Fan Fiction |
by chrysanthemum
Xiao You checked her reflection in the mirror.
She straightened down her little, spaghetti-strapped, black, velvet dress. The neckline was low enough to subtly reveal a little cleavage. The fabric clung to her body, outlining her beautiful curves. The part of the dress from the pelvis down to the hem, about two inches above her knee, was loose enough to allow her to walk and move easily and comfortably.
On her feet were strappy, black, leather, open-toe heels. Her hair was tied in a braided half-pony. The ends of her tresses were curled, making shiny waves past her shoulders. She had a thin layer of powder on her cheeks, lip gloss on her lips, and a little eye makeup.
She smiled at her reflection in satisfaction.
She was ready to go.
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Ximen tapped his index finger against the mobile phone in his hand as he stared contemplatively at the screen.
Phoebe.
Ximen's girlfriend for the week.
He was debating with himself whether to press 'call' or 'back'.
He considered his options.
Would it be more dramatic if he brought his mei mei along and then by the night's over, have her be ignored by him completely because he just seemed to be totally drawn to this other particular woman?
OR...
Would it be better if he just came to dinner alone so he'd have that 'oh-I just-leave-my-women-behind-all-time' feel to him and then, if everything goes according to plan, eventually have people think that his sudden 'I've-found-the-one-for-me-I'm-in-love' change seem realistically drastic?
He let out a sigh.
Choices. Choices.
Then again, the first option seemed to be a little too hostile an act.
*Hmm... I guess the second one's more theatrical. Plus, it's more humane.* He noted mentally.
So... 'call' or 'back'?
His thumb glided over to the button on the right side of the keypad.
Back.
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"Xiao You's on her way." Shan Cai declared as she tucked her phone inside her purse.
"I can't contact Ximen's phone." Dao Ming Si said sounding very annoyed.
"Now, why am I not surprised?" Mei Zhuo remarked sarcastically.
"He'll come. We don't need to worry." Lei confidently spoke.
"He better."
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Xiao You's cab stopped in front of a very fancy restaurant. She paid the cab driver before stepping off then she stood there for a while, looking up at the structure. Even from the outside one could tell how lavish the place was. She wondered why there were no cars parked around it. Then she spotted one red Ferrari, one black Cadillac, and one silver Porsche parked at one side.
*Just three?* She wondered to herself.
One was missing.
By instinct she already knew who it was.
*Bet he's too busy getting some action done under the sheets to notice the time.* She remarked mentally.
Not that she cared, really. And not that she minded not having him around. But she just couldn't get the odd tinge of irritation out of her system.
*Guess some people just never change.*
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Xiao You was ushered in by the headwaiter. After taking her coat, he led her to the huge hall on second floor where her friends were waiting. Xiao You was surprised when the headwaiter informed her that Mr. and Mrs. Dao Ming had reserved the entire restaurant for the night.
The whole interior was simply classy and extravagant. Just about everything seemed to be gold-plated. Shan Cai had told her beforehand that the restaurant would be a classy one. But she honestly hadn't expected it to be THIS classy.
Actually, she wasn't new to all this elegance and luxury. She's had her own taste of it. It was simply the kind of treatment a woman with a career as thriving as hers got. But her friends didn't know that.
"Xiao You!!" She heard Shan Cai's bubbly voice call her name.
Xiao You's face instantly lit up when she saw her best friend, already eight months heavy with her second child.
"Shan Cai! Oh, my goodness! Look at you!" She exclaimed, giving Shan Cai a hug.
"Yeah, I know." Shan Cai sheepishly said, placing one hand on her tummy.
"But look at YOU! Wow! You look good!" She shrieked.
"Thanks."
"Xiao You! How are you? It's good to see you again." Dao Ming Si greeted as he came up to the her, followed by Mei Zhuo, Xiao Qiao, Lei, and Jing.
Turns out Xiao You's guess regarding the missing person in the gang was, in fact, correct.
"It's nice to see you too, Ah Si. I hope you're taking very good care of my best friend." Xiao You spoke, eyeing him with a bit of threat.
"Oh, he is. Don't worry." Shan Cai answered for her husband.
After six years of marriage, they've finally grown up and fought a little less than they used to.
"Except for the times when he does these really stupid things like..."
"Hey! I don't do stupid things!"
"Sure you do, you pighead!"
