Miraculous readers, I'm back! Hope you missed me! ^^ Ahahahha

I can't believe I'm back... Time flew by and everything was suddenly over. I know you have been waiting for me to come back, but I wish I hadn't though. I feel very sorry to be back to my small little corner of the world where I feel so... normal. I hate this feeling.

If you have time, please leave a review! I'm feeling a bit sad (if you couldn't tell yet) and hearing from you will definitely make me feel better! Please, please?

Anyways, here is the new chapter. :*

Dresses, Flowers and Joy

[09h01 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Good morning, Boogaboo! Is today The Day?

Zhi Ruo was already up, cramming her script of 'Where the flowers grow'. She already knew most of the lines by heart, but she hadn't found it in her to start on the 'Miraculous' one. She was to leave for Los Angeles tomorrow afternoon. She was going to give a quick last review in this script and then start packing.

[09h03 Today]

Buggzhinette: The day my very-expensive-surprise-dress arrives? xD I sure hope it is! If not, you won't get Premiere-free-publicity!

Zhi Ruo was worried about this dress. Not for the reasons you'd think she'd be, though.

The thing is… Zhi had had two weeks to think it over. Two weeks to become a scaredy coward cat. Because she wasn't scared or nervous that the dress might not come on time. She was nervous that it might come on time, because that meant revealing herself to Chat and she wasn't sure she wanted that anymore. Guilt was waving on her. If she wore the dress in the Premiere, she might end up losing her pen-pal. If she didn't wear it, she would be omitting her true identity, and that could be even worse on the long run.

[09h06 Today]

Chat_Noir999: You know I meant 'Is today the day?' as in… 'Will you tell me your name today?'. -.- It was implied.

[09h06 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Also, the dress should arrive today. I sent it 4 days ago in express mail. London and Paris are not THAT far.

Zhi gulped, frowning. If the dress came today, she would have to wear it in the Premiere. It wouldn't be fair if she didn't.

[09h07 Today]

Buggzhinette: How many times do I have to tell you my name until you finally believe me? :P I do hope the dress comes fast, I'm very excited to see if you're as good as you think you are. ^^

[09h09 Today]

Chat_Noir999: You're funny. xD And believe me, I am as good as I think I am. I'm actually very proud of the gown I made you. I think it's superb and that will look great on you! Can I get a picture of it wearing it once it arrives? :D

Zhi was really feeling uneasy with this conversation. It was like Hawkmoth's Akumas had invaded her insides.

She could take a picture of her body with the dress... She didn't have to show her face… Slowly exhaling, she typed back.

[09h12 Today]

Buggzhinette: You're not very modest, are you, Kitty? +.+ And yes, once it arrives I can take a picture and send it to you!

[09h12 Today]

Buggzhinette: I have to work, now, Chat* Talk to you later?

[09h09 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Sure, M'Lady. I have to work too. This fashion pieces won't create themselves! Kiss :*

Zhi Ruo sighed at her Catphone. She had been calling Alice every day, concerning this matter. Her friend thought she should really come clean and tell the guy as quickly as possible that she really was Zhi Ruo. She found herself agreeing with Alice when she was talking to her, but when she talked to him and when she was alone… All her resolve crumbled at her feet. She didn't want him to leave her…

And this was also affecting her conversations with him. She had been feeling uneasy every time he texted about her identity or the dress.

Sighing heavily, she grabbed her script and started reciting her lines without looking at them.

It was around twelve when her bell rang. She sighed and put down her script, to go to the door.

She looked at the intercom and her stomach jumped to her throat when she realized it was the mailman with a big box in his hands. Swallowing hard, she opened the garden door through the intercom and opened her front door to receive the mail.

"Good afternoon," He greeted, respectfully.

"Good afternoon-" She forced herself to smile politely.

"This is for Miss Bug..Zhi-nette?" He read from the box, tilting an eyebrow in amusement.

"That's me." She shrugged, giving the mailman a sheepish, slightly uncomfortable smile. This was from him. This really was from Chat.

