| Fan Fiction |
by Livi
--Unknown
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The impressive Shangrilla hotel was located near the prudential center on the main avenue of Taipei city. The forty floors storey glass and chrome building was modern and at the same time elegant. To Ximen’s way of thinking, the structure was reflective of the Taipei high socialite themselves, expensive and unreachable.
Ximen had given his car key to the valet and now was on his way alone to the highest floor of this hotel where it was said in the V.I.P invitation he had received was the party would be held.
Yes he came alone with nobody was with him, particularly Xiao You wasn’t with him.
Oh, he had tried to ask her to come with him tonight or at least tried to contact her since last evening. But she had not picked the phone. He had known that Xiao You had a night shift that had been the reason why she had not answered the call and the later on she had not called him back, he had presumed that she had been so tired.
Nevertheless that had been the same scenario he had the next day. He had been so busy at work, he had had to attend meetings, telephone conferences and so many papers to sign.
Obviously he had no opportunity to call her and tell her about the invitation.
Even so if he had she would not want to go, he thought bitterly as he stepped off the elevator and into the world of lavish lifestyles
He straightened up, smoothing his elegant dark suit that accompanied with a white pristine white shirt and classic bow tie. He walked down a long corridor and heard the faint strains of music drawing nearer, music that filled with saxophones, clarinets and the soft brush of drums. Finally, he turned a corner and cleared another, shorter corridor and then found himself in a massive, glass enclosed ballroom that had clearly been designed for social function exactly like this.
Even from the entry, Ximen could look to the other side of the room and see the lights of Taipei twinkling against a dusky sky washed with the deep lavenders and gold of impending sunset. Wispy clouds smudged with purple stretched from one side of the panorama to the other, hinting at the darkness that would come soon. Inside, there were twinkling lights too, tiny white ones in scores of potted trees situated throughout the room, and crisscrossing the ceiling overhead. In the far corner, he saw the source of the jazzy music, a small combo near which a few couples were dancing. Portable bars and tables of elegant-looking appetizers and finger foods were interspersed throughout, and the place was packed with people. The people who some of them recognized him.
Throng of people elegantly dressed swarmed the room. Their heads turned as he entered and walked to the center of the room. Ximen had prepared the smile and yes he could smile with a perfect attitude as he had learned since the early age. He shook many handshake who sometimes he didn’t really only but only as acquaintances. However he knew that everyone wanted a piece of him, taking a closer glance at his profile, or even just to shake his hand.
Some of the guests started to greet him with some questions he had already been tired to hear about his business, personal life and who was a woman he was with. And just like usual with an expert diversion he lead the conversation to another subjects.
Finally after one torturing hour he could meet one of familiar faces.
Lei was standing proudly with his fiancée Jing next to him. Both of them looked absolutely stunning. Lei was wearing almost the same outfit as he was while Jing was wearing a satin sapphire gown that was really match to her silky skin. Her hair was being gracefully arranged.
“Hi Lei.” Ximen greeted him, extended his hand toward him.
“Hi Man, did you just come?” Lei replied as he took his hand to his. A slight of smile curled on his lazy lips, a typical of Hua Zhe Lei.
“No about almost half an hour ago, but I just could not pass those crowd easily.” Ximen complained half whispering to Lei.
“Well, no one to blame but you, Ximen.” Jing told him as she gave him a kiss of his cheek.
“Jing you are absolutely stunning.” Ximen praised her look which was immediately having a nodding agreement from Lei.
“Ximen see… That’s why I said that no one to blame but you.” Jing replied and smiled gratefully. Her hand waved to crowd impressively showing what she meant.
“Oh, that is so mean, Jing.” Ximen rolled his eyes, pretending to feel insulted nevertheless he could not hide the amusement when he heard what she had said. “Besides I genuinely told you the truth about how beautiful you are.” He turned his attention to Lei then started to tease him. “Uppss… I hope that I am not the first person who give her the compliment tonight, because otherwise… Man… you are in trouble.”
“Don’t worry Ximen, you are on the bottom list on the person who praised her tonight and definitely I am the first.” Lei said lazily however his eyes shone with love when his gaze was on Jing.
Ximen lifted both of his hands, giving the sign of surrender. “Okay, you win. By the way where are Mei Zhuo and A si?”
“Well we have not seen them, probably there are somewhere in this room. I called them about half an hour ago and they said that they will find us once they are here.” Lei answered.
“Or probably they have the same trouble like I have.” Ximen said cynically.
“Yeah maybe.” Lei indolently agreed. He and Jing had the same quandary earlier with the crowd.
“Well I am getting some drink, do you want some?” Ximen offered to them few seconds later on.
