Dinner time with my parents was silent and we had nothing to talk about.
"Xiao Xiao, How's your health ?" My dad asked.
"It's fine dad."
"That's good then." Silence.
"The doctor called earlier and asked you to go back in for a check-up in 4 days." My mom said.
"Oh, okay then." Silence again. "My professor at school... Chose me to go to a Jewelry Convention with her. Can I go ?"
My dad reached over and patted my hand softly. "Xiao Xiao, how many times do I have to tell you ? Huh ? You're no longer a child now. It's your decisions whether you go or not, but just realize. If anything goes wrong, we won't be responsible. It was your choice, you knew what you were doing and what you were getting yourself into. Yes ?" I smiled and walked over to hug my dad.
"Thanks so much daddy !" Dad laughed and patted my arm softly as my mom smiled.
Two days passed and I was in my Professor's car ready to leave.
"Zhang Xiao, Let me tell you something okay ? Once we get there, we must be really polite and mannered. Looking at how you presented yourself to me after returning from your accident, it... You should tone down a bit."
"Oh, I'm sorry then." She just laughed.
"Dumb child, I admire the fact you can talk so openly though." I just smiled and looked to my teacher.
"Professor Li, I wanted to ask. Do you know anyone at the convention ?"
"Of course ! Why would I go if I wasn't invited by a friend ?" I just sat there quietly and watched the road go past us as we drove by. There was a heavy feeling crawling up on my spine, I had a feeling that things weren't going to go so well.
We arrived at the ballroom known as The Peninsula a couple minutes later. We both got out of the car and walked towards the entrance. Showing our badges to the security guards, we walked in and found ourselves seats within a few moments. I looked at Professor Li and asked,"From all the students in the school, why did you choose me ?"
She simply smiled and said,"Well... Your Magnolia Hairpin got to me. From all my years of teaching, it's rare to actually see a piece of jewelry with heart and passion like yours. Seeing how much thought you put into the drawing and even the history behind it gave it some life. Why did you choose the 4th Son of Kangxi ? There was many Prince's for you to choose from you know."
That question struck me, how was I supposed to answer that ? Tell her that I'm the girl in the painting back in the Museum ? Or tell her my whole life story hoping she won't think I'm nuts ? Either way, I wasn't prepared for this question. "I just feel that he was a good Emperor too. His son Qianlong took the throne after Yong Zheng passed away. He was an outstanding Emperor, but without the teachings of his father in the first place, he wouldn't have been so good at what he was doing. Don't you think so ?" Professor Li nodded.
"Zhang Xiao, is your minor History ?"
I smiled and shook my head,"It's not. I'm only majoring in Jewelry Design."
"Oh, you know your history too well to only have one major then." I just sat there and smiled to myself.
After a couple moments of people running around, going in and out, the microphone on stage came to a sound.
"Test, test... 1,2.. 1,2... Hello everyone ! Thank you all and welcome to Chow Tai Fook's Convention !" The host on stage was a pretty young man with tons of energy. He doesn't look too bad looking, and he was pretty tall.
Chow Tai Fook was the most famous jewelry makers in China; 117 stores, and 1,700 outlets. By 2016, they're predicted to have 2,000 stores. This was where most of the students at Meng Dai Hai's Jewelry College wanted to be hired into. It wouldn't be wrong to join their company.
"I'm Hu Xiao Fu and will be your MC for the evening. Today, we will be showing many different sets of jewelry from different companies to show what kind of work they have been doing for the past 10 years. And don't be to ready to leave yet ! Mr. Huang, the owner of Chow Fai Fook, as decided to auction a piece of his own Collection, Love Spell ! Please welcome Mr. Huang up here to show us his Love Spell Collection !"
Everyone began to clap and the young MC stepped aside to the Stage. Just then my phone began to ring, looking at the ID it displayed Huang Di. What does this guy want ? Looking to Professor Li, I smiled and she gestured for me to take it. I left nervously outside and took the call.
"Hello ?"
"Hello ? Xiao Xiao ! Are you feeling better now ? I've been trying to reach you but-"
I cut him off,"What do you want ? I have nothing to say to you anymore."
"But I still do. The whole situation with Xiao Mei, I can explain it to you Xiao Xiao. I just need you to listen to me one last time."
"You listen to me. Xiao Mei and your affairs, has nothing to do with me anymore. You guys can go off and do whatever you want. The sooner you move on the sooner you'll be done with everything. Don't keep counting on me to come back. I'm not mad, neither am I upset. Right now, I have more things to deal with than you." I hung up the phone and took a deep breathe. What exactly was this guy thinking ?
I climbed back up the stairs to return inside the building, as my eyes was above the steps... 14th Prince... He was standing on the stage wearing a suit that fit him so well. He had a huge smile on his face, was he the owner of Chow Tai Fook ?
I couldn't understand this. I thought back to 4th Prince in the museum, I thought I was never going to see that face again. Just like that feeling, I never thought I was going to see 14th Prince again. One more time, my vision came to a blur, my heart beated as it was a Taiko Drum, I couldn't believe my eyes; it really was 14th Prince.
I lost grip of my phone that instant, not bothering to pick it up. I had more on my mind to worry about other than my phone that's probably in bad shape now. My eyes were completely over flooded and I can barely see anymore.
"Miss, you dropped your phone." My phone suddenly appeared by my side so I turned to grab it after quickly wiping the sweat from my eyes.
8th Prince ? Why.... I can't understand any of this... Why is this happening to me again ? What does fate really have in store for me now ?
