Earnest Interest

The next day after school, on her way home, Gui Gui decided to spend some time loitering around town since her parents would not be back so soon before she did.

She sat down on a bench and following, her mind could not help but started recalling the series of incidents that have inevitably happened recently. The more she pondered, she began to get the sense that they seemed so much like a pre-planned adventure so carefully arranged beyond her expectations. She wondered what would Wang Zi be doing at this particular moment...Will he still be in school? Or back home? Or preoccupy himself with sketching some drawings by a certain corner? She then took out a little folder from her bag. Opening it, those were pieces of Wang Zi's artwork which he had simply given her. She smiled seeing those lovely cartoon animals. Just while she was admiring their details, a breeze blew in her direction and one of the sheets slipped from her grasp. She quickly got up to chase after it.

Luckily, she managed not to lose it and just as she turned around to return to the bench, she thought her shoes had kicked against something. Gui Gui looked down and saw a bright shiny key on the ground. She stooped down and picked it up. Beholding it closer, she made out the numbers '414' were engraved on it. Her mind told her that she had come across this before but she could not quite remember why. Then, the appearance of this key struck her as strangely familiar.

Flashback...

The dimly-lit path gradually brightened as Gui Gui marched ahead. At the end of the path, two doors appeared side by side. She walked closer up to them and read the signs hanging on each of them. On her left was 'Destiny' while the right was 'Chance'.

She really wanted to know what lay behind those two doors. Scratching her head and wondering which doorknob she should place her hand on, a sharp blinding light suddenly flashed before her. It then disappeared to reveal a golden key dangling in the air.

End of Flashback...

It was actually the dream she had some days back. She quickly looked about and took her bag to continue walking down the street.

After some minutes, she finally reached a building. Coming up to its door, she saw that it had the numbers on the key over it. She gathered that she must have been to this place before. Gui Gui tried to open the door but it was locked so she made used of the key.

It worked for her and she saw that the inside of the building was dark and rather stuffy. Entering quietly, it did not take her to proceed more than five steps before a sudden noise of things falling down with a loud thud onto the floor in one of the rooms greatly startled her.

"Goodness..." She was taken aback upon hearing a familiar voice muttering from the inside. Out of curiosity, she ventured determinedly to find out what was going on.

In one of those rooms, she was even more surprised to see the person crouched on the floor, bending over a heap of books to pick them up.

"Wang Zi?!" She hurried over to his side.

He lifted his gaze to meet her concerned ones, "Gui Gui, how did you end up here??"

She was confused, "I should be asking you why too, right??"

He laughed, "I just got the job of replacing you at the book cleaning store and your boss ordered me to deliver these dirty old books back to the shop."

Gui Gui thought for a while and finally realised, "Oh, no wonder I've forgotten...It's been quite some time ago that he last brought me to this storeroom here!"

"But," Wang Zi wondered. "How did you come in??"

She then sighed, "You must have dropped this somewhere!" Holding up the key she got for him to see, he finally figured the reason.

Together, they both placed those fallen books into a trolley and headed out of the building.

After walking for some distance down the street, Wang Zi suggested for them to take a rest by the promenade since he still have much time before he needed to show up at the store.

Coincidentally, the spot where they sat brought memories of the night when they had celebrated his birthday and played with fireworks happily. At this point, the touching view of the breathtaking sunset in the distant horizon before them accompanied a calming silence in their midst.

Both did not volunteer to speak up but yet, in their hearts, they were harbouring doubts which hopefully could be cleared in each other's presence.

Just then, a wandering vendor abruptly appeared and walked up to them, "Hi there! Would you two like to try out some tasty steamed egg buns?? They're incredibly delicious, I bet ya!!"

Gui Gui immediately exclaimed, "Ah! They are my favourite!" She quickly grabbed one before taking another to offer Wang Zi.

Xiao Jie grinned, "Since you're both a couple, I'll let you have them for free today! Enjoy!!" He then rushed past them and vanished just as fast as he came.

Observing Wang Zi's hesitance, Gui Gui was somewhat certain that he hasn't tried the specialty bun before. She took his share and started peeling off the skin for him, "I literally grew up eating this...Just the other day at my Grandma's birthday event, she made over 50 of these egg buns and guess what? My dad and I finished them all in one night...They're good...I promise..." She then handed it back to him.

"Really..." Wang Zi still looked at the thing in his hand briefly.

When he was about to take a bite, Gui Gui cried last minute, "Ah wait!" He paused and she requested for him to give it to her again.

"It's still hot," she smiled embarrassingly and blew over the bun a little. Wang Zi only gazed at her engagingly while she was doing so. When she noticed him, Gui Gui quickly passed the bun back, "Sorry, it's just my weird habit...Here you go..."

He smiled and next moment, took her hand in his, "Have you read my text message??"

Gui Gui nodded and looked down. He went on, "No matter what's your answer, I just want you to know that, I love you, Gui Gui..."

Upon hearing so, Gui Gui felt as though her heart had skipped a beat. However, her mind just turned so blank that she was at a lost for words.

Soon, Wang Zi let go of his hand, "Thanks for so much...I have never found myself happier...This steamed egg bun...I'm sure that I'll cherish it..." He got up and rearranged the books in his trolley a little. Pushing it, he turned about and decided to continue on his way.

After he advanced a few steps, Gui Gui hastily stood up. Pacing ahead, she called out to him, "Wang Zi! I'm going after happiness too!" He stopped in his track and faced her again, with a heartfelt smile.

Gui Gui quicken her steps and raced up to him. Reaching his side, she delightedly hugged him tight. Wang Zi was grateful. He held her close and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead.

Watching at them from a distance, Ya Tou was ultimately contented. Beside her, Xiao Jie remarked dreamily, "What a pleasant ending...I'm glad for them..."

She then turned to him, "And I haven't even tasted any one of those egg buns..."

Xiao Jie was guilty, "Sorry, I ate them all..."

Ya Tou cried out without help, "How can you?! Now, I just might fall back on my word and not return to the Land of Fantaisie..."

Xiao Jie quickly raised his hands in defeat, "Sorry,...My Loving Senior Ya Tou...I'll make sure to find something edible..." Just then, his own PDA flashed and he felt his robe's pocket somewhat heavy. "Ah, there's still one left!" He took out a still hot and fresh bun from it and presented to her.

Ya Tou only shot him a dissatisfied look and grabbed the bun away from his hand. The instant she started munching on it, she could not help feeling as though she was once again on her much-missed comfortable cloudy recliner back in the heavens.