Chapter 83: Fireworks
"Dong Hua! Look at the fireworks! Your apartment has the best view. You're so lucky!" Feng Jiu exclaimed excitedly, and she crawled out of the fort to have a better view.
"I feel even luckier that you're here with me tonight." Dong Hua smiled. Feng Jiu smiled back warmly and said, "Maybe I'll come to your place from next year onwards! I know you hate crowds, but it would also be nice if we could host some parties here in the future too."
"Maybe we could consider that next time." Dong Hua smiled. "Really?! You'll consider that?" Feng Jiu replied shockingly.
"Yes. As long as it makes you happy, Xiao Bai." Dong Hua said lovingly.
Soon, the fireworks ended, and Feng Jiu pouted. "Wish it was longer." She said. Dong Hua smiled and replied, "What's so hard about that? I could easily call a few people to set up a long fireworks show for you."
"No! It's a waste of money. I would rather use the money to do some charity, or maybe buy me more food!" Feng Jiu firmly shook her head.
"That's the Xiao Bai I know. Always saving money for me. Of course I'll buy you more food." Dong Hua patted her head gently.
"What should we do now?" Feng Jiu asked. Dong Hua shrugged his shoulders and replied, "I'm not sure. Maybe we could just lie down in the fort and talk?"
"Sounds good! Do you want to know more about my design drafts for the competition?" Feng Jiu asked.
"Sure. I want to know everything about you." Dong Hua smiled.
Then they both lay back down on the soft blankets, and Feng Jiu cuddled a small pillow.
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"So, I'm on my final draft now! I will show you when we get back to work. It's a beautiful two-storey semi-detached house, with a total of 4 bedrooms. My living room would be large and bright. Then I'll have a big couch so everyone would feel comfortable there and enjoy a movie night together. I also like an open-concept kitchen, and I don't want too many things in my house too. Do you like it?" Feng Jiu passionately talked about her dream home.
"That sounds nice, and I really like it. So what colour would be your bedroom? I hope it's not pink." Dong Hua chuckled.
"Of course not! I'm thinking of a purple and white theme for the master bedroom. For the other rooms, it would be white first, and my future children could decide whatever colour they want. How about you, Dong Hua? What's your dream home?" Feng Jiu smiled.
"Hmm... I have never thought of that before since I think I would always end up living alone. I don't even talk to my neighbours. But what you just said sounded nice to me. It gets me thinking about what I want in the future too. I never used to like a big house because it would feel empty if I'm living alone. This is also why I chose to stay here in an apartment." Dong Hua replied.
Feng Jiu turned her body over to face Dong Hua and replied lovingly, "Your apartment is cozy too. But I still think our fort is the coziest."
Dong Hua then turned his head over to look at Feng Jiu. "I also love this fort. If only we could sleep here every night. It would be such a waste to take down the fort."
"It's okay, and we can always build a new one! It's exciting to build different kinds of forts. This is just a simple one. I once build a super big one in my room! Maybe next time we can build one in your room?!" Feng Jiu replied excitedly.
"Do whatever that makes you happy, Xiao Bai. But you'll have to join me in my fort since it would be boring if it's just me." Dong Hua replied casually.
"But... We would have to share a bed again... You'll definitely extort me for repayment." Feng Jiu pouted.
"Oh? But you already said that you'd take responsibility, so it wouldn't matter if we slept in the same bed or not. Technically, it's not a bed but a fort, so it's different." Dong Hua replied.
"Hmm... Does it work that way though?" Feng Jiu thought to herself. Then she asked Dong Hua, "So... you won't ask me for any repayment, right?"
"I won't." Dong Hua smiled. Feng Jiu then smiled brightly and wiggled closer to Dong Hua since she was feeling a little cold.
Dong Hua noticed that she was feeling cold like usual, and he covered her with another blanket. "Is that better?" He asked concernedly.
Feng Jiu snuggled up to Dong Hua and replied lovingly, "Yes! You're so warm, Dong Hua. Funny how I used to think that you're an Ice Block when I first met you. I can't even remember how it's like now."
"Oh? Was I really that cold?" Dong Hua asked curiously.
"You mean you didn't know that you're cold?! Everyone knows that! I remembered when I was still an intern; I only saw you a few times after working there for months. And... you hurt me too..." Feng Jiu frowned and turned away.
