Bloom

Three Months Later

In the mere span of three months, gossip had spread like wildfire in Yibo University, on how their senior and alumni Yu Bing would be 'snatching the bride' during the rising celebrity Lu Lu's engagement party in Bali. Thanks to Yu Bing's glib tongue, he had secured an opportunity to inspire Lu Lu in working with him to film a few advertisements to promote Yi Xiang Yuan Group's products, ranging from perfume and cosmetics to garments. If the advertisements went well, Yi Xiang Yuan would consider appointing Lu Lu as a spokeswoman of their brands. For the purpose of filming the advertisement, Bing had engaged the services of a director and producer by the name of Steve Yee, whom was the older brother of Myra's friend Sera Yee. (Snatching the bride, or simply, qiang qin, is a term used from the olden days when the bride or groom would be abducted by someone who was in love, or merely desired the bride or groom).

These rumours had greatly concerned Myra, but fortunately she had secured some assistance from her friends in getting to the island. Among those who would be going for the trip would be Sera, Situ Shao and a few mutual friends who had witnessed the kiss between them during the game, most importantly the gossip king Tom. The plan was for Steve to get them into the advertisement area by smuggling them in with him as film extras and assistants. Of course, Myra had no qualms about parting with a little cash to get her friends on board, since her father was loaded.

In contrast to Lu Lu's charismatic personality and 'drop dead gorgeous' flawless beauty, Myra was more drawn-back, but was adorable and charming with her large round eyes. Lu Lu was much older, being a few years Bing's senior, and often dressed more voluptuously since she was after all, a rising celebrity with some reputation. She was however, raised in a much more traditional manner, so the only person she had broken the news with had been Superman, whom Lu Lu had met during a conference when she was promoting a product six months ago. Myra had a more petite figure than Lu Lu, and was raised with a silver spoon in her mouth, so she tended to be more willful and spoiled than any of the girls in her social circle. However, the majority of the students in Yibo University worshipped Yu Bing, and shipped Myra and Bing as a power couple, since they were both from similar social backgrounds. Maybe it was because of Lu Lu's more senior age, Myra did not know.

The girls packed a few swimsuits and dresses for the vacation, and squabbled about why their hand luggage were much heavier than that of the boys. Men always had it easy with their packing and what they chose to bring, opposed to women's bags filled with cosmetics, lotions, creams and a bunch of unnecessary daily-usage items. As usual, Tom would propose to carry the girls' luggage for them, at a price. Tom also had an older half-brother Dan, whom was quieter, but would make a proper 'pack-mule' for the girls, since Myra could afford their 'porter fees', anyway.

.............

Yu Bing reclined in the business class of the aircraft and looked about him. Since he was a member of the upper class society, he was sure that not many would be flying business class like he was, until he heard a yawn and realised there was someone sitting beside him. He had made his judgment too early.

"Oh, hello, Yu Bing," a head filled with dark hair appeared from under a blanket.

"Myra, going to Bali on vacation?" Yu Bing asked with a smile.

"Ah, yes. My girlfriends and I are headed to the Pasir Putih (White Sand Beach). What about you?"

"By girlfriends, you included those two, am I correct?" Yu Bing asked casually. He was obviously referring to the two, Tom and Dan. She gave a faint nod, appearing a bit lethargic. Anyway, it was an eighteen-hour flight, with one stopover at Taipei.

"Perhaps you should rest first. It is a long flight, after all," he said. She yawned, and dozed off. She had stayed up all night to pack her luggage, and even now, she wasn't confident if the clothes she had brought along would be sufficient. She had more clothes than ever to last her a lifetime, of which she would often give away to her best friends.

Yu Bing closed his eyes and absorbed himself in the memory of his last conversation with his father.

"Son, I knew about your obsession for Lu Lu long ago, and how she has rejected you time and again. A woman like her is not worth your attention. You know who you are, Xiao Bing. You are meant for bigger matters. She doesn't suit you."

"Dad, I can handle matters on my own."

"My son, you are still young and have a long way to go. I hope you can consider a blind date with a woman. Her marriage will be an union between our family and that of hers, and she will help you in your career."

"Who are you talking about?"

"Myra Yang, the daughter of your Uncle Yang."

"But I like Lu Lu."

Yu Bing shook his head as he contemplated the words of his father. In the majority of their conversations, he had been wise, but this time, he felt that his father was attempting to restrain him and coerce him into a marriage of convenience, furthermore to strengthen the business ties between the Yang Hotel Group and Yi Xiang Yuan Group. As much as he loved his father, his father was extremely difficult to reason with.

But at the same time, hadn't the memory of her kissing him wildly that night during the 'kiss game', stuck deep inside his head? Time and again, he had been bothered about the kisses they had shared that night. Perhaps, it was because it was the first kiss he had ever had, that made him feel differently, but why did that particular memory of Myra, with her pretty face and closed eyes waiting for a kiss, stick in his head? He reminded himself, this is a person he grew up with, seeing her face and how she looked like as a child. And yet, she was now like a flower in bloom, with a luscious figure and long legs, and eyes as innocent as a dove. He could not keep his eyes off the sleeping Myra, and how demure she looked while asleep. She was simply reminding him of the wild kiss she had given to him that night, and how it had been so soothing to him while it had lasted. He had even recalled it so vividly.

He felt so confused, especially when he had decided that the person he was dead set in getting had been Lu Lu.