Chapter 43: Why Are You So Afraid?
Chapter 43: Why Are You So Afraid?
At this moment, Vivian forgot about her initial reluctance to dance and just wished that the music would
never stop.
She would do anything to be able to continue dancing in Chow's arms like this.
However, she knew that time stopped for no one. Eventually, even the most beautiful of melodies had
to come to a stop.
The last notes faded away as the pianist finally lifted his fingers from the keyboard. Vivian's dream was
finally coming to an end.
Just as the last music note echoed throughout the restaurant, Vivian did a final twirl, her dress following
and twirling in a full circle, before she finally ended up in Chow's arms.
Chow's eyes never left her throughout the dance. As if he was under a spell, he slowly closed the
distance between them and dipped his head to place a soft kiss on Vivian's lips.
Everyone was so mesmerised by the beautiful scene in front of them that nobody breathed a sound.
Everything felt just like a wonderful dream to them.
Click!
A sudden click had everyone jumping back to their senses.
With their dreamlike scene shattered, Chow and Vivian also snapped back to reality, whipping around
to look towards the direction of the click.
It was the restaurant owner from before, holding a polaroid camera in his hands. He grinned at the both
of them before taking the polaroid film that was slowly sliding out of the camera.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.
He twirled the polaroid film in his fingers and handed it to them. "I'm sorry, I really didn't want to spoil
the moment, but I knew I was going to regret it if I didn't record down this special moment between the
both of you," he said with an apologetic smile on his face. "You both look so good together."
Even though it was this click that had shattered the wonderful trance they had been in, Vivian still
couldn't help smiling happily when she received the photo from him.
Even if they hadn't been interrupted by the click, the dance was going to end anyway. She was glad
that there was at least this photo, in which she smiled so happily, to remember this moment by.
Vivian held the precious photo in her hands and bowed deeply to the owner in gratitude. "Thank you
very much!"
The next song was starting to play. Some of the patrons who had just been watching earlier started
filling up the dance floor.
The owner replied with a smile. "You're absolutely welcome. Your Romantic Dinner for Two is now
ready and you may enjoy them whenever you please. Of course, if you'd like to dance for a while
longer, we can have our kitchen prepare another one for you later."
Vivian cradled the photo in her hands as she looked hopefully at Chow.
Chow had a smile on his face, most probably still affected by the pleasant atmosphere in the
restaurant. "That's alright, we will have our food now," he said.
The dance just now was actually just a spur-on-the moment thing to tease Vivian.
He had never expected himself to actually be deeply enthralled by her.
However, for now, he no longer had any interest in dancing with the other people.
Hearing his words, the owner nodded with a smile. "This way please. Lily, please show our guests to
their seats."
"Yes, sir! This way, please," the waitress from earlier greeted Chow and Vivian with another smile
before showing them to a couple table. Their dishes were also served almost at once.
Because they'd just danced together, Vivian no longer seemed to be as afraid of Chow as she used to
be.
She carefully tucked the photo away into her little handbag before taking a sip of her drink on the table.
Seeing what she'd just done, Chow's lips twitched upwards as he looked at her. "It's just a photo. Is it
really worth putting into your diary later on?"
Vivian didn't think that Chow would be observing her actions. Her face blushed a slight red.
"I-It's not a diary, just a regular notebook," she said with a stammer after hesitating for a while.
Was that what Chow had meant by his words earlier? Chow just let out a soft chuckle and didn't pursue
the topic any further.
After everything they'd been through, Chow was starving. Even if the food wasn't quite to his taste,
Chow still kept his head low as he ate steadily.
Vivian sat opposite him, watching him eating with his lowered. She could feel her heart bursting with
happiness.
Even if Chow reverted back to his old self again after the night was over, she didn't mind. She was
already content with how things were.
All the memories she made tonight were enough for her to reminisce for a long, long time.
Vivian let out a soft breath as she turned her head to look at the dance floor not too far away.
The patrons on the floor were still dancing slowly to the piano. Although they were all merely strangers
to each other, the warm atmosphere emanating from the dance floor would make anyone watching sigh
in happiness.
When he heard her sigh, Chow glanced up from his food to look at Vivian's smiling face as she
watched the people dance.
