DANCE WITH ME

Mei Zuo seemed off tonight, Xiao Qiao noticed, and she wondered if something happened to make him so. He seemed quite alright before the gathering started, although naturally he was quite the bundle of nerves.

But now, as she steered him away from his American PI friend to meet Hua Ze Lei and Aisha, he seemed to have clammed up. And for Mei Zuo, that is quite a rare event.

She stopped halfway to the table where Hua Ze Lei and Aisha were shown. Quickly she glanced to see Hua Ze Lei speaking with Dao Ming Si, and she took the opportunity to whisper into Mei Zuo's ear.

"Is something wrong?" she inquired, not used to seeing Mei Zuo this quiet. Usually he gets this way with her when he doesn't get his way and begins pulling the pouting kid act. She craned her neck to see William mingle with his acquaintances at the far end of the room, and turned back to Mei Zuo. "What were you and William speaking about?"

Mei Zuo shook his head and smiled at her, but she could tell it was forced. "Nothing. Don't mind me."

"Something's bothering you," she insisted. "I can tell."

He looked squarely at her and this time his smile convinced her. "It is nothing. Don't worry yourself over nothing."

Xiao Qiao smiled and tugged at his arm. "Come on, then. I am so excited for you to meet Aisha!"

Xiao Qiao was too caught up in her excitement that she didn't seem to notice that she had to drag Mei Zuo along with her. Neither did she see the sudden stiffening of AIsha in her seat as she watched their approach.

With quiet grace Hua Ze Lei stood up as the couple stopped at their table, greeting Xiao Qiao with a peck on the cheek and tapping Mei Zuo on the shoulder.

"You're late!" Xiao Qiao promptly scolded them after kissing Aisha on the cheek. "I thought you wouldn't come!"

"Why won't we?" Hua Ze Lei asked, his eyes bright with warmth. "We wouldn't miss this. Congratulations, Xiao Qiao. Mei Zuo."

Finally Mei Zuo lifted his eyes and mustered a smile at his friend. "Thanks," he mumbled.

Xiao Qiao smiled widely at Aisha. "Finally I could get to introduce you! Mei Zuo, this is Aisha. Aisha, my fiance Mei Zuo."

At the next table the tension was palpable. It was so thick one could slice it with a knife. Dao Ming Si and Shancai were quietly watching the awkward scene unfold, and in Shancai's eyes could be read sympathy for Xiao Qiao, the only one who had absolutely no idea about the real deal.

And there was also apprehension for Hua Ze Lei, whom they thought was as clueless as Xiao Qiao was.

It was Mei Zuo who broke the silence as he extended his hand towards Aisha. "Finally we meet, Miss Aisha."

Xiao Qiao laughed. "So polite! This is new!"

With slight reluctance Aisha accepted the handshake but immediately pulled her hand away. "How do you do?" she said softly and Mei Zuo blinked at the sound of her voice. He's heard it over the phone. Why didn't he recognize it?

Hua Ze Lei quietly observed everything with an unfathomable expression in his eyes. Even when the small presentations were made and the engaged couple had to leave them for the presidential table did he show any outward reaction.

Seated, Aisha kept her eyes down, wondering what on earth she is doing here, where she obviously doesn't belong.

To their left sat Dao Ming Si and Shancai. Once earlier she made the mistake of looking in that direction and was instantly met by an intense stare from Dao Ming Si. Now all she wants is for the ground to open up and swallow her whole.

"Would you like a drink?"

Hua Ze Lei's offer was spoken in a gentle tone that she found herself lifting her gaze finally. Giving him a small smile, she shook her head. "No, thank you."

In truth, she does not want to be left alone, which is what would happen if he did go to the bar to get a drink.

And Hua Ze Lei seemed to understand this, for he merely nodded.

A while later, Xi Men arrived with Xiao Gen and Aisha felt herself being subjected to the same scrutiny, although she felt Xi Men's appraisal was less intense than Dao Ming Si's. All throughout dinner she made sure to avert her gaze away from the other members of the F4, Mei Zuo especially.

When dinner was over, silence settled over the crowd as two elderly couples, obviously Mei Zuo and Xiao Qiao's parents, stood up from the large table.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," Mei Zuo's father said in a loud booming voice. "My family, as well as the Yin family, would like to thank everyone for taking the time out of your busy schedules to join us in this momentous occasion."

Applause rang inside the ballroom.

"Indeed this is a very special night," he went on. "And I wouldn't beat around the bush any longer." He paused and smiled at Mei Zuo and Xiao Qiao. "In six months my only son, Mei Zuo will wed Yin Xiao Qiao!"

This time the applause was deafening, the cheers earsplitting.

But in the presidential table, seated between Xiao Qiao and his mother, Mei Zuo did not seem to hear much of what was being said. His attention was focused on that far table where Aisha was seated, her head down, obviously looking anywhere but in his direction.