Dong Hua leaned over and asked worriedly, "What did I do?"
Feng Jiu curled up and bowed her head, "Well... It's not really your fault. There was one time I met you and Ji Heng at the building's entrance, but you were so cold to me."
Dong Hua made her turn around and stared deep into her eyes, "Xiao Bai, I'm sorry that I was cold to you back then. If I knew how important you are to me today, I wouldn't be that cold to you. I remembered that you saved Tai Chen Group, but I was too stressed out with the Mo Jie International lawsuit to make it up to you. I'll make it up to you from now onwards."
"Dong Hua knew about me saving Tai Chen Group? So he knew Ji Heng stole my designs? But why didn't he punish her? I mean, I don't want to take revenge, but I just want Ji Heng to stop harming me. At least Dong Hua knows the truth now, so I feel better. The past is in the past." Feng Jiu thought to herself. She misunderstood that Dong Hua already knew the truth, but he was actually referring to the fire incident when they first met. She always assumed it was Dong Hua who saved her, but to him, he always felt that it was Feng Jiu who saved him.
Then she smiled and replied cheerfully, "It's okay, Dong Hua! The past is the past. I'm glad that we are family now! I don't want to talk about unhappy memories. Should we talk about something else?"
Dong Hua smiled warmly and replied, "Of course, I'll do anything to make you smile. Since you're going to stay the night, should we stay up late and talk through the night?"
"Yes! I think it's nice that you're so talkative now. You used to be a man of few words, but I much prefer you this way, Dong Hua." Feng Jiu replied excitedly.
Dong Hua gently smoothed her hair and tucked it behind her ear, "You're the only person I feel comfortable with. What do you want to talk about now? I'm not good at starting conversations."
Feng Jiu turned and laid on her back, "Hmm... Oh! I saw that you have an origami paper fox in your walk-in wardrobe. You like foxes?"
Dong Hua then told her about how the foxes saved his life when he was young. Feng Jiu listened excitedly, and she replied, "Wow! Foxes saved your life. You know I used to dream of foxes and a man with silver hair. Do you want to know what's funny? There was once I dreamt that the silver hair guy was you!" Then she giggled.
Dong Hua smiled and replied, "Oh? Do I look good with silver hair? But wouldn't I be an old man if I had silver hair?"
Feng Jiu shook her head gently and replied, "No, not at all. You actually look really young and handsome. You look exactly the same other than having long and silver hair."
Dong Hua pondered, "Why does this give me a deja vu feeling? I think I had dreams like that too." Then he furrowed his brows and replied, "Xiao Bai, I also used to have dreams like that. I always dreamt of a girl with a phoenix flower birthmark on her forehead, but I couldn't see her face. At times when I feel hopeless, I would have dreams of her telling me not to give up and to keep going."
Feng Jiu immediately turned and looked at Dong Hua, "That's weird. I had dreams like that too! Before I met you, I'll dream of the same guy with silver hair whenever I'm feeling upset. But sometimes I feel empty when I wake up, and I would even wake up in tears at times. After I met you, my dreams started disappearing."
Dong Hua turned his head and stared back at Feng Jiu, "Me too. I stopped having those dreams."
"Could it be... We are fated to meet each other?!" Feng Jiu smiled brightly. Dong Hua nodded his head and replied lovingly, "You're right, Xiao Bai. We are definitely fated for each other." Then he gently patted her head.
"I knew it! You're fated to buy me food. Maybe this is the reason why I'm a glutton! See? It's not my fault." Feng Jiu laughed out loud.
Dong Hua chuckled and replied, "Don't blame it on me, you're born a glutton. Your parents must have fed you well when you're younger. By the way, tell me more about your family."
"Hmm... They are really kind people, but my dad is hard to get along with at times. I know they care for me, but I wanted to be more independent, and this is why I moved away to live on my own. They run their own restaurant back in my hometown, so they are often busy. My mother is a great cook, and I learned how to cook through her. I grow up not having a lack of food." Feng Jiu smiled.
"See? This is where you get your glutton ways from. Should I say that I'm unlucky to fall into your trap, and I have to buy you food now?" Dong Hua replied sarcastically.
"Hmph! You should be lucky to meet me! If not, you won't get to taste my delicious cooking!" Feng Jiu pouted and looked away.
Dong Hua turned to look at Feng Jiu's pouty face, "I'm just kidding. I'm definitely lucky to meet you, Xiao Bai. I can't imagine my life without you now."