"Sign here, please, Miss Léi." He asked, politely. Of course he knew who she was. The man handed her, in a very awkward way — because he was holding the big box he was carrying in the process — an electronic signing device. She held the device carefully and signed, "Thank you very much." He said handing her the big box, that was very light for its size, while receiving back the signing electronic device.

"Thank you." She said, making motion to close the door.

"Miss Léi," He called, and she peeked outside, curious, "I know this isn't very professional, but my daughter, she is your biggest fan…" Zhi smiled softly, "Would you mind giving me an autograph?" He finished, shyly.

"Not at all!" She smiled at him, "Please wait here, I will be right back." She said as she closed the door. She placed the box on her coffee table and opened the Tv closet. Inside she took out a poster of the last Miraculous movie, a pen and four tickets to the Paris Premiere of Mulan in Gaumont Champs-Elysées movie theatre, one day before the movie's official release date. She opened the door, "Here, what is your daughter's name?"

He smiled broadly, "Louise."

She nodded and, using the small table on the side of the armchair in the entrance hall, she wrote in her autograph caligraphy:

To Louise,

Stay Miraculous*

xoxo,

Zhi Ruo Léi

She looked at it and gave a nod. It looked good. Then she handed it to the mailman, "Here you go. I hope she likes it."

The mailman smiled gratefully, "Thank you so much, Miss. She will be thrilled!"

"And here are Premiere Tickets for Disney's Mulan to Gaumont Champs-Elysées movie theatre, for you to take your daughter and the rest of the family, or some friends." She added, handing him the tickets. He gaped at her and he slowly took the tickets. "Hope you have fun."

He beamed, grateful, "Thank you so much, Miss Léi! Thank you!"

"You are very welcome." She giggled, happy with the man's reaction.

"Thank you." He repeated, walking backwards and waving at her.

She smiled and waved back, "Don't mention it." She closed the door and sighed happily.

She walked to the living room and noticed the box, lying, abandoned, on her coffee table. The discomfort came back. She had totally forgotten about what the mailman had come to deliver.

Zhi sat on the sofa and looked at the box suspiciously.

It was a normal card box. She got up to pick up an x-act and started cutting off the tape. Once she opened it, she saw the real dress box and took it off the card box. It looked like a big shoe box, it was white and on top, it had an X symbol in a silver paper that was obviously cut by hand and glued in it. She snorted lightly. Chat had put himself through some trouble to make a decent maquette box to deliver the dress.

The name he'd come up for his brand was X?

It was very mysterious, she had to admit. But so was he, so it suited its purposes.

She grabbed her Catphone and distractedly wrote.

[12h46 Today]

Buggzhinette: Nice signature, Chat! :P

She placed the Catphone aside on the table and took off the lid of the box. The dress was wrapped in a very thin tracing paper. She unwrapped it and took it off the box.

Her chin dropped.

The first impression the dress gave her was that she was holding a beautiful flower. She held the flowy soft fabric in her hands and it felt as if it was made of blossom petals. It was red in the top, but white on the bottom as if the white was being conquered by beautiful red veins.

Suddenly she had to try it on.

Zhi ran upstairs with the dress and put it on. The dress was short and long. Some petals touched the floor, while others only fell near her knees. She looked at herself in the full-body mirror.

It had a large V necklace-cut, that held her delicate shoulders and ended where the rift of her breasts started. It had a tight top part, defining her body curves in a very flattering way and it ended in a flowy skirt of flower petals that moved alone, almost as if it had a life of its own. The fabric of that dress was marvelous.

The dress looked stunning on her.

It reminded her of the Chrysanthemum, a Chinese flower.

Zhi had no idea if he had intended to make a dress with a flower's hidden meaning, but if he did, he'd chosen well. The Chrysanthemum meant optimism, joy, fidelity and long life.

A White Chrysanthemum meant truth and loyalty… But a Red Chrysanthemum conveyed 'Love'.

