Chapter 36

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Shancai looked up from the book she was reading absentmindedly for the past hour as she heard the sound of a car drawing up in the garage. Unmoving, she waited until she heard the front door open and close and heard the familiar sound of Dao Ming Si's treads on the floor.

When he appeared at the doorway of the living room she looked up and smiled at him.

"Good evening," she said and laid down the book.

He looked awfully tired, she noted as she welcomed him with a kiss and a hug, which he returned passionately. All of a sudden all her misgivings about his missing dinner with her were erased. Obviously he had quite a rough day.

"Why are you still up?" he said softly, running his fingers through her hair. "It's past midnight already."

"I could not sleep," she lied, since she stayed up purposefully waiting for him.

Dao Ming Si looked down at her with a repentant look on his face. "I'm sorry I was not able to join you for dinner."

She reassured him. "Don't worry about it." She took his case and jacket from him. "How was your day?"

Dao Ming Si dropped down on the sofa. "Great. Just great."

"I called the restaurant today and Mama said there were a lot of construction people out there."

"The plans are being drawn up," he replied, closing his eyes wearily. "The demolitions will begin in two weeks."

This was what had bothered Shancai ever since she heard of his plans for the rest of the lot. She sat down opposite her husband.

"Dao Ming Si..."

He did not open his eyes. "Hmmm...?"

"Are...are you really going to tear the whole place down?"

"Yes. The warehouse, the store...except Sombrero, of course. That stays."

"But...don't you think it's such a waste?" She had heard about Mr, Li getting angry when he found out his shopping store was going to be demolished.

"What waste?" he asked, finally opening his eyes. "I am clearing the land, Shancai. I am building bigger establishments. There's no waste."

"What about the people working in Mr. Li's businesses?"

"You mean Mr. Li's 'former' businesses," he pointed out. "Don't worry, Shancai, I am not as heartless as you think I am. His workers will stay. I will still take them in my employ." He smiled wryly. "As much as I despise the man for his attempts to turn me into a milking cow, I could not do that to those people who had the misfortune to work for him."

This gave her a measure of relief and she smiled. "That's good to hear." She eyed Dao Ming Si warily, knowing he was a bit riled. "I didn't say you were heartless."

Dao Ming Si abruptly stood up and strode out of the living room towards their bedroom. "You didn't have to say it."

Uh-oh, she thought. It must have gotten to him in the wrong way. Silently she scolded herself for bringing this up when he is obviously in need of rest.

Somehow she knew she should not doubt him, or even think bad about him. He is now a businessman.

Still...maybe some part of her was afraid that she might lose her Dao Ming Si to business. After all, it is still in his blood, in his name.

His destiny.

Shancai gave him about twenty minutes alone in the room before she went in after him. He was already lying down on the bed, arms beneath his head, staring up at the ceiling.

She sat down beside him, and said softly, "Dao Ming Si...sorry."

Just when she thought he would not say anything, he moved and slowly pulled her down until she was lying in the crook of his arms. He breathed on the top of her head.

"I'm tired," he whispered. "Stay with me."

Shancai did not say anything. She just snuggled closer near him and closed her eyes.

She fell asleep in his arms even before Somnus himself claimed Dao Ming Si.

The final strains of the melody played itself over and over in her mind, breaking through her thoughts as she let the sound wash over her, easing her troubled mind.

When at last she opened her eyes, the footlights of the stage flashed before her and the deafening applause of the audience made her smile.

Xiao Qiao hugged the cello to her, as though drawing strength from it. Even when she stood up to take her final bows, she was unconsciously leaning on the instrument for support.

Leaving the stage, and ignoring the audience's clamor for more pieces, Xiao Qiao walked straight to her backstage dressing room. Instantly her PA China came up with a towel, which Xiao Qiao took gratefully.

"Thanks," she murmured, letting her PA take the cello from her hand to keep it in its box. She walked to the dresser and gulped all the contents of the waiting glass of water.

"You should change now," China said, looking at her employer with concern. It was clear how Xiao Qiao had been moving around mechanically for the past few days. It must be something to do with the rumored problems she was having with her fiance.

Xiao Qiao shook her head. "I am not attending the press conference," she said. "I am so tired, I want to go straight home."

"B-but...!"

The cello player smiled. "The other performers will be there," she explained. "It would not make much of a difference if I don't join them, anyway." She grabbed her change of casual clothes and walked to the rest room. "I won't be long."

China merely gazed after Xiao Qiao in helplessness, knowing there is no changing her mind once it is set.

The PA shook her head and walked out of the dressing room, steeling herself for another round of getting her employer off from these engagements.

Dao Ming Si was tinkering with his mobile phone when Shancai walked out of the house to the car where he was waiting. He looked up at her and she immediately saw the frown on his face.

"What is it?" she asked, approaching her husband, wondering what has got him frowning so early in the morning.

