Qian Meigui could not concentrate much on watching her favourite shows, not with Song Sheng sitting calmly right next to her on the other end of the couch. Qian Meigui kept stealing glances at him, as she also attempted to calm her erratic heartbeats. She cursed herself for acknowledging him, but she quickly composed herself by watching her shows as if she felt nothing.
Amid the falling action of her drama, Song Sheng rose and left the living room. Qian Meigui tried to see where he went, but the wall of the living s.p.a.ce blocked the entryway, kitchen and dining hall. After a few moments, she heard him return, and she shot her curious attention back to the television screen, suddenly finding the drama interesting again.
Song Sheng turned off the outside lighting, approaching her. He then stood in front of her, holding out a bowl of soup towards her, and she lifted her hands to take it. She stared at the soup. Was that what he was cooking earlier?
"What is this?" she asked. It was boiling due to the steam. "Chicken soup," he responded. Qian Meigui was in shock, trying to recollect his words. "Why did you make me soup?" she asked.
Song Sheng returned to his seat on the couch. He glanced at her with a deep side-eyed glance, his gold-flecked eyes glinting with amus.e.m.e.nt. He loosed a breath before saying, "From my experience and years of knowing you. Soup cheers you up."
Qian Meigui"s eyes widened, her jaw nearly dropped. She looked at him with surprise and bewilderment. Song Sheng remembered? He returned to looking at the screen, face masked with reservation. Qian Meigui felt warm by his gesture; she slightly curled her lips as she blew her hot soup. She then began to consume it.
Song Sheng slightly peaked at her. She looked so peaceful as she blissfully ate her soup while looking at the screen. She was, indeed, a sight in her ivory nightwear. Song Sheng preferred her naturally wavy hair, but the way it cascaded over the curve of her ear, framing her shoulders, stopping at the dip of her back; he felt like reaching out to her. But he didn"t dare.
Qian Meigui was watching her program when she stilled, realizing that a heated stare directed towards her. Her heart picked up, racing. She was not sure what to do, so she decided to place the bowl on the low table in front of her. She then abruptly turned as she said, "Sheng."
Song Sheng was resting his head on his knuckles, propped by his elbow when she called out to him. "Yes?" he answered, his tone sincere.
"Erm...How is your movie coming along?" she asked him.
"Good. I nearly finished all my scenes."
"Oh," she began. "You seem to have a lot of fans," she a.s.sumed.
Song Sheng chuckled, shaking his head, denying it. Qian Meigui smiled. "It"s true. You can easily go online and see that you"re all they talk about."
Song Sheng glanced at her with depthless eyes. He crossed his arms, and leaned back into the couch, "Does that mean you"ve searched for me?" he asked playfully and deeply.
Qian Meigui puffed her cheeks. "It"s not that difficult to find out," she said. Surprisingly, Song Sheng barked a laugh. He looked at her with eyes like crescent moons and gleaming teeth. He then reached out to pull one of her puffed cheeks. Qian Meigui knitted her eyebrows, but she couldn"t pretend to be angry any longer, so she laughed with him.
"Hmm," Song Sheng began when they started to calm. "How could I forget you, though?" he questioned. Qian Meigui froze. She felt like her heart couldn"t take it anymore. She clenched her teeth, looking away from him. She grabbed a pillow to throw at him playfully, but just as she was about to hit him, he caught her wrist.
"Mei," Song Sheng called out with a low and smokey voice. She turned to face him. "Are you tired?" he asked her. She thought for a moment. It was almost 2 A.M. She dropped the pillow, nodding, exhaustion hitting her. After receiving an answer, he waved his hand toward him, encouraging her to move closer. Qian Meigui flushed. What"s with him lately?
She shuffled over to him slowly until she was sitting next to him. But she was not sure what he wanted. He then pulled out something from his pocket. It was a pink peony flower that looked like the ones that surrounded the fountain from the banquet.
He presented it in front of her face. "Why do you have that?" she asked, her eyebrows knitted. He then placed it on the curve of one of her ears. "I thought that it would look good on you," he admitted. Qian Meigui glanced at him, entranced. He gazed at her intensely; his eyes were lingering on her lips; his expression mixed with longing and desire.
Qian Meigui appeared to be lost. He then reached out, gently grabbing her head, and laid her on his lap. Qian Meigui"s hair spilled over his thighs. He began to stroke her hair gently. "Sleep," he said to her. She glanced up at him as Song Sheng ran his fingers from her forehead to the strands of her hair, ma.s.saging her head gently, avoiding the flower in her ear.
Qian Meigui"s eyes grew heavy, and slowly, she fell into a deep sleep.
Song Sheng realized she was sleeping when her eyelashes began to flutter, and her breathing deepened. They stayed like that for an hour, as he continued to soothe her. Just when he was about to rise from their position, she turned and clutched at his waist as if trying to rea.s.sure some sense of security.
It had always been like this. When Qian Meigui had nightmares or dark thoughts about her past, he still had to stay with her until she slept; otherwise, she would be restless. Song Sheng knew the risks when he left the country for two years; he knew that he left her alone. But he had to escape what begun to blossom between them.
But now, he realized that no matter how much time or distance, Qian Meigui was engraved deep in his heart, and he couldn"t let go.
Song Sheng lifted her gently, taking her into his arms. He princess-carried her into her bedroom. He placed her under the covers, gently settling her down. Song Sheng leaned over, tucking her in bed. He then sat on the edge of the bed, gazing at her.
After a few moments, Song Sheng lifted one of her cold hands to his mouth, gently kissing her knuckles. He was now determined to win her over.
Song Sheng then strode away, leaving the room.