Chapter 47

CRISS-CROSS

In spite of herself, Aisha felt anticipation surge through her as she entered her dressing room at the Artiste building that morning.

She was not disappointed.

There, on top of her dresser, was another fresh bunch of the most expensive tulips. Closing the door behind her, Aisha walked towards the flowers, gently breathing in their subtle scent.

A smile appeared. For the past days she had endless supply of these tulips from Hua Ze Lei. Every time she arrives at the building and entered her dressing room she would find them sitting atop the dresser.

At first she had Yuki return the flowers, but that did not deter Hua Ze Lei. Instead, the next morning, there were more flowers. And she knew she could do nothing to stop him.

Yet they have not talked since that day at the restaurant. And she had not seen him since that day she ran across him and Teng Tang Jing.

Silently she wondered what happened to Hua Ze Lei and Teng Tang Jing that day. She had expected them to get back together, but after receiving these flowers, she knew that was not the case.

And admittedly, she felt relieved.

The door opened and Aisha looked up to find Yuki standing there. Her manager took one look at the flowers and sighed.

"Another one?" she asked and Aisha nodded. Yuki shook her head in amusement. "You gotta admire his persistence!"

Yuki closed the door behind her and said, "You better get ready, Aisha. Your makeup artists are already outside, and you barely have an hour to get ready for the press junket before your showcase."

Aisha nodded, laying down her bag where her costume was neatly folded. Yuki regarded her intently.

"Nervous?"

Apprehensively Aisha smiled at Yuki. "Terrified," she said.

Yuki grinned. "Don't be. Everyone is positive that your album will be a sure-fire hit. All you have to do is to prove that to them and wow them. I have faith in you, Aisha."

"Thank you, Yuki," she said.

Yuki walked to the door. "Move those tulips, Aisha or they will be trampled upon. I will send the makeup artists right away."

Then she left the room.

Sighing, Aisha took the tulips and moved them to the end of the dresser, looking at them appreciatively. When the makeup artists finally arrived, she took her mind off the tulips and Hua Ze Lei and everything else.

"Is everything set?" Hua Ze Lei asked, leaning across the table to Sachiko.

His secretary nodded. "I called Promotions and they said everything is ready. They are ready to roll in an hour."

"What about the auditorium?"

"They are all there. Even Miss Xiao Qiao is rehearsing."

They both looked up as Yuki strode into the office. Aisha's manager nodded at Hua Ze Lei.

"All set," she said.

Hua Ze Lei nodded. The past few days have been awkward between him and Yuki, since the manager seemed quite sedate in her treatment towards him.

"You know," she said, finally giving a smile at her boss, "if you just gave cash instead of those ridiculously pricey tulips, Aisha and I would be rich by now."

Realizing Yuki was actually joking with him, Hua Ze Lei smiled, relieved that the ice had been broken between them.

"See you downstairs," Yuki said and left the office.

When Hua Ze Lei turned back to Sachiko she was holding out the phone to him. "For you," she said.

"Thanks," he said and took the phone. Discreetly, Sachiko left her table and moved to the other table, busying herself with a few folders.

"Hello?"

"Lei!"

Hua Ze Lei smiled at the familiar voice. "Xi Men, how are you?"

"Good, good. You?"

"You called simply to ask how I am?" Hua Ze Lei asked, laughing.

Surprisingly Xi Men did not seem amused by Hua Ze Lei's crack. Instead he asked, "No, really. Lei, how are you?"

"Fine, fine. Why do you ask?"

"Have you seen him already?"

"Him?" Then he realized who Xi Men must be referring to. His sudden silence must have told Xi Men that he finally realized who 'him' was.

"He is there, Hua Ze Lei. For about three days now. I thought you already knew."

It took him a while before he could speak. "No...no, I have not seen him."

"Well...I just thought you should know."

"Thanks, Xi Men," he said and hung up, thoughtful.

Mei Zuo is here. Why?

He turned to Sachiko. "I am going out for a walk," he said and left the office.

A few minutes later he was at the auditorium, watching the propsmen and technical prep the stage for Aisha's showcase performance.

Hua Ze Lei sat at the back row, thoughtfully looking at the men working diligently. He remained in that position for about ten minutes until she heard a soft voice beside him.

"Hua Ze Lei?"

He looked up and saw Xiao Qiao standing there, looking at him curiously. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

He shook his head as she sat down beside him. "Just...thinking."

"I heard the conference hall is now packed," she said. "Will you be at the junket?"

"Later," he said, and returned his gaze on the stage, where one of the technicians are setting up the lights.

"Something is bothering you," she said softly. Hua Ze Lei breathed deeply.

"You are very perceptive," he said.

"You can tell me," she said.

Hua Ze Lei became silent for a long while, then spoke in a quiet voice. "Mei Zuo is in Tokyo right now." He turned his head to see her looking at him, as if in a daze. "Did you know?"