Zhi Ruo's cheeks became slightly red.

He was a guy. He probably didn't care about the meanings of flowers. The dress looked amazing on her and that was all that mattered.

Zhi searched for her phone to take a picture of her body with the dress on and send it to him but she didn't find it: She'd left it downstairs.

She went down into the living room feeling the light fabric float around her body. She grabbed her Catphone and saw three new income texts from Chat.

[12h50 Today]

Chat_Noir999: How do you know that isn't a kiss?

Zhi Ruo grinned. He was such an impossible flirt! It's funny how he immediately knew what was she referring to the X on the box, though!

[12h59 Today]

Chat_Noir999: So… Did you like it?

[13h02 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Does it fit? Please tell me it fits!

Zhi smirked at the obvious anxiety that seemed to come through the messages. He wasn't so full of himself now, was he?

She had to give it to him, though, he really was a great designer. There is no harm in knowing you are good when you really are. And that dress he'd made was truly astonishing.

[13h05 Today]

Buggzhinette: Calm down, Chaton! ;P

Zhi climbed upstairs to take a picture to herself in the mirror.

Chat panicked even harder with her silence:

[13h06 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Why are you doing this to me?

[13h07 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Please say something! I'm dying here!

Zhi, who was figuring the best angle to take the picture from, signed and shook her head, slightly annoyed and amused at the same time.

[13h08 Today]

Buggzhinette: You are impossible! :P Can I take a picture of myself without interruptions, so that I can send it to you and you can judge it yourself!?

The reply came right away. Zhi imagined him glued to his phone's screen and grinned.

[13h08 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Oh.

[13h08 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Sorry.

Zhi Ruo giggled and resumed taking the picture, taking her time to make him sweat. Oh, she enjoyed way too much teasing him.

Once she was satisfied with the picture, she sent it.

[13h20 Today]

Buggzhinette: *picture*

She had caught the right light in the dress, so that its colors looked as vibrant in the picture as they were in real life, she managed to exclude any furniture — except for the mirror — of her room and most importantly, her face was hidden behind her white Catphone.

She eagerly waited for his answer, knowing she should take off her new dress, but feeling like she couldn't just yet. It was so beautiful that she felt she never wanted to take it off again!

[13h22 Today]

Chat_Noir999: So, furrst… Why are you so mean M'Lady!? Why am I not allowed to see your beautiful face? (is that a Chat Noir's Paw on your phone?)

Zhi shallowed, feeling guilty again. Sure, she could have made things way easier by not hiding her face, but he was to blame too! She kept telling him her real identity! He was the one that didn't believe her!

[13h23 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Second… W.O.W. I'M A GOD DAMN GOOD FASHION DESIGNER.

She snorted at this. Confident Chat Noir was back.

[13h23 Today]

Chat_Noir999: It looks even better than I imagined!

Zhi's heart floated a little as she smiled dearly to her Catphone.

She decided to answer one text at a time and start with the one that bothered her the most.

[13h25 Today]

Buggzhinette: Ahahaha! Yes, there's a Chat Noir's paw on my phone. And, if you wanna see my face there's plenty of movies and magazines in the world featuring me. And I look way better in them than I look now. I didn't even brush my hair today. XD

[13h25 Today]

Buggzhinette: And, yes. It looks so beautiful! Fits like a glove! I have to be honest here, Chat, not in my wildest dreams I'd imagine you were this good!

He took a while to respond. Zhi decided to undress while she waited. She put on the same homey outfit she'd been wearing before: a pair of leggings and a old t-shirt and she started selecting what to pack in her luggage.

[13h32 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Oh, shut up! Your hair looks so beautiful today! Is your color natural?

Zhi let out a disappointed chuckle.

He'd ignored her.

By complimenting her.

Just like he always did. Would he ignore it if she wore his unique handmade dress on a global recorded event? Was he as blind as Chat Noir and Ladybug were in the Miraculous movies?