Only when he felt his mother touch his arm did he seem to come around and become aware of what is going on around him. Quizzically he looked at his mother.

She smiled at him indulgingly. "Are you daydreaming?" she asked in a low voice. "Your father has just asked you to kiss your fiancee."

When Mei Zuo looked at everyone, he saw the expectation in their eyes. Clearly he didn't hear what his father had said. Grinning sheepishly, he turned around in his seat and faced Xiao Qiao, who was beaming at him

Suddenly he stopped short as she saw not Xiao Qiao, but Aisha. His grin disappeared and he stared at her.

Xiao Qiao's smile faltered. "Mei Zuo?"

The illusion faded and there sat Xiao Qiao. His heart beating fast, Mei Zuo gave her a quick but sweet kiss then faced the crowd who once again cheered.

That was close, he thought, reaching for his flask of wine. When he looked at Aisha's direction, his arm stopped in mid-air.

Aisha and Hua Ze Lei were speaking quietly, their heads close together. From where he was seated, no one could mistake the intimacy between the two.

He tore his gaze away from them and downed the contents of the flask.

This is going to be a long night...

"Are you tired?" Hua Ze Lei asked softly, leaning close so she could hear him above the din of the cheering guests.

"I'm fine," she said, not wanting to disappoint him. As much as she wanted to leave this place that had begun to feel suffocating, she knew Hua Ze Lei had to be here. He's part of Mei Zuo's family.

Hua Ze Lei nodded, then a glint of mischief appeared in his eyes as he whispered conspiratorially, "Believe it or not, the F4 hates these events."

Glad that he's clearly making an effort to make her feel at ease, she glanced up at him in surprise. "Really?"

He nodded. "We only come to these events for the drinks. I especially come for the food. Then we find any reason to leave early."

"And they let you?"

"Xi Men and Mei Zuo work their charms on the hosts, Dao Ming Si carries his weight around and acts like the young prince that he is..."

"And you?" Her smile was now genuine. "What do you do?"

"Nothing. Usually I am too full to even speak."

"Then afterwards, where do you go?"

His eyes squinted. "One out of three we head out to a pub and continue drinking there. Then a skirmish happens, probably over a lady that Xi Men chats up and who happens to have a date that same night. Mei Zuo's temper would flare and Dao Ming Si would join the fray."

Aisha grinned from ear to ear. "Let me guess...you don't do anything."

His chest heaved. "On the contrary, I do the most important thing that none of the three would even think about."

"Which is?"

"Pay for the damages."

Aisha's laughter rang out amidst the guest's cheerful spirits, and anyone near would think she was joining in the merriment over the wedding announcement.

But her high spirits plummeted once again when, a few minutes later, Xiao Qiao came forward, pulling Mei Zuo along, asking Aisha to dance with him.

"Excuse me?" Aisha asked, hoping against hope that she heard Xiao Qiao wrong.

Xiao Qiao was smiling in excitement. "Come on, why don't you two dance? It's time for my fiance to get to know the very first artist I am working with!"

With helplessness, Aisha turned to look at Hua Ze Lei, as though pleading with him to help her out.

But before Hua Ze Lei could say anything, Xiao Qiao took him by the hand. "Hua Ze Lei will dance with me." She turned to smile up at Hua Ze Lei. "Won't you, Lei?"

Slowly Hua Ze Lei nodded. "Of course." His hand reached out and slightly brushed Aisha's upper arm and the gesture, as unbelievable as it might sound, reassured her. She watched in silence as Hua Ze Lei and Xiao Qiao went ahead to the dance floor.

"Well, let's get this over and done with."

Mei Zuo sounded trite and Aisha chose not to say anything. Silently she let him take her by the elbow and steer her towards the dance floor. Reluctantly she laid her hands on his shoulders and visibly stiffened as he placed his palms on her waist and on the small of her back.

Neither of them spoke for a while. Nor did she feel anything like speaking. She fixed her eyes on a spot between his chin and collar, not really willing to look further up.

It was him who spoke first. "This is weird."

She didn't say anything.

He continued. "I heard you are doing pretty good in Japan. Congratulations."

"Thanks," she said, knowing it will be impolite not to say anything. "You, too. I was told you are doing well in your family business. And there's the engagement. Congratulations."

In spite of himself, Mei Zuo laughed mockingly. "Why do I have this funny feeling about this whole conversation?"

Aisha stopped moving and gracefully disengaged away from him. "I am tired. Can I go back to my table now?"

Mei Zuo was about to say something, but from behind, Hua Ze Lei spoke.

"Aisha?"

Gratefully Aisha sought Hua Ze Lei's face as he approached her. "I'm tired," she said.

