VOICES
"Look at them," Mei Zuo whispered, leaning towards Xiao Qiao while pointing at the other table where Xi Men's parents were seated. "They look so happy."
"A happiness long overdue," Hua Ze Lei said quietly and met Xi Men's content eyes with a small smile.
Xiao Qiao also turned her attention to Xi Men. "Congratulations, Xi Men. You've outdone yourself with this bash."
"You flatter me, Xiao Qiao," Xi Men replied. "But thanks anyway." He focused on her, remembering something. "Mei Zuo told us you'll be off to Japan in a couple of days."
Lei and Xiao Qiao shared a secret look that Xi Men and Mei Zuo did not notice. Xiao Qiao slightly gave an imperceptible nod at Hua Ze Lei then turned back to Xi Men.
"I am. Too bad I have to fly out there just when Hua Ze Lei is here." Xiao Qiao shrugged her elegant shoulders. "A friend of mine back in the States is now based in Tokyo. She's a songwriter, and she asked me to come out and help her on her first project. I'll only be staying there for a few days."
"That's good," Xi Men jeered, his laughing eyes on Mei Zuo. "Or else Mei Zuo here would raise hell!"
Laughing at Xi Men's taunt, Xiao Qiao looked around. "Strange. Lately I have noticed you going places without a date, Xi Men."
At this, Xi Men simply smiled as Mei Zuo and Hua Ze Lei did not even make any effort to hide their amusement.
"So she noticed!" Mei Zuo exclaimed.
Lei eyed Xi Men. "Yes, Xi Men. What's up with that?"
"Nothing." Xi Men turned his head and looked at someone from across the room. The other three followed his gaze and spotted an elegant lady in a blue dress, quite pretty, with her wavy hair reaching down past her shoulders.
Xiao Qiao leaned over and whispered to Mei Zuo. "Who is she?" she asked, referring to the lady in blue Xi Men was eyeing.
"I have no idea," Mei Zuo whispered back. "Probably his next conquest."
Xi Men spoke without looking at them. "You two know nothing about discretion. You whisper so loud even the dead can hear you." He turned to look back at them. "That's Yue Xiao Gen. She and her family were friends ever since I could remember."
Lei jerked his eyes back to Xiao Gen again. "That's Xiao Gen?" he exclaimed. "Why, I barely recognized her!"
Mei Zuo and Xiao Qiao shifted their attention to Hua Ze Lei. "You know her?" Mei Zuo asked.
Xi Men suddenly stood up. "Excuse me, I have to talk to someone," he said and walked over to another table where a few business associates were seated.
Mei Zuo would not let Lei get off the hook that easy. "Xiao Gen?"
"Don't you remember?" Lei asked. "The young lady who kept visiting Xi Men...the one with the short hair..."
Mei Zuo slapped a palm on his forehead. "Now I remember!" He looked at Xiao Gen, who was now laughing with a couple of ladies. "That's her!" he asked in disbelief.
"She's pretty," Xiao Qiao observed. "Does she have a past with Xi Men?"
Lei leaned back on his seat. "All I know is, she has always had a thing for Xi Men. Call it puppy love. But Xi Men turned her away."
Xiao Qiao nodded thoughtfully. "And now she's back...Interesting."
"What do you mean?" Mei Zuo asked, wondering at her reaction.
She smiled up at him. "An old flame returns. Things are bound to happen when old loves and old lovers resurface."
Mei Zuo smiled and rolled his eyes. He turned to Hua Ze Lei. "What do you think, Lei?"
"I think," he said, "she's right. Complications are meant to arise."
Mei Zuo shook his head as Xiao Qiao and Hua Ze Lei smiled in agreement.
"All right, you both agree. I lose." He shrugged. "It's about time Xi Men gets serious. I mean, now that Xiao Yo is out of the picture..."
"Xiao Yo..." Xiao Qiao's forehead creased as she echoed the name. "I'm intrigued by this girl. I have always wondered what she's like. It will surely be interesting to meet all those girls you F4 have gone out with seriously before." Her smile widened at Mei Zuo.
Mei Zuo could only smile at her, his mind swimming with thoughts of Aisha.
"I can tell something bugs you," Lei remarked when he was left alone with Mei Zuo as Xi Men asked Xiao Qiao for a dance. "Ever since Xiao Qiao mentioned something about old loves and lovers you have become unusually quiet."
