Chapter 100 - Unanticipated Reunions (1/2)
Song Sheng and Qian Meigui danced playfully, daring; they swayed, and she dipped back as she stared into his deep amber-topaz eyes. She was panting breathlessly as he guided her, her chest rising and falling as they held their gazes. But, they quickly composed themselves, afraid of getting lost in the moment.
Once the new song started, they decided to return to their tables, waiting out the evening to be over. Every guest left by 3 A.M and Song Sheng and Qian Meigui chose to leave the banquet to go home. They were both red from the exciting evening and the kissing session they had in a private room from the hall.
Song Sheng hung his arm around Qian Meiguis shoulders while his other hand held his jacket over his back. Qian Meigui held his waist with one of her arms, while her other hand held his hand from the arm that hung around her shoulders.
They were at the entrance when they were going to walk out of the banquet. As they walked, Qian Meigui heard someone call out her name, her real name. ”Qian Meigui?” said a familiar voice.
Both Song Sheng and Qian Meigui froze on the spot, abruptly. But it was Song Sheng who guided her to keep walking without glancing behind them, making them move forward. Qian Meigui kept her head low as she continued to walk, but the voice said, ”It's me, Qian Hongli.”
Qian Meigui froze again. After all this time, why now? Why is he here?
She gritted teeth before turning around sharply. But she was startled to see the man that resembled her father, and most importantly, her. She narrowed her gaze, ”Who are you?” she asked him, though Qian Meigui knew who it was; she wanted confirmation.
The man smiled, and it was the same one from the person she bumped into at the Long Banquet, without wearing his mask. ”Is it you?” he asked, unbelieving.
Song Sheng stepped to her side, grasping her hand protectively, reminding her that he was there. It gave her more courage. She then turned to face the man in front of them, the ghost of her past. ”I asked who are you before I report you for harassment and stalking,” she said to him. Qian Hongli appeared to be disheartened, ”I'm sorry,” he began. ”I was just surprised since I couldn't believe it was you the first time I had seen you. I thought you died with my brother and his wife all those years ago.”
Qian Meigui's eyes widened slightly. Was he her uncle? But it's been so long since she had seen anyone from her father's side.
Qian Hongli continued, ”I figured it could have been someone that happened to look like her. But then I received an anonymous email saying that you were with the Song family. I should have known; I should have checked,” he said solemnly.
Qian Meigui let go of Song Sheng's hand, clenching her fingers together. She didn't know what to think of it. It was too overwhelming. ”Thank you, sir,” she began. ”But I am not interested in my extended family. If my parents didn't trust me with any of them besides the Song family, then I am not interested. Good day,” she said before turning, walking away with Song Sheng.
”Wait,” he called out desperately. He sprinted towards them, but Song Sheng blocked him in front of her, towering her uncle. Qian Hongli paused, reaching something from his pocket. He gave her his business card, ”if you need anything, please contact me,” he said before turning around and walking away from them.
Song Sheng took Qian Meigui home to tell Song Rui about what happened.
”You need to leave the city,” Song Rui began. ”If what you said was true, then Qian Hongli isn't the first one to found out about you being alive. But I think he was the first one to know how to find you because of me, because of us.”
Song Rui kept running his fingers through his hair, mumbling some things to himself that were incomprehensible. Song Sheng and Qian Meigui glanced at each other worryingly.