"I could not get through to Hua Ze Lei's cell phone," he replied. "I called their mansion but the maids could not get him to the phone, either."

Now it was Shancai's turn to frown. She had been wondering about Hua Ze Lei for the past few days herself, especially when she was feeling miserable and had gotten quite used to having him around when she was down.

"But...why would he not talk to you?"

"Or to anyone," Dao Ming Si said. "Xi Men called earlier and asked me about Lei. He would not take Xi Men's calls either."

"Is Hua Ze Lei in their mansion when you are calling?"

He shook his head. "I'm not sure, but every single time, their maids would say he is not there, or he is asleep."

"Maybe he is," she suggested hopefully.

This time he shrugged. "Maybe. But...I don't think so."

Shancai looked closer at her husband. "What do you mean?"

"Xi Men found out that Aisha had already left. She flew back to Japan last week. Without Lei."

This took her aback. "And Xi Men found this out...how?"

"You know Xi Men. He has connections everywhere." Dao Ming Si sighed. "I am worried, Shancai. No one has heard from Lei all week."

Dao Ming Si's worry began to rub off on Shancai, and she said, "What should we do?"

"I have some people to meet this morning and this afternoon I have to make an inspection at a construction site. I was hoping we could go to Lei's and check him out."

She nodded. "I will be free this afternoon. I could go there ahead of you."

Dao Ming Si agreed. As they both got into the car, he breathed, "Hua Ze Lei is level-headed. I know he would be the last person to do something stupid. Still...I could not help but worry."

Shancai could not say anything. Her mind is now filled with thoughts of Hua Ze Lei, and what he is doing now, or what he is thinking.

She sighed. She thinks Aisha leaving could be the best thing she could ever do. But she never gave a thought as to how it might affect Hua Ze Lei.

She did not count that in. She failed to see the bigger picture. One that had Hua Ze Lei in it.

Mei Zuo stared at the photograph on the Society page of the newspaper. He was seated at the porch of his pad, a cup of steaming coffee and a plate of bagel on the table before him, now forgotten after he saw the feature on last night's musical show.

Well, at least Xiao Qiao seems to be doing fine, he thought, gazing upon a picture of her onstage with her cello.

At least his wuilt is eased, although it didn't make it any less.

Somehow he knew he has to get his act together. And soon.

A lot fo people's feelings are on the line. He has gotten away with it before, but he knew his luck would not run out forever.

He could not be selfish forever.

He looked up as he heard the doorbell ring. Wondering who it might be, Mei Zuo stood up and strode to the door.

He pressed on the intercom by the door.

"Who is it?" he asked. What a recluse, he silently thought. This is so not like you, Mei Zuo.

The voice that answered made him pause.

"It's me, Mei Zuo. Xiao Qiao."

Slowyly he peered through the tiny peephole and sure enough, she was there, looking uncertain as she looked up and down the hall.

Taking a deep breath, Mei Zuo pulled the door open.

He gave a small smile at her. "Hi," he said softly.

She smiled back shyly. "Hey. Did I catch you at a bad time?"

Mei Zuo shook his head and opened the door wider. "No, of course not. Come on in." He walked in, with her following behind. "Sorry, the place is a mess. I just moved a few days ago."

"It looks fine," she said, looking the place over.

He pointed to the porch. "I was having some breakfast. Would you care to join me?"

She shook her head. "Not really," she said, "but I'd like some coffee."

"Sure," he said and went about making her coffee.

Later they found themselves seated facing each other across the table, uncomfortable silence reigning between them. Mei Zuo felt like laughing out loud.

Who would have thought they would come to this...like strangers?

He cleared his throat when he noticed her staring at the newspaper. "Congratulations. I heard you had an excellent performance last night."

She smiled, almost blushing at her praise. "It was alright, I guess."

"You are too humble," he said teasingly.

Xiao Qiao looked around. "This is a nice place," she said.

"Speaking of which, how did you know this place?"

"Xi Men told me."

His brows furrowed. "Xi Men? But I never told..." He nodded in realization. "Of course. Xi Men has friends."

"He's just worried about you," she said, defending Xi Men. "He doesn't mean anything bad with it."

He nodded. "I know, I know."

"You are quite lucky to have him," she said, making small talk. "He cares about his friends deeply. Hua Ze Lei, too."

He slightly turned his head at the mention of Lei. "Lei?" he asked.

Xiao Qiao nodded, watching him with a rapt expression on her face. "Yes. Lei. Xi Men was worked up all day yesterday trying to reach Lei, but he couldn't."

"Why?" he asked.

She shrugged. "No one knows. But when Xi Men found out Aisha left Lei, he became even more worried."

His head jerked upwards. "What did you say?"

Xiao Qiao's gaze was unwavering. "Aisha left for Japan days ago. Hua Ze Lei was left behind."

Mei Zuo could only stare at her.