I just looked at him as I fought my tears back, I really couldn't believe that it was happening all over again.
The look on his face was obvious that he was anxious, and worried both at once. Digging into his pocket, he took out a handkerchief then held it out in front of me. "Don't cry anymore, there's a handful of people here."
I still remember the first time he said that to me. I was still living in his manor with Jie Jie; I remember Qiao Hui dressed me in so many layers of clothes to welcome 8th Prince back that it became so hot and stuffy I began to wipe my sweat on my sleeve. He came and also offered me a handkerchief and in the same caring, soft voice, he told me not to cry.
I just looked at him in complete shock. I really couldn't believe what I was seeing. If this is what's planned for all of us, then wouldn't the heavens be too cruel ? No matter how I tried to register the information into my head, I couldn't do it. I knew they were nothing like 4th Prince, 14th Prince, or 8th Prince. I knew it, but my chest hurt like I was poisoned.
He took the handkerchief back and stuffed it in his pocket after noticing that I wasn't going to take it even if he held it there for a whole day.
"Miss, are you okay ?" I tried to pull myself together to give him an answer, but I still had to swallow the tears that were streaming out. I gave him a weak and forced smile; he smiled to me and took out the handkerchief again.
That smile was so familiar although I knew the one giving it to me was not 8th Prince, or was it ? Does he still remember me ?
I took the handkerchief and quickly wiped my tears, he stood there still smiling. Then I looked at him and cleared my throat. "Sorry, I'll return your handkerchief back to you sometime."
He smiled again,"No need to trouble yourself, you can keep it. May I ask for the reason why you're crying ?" I was not ready to answer this question. Would you believe me if I told you ? 300 years ago, 8th Prince was in love with me... Now, we were complete strangers. Just like me and 4th Prince, he didn't even recognize me. Am I going to meet him again too then ?
"My... Boyfriend and I broke up recently. And... He just gave me a call to try and clear things up." He looked at me with such a pitied look.
"Mind letting me know ?"
"I don't know, I'm sure he had his reasons. I probably lacked something he was looking for and found it somewhere else." He once again smiled so softly, just like 8th Prince, he seemed so virtuous and easy going.
"Don't think too much. It's not good for your head. You should quickly go inside before all the seats are taken." I watched him walk in and just continued to stand outside. Am I ready to go inside only to face my past companions again ? Am I ready to face the fact that I'm no longer Maertai Ruoxi... He's no longer 8th Prince... The man in the museum is no longer 4th Prince... And the one on stage is not 14th Prince... ?
Professor Li came out only to find my eyes red and puffy behind the thick glasses. She walked over and looked at me worryingly.
"Zhang Xiao, Are you okay ? Why are your eyes so red ? Did you just cry ?" I said nothing, but smiled to her and nodded my head motioning that I was okay. She put her arm around me and said,"Let's go inside. Sitting out here and crying isn't all that good for you, okay ?" I nodded and took a deep breath before going in. Whatever was waiting inside for me, I knew I had to face it; it was the truth now, and I couldn't run from it.
My teacher took my hand and led me back inside the ballroom which was already packed with people in Tuxedos and Glamorous dresses. I tried to avoid looking up at the stage, but when the familiar voice came on, I couldn't help myself but to look up. It really was 14th Prince; his face, his smile... And his eyes... Everything was still the same.
"Hello and Good morning to everyone. I'm Huang Ke Yi. I'm sorry for having you all wait for such a long time. My father wasn't able to make it due to illness, so he sent me here instead so please forgive his absence today. Chow Tai Fook was founded in 1929 by my Great Grandfather, Huang Ri Bei. He managed the company in Hong Kong and spread it worldwide by the 1960s. He passed away unfortunately shortly after and the company was passed on to my Grandfather Huang Deng He. On 2003 March 7th, he also passed away handing the company over to my father, Huang Da Men who personally designed and made the Love Spell Collection by hand. This collection was made in remembrance to the first time he met my mother. He said it was like she put a love spell on him. This collection consists of a necklace, a bracelet, a ring, and a pair of earrings. The stone he used was the red ruby. The chains of each piece is made of nothing else, but pure gold itself. I hope that we will all cooperate and get along just fine as though he was here. I also hope that we will be able to entertain you with the schedule we have planned for you all today. Thank You."
Everyone in the room began to clap and a younger girl came on stage to hand him the so called Love Spell Collection. That girl... Who is she ? I can almost recognize her... Why does she look so familiar... ?
When she turned to face the crowd to do a simple bow... My face was once again still... I looked away quickly, then turned back to look at the girl standing next to 14th Prince just to make sure what I saw was correct... Princess Min Min ?
I couldn't stay here anymore. If I was to stay and maybe even be reunited with more people, I wouldn't be able to stand it. I got up from the seat I was sitting in and began to rush to the door. Professor Li came after me and pulled me aside when she caught up.
"Student Zhang ! Where are you going ? Are you okay ?"
I tried to reply in a calm voice,"I'm sorry Professor. I... I really... I just remembered something... My parents... They... They want me to-"
"Zhang Xiao, You told me that your parents allowed you to come. Why can't you stay inside with me ?"
"There's things... Inside there that I can't stand to see... It's like... Everything is going to happen again."
Professor Li looked confused "Zhang Xiao, you don't feel comfortable in there or something ? What's going to happen again ?"
"I'm sorry Professor. I'll just... Take my leave now before anything else happens. I'm sorry."
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