"OK," he said softly and turned to Mei Zuo, Xiao Qiao now standing beside him. "I'm sorry, Mei Zuo, Xiao Qiao. But the flight must have caught up on Aisha. You won't mind if we leave early?"

Concern was etched all over Xiao Qiao's face as she noted Aisha's pale face. "Of course not! I'm sorry to have imposed the invitation to you when you are obviously spent!"

Aisha shook her head at Xiao Qiao. "It's not your fault, Xiao Qiao."

Hua Ze Lei held Aisha by the shoulders and nodded at the engaged couple. "We'll give you a call tomorrow."

As they left, Mei Zuo watched them broodingly. When he turned his head, he caught the eyes of Dao Ming Si and Xi Men, and he instantly knew what the two were thinking.

Not really caring what anyone – not even his brothers – thought, he turned away.

"I gotta go to the bathroom," he murmured to Xiao Qiao and walked away from his fiancee.

Mei Zuo inserted his car keys on the driver's door of his BMW and turned towards Xiao Qiao. He smiled.

"What a night, huh?"

She nodded, looking at him searchingly. "Did you have fun?" he asked.

"Yes," she replied. "You?"

He shrugged. "You and your mom did a good job putting the whole thing together."

"Are you being completely honest with me?"

His question took him by surprise and he quickly masked it with a short laugh. "What sort of a question is that?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. It's just...you've been acting strange tonight. Ever since William arrived."

"Nonsense," he said with a wave of his hand. "Maybe I'm just tired." He moved forward and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. "Have I been a bore to you this evening?"

This time she was smiling as Mei Zuo's sweet nature once again resurfaced. "Hmmm. A little."

"So sorry," he whispered and leaned down to give her a sweet kiss. When they parted he opened his car door and slid in.

"I'll call you tomorrow," he promised and blew her a kiss.

Xiao Qiao stepped back and watched as he drove away from the Yin mansion driveway.

With a satisfied sigh, she walked back to the house where the household helps are busy cleaning up at the large ballroom. She smiled, already picturing the day of her wedding.

"I want you to go straight to sleep," Hua Ze Lei said as they stopped in front of the door to Aisha's room. "You need to put back color into those cheeks. I don't want the whole of Artiste breathing down my neck when we get back to Tokyo."

She chuckled, picturing Sachiko, Yuki and Mark breathing fire down Hua Ze Lei's neck, as he put it. "That's silly," she said. "You're the boss."

"All the same. I don't want a mutiny in my hands."

A moment of comfortable silence reigned, then he said, "Are you feeling better now?"

"Much better, thank you," she replied, smiling impishly at him. He was grinning back at her, and the grin widened as she started tapping her foot in tune to a nonexistent music.

She began humming, and tapped her foot louder.

"What are you doing?" he asked in amusement.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" Before him she twirled, and her hair fanned out around her as she began to do a jig.

Hua Ze Lei laughed, watching her in amazement. She's back in her element again.

Aisha stopped and bowed before him as he clapped. "What was that dance you just did?"

"Riverdance jig," she replied. "One day I will force Artiste to make me do it, even though I haven't an Irish bone in my body."

She grew serious. "You have no idea how much you've done for me tonight."

"You don't even have to ask," he said quietly and their eyes spoke more than whatever words they could utter.

"Good night," she said and stood on tiptoe as she planted a kiss on his lips. Then she went into her room.

Hua Ze Lei walked slowly to his rooms, thoughtful.

Things are beginning to change. He has control at the moment. He could easily change all this. He can do something before it gets any bigger.

But he doesn't want to, because he doesn't even want to contemplate what it would mean if he does anything.

This time he'll let things flow. See where it takes him. See what it does to him. To her. To them all.

Mei Zuo twisted and turned on his bed, the silence of the night and the stillness of the household deafening him. Why couldn't he sleep?

Everywhere he turned he'd see her. And Hua Ze Lei.

In frustration he sat up and reached for the lamp, turning it on. The clock on the wall showed the time. Two-twenty.

He arrived from Xiao Qiao's house at midnight.

And he had not slept a wink.

Throwing the covers away he walked to the window and gazed at the darkness outside. In the light of day, he would see his mother's garden, maintained by the many gardeners she pays to keep the place running. On the side the Olympic-sized pool would shimmer blue.

But in the darkness he sees nothing. Nothing, except her face.

It was a shock to see her tonight. At his engagement party. And with Hua Ze Lei.

The one person he had been trying so hard to track down in the past came sailing right into his own turf.

And right now she's at the Hua Ze mansion.

Without thinking, he strode to his closet and began changing his clothes. He had to get out. He had to get some air.

Quietly he slipped out of the house and got into his car. His mind blank, he kept driving.

He only seemed to wake up when he noticed he had stopped his car. In front of the large gates of the Hua Ze mansion.