A/N: Anything from MG you recognize, I do not own.

***

Chapter 7: i know you...

Lei couldn't believe how fast time had flown.

It was now the fifth day and Lei had been pacing back and forth waiting for her to come and pick him up. He knew what he was feeling was irrational. He hadn't even seen her face yet. But he knew. He was slowly falling in love with her. He'd considered asking Shan Cai or hiring a detective to find out her identity but he'd felt guilty for even considering it. Of course, if she chose to keep her identity a secret until the end of the week, he had no idea what he would do. If she'd set out to bewitch, beguile and bewilder him, then she was succeeding quite admirably.

They had spent the second day together yet apart. She said she had to go somewhere important and had given him the day off, so to speak. Of course, she'd called him in the middle of the day and they ended up talking over the phone every two hours after that. They'd talked about anything and everything under the sun. He found that he had a lot of things in common with her. They both liked to listen to music. They both liked to eat. They both loved to travel but hated flying. She'd teased him about his habit of sleeping 15 hours a day. He'd asked her how come she knew but she'd just laughed and didn't answer. They read the same types of books and even had an in-depth discussion about architecture and engineering.

The following day, they'd exchanged notes the whole day. She had him wait at his house for her notes, which, like the calls from the previous day, came every two hours. He'd asked the messenger to wait for his responses to each note and he was pretty sure she'd spent quite a lot with that stunt, not to mention gotten several messengers tired from traversing to and from their respective houses.

On the fourth day, she'd come to pick him up at home. She was wearing a veil that covered the lower portion of her face, revealing only her eyes, still insistent in keeping her identity a secret. He'd asked her impatiently why but she'd just laughed it off. Lei had tried his hardest to recall if he'd ever heard that laugh before. If he'd ever heard that voice before. If he'd ever seen that silhouette before. And he came up blank each time. They went to the movies. Lei had never been much of a movie fan but he surprised even himself by having a great time. Maybe it was the sound of her laughter or the feel of her hands in his. Or maybe the way she fed him popcorn or the taste of her as they shared a soda. It certainly wasn't due to the movie because he could barely remember the plot let alone the actors and actresses in it. He really hadn't been paying attention. All his focus was on her. He wondered yet again what kind of magic she'd used to make him feel like she's the center of his universe. He cringed at the way he seemed to wax lyrical when it came to her. He had to forcibly remind himself that he would only be with her for a week.

"Hello Lei, sorry to keep you waiting." Her cheerful voice broke into his reverie.

"Hi." Lei felt a little bit foolish for not being able to think of anything else to say.

"Shall we?" she asked. This time, instead of a veil, she wore a mask that covered the upper portion of her face, her long hair held back in a loose topknot.

Lei could only nod and kick himself mentally for acting like a lovesick fool. He couldn't remember ever feeling like this before. He'd only ever fallen in love twice. With Jing, it had been a young boy's love. Infatuation, gratitude and awe rolled into one. With Shan Cai, it had been slow growing. He'd felt like her guardian at first, her protector…and then it had evolved into friendship, then into love and had evolved back again into friendship.

So what was he feeling now? He was now in his thirties and he'd known his share of beautiful women. So what was his excuse?

***

"What is this place?" Lei couldn't help but ask. They'd driven for hours, leaving Taipei behind. Just when Lei was about ready to fall asleep, she finally stopped the car.

She didn't answer. Instead, she got out and Lei had no choice but to follow suit. He then realized they were facing some sort of a mountain. He looked at her.

"You're not seriously expecting us to hike up, do you?"

She laughed and nodded. "You don't think you're up to it?" she teased him.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Lei asked, shaking his head and feeling quite stupid. He should have known she was planning a hike the minute he'd seen her getup.

She was wearing a white shirt tucked into khaki shorts with white socks and hiking boots. He'd been so distracted with the mask that he'd ignored everything else.

"Would you have come if I told you?" she asked.

Lei sighed loudly. "You did buy me for a week you know, of course I'd have come." She didn't have to know that he'd have come with her with bells on even if she thought to bring him to the ends of the earth. The thought shook Lei. What was happening to him?

"What are you complaining about then?" she retorted.

Lei didn't want to sound like a sissy so he just started walking instead. Never mind that his shoes weren't meant for hiking. Never mind that he was so out of shape he just might find himself panting in the middle of the trail. Never mind that he'd end up sweating like a pig. He'd hike even if it killed him.

She ran to catch up with him. "Hey Lei! Wait up!"

He stopped but didn't turn around. "What's up there anyway?" he couldn't help the note of annoyance from creeping into his voice.

"It's a surprise." She told him just as she reached him and they started walking side by side.

Great! Another surprise. Like the one he was sure he was getting when she finally, if she ever does, reveal her face to him. He shrugged philosophically.

Whatever!

***

Lei took back every single curse he'd thought of during the hour-long hike when they finally reached the summit. He forgot about the sorry state of his feet. He forgot about the sweat rolling off his face and back and neck and every other portion of his anatomy that had sweat glands. He forgot about the heat and his hunger.

"Like it?" she asked as she stood beside him taking in the view.

"It's…" he couldn't find a word to describe it. They were looking down at the view of the city and it was breathtaking.

"I know…I couldn't say anything too when I first saw the view…" she whispered as she took out the clamp holding her hair up to let it flow freely with the breeze.

He stole a look at her from the corner of his eyes and felt his heart lurch as he realized something.

He knew who she was after all.

No wonder she felt familiar.

He just never thought it could be her.

He asked himself silently how he felt about the knowledge…

…and came up with one answer.

"Lei?" she asked without turning to look at him.

He didn't answer. He just turned so he could look at her profile more closely.

She must have felt his intense concentration because she whispered, "You know, don't you?"

He still didn't answer.

After a minute or so, she finally turned to face him.

Slowly, half-afraid, half-hopeful, he raised his hand to touch her mask.

She held her breath as he slowly, carefully, took it off.

It fell and got blown away by the breeze. But neither of them noticed. They just stood there looking at each other. Taking in each other's expressions…

hers, hopeful…

and his, awestruck.

"Now what?" she asked in a whisper.

He still didn't speak.

Instead he touched her chin gently…

and tilted her head up…

as he leaned towards her…

…and gave her a kiss.

***

A/N: So sorry for not updating this story for a loooooooooooooong loooooooooooooong time. Had major writer's block with this chapter so if it sucks…I apologize. I hope to do better with my next update (on Lei) because I can finally do away with the mask/veil and they can get down to the nitty-grity (so to speak). The next chapter on these two will also be a lot longer & hotter (?…or at least as long as that of xm&xy's…promise). Just hope Lei's not too OoC in this fic. Hope to see all of you again soon ;)