She gave up trying to organize her clothes to start making her luggage and sat comfortably on her bed.

[13h33 Today]

Chat_Noir999: It really looks great on you. I'm glad! :D Uff, what a relief that it arrived on time! You're leaving to LA tomorrow, right?

[13h34 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Do you mind if I share the picture with Plagg, Tikki and Hannah?

Hannah?

Who's Hannah?

There was no Hannah in Miraculous, not that she knew of.

He probably was referring to his 'friend' he had mentioned would help him in the fashion department. Zhi really didn't see why. Her Kitty as a fashion genius. He didn't need help in the creative department, not from Hannah and not from anyone.

[13h35 Today]

Buggzhinette: Calm down, Chaton! xD I can't answer everything at the same time!

[13h35 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Sorry! It's just that I'm so excited that it looks… so good. :*

She smiled at her phone. She knew he was complimenting his own creation, but she was the model… She couldn't help but feel flattered.

[13h38 Today]

Buggzhinette: No problem* First question: Yes, Chat, this is my natural hair color… Second question: Yes, my flight is at 4 pm. Third: Sure, you can share it. It's your creation, not mine! Last: Who is Hannah?

[13h39 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Hannah is my designer friend… I've told you about her, haven't I?

[13h40 Today]

Buggzhinette: Yes. Well, it's the first time I'm hearing the name… But yes. *Zhi paused while writing, not sure on how to continue without sounding a creepy possessive person* I thought we were giving our friends Miraculous names to keep them anonymous?

[13h42 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Hum… We are. But I don't think I can find a character for Hannah in Miraculous, though. They wouldn't suit her.

[13h42 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Princess, they loved it! -GIF Cat celebrating-

[13h43 Today]

Buggzhinette: Why? Miraculous has so MANY characters…

[13h43 Today]

Buggzhinette: Of course they did! It's amazing. A great piece. Can I ask you where did you get the inspiration from?

[13h48 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Well, it doesn't matter now. I've told you her real name: Hannah. So let's stick with that. My concept revolves around the Chrysanthemum. *"I knew it!" Zhi murmured, delighted.* It's a Chinese flower that represents Joy. I chose it because it's a beautiful looking flower, because you are attending a Chinese related movie Premiere and because it represents what you make me feel: Joy. :)

Zhi gaped at her phone. He had been so sweet just now.

He doesn't know I'm Zhi Ruo Léi. She reminded herself. That's why.

Her heart sunk a little.

Zhi sighed, frustrated, and hugged her pillow fiercely. This was supposed to be fun! And it wasn't anymore. She was scared of what he might do when he found out… Because he had to find out eventually! She wanted to know him in real life! She didn't want to spend her life without getting to know him in person!

She was so lost about what to do…

One thing was certain: She didn't want to lose him. And taking his dress to the Premiere was the best way of doing that. If she could buy herself more time… Figure out what'd she done wrong for him to hate her… Try to change his mind about it…

She couldn't just lose him like that. Without knowing why. She'd gone through that once and she really didn't want to repeat. It was one of her big regrets. Not knowing Why.

[13h58 Today]

Chat_Noir999: Princess? I'm sorry if I pushed the line. Sometimes I act before thinking.

Zhi stared at the phone. She hadn't managed to respond, and now he thought she was mad at him.

[13h59 Today]

Buggzhinette: Don't apologize, Kitty* It's just that I wasn't expecting that answer. You didn't cross the line, you were sweet and left me wordless.

Her eyes were feeling itchy. So she blinked twice while she added:

[13h59 Today]

Buggzhinette: You make me feel Joy too.

Zhi looked at the time and her eyes widened. She had to start making her luggage, and then finish studying her script! She was already behind! She had to move.

[14h00 Today]

Buggzhinette: Don't take this the wrong way, Chat, but I really need to go make my luggage and the work. I'm not mad at all, promise. xoxo

She only read his reply a few hours later.

[14h01 Today]

Chat_Noir999: ღ

Review, purrritty please!