his own office building... the one he'd been driving to and from everyday for the past years... the one structure he was supposed to know how to get to even with his eyes closed.
*Ximen Zhong Er Lang, what is wrong with you?!* He scolded himself mentally as he maneuvered for a u-turn.
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