“Oh yes, I am getting them also.” Lei said and turned to his girlfriend Jing. “Honey do you want to have drink?”
“Yes please baby, I would like to have the champagne, please.”
“Oh, we’ll be back.” Lei said then together both of them strode to the other direction to take drinks from the table leaving Jing talking to other guests.
As soon as both of them approaching the drinks table, Lei with his placid tone asked him. “So how is the progress between you and Xiao You?”
Ximen sighed intensely as he took his glass. He didn’t say a word for a few seconds. He had to regulate his turmoil emotion that he had been feeling for the last forty eight hours. At some level he wanted so much to tell Lei how progressive his relation with Xiao You but the promise he had craft, made him to stop telling him the truth.
“Well… I…” Ximen began. He tried to say but the word failed him. Ximen again inhaled the air deeply as he started again. He could not hide the feeling anymore. Damned if Xiao You would be angry to him later on! Besides now if she wasn’t angry she was at least disappointed. “Well I and Xiao You have a good term now.” He finally said as he gulped his wine avoiding the famous pierce look of Hua Zhe Lei.
Lei slid his eyes curiously what he had said. “What do you mean that both of you have a good term now?” He repeated his last sentences.
Ximen paused to think, lowered his head pretending that the drink he was holding was the most fascinating sight to see.
“Well…” He started, looking up to meet his best friend scrutinizing eyes and decided to tell the truth to his best friend. “Xiao You and I now are…”
“Ximen! Lei!” Suddenly among the crowd he heard that his name was being called.
Both of them moved their head to the voice direction and found that A si, Shancai, Mei Zhuo and Xiao Qiao with Jing were coming toward them
“Hi people…” Ximen greeted all of them, kissed the girls nevertheless somewhere deep inside he didn’t know if he should to be excited or disappointed with the interruption.
“Where have you been? It seems that earth has swallowed you.” A si prodded him once all of them in front of him. He as the rest of most men in the room was wearing a immaculate black tuxedo
“I have been traveling for the past two months and I have a big project to handle, A si.” Ximen replied solemnly.
“Or you just found a new excitement of your woman, Ximen so you forgot us already.” Mei Zhuo commented briskly. Ximen knew that his best friend was joking nevertheless he could not help to take it seriously.
“No Mei Zhuo, I am really busy.” Ximen snapped irritated.
“I am just joking man.” Mei Zhuo was really taken back with his reaction. The shocked alarm on his handsome face and so the rest of his friends. It was infinite that Ximen was really acting so strength, as if he hid something.
“I know… I know… I am sorry, I just well… I…” Ximen sincerely apologized to them and tried to reason out his behavior but it failed him. He could not excuse nor tell them the truth why he acted like a wounded leopard.
“Ximen what’s the matter?” Shancai moved forward and looked at him intently. She was attractive tonight and very feminine. She wore a strapless pink gown with silk bodice and a V-cut into the front and two points to highlight the neckline and the skirt with tulle overlay had scattered sequins and bugle beads
Ximen avoided her eyes and shook his head trying to convince her that he had not had trouble. “Nothing Shancai, what makes you think that I have a problem?”
“Because I can see it, Ximen.” Shancai’s tone was as unyielding as her gaze.
“Really?” Ximen laughed nervously. “Man, you are so exaggerating.” He commented then turned his attention directly to Dao Ming Si. “A si, control you fiancée, please.” He pretended to yarn. “Excuse me, I have to meet my associate.” He then started to walk away from them. Since he was so afraid that he would reveal the truth to Shancai, he was scared that he would beg Shancai how to win Xiao You’s heart as it seemed he had failed her.
All of them looked at his back helplessly. They felt sorry to him and at the same time could not do anything to solve his problems because he didn’t even tell them what the problems were.
Ximen walked to different direction and almost reached his table when someone tapped his shoulders. He turned around and found that his father stood behind him.
“Hi father, glad that you could manage to come.” Ximen acknowledged him earnestly.
“Where is your date Ximen?” His father asked, his eyes bored to him mockingly as he saw that Ximen was alone.
Ximen looked at him expressionless. “No father unfortunately she could not make it tonight.” He said grimly and started to turn around to reach his table when his father’s cold voice halted him.
“Well probably it is a fortunate so I could introduce you to a very beautiful lady now.”
Ximen forced himself to return to his father and found that he was not alone anymore. Besides him standing a woman, a very gorgeous lady that even he had to admit it immensely.
“Please allow me to introduce miss Gabrielle Lee. She is a daughter of a good friend of mine in perth, Ximen.” His father said and although he said in refined tone, he could sense the warning there.