Feng Jiu immediately turned over and smiled sweetly, "I feel lucky too."
Dong Hua smiled sweetly and replied, "Xiao Bai, are you feeling tired now? You can head back into your room to sleep if you are. I want to sleep in the fort tonight."
"No, I'm not tired at all. I'll accompany you until I feel tired." Feng Jiu shook her head.
Then they continued talking about random stuff in life, and they were having a lot of fun laughing as well.
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After 30 minutes, Feng Jiu passed out in exhaustion. She was exhausted because she didn't sleep well last night as she was worried about Dong Hua.
"So much for not being tired at all. Xiao Bai is always falling asleep on me." Dong Hua shook his head and covered her with the blanket. Then he thought to himself, "Should I carry her back to the bed? I don't want to wake her up too."
Then he gently tried to lift her up, but Feng Jiu grabbed on his shirt, and she snuggled up to Dong Hua. She buried her head into his chest and hooked her leg over his. "Dong Hua... Dong Hua... Don't leave me." She mumbled.
"I won't. I'm still here." Dong Hua consoled her and patted her back gently. Then he thought to himself, "Xiao Bai seems to be afraid that I'd leave. She mentioned it a few times. I wonder why."
Dong Hua then slowly lay down on the thick blankets and stared at Feng Jiu lovingly. He thought to himself again, "How nice if we could do this every night. At least with me around, she won't be able to kick her blankets off. But she's kicking me." Then he pulled the blanket over Feng Jiu again.
"Sleep well, Xiao Bai." Dong Hua said softly, and he eventually fell asleep while hugging her too.
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The next morning, Dong Hua was up first. He stared at Feng Jiu's bad sleeping habits and shook his head. Her hair was in a mess, and she even drooled a little on his shirt. Her hands and legs were all over him as well. He thought to himself, "She still looks beautiful even though she has such bad sleeping habits. Nothing can make me stop loving her. I feel like I'm falling more and more in love with her. I have to act like I'm asleep so she won't feel embarrassed when she's awake then."
When Dong Hua noticed that Feng Jiu was waking up, he quickly closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep.
As expected, Feng Jiu immediately felt embarrassed upon waking up. "How did I end up falling asleep again? Oh no, Dong Hua will stop liking me if he sees me like this!" Then she noticed a small water stain on Dong Hua's shirt. "Oh my gosh! Did I drool on him too?! I can't let him see this. This is too embarrassing! What should I do?!" Feng Jiu panicked, and she gently touched the wet spot on his shirt.
Then Feng Jiu crawled out of the fort to get a damp cloth. Dong Hua noticed her crawling out, but he continued pretending to sleep. "I wonder what tricks she's up to now." He thought to himself.
After a while, Feng Jiu crawled back in and started wiping off her drool stain, but it got worse. Now, the shirt had a huge wet stain. "No! Dong Hua is going to think that I drool a lot in my sleep." Usually, Feng Jiu doesn't drool, but she was sleeping in an awkward position and hugging on tightly to Dong Hua last night.
Then Feng Jiu thought of a 'brilliant' plan; she was going to take his shirt off and wash it. Then she would blame it on Dong Hua's excessive sweating and that she's doing him a huge favour by washing it. At this point, Feng Jiu didn't realize that it would be even more awkward if Dong Hua woke up topless.
Feng Jiu slowly lifted up Dong Hua's shirt and tried to take it off. Dong Hua thought to himself, "What is she trying to do?! Never mind, I'll pretend to be asleep and see what she's up to again." Then he pretended to be in a deep sleep and did not react to it at all. He also tried to stop his dirty thoughts to prevent a nose bleed. "Think of the different company names. A for American Investment. B for Bank of China. C for City Union Finance..." Dong Hua continued chanting the different company names.
After much struggle, Feng Jiu finally took his shirt off. Then she mumbled to herself before crawling out of the fort, "Okay, now I can wash it so that Dong Hua won't know I was drooling."
Dong Hua thought to himself, "I see, this is what she was up to. How cute. Time for me to expose and tease her." Then he gently grabbed Feng Jiu and pinned her down on the thick blankets. "What were you doing, and why am I topless?"