"I just remembered something."
Lei grinned sheepishly. "An old love?"
Mei Zuo laughed softly. "Hardly. It ended even before it began."
"But you cared about her."
"Tremendously, yes." Mei Zuo shifted the topic. "Enough about me. Let's talk about you, Master Hua Ze Lei. I see you are doing better."
Hua Ze Lei looked down with a secret smile that exasperated Mei Zuo even more. "Enough with these mysterious smiles!" he complained. "Tell me, are you over Shancai?"
Hua Ze Lei's head jerked up at the unexpected question. "Where did that come from?" he asked warily.
"Come on, Lei. I knew all along about your deep affection for our Shancai. But things are different now. So no need to worry."
Lei didn't say anything so Mei Zuo went on. "Dare I say you are in love?"
It took him a while to reply. "Maybe...Yes."
"What sort of an answer is that?" Mei Zuo chuckled and raised a glass. "Whatever. Here's to you, my friend, and that lady you left behind in Tokyo."
Lei raised his glass at his friend. "Don't worry. The next time I come to Taipei, on your party, I will bring her along."
"Finally!" Mei Zuo breathed a sigh of relief, and both drank from their wineglasses.
In one of the swankiest hotels in Tokyo Aisha met up with a couple of Japanese and British songwriters. With her was Yuki, who now took it upon himself the task of being her full-time agent and leaving the dance group to another.
The meeting went smoothly and they all reached an agreement as to the songs she could perform, even making her sing a few lines just so they could gauge her range. After the meeting Aisha proceeded to another suite for an interview with a couple of magazines, followed by a brief photo-op.
At the end of the day Aisha felt exhausted and about ready to drop off to bed. But she did not dare even move to her bedroom, afraid that the temptation to doze off would be too great and she would not be awake when Lei calls.
Aisha looked at the clock and wondered when he would call. As if on cue, the phone on the low table beside the sofa rang. Hurriedly she picked it up.
"Hello? Lei!" she exclaimed. "Fine...You?...Oh, yeah, I am so exhausted!..."
They talked for about twenty minutes, and in the background she could hear sounds of merriment, coming from the party Lei was presently attending. When she hung up and laid back on the soft cushion of the sofa, she felt that same loneliness engulf her.
Funny, that she should search for someone not even remotely related to her to share these moments of triumph. Well, her mother is probably in Kyoto now, with her husband.
When they returned to Japan more than two years ago she had thought everything would be alright. She had not counted on her mother still falling for that man. When they eventually got married Aisha had no choice but to let them. But her stepfather was hardly the type of person she would have wanted for her mother.
So she left home and tried to make her own way alone. She had been all right, working odd jobs, having three jobs at one time. Then this opportunity came along, thanks to Hua Ze Lei.
Ever since Hua Ze Lei came into her life everything had been easier.
Had it not been for him, she and her group mates would still be stuck at the local fast food joints, serving food.
Hua Ze Lei has no idea how much he meant to her. He has given her, more than hope, a reason to go on. She found herself drawn more and more to him, even falling for him. Some would probably think its because of the fact that he has helped her a lot, but she knew it was more than that.
He is her inspiration. Her strength.
And she is falling for him.
This realization struck Aisha like a bolt of lightning and she blinked once, twice against the dim light of the room. Once before she thought there would only be Mei Zuo in her heart and mind
...but now there's Hua Ze Lei.
Is it time to move past Mei Zuo and turn the page...let another story begin?
But what does Hua Ze Lei feel for her? Was she so presumptuous as to think that he only cares for her as a talent, and not as a personal friend?
Was she too foolish to even believe he would be remotely interested in her? After all, he is Hua Ze Lei, one of Taiwan's wealthiest, one of Japan's most eligible bachelors...aloof, untouchable...mysterious. He could have his pick of women; he can choose among those who throw themselves at him.
Why would he see her, the wild one, the simpleton, in a different light?
As if of their own volition, her fingers reached to dial the phone and pressed Leis mobile number. Having no idea whatsoever as to what she would tell him when they just spoke a while back, she took a deep breath and waited for the line to pick up.
At that same instant, Lei's cell phone rang, left unattended on top of the dinner table as he excused himself to go to the rest room.
A hand reached out for it and read the name appearing on the small screen. Ash.
"Hello?" Mei Zuo said, accepting the call.