Ximen smiled with his gentlemen style to the woman in front of him. She, as he studied carefully was wearing a chic black gown that screamed designer creations. Her skin was flawless, her make up was perfectly put, her hair was done stylish French twisted and when she extended her hand he saw a glittering pink diamond rings on her fingers and on her wrist.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Gabrielle Lee.” Ximen courteously took her hand in his.
“So am I, and please do call me Gaby.” She said gracefully. “I heard so much about you, err… what should I call you?”
“Oh please do call me Ximen.” He replied humbly and from the corner of his eyes, he could see that his father seemed pleased to see him with Gabrielle.
“Well I shall repeat then, Ximen.” She laughed softly. “I heard so much about you from your father.”
“Really?” Ximen inclined his beautiful eyebrow. “And what did he say, Gaby?”
“Oh a lot of things. He spoke nothing but highly about you.” She replied and smoothened her gown that so entirely fit on her curvy body, like a Spanish Guitar.
“Well don’t believe what he said, is not hundred percents the truth.” He said slickly and gave his father now a warning glance.
Gabrielle laughed showing off her pearly teeth. “Oh should I hear from the main source then.” She said, her eyes started to flirt with Ximen and didn’t realize the silence battle Ximen and his old man was having.
“Well that would depend how good you are.” Ximen said pretending taking off her tease. Deep inside, he had to think that the chances for Gabrielle was quite slim. Although he had a problem with Xiao You, it didn’t mean the she was not in his mind. She was still and she would be. “Well I would like to take another drink would like some?” He said to her to steer clear of any seductive scene he would receive from her at any rate and at any time soon.
“Oh Yes please, Ximen. Thank you.” She said and Ximen without waiting another more second he glided to the waiter and took two glasses of champagne from the silver tray.
“So what do you think about her?” His father asked him once their conversation was out of the Gabrielle hearing radar.
“What do you mean father?” He turned around and face him while holding two sparkling drinks on his hands.
“Well I know you are smitten by her charm.” Ximen Daniel Lang smirked, glad that his plan was going to be successful.
Ximen slant of cynical smile on his molded lips. “Guess you are mistaken father.” He said coldly. “If you seem to forget that I am seeing someone now.” Then he strode away from him nevertheless he was being stopped by his father frosty voice.
“Yes for sure I don’t forget Ximen, her name is Xiao You Yang, if I am not mistaken?”
Ximen abruptly faced him and retreated to him who was still standing at the same spot. His eyes slit suspiciously. “How do you know her?”
“Oh I know a lot, Ximen. I have my sources also.”
“If you dare to…”
“What?” Ximen Daniel Lang asked waiting for him to finish his statement of admonition. “Don’t worry I won’t hurt your little precious creature, Ximen.” He said sarcastically. “If only you do what I ask you.”
“What do you want me to do, father?” He emphasized the word how he called his old man a father.
Ximen Daniel Lang’s shock gaze flickered briefly and nevertheless he could hide it well. “I want you to take her to have dates, Ximen. Entertain her while she is in Taipei.”
“Then you should forget that I have told you that I am seeing someone and I take it seriously this time.” He shook his head then once again left him.
“I think you should consider how serious you want to have this relationship, Ximen.”
Ximen half turned, his eyes met his father briefly. One side of his lips turned up in a cold smile. “And what makes you think that I should?”
A contemptuous grin painted on the steeling face then without uttering a single word he fished a brown envelope from his dinner jacket and gave it to him.
“What’s this?” He asked. He put the sparkling glasses on the table and took the envelope in his hand.
Fear suddenly came rushed in his vein when he slowly opened the sealed packet. He knew his father would do anything to get his way and if the only thing he could through Xiao You, he would never never forget him.
He hold his breath and once he opened the cover he saw pictures.
Pictures of Xiao You.
Pictures of Xiao You with Mike!
It seemed they had a great time, talking and comforting in each other arms!
A flash of jealous came to him replacing the nerves he had earlier. Then anger.
“What do you mean about this?” He didn’t look at his father. He kept holding the pictures with his hand while the other he clenched his fist tightly. He didn’t know where he should be angry to. Whether to Xiao You, Mike or even the news bearer, his father.
Did she really love him or Mike? Was it the way to tell him that eventually she made the wrong decision of loving him? was she in love with Mike?
“I think you should now that your woman after all love to have infidelity.”
His father low pitch voice woke him from his own bitterly thoughts
“And what makes you think that I believe you, father?” He asked trying to convince himself that he didn’t believe those pictures, nevertheless he could not do it. Those pictures said unspeakable words that he could not even utter.
“You don’t have to believe me, Ximen.” His father said in the winning sound. “Believe those pictures not me.” He said once last time and tapped his shoulder before he joined the crowd.