Old Acquaintance

The woman came closer and stood beside Shui Xian as she continued excitedly, "Oh my God! It's really you!" Since her attention was solely on Shui Xian, she had still to notice Raelle's presence. But Raelle wasn't bothered by it at all. "As soon as I walked through the entrance, I knew it had to be you. It's been so long." Seeing how quiet he was, she asked, "You don't remember me?"

Shui Xian nodded his head and looked at her, "I do. Xu Jinglei. Of course, I remember you."

The woman almost jumped in excitement, "I can't believe you really remember me. I mean I know we were in the same class back in high school. But... It really surprised me that you remember me."

"It's been years but even you still remember me," replied Shui Xian in neither a soft nor a harsh tone. He didn't seem like he was talking to an old friend but rather a stranger. At least, it was completely different from the way he spoke to Raelle.

"That's because I had a crush on you back then," Xu Jinglei told bluntly. "But there is nothing new about that. Almost all the girls in our grade had a crush on you. So, we know you well. But you remember me is really a shock." She sighed out heavily, "After all, you always had eyes for only one. The rest of us didn't even exist for you."

Shui Xian knew this conversation would come up since the moment he recognized her. Who didn't know about his love story back in high school? Not just his grade, they had been famous all over the school. And even today, people loved to bring it up. That's why he didn't want to meet any of his old acquaintances.

"I heard you got married to Bebe right after college. We all knew it was gonna happen sooner rather than later. But where is she? Aren't you here with her?" Only now Xu Jinglei's eyes shifted from Shui Xian's face as she looked around but as she noticed Raelle sitting opposite him, she frowned in confusion. "This is...?"

"She's Elle," began Shui Xian without any hesitation. "My wife."

"Huh?" Xu Jinglei was bewildered. She was at a loss for words for a while. She continued to look at Shui Xian and Raelle before she shook her head and gave Raelle a nod saying, "Sorry, I didn't see you earlier."

"It's alright," replied Raelle calmly.

After she moved from her initial shock, Xu Jinglei turned back to Shui Xian and said, "Well, congratulations! You know my family emigrated to Country C right after high school. So, I'm really behind the news." She took a pause and added, "Oh, I also came here to spend holidays with my husband. We are staying at the same resort. So, how about we gather for dinner together?"

"We wouldn't like to intrude," said Shui Xian and before she could open her mouth to say something, he went on, "We already have plans for tonight."

"Oh, okay. Then I won't be disturbing you guys any longer. See you around!"

When she finally left, Shui Xian turned his attention to Raelle, "She is a friend from high school. We weren't that close but we had been classmates for 3 years. She was a little too excited to see me after such a long time. You must know this kind of friendship between classmates."

"I don't," replied Raelle. "Because I've never been to a normal school. Everywhere I went, everyone had been older than me. And because I was always jumping grades, I never had time for things like friendship. No matter what kind."

"Oh," was the only thing that came out of his mouth for a while. "Then it must have been difficult to make friends."

"Don't know," she retorted. "Because I never tried making friends. Too troublesome!"

"You don't have any friends?" he questioned.

She shook her head before nodding her head almost immediately, "Actually, there is one."

"There is?"

She blinked her eyes, "Yeah, there is one! I call him sticky bubblegum but he says we are best friends."

"Sticky bubblegum?" he repeated.

"He is like one," she replied. "He is very persistent. Or calling him foolishly stubborn would be better. Anyway, he is the only one who managed to bear with the peculiar me without getting tired."

Maybe she didn't know it herself but when she talked about this friend of hers, her demeanor wasn't as indifferent as it usually had been. Shui Xian found this peculiarity quite amusing. It showed that there were more people she valued than just her grandfather and Yanyan.

"Is it the same friend who sent you the gift in the morning?" he inquired curiously.

"Who else would dare send me a gift like that?" she retorted. "It's only him trying to be funny."

"I'm suddenly looking forward to meeting this friend," said Shui Xian being very honest. He indeed was very curious to know about her only friend. There had to be something special about this friend to manage to stay beside her.

"I hope you don't meet him though."

"Huh? Why not?"

"He says the only plus points I have are that I'm gorgeous and I'm also rich. Apart from that, I have nothing to brag about. And he pities my husband for getting stuck with a wooden log like me."

Shui Xian chuckled at that, "Now, I know. He is definitely your best friend!"

Raelle shrugged her shoulders and stood up saying, "I'm going to the ladies' room. I'll be right back."

Shui Xian nodded his head, "Okay."

Raelle found her way to the ladies' room and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her cheeks looked ruddy because of playing in the snow. She washed her hands and splashed some hot water on her face as well. As she was taking the paper towel to wipe her hands, the door of the ladies' room opened and the woman from earlier entered.

Seeing Raelle, a bit of surprise appeared on her face and she said, "Oh, you're Master Xian's wife."

Raelle gave a nod of acknowledgment but said nothing.

"Sorry about earlier," Xu Jinglei spoke again.

"For what?" questioned Raelle indifferently.

"For..." Xu Jinglei was lost for words not knowing how to say them.