Feng Jiu immediately blushed and hugged on to his shirt. "Uh... Uh... You were sweating, and your shirt was drenched. I was only trying to help you wash it. I swear I'm not a pervert, and I had no dirty thoughts at all!" She replied nervously.
"Oh? But I didn't say anything about you being a pervert and having dirty thoughts. Why would you think that? Unless you're having dirty thoughts... I mean, you took my shirt off." Dong Hua teased her more.
"No! It was because your shirt was drenched! I didn't think of any dirty thoughts!" Feng Jiu pouted, then she thought to herself, "Dong Hua's arms are so muscular. I could even see his 6-packs. Wait! I just said I have no dirty thoughts." Then she shook her head to clear her thoughts.
"Were you just thinking about dirty thoughts, Xiao Bai?" Dong Hua asked and stared deep into her eyes. Then he suddenly thought to himself, "Xiao Bai looks so beautiful, and I'm on top of her now while being topless. Wouldn't it be nice if we... Wait! What am I thinking of? I'm a gentleman, and I need to respect her!" Then he felt his nose was about to bleed, and he quickly got off her.
They awkwardly lay beside each other, both afraid to move or talk. Dong Hua then calmed himself down and said, "Didn't you say that you need to wash my shirt? Let's go; I'll help you with it." Then he quickly sat up and crawled out of the fort. Feng Jiu followed suit while still blushing hard. "Hopefully, Dong Hua won't realize that I was drooling on his shirt."
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Dong Hua threw all his used clothes into the washing machine and started it. Then he turned to Feng Jiu and said, "I must have sweated a lot in my sleep that my shirt was so drenched." Feng Jiu smiled and replied nervously, "Yeah... You sweated so much."
Dong Hua smiled and thought to himself, "Silly Xiao Bai. Why would she even feel embarrassed about drooling? I love her no matter what, and she still looks beautiful to me." Then he replied sarcastically, "It's your fault for hugging on to me so tightly in your sleep. I couldn't even move."
"I'm sorry! I guess it was because you're nice to hug, just like my giant plushie at home!" Feng Jiu spoke without thinking.
"Oh? So, now I'm just a giant plushie." Dong Hua shook his head. Feng Jiu then immediately tried to explain herself, "No! That's not what I meant! I mean, like...." Then she changed to a soft and shy tone, "I mean... You're nice to cuddle with." Feng Jiu then bowed her head in embarrassment.
"Guess you have to repay me for taking advantage of me all night then." Dong Hua replied casually.
"Okay! How about I make you brunch to make it up to you?" Feng Jiu smiled. Dong Hua smiled and replied sarcastically, "Sounds nice. But why does it sounds more like repayment for yourself? I mean, you get to enjoy the food too."
Feng Jiu pondered, "Dong Hua is right. I did take advantage of him last night, but how do I repay him? Hmm..."
After thinking for a while, Feng Jiu tiptoed and closed her eyes. She leaned in and gave Dong Hua a small peck on his cheek. Then she quickly ran towards her room and locked the door.
Feng Jiu jumped onto the bed and covered her head with the pillow. "Why did I even do that?! How could I kiss Dong Hua without his permission? I'm losing control of myself!" Then she rolled around the bed and started kicking her legs too.
Dong Hua's heart couldn't stop pounding, and he slowly sat on the bed while touching his cheek. "Xiao Bai just willingly kissed me... I was just expecting her to give me more milk candy, but she gave me... 'fireworks.'"
At this point, both of their hearts were having their own 'fireworks show.' Then they tried their hardest to cool down before heading out of their rooms.
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After they both calmed down, they slowly crept out of their rooms. They bumped into each other while turning into the living room, and their faces instantly went red.
Dong Hua tried to break the awkwardness, and he asked, "Xiao Bai, you want to head out for lunch instead? You mentioned once about the place where you had that delicious bacon carbonara. Should we head there soon?"
Feng Jiu immediately smiled and replied excitedly, "Yes! That's my usual hang-out spot. The food is great, and it's usually not that crowded. Can't wait to bring you there!"
Then they both went back to their rooms and prepared to head out. Dong Hua then waited for Feng Jiu in the living room after he was done.
Feng Jiu also briefly packed up her stuff as she wants to head home after having lunch. Then she told Dong Hua, "Is it okay if I head home after lunch? I still need to do some household chores."
"That's fine; I'll need to complete some work after lunch as well." Dong Hua smiled. Then he helped Feng Jiu with her bags, and they left the apartment.
