When Jin returned to his suite later that day, he was quite troubled to find that Xiao Mai was not in hers. About to take out his cellphone, he was surprised by the sight of the balcony before him. Proceeding with some more steps forward, he soon realised that the whole area there was decorated with colourful balloons on every visible side. Beyond them, Jin finally saw Xiao Mai standing at the far front beholding the view outside with her back facing him. He quickly ran up to her, "Xiao Mai, so you've been here all along..."
She immediately turned around. In doing so, she dropped a thing in her hand.
Jin instinctively picked it up, "This...a paper crane?"
Xiao Mai smiled sheepishly, "Blame it on my uncreative brain...I just don't know how to come up with interesting, original ideas...so did things in a straightforward manner..."
She then picked up one of the remaining free paper cranes on the chair by their side and said, "You know, after all you did for me this morning,...oh wait, rather ever since the first day we met,...I feel that hope turns out to be so close to us each and every time...Jin, you gave that to me..."
Listening to the way she described so, Jin was impressed, "That hope?"
She nodded earnestly in response, "Right, it doesn't make us weary of each other...In fact, each new day is greatly looked forward to...As if, time never ends...?"
Jin could tell from her gaze at him, that there was much joy and enthusiasm in those precious pair of eyes.
Xiao Mai then shrugged, "So hope, within the limited space of my brain's dictionary is represented by all these - paper cranes..."
He smiled as he glanced about, "That's why every balloon here holds a paper crane...Well, I give you, Miss Xiao Mai, a full score..."
She grew a little thoughtful, "Huh? Is that all, Master Nan Feng?"
Chuckling, he wrapped his arms around her slender waist and asked, "What else does our Princess need this time?"
Xiao Mai studied to see if he really has no idea over her implication before disclosing, "The bouq..."
He gave in, "The bouquet?"
Her expression could show some relief, "Tell me, why carnations?"
Jin knew that he has to be accounted for an explanation, "They're specifically red carnations..."
"Oh," she got the clue this time. "Jin, their colour tells a different story?"
He went on to say softly, "As for red carnations, they are actually expressing...'alas, for my poor heart'...because it aches for you...and has been filled over with admiration and fascination..."
Xiao Mai gasped, "Then, carnations have another reason why they have always been my favourites!"
Jin then took her hand, "Xiao Mai, what I just said...my heart can't hold back..."
She smiled affectionately, "So I'd say why don't we release these balloons that we have to share our treasured hope with the world around us?"
He was delighted, "We will..." Gradually, he inched closer and closed his eyes to kiss her lips fervently.