"You know Li Wei happened just after that scandal. Will you still say that you believe me after knowing that? After knowing the chances of her coming in this world because of that night", she asked, trying to test the depths of his words.
With her past experiences from the people around, she could not just bring herself to believe him, even knowing his level of honesty. The fault was not in his words rather in her broken capability to trust anyone now.
"Li Wei is that beautiful part of your life that can only enhance your beauty. The shining star that marked the new beginning of your life. How can anyone hate her or doubt her existence when she was born only to be loved. My beliefs on you are not going to waver even after knowing what you are still fearing to reveal", he said. His tone was soft, firm and resolute, giving an undeniable warmth and assurance to the woman.
"Neither my parents nor my friends, not even this world … no one believed me. Then how are you so sure about me. Don't you feel that others may be right? Don't you feel that their thoughts might be right?" There was an expectancy in her eyes which was clearly going against the intention of her words.
Though her words were asking him to take a chance and believe the things people once said about her. But her eyes were still begging to not lose his trust and hope in her.
Feng Shufen looked at her for some time and then curtly replied as if he had nothing to think about it, "No!"
"Why so much trust?"
"Because I have started to know you better than you know yourself"
"That means you will never question me, nor blame me for whatever I do?" She asked again, not understanding how she should react to this.
He simply shook his head assuring her. "I won't."
"There were people who used to promise me saying …"
Before she could complete her words, the man interrupted her calmly, moving his fingers lightly through her hair. "Li Xue, your life before and your life now have got a big difference. I was not by your side then. But I am not going to leave your side now. You will always have me on your back. Trusting and supporting you always. For whatever you do, you will always have me to support you the way no one has does".
Saying his words, he leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss over her forehead and then embraced her in his arms. And that was all that Li Xue needed. His promises were not required; his beating heart was enough to assure her.
"Don't worry! Li Wei is just my daughter, only mine! Not from that scandal! Not from that night", she mumbled lightly over his chest, not knowing whether the man had even heard her or not. She just felt her nerves getting calm hearing the deep musical tune of his heartbeat.
But then suddenly he asked, "Your career as a model … how did you get that in your plans?"
Modelling was not an uncommon profession in Chiboa. Many girls dreamt about it but making a dream become your passion was not easy for everyone. And knowing about Li Xue, he was sure that his woman once had a burning passion for her modelling profession. A passion that no one had ever matched in the industry.
"Ahh! That was something I had since I was ten years old. But that is no more relevant as everything ended in the past and now I am a good, sorry a very good dessert chef" She paused giving a smug face then quickly added her words to ask, "Don't you think I am best like this?" She said blinking her eyes at him.
The man looked into her shiny eyes and asked himself internally. How could I even try to resist her such innocent and clear eyes?
"You are great, even if you don't do anything. But I won't want your dreams to remain unfulfilled. If your heart desires modelling, then achieve it. I am sure you can do it, as long as you want to" he said, looking deep into her eyes.
But Li Xue shook her head. "I lost so many things and passion for modelling was one of those things. Though dreams never die, still now I don't feel like my dreams have remained with any meaning. I am all happy with the things I already have with myself now. Both my profession and the people around".
How could he deny her words now? She has simply KOed him by saying that.
Nodding his head to her, he simply said, "As my lady says. But remember whenever you want to go for that dream again, you can just hop in. I would cheer you up from the sidelines"
"Sidelines?" she asked, raising her brows at him and Feng Shufen's eyes blinked once, accepting his words.
"With charming Mr Beelzebub standing at the sidelines, won't that make it the main stage of the show. Pretending to be so innocent, are you planning to take the limelight of the ramp?". She said in a joking manner.
The man looked at her, lifting the side of his lips slightly. "If your logic is that effective then you can take me to the ramp along with you. I would love to help my woman by standing beside her", he said, making Li Xue's eyes narrow at him.
"Not a bad idea, I guess. But forget it since in no near future I will be joining the industry back. I have no reasons to do so", she shrugged her shoulders back in nothingness. When she did that, the man could not help but bring his hands to pat her head, lovingly.
"Fine, do as you want. But for now, let's go inside, your cheeks are growing red because of cold air here" he said and then took her inside.
***
At the same time at some high-end club-restaurant, Feng Yi Lan was sitting with a man. Her lips held a smile that was simply not leaving her alluring face. "Yes, she is back in the city. I am so happy to get her back here. You know how I am without her!"
"Yes, yes! I have witnessed it all in our high school days. You two were the best mates of our times", the man said, taking another sip from his glass. He looked handsome and was continuously grabbing the eyes of the woman around.
"Yeah, we were and we still are. But how is your life going? Sorry I almost forgot to apologize. Last weekend I got some work and had to postpone our plans. But this weekend, we will definitely rock", she said as continue to munch the food from her plate.
The man smiled too as he replied, "With you around, I can't doubt that. But is Li Xue still the same. I have heard that she has suffered a lot in the past years. And she …"
"Don't you dare pity her. She is not a charity case that needs your sympathy. She is all fine, strong and independent. Much better than you …" Before the man could even get to complete his words or clear his intentions, Yi Lan jumped in with her defence sword and shield.
Seeing her jumping over conclusions, the man knocked her head lightly. "Are you crazy? Do you think I can dare to do that? I know what type of woman Li Xue was and knowing her from the past, pity is the last thing I can dare to think of"
Hearing him, Yi Lan too got relaxed as she let him complete his words. "Furthermore you too know it. Li Xue has always been the woman whom I have truly admired from the first day itself. Meeting her for a blind date is something I have always dreamed."
"Hey, you can't call it date yet. I have not said anything such to her and if I bring that word to her then there is no way she would show up there. So better think of this meeting as getting together. If things go well between you two, then you can announce it as a blind date or else …" she informed and the man nodded in an instant.
But at this moment something caught Yi Lan's eyes. Her gaze turned to look at a certain direction, spotting someone familiar amid the crowd. Her expression turned frozen for a moment but within a second it returned to usual as if she realized something wrong.