He followed her gaze and looked towards the people on the dance floor as well.
To him, there was nothing special about it.
In fact, compared to the other balls and galas that he'd attended before, this dance floor was overly
simple and too crude to even be worth mentioning at all.
He turned back in confusion and asked Vivian. "What's so nice about it? What are you smiling at?"
Vivian was still watching the people dancing with a satisfied smile on her face. "I feel so happy," she
replied.
"Happy?" Chow repeated, glancing back at the floor. "Because of them?"
It was only then that Vivian realised what she'd said. As she looked at Chow's confused face, she
cleared her throat awkwardly and explained. "When I was little, I remember watching a scene from a
movie that showed the male and female leads dancing happily at a ball. I've forgotten what the movie is
called, but I do remember that they looked very happy as they danced with each other."
While explaining, Vivian couldn't help a smile curling on her lips again. "Since then, I've always thought
that it must be nice to be with someone who could dance happily at any time. I always wanted to dance
like they did in the movies."
At that time, she had really longed for happiness.
"I'm really happy today. Even if it's just for one night, I've finally made my childhood wish come true.
Also..." Most importantly, she was still able to be by Chow's side.
Vivian didn't say it out loud, but the smile on her face was like a ray of sunlight, brightly shining into
Chow's heart.
"How could you remember a lousy movie for such a long time?" Chow said with a scoff. However, he
wasn't going to tell her that just looking at the smile on her face made his heart skip a beat.
The both of them were still deeply affected by the romantic atmosphere from earlier. They shared
another sweet kiss as soon as they stepped foot into the main building of the Howard Mansion.
Vivian was still a little awkward, but she was a lot more enthusiastic about the kiss than before.
Chow didn't act like he did in the past either. He wasn't rough or overbearing with her, instead, he was
particularly gentle this time.
His lips landed first on her lips, then her cheeks. In no time at all, Chow was eagerly carrying her in his
arms as he headed upstairs.
After they were done tumbling in the sheets, he laid by her side and pulled her into his arms.
Vivian didn't ask why he didn't return to his room.
Everything that happened tonight was like a dream to Vivian.
Nobody would be willing to shatter such a beautiful illusion for themselves.
She greedily lay in his arms, hoping that the two of them would never have to wake up ever again.
People in love were the most irrational, after all.
Chow was also getting sleepy. It wasn't long after he hugged her that he started slipping out of
consciousness.
Just as he was about to fall asleep, he suddenly spoke up in a low voice. "It's the same bed as mine,
but why does yours feel more comfy?"
Vivian was stunned by his question and opened her sleepy eyes once more.
Chow didn't wait for her to answer. Instead, he answered himself while still half-asleep. "It's because...
it's because your bed smells like you."
Vivian's heart started to tremble. She couldn't help opening her eyes, which had just adapted to the
darkness, to trace over Chow's facial features once more.
The rare, tender smile on his lips was just so dazzling and hypnotising.
It didn't seem like Chow was aware of what he'd been saying in his sleep. A few moments later, he
started to snore.
Vivian bit her lower lip tightly as she raised her hand and carefully stroked his chin. "I'm so glad to know
that I'm not as useless as you say I am," she thought.
Learning about his little secret made her feel like a kid on Christmas day. She never thought that such
a small thing would make her feel so happy.
Even in her dreams, it was a sweet night.
Even when she was woken up by Chow's kisses the next day, Vivian still had a sweet smile on her lips.
As soon as she learned that the ticklish feeling on her face was because of Chow's pecks, Vivian
immediately hid her face against his chest, not daring to even look up at him.
...
"What's wrong? You were so enthusiastic last night. What's there to be shy about now? I don't
understand."
Although Chow was still frowning, his eyes didn't look as impatient as before.
On the contrary, there seemed to be a hint of doting in his eyes that even he hadn't noticed.
Vivian pressed her face against his chest and still refused to look up. "Brother Chow, isn't it time for you
to go to work?" she asked softly.
Chow let out a scoff and was about to say something in reply, but there was a rapid series of knocks on
the door just then.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Young Master, Young Master?" It was Aunt Blaine.