"I'm not a pighead, you pighead!"
... Or so she thought.
"Yeah, yeah, you're both pigheads, we've established that a long time ago." Mei Zhuo interrupted, warranting him evil glares from the two.
"Welcome back, Xiao You!" Mei Zhuo spoke cheerfully, ignoring the dirty looks he was getting.
"Thank you, Mei Zhuo." Xiao You grinned.
"It's really good to see you again." Jing spoke.
"I hope you still remember us." Xiao Qiao said after her.
"Of course, I do! How could I possibly not?" Xiao You reached out and gave the two of them a hug.
She'd met them back at Shan Cai and Ah Si's wedding. They were two of the nicest women she'd ever met.
"How was the flight?" Lei asked.
"Long but pretty much tolerable." Xiao You replied with a smile.
"When do we eat? I'm hungry!" Dao Ming Si complained.
"We still have to wait for Ximen." Shan Cai said.
Xiao You found herself crossing her arms in front of her chest at the mention of his name.
"Who's ever so fashionably late when I specifically told him to be here early." Mei Zhuo remarked in irritation.
"I'll call him up to check where he is." Lei volunteered and took his phone from his pocket.
"No need." They heard a voice speak behind them.
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Ximen had turned off his phone and made himself late on purpose. Truth was, he was just at home, listening to music, watching TV, and basically just taking his precious time. He knew everyone would assume that he was with some woman and THAT, actually, was exactly what he wanted them to think.
"Finally!" Dao Ming Si exclaimed.
"Sorry. I got caught in the middle of something." Ximen said.
"Oh, I bet you did." Mei Zhuo remarked meaningfully.
Ximen just calmly chuckled. That was exactly the reaction he'd expected. Now the next thing he needed was for them to notice that he came alone.
"You're alone?" Lei asked.
Bingo.
"Yes." He replied.
"Why? Where's your 'flavor of the week'?" Mei Zhuo questioned.
"I don't know. Still at the hotel, probably." He deadpanned with a shrug. He could almost feel his nose getting longer.
Next in the sequence of his plan of events was to take on the role of a stunned and magnetized lovesick idiot in front of an exquisitely goddess-like paragon of the female species. And so his eyes scanned the place.
Front... left... right...
And there she was.
Ximen froze on his feet.
She was beautiful. Astoundingly beautiful.
And that dress...
*Oh, Lord.* He suddenly felt the need for more oxygen.
He definitely didn't need to act for this one.
"Hello, Ximen." Xiao You greeted when their eyes met, partly snapping him out of his daze.
"Hi." He spoke and managed to form a small smile.
Mei Zhuo, Xiao Qiao, Lei, Jing, Ah Si, and Shan Cai looked at Ximen, then at Xiao You, then back again.
*Cupid so shot you in the butt, didn't he?* Mei Zhuo remarked mentally, trying hard not to smirk.
Ximen just couldn't bring himself to take his eyes off of her. Her dress stuck to her body and showed all the beautiful developments she'd undergone over those years that she was away. He never knew it was possible to look that sexy even with clothes on.
*Ximen! Wake up!* He heard a voice in his head scream, completely bringing him out of his reverie.
He remembered his plan and he silently prompted himself not to get sidetracked.
"Welcome back." He added casually.
And just like that, the tension that had seemed to be building up just a few seconds ago instantly dissolved into nothingness.
"Well, now that we're all here, may we eat?" Dao Ming Si chimed in.
As they all made their way towards the round table in the middle of the hall, Ximen was in deep thought. He couldn't afford to let himself be distracted. He just couldn't. It would ruin his perfectly thought out plan. A plan which entailed a lot of acting and lying. But if that was the only sure way he'd get his friends to lay off of his and Xiao You's case for good, he'd do it.
But first, he's got to get his act together.
*Right. I'm Ximen. I'm not that easily toppled.* He thought to himself in all confidence.
"Hey, man." Mei Zhuo came up to Ximen and draped his arm over his shoulder.
"She's pretty, isn't she?" Mei Zhuo whispered, glancing towards Xiao You's direction.
Ximen looked towards that direction as well. She was walking beside her best friend. Shan Cai said something and Xiao You's face glowed as she smiled. Ximen gulped and religiously reminded himself once again not to get deflected no matter what.
But seeing her smile like that...
"Yep. She is." Ximen replied.
And that was no lie.
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