After they arrived at the cafe that Feng Jiu frequent, they quickly ordered their food since they didn't eat breakfast. Feng Jiu ordered seafood Aglio olio, and Dong Hua ordered the bacon carbonara. They also ordered two Iced tea.
"Xiao Bai, you can share some of my food later on." Dong Hua said to Feng Jiu, knowing what a glutton she was.
Soon, the food arrived, and Feng Jiu immediately began eating. Dong Hua smiled and gave her more food since he didn't want her to be hungry. "Order more food if you're hungry, Xiao Bai." He said.
While they were eating, Dong Hua noticed a few people staring at them. "Who are those people? They looked familiar." He thought to himself.
Feng Jiu was too busy with eating to realize that people were staring at them. Then she noticed Dong Hua kept looking around. "What's wrong, Dong Hua?" She asked concernedly.
"Those people kept staring at us." Dong Hua replied in a semi-annoyed tone. Feng Jiu then looked around and noticed people staring.
"Oh. I know those people. They worked in Tai Chen Group as well. Maybe they just recognized you as our boss. Don't you know that you're famous?" Feng Jiu chuckled.
"Oh? I thought they were staring at your beauty, Xiao Bai." Dong Hua replied calmly. Then he thought to himself, "Yeah, just continue to stare at us. Now, everyone knows that Xiao Bai belongs to me."
Feng Jiu chuckled and jokingly said, "Maybe they have a crush on you!"
Dong Hua then smiled at Feng Jiu and replied sarcastically, "Oh? So those guys also have a crush on you?"
"You already knew what happened to Xuan Yue at the resort. If they tried to make a move on me, I'd practice my kickboxing skills on them!" Feng Jiu replied proudly.
"Oh. So if those girls have a crush on me, what would you do?" Dong Hua asked casually, but he avoided eye-contact.
"Of course I'll use my kickboxing skills on them too! I'll protect you, and nobody can come near. I'm your personal assistant now!" Feng Jiu replied without thinking.
Dong Hua smiled and thought to himself, "Xiao Bai is really protective of me. It seems like she doesn't want any girls near me as well. If I asked her to be my girlfriend after the competition, I think she might agree to it." Then he replied, "Xiao Bai is the best. Since you're so protective, I ought to reward you. Right? I'll order some desserts for you now."
Feng Jiu immediately smiled brightly and flipped through the menu. "Yes! I want chocolate lava cake and vanilla ice cream!" She said excitedly.
Then Dong Hua stood up and walked to the cashier counter to order it for her. He didn't order any for himself since he was feeling a little full.
After a while, the waiter served the dessert. Feng Jiu smiled brightly and started eating. "Mmmm! So good! You want to try some?" She asked.
"No, it's fine. You can have all since I'm afraid that it wouldn't be enough for you." Dong Hua smiled.
Feng Jiu then took a piece of the chocolate lava cake and held it up to Dong Hua's mouth. "Try it! Don't worry about me not having enough. Good things are meant to be shared. Although I don't usually like sharing my food with others!" Feng Jiu was a glutton, and it was always her eating others' food. But she was always willing to share her food with Dong Hua.
"Try it, try it!" Feng Jiu kept convincing Dong Hua to try the cake. He eventually gave in and opened his mouth while she fed him. Dong Hua then took another piece and fed it to Feng Jiu. "Eat more, Xiao Bai."
At this moment, the people who were still staring at them managed to take a photo of them feeding each other. Then they logged onto the secret forum and uploaded the picture.
After Feng Jiu and Dong Hua finished their lunch, they headed towards Feng Jiu's apartment.
"Thank you for sending me home, Dong Hua. It was nice spending the New Year with you. I'll see you at work tomorrow!" Feng Jiu smiled warmly at Dong Hua, and she got off his car.
"I'm glad that I spent it with you too, Xiao Bai. Quickly head upstairs and rest well. I... miss.. you already..." Dong Hua replied shyly, and he bowed his head with a huge smile on his face.
"Me too!" Feng Jiu smiled nervously, and she swiftly ran towards the elevator.
Both of them then tried to calm down and thought to themselves, "That fireworks feeling again..." Their hearts couldn't stop pounding, and they smiled to themselves as well.
"I'm so glad that we created some 'fireworks' between us." - Dong Hua & Feng Jiu
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