Slowly Xiao Qiao shook her head. "No." A pause. "Have you seen him?"

He shook his head. "Xi Men called to tell me."

Silence fell for a long moment. Then Xiao Qiao stood up, her voice back to normal. "I will see you later at the showcase?"

Hua Ze Lei looked at her assessingly, then nodded.

With almost pained eyes he watched her progress towards the stage. Her shoulders were slumped, and he knew exactly what she was feeling.

He did not wait any longer. He left the auditorium quietly, making his way to the conference hall where he knew the junket had already begun.

The conference hall of Artiste at the second floor of the building where the press junket will be held was packed with reporters when Aisha finally entered, accompanied by Yuki and some of her back-up dancers from her previous dance group.

Dressed casually in a pair of white leather pants and a lavender silk top, her hair flowing around her shoulders, her cap the only accessory, Aisha was all smiles as she took her place on the head table, facing the reporters.

Yuki was there beside her as the questions were thrown at her.

"Ash, have you always wanted to be a performer?"

"My mother was a very good dancer, I took that from her. I only recently discovered I could sing so..." She smiled.

"We do not know much about your family, Ash. Where are they now?"

Pause. "I am an only child. My father died when I was a baby. My mother has remarried and has her own family now. Please respect her privacy."

"Could you tell us about your first stage performance?"

Aisha thought for a moment, then smiled. "Oh, yes. It was in Taipei. There was this dance competition on television."

"Taipei? That is a long way."

A small smile was her only answer.

Careful not to draw any attention to himself, he stayed at the back of the room, content to just listen and watch Aisha speak on the microphone, her lilting voice enough to lift up his spirit. She was careful in answering the questions thrown her way. She was evasive, but not offensively so.

"She is good."

He turned abruptly at the sound of a familiar voice beside him.

"Jing," he said her name in surprise.

Jing smiled at him. "Relax, I am just here to support Aisha. I am a fan. Besides, Aisha is now a part of the JA family."

Hua Ze Lei did not say anything to this as he returned his gaze on the table at the front. Jing surreptitiously watched him watch Aisha.

"You know," she said in a soft whisper, "there is nothing that you should be afraid of."

"Who said I was afraid?" he murmured.

"You didn't have to. I can feel it." She looked at his profile closely, and asked, "What are you afraid of?"

He looked at her and met her eyes. "I do not have to tell you, do I? I am sure you can also feel it." Then he turned around and left the hall, leaving Jing looking after him.

"Yes, Lei," she said to herself. "I know what you are afraid of."

She then turned around and returned her attention on the press conference.

Excitement filled the air as the reporters and several fans who won via radio station competitions filed into the auditorium to watch the official launch of Aisha's album and her twenty minute showcase.

When the lights dimmed and the stage was fully illuminated, a hush fell over the room and the anticipation was so thick one could slice it with a knife.

On one corner employees of Artiste were seated, Yuki, Sachiko and Hua Ze Lei among them. Jing was also there, seated behind Hua Ze Lei.

Aisha pulled back from the small peephole, breathing hard.

She is nervous; she would be lying if she said she isn't.

She turned around as her back-up dancers came up behind her, also having an attack of the nerves. Aisha smiled, just looking at them. They have become her friends during those hard times she had to slum around. And now, she wanted to help them out as well.

"That is a lot of people," one of them whispered.

"That's nothing," said another. "Once Aisha performs in concerts and bigger venues, we will be talking thousands here!"

"Shush! Be quiet!" Lele, the oldest of them, admonished the two. "We are about to go out." He turned to Aisha. "Ready?"

Taking a deep breath, Aisha nodded. "Yeah."

When they heard their names called out, the dancers went out first, followed by Aisha.

Once she was onstage, microphone in hand, her friends around her, the footlights glaring at her, she was back in form, performing as though there was no one else there.

Her first three numbers were fast and moderately up-tempo. When it was time for her to sing her final song, she sat down on a stool and smiled as Xiao Qiao took her place beside her.

Nobody seemed to stir as she sang the song, Never Too Far, accompanied by Xiao Qiao's cello.

...fly away,
I don't really care.
Change your mind
Change your heart
But stay right here.

The slightest whisper
The sweetest kiss
riding the waves of distance
will get to me
and you will never be too far...

Everything was still when the final strains of the cello faded. Aisha finally opened her eyes and Hua Ze Lei was the first thing he saw. He was looking at her with those eyes, those eyes where she could drown herself.

She gave a small bow of her head in his direction, and Hua Ze Lei did the same. Behind him Jing watched the exchange with a detached expression on her face.

When Aisha turned her gaze to the audience who had now erupted into a burst of applause, she froze at the sight of the figure standing by the door of the auditorium.

Clearly he had been standing there for a long time, and she never noticed him.

Mei Zuo raised a hand in her direction and she thought she saw him smile across the dim auditorium.