Lu Meili's eyes bulged in astonishment. In the next second, she burst into laugher. "I almost believed you. You should know that we are no longer little kids to keep pulling pranks on each other." 

"How am I pulling a prank? 

Meili, I've been in love with you for a long time. I didn't realize it until recently." 

"My little angel, can we... can we be together?" 

Lu Meili looked into his eyes. He really meant it. 

Xu Tang really confessed to her... this was something she had dreamt of for many years. Now that it had finally happened, why did it not feel like she had imagined? 

She was not half as elated as she thought she would be. Instead, she felt conflicted. Her mind was a blur for a moment and she merely stood there, looking at him. It was only after a while that she came to her senses. Decisively, she spoke what was on her mind. 

"Oh Xu Tang... it doesn't matter anymore. It's too late already. I don't blame you for for being blind for so long but a woman can't wait forever, okay? You cannot expect me to love you, wait around and when I finally give up and move on, waltz back into my life and expect me to accept your love. Xu Tang, I'm a woman. Not your pet." 

The words sliced into Xu Tang's heart like a sharp dagger. He clutched his chest. It was all his fault.

If only he had accepted his feelings sooner, Lu Meili wouldn't fall for another man. 

Wait. Fall in love? Of course not. 

Clinging to his last straw, he grabbed her hand. "Meili, look at me. Look into my eyes and tell me you do not love me. Only then will I believe you." 

She wouldn't do it. Of course she wouldn't. Because the only man she loved in this lifetime was him. 

However, his fantasy was shattered before it was a second old. "Xu Tang, you should find yourself a wife instead of spending your time asking me to do childish things. Aunty Kara and Uncle Liaowen would love to become grandparents, don't you think?" 

Before he could say anything else, she turned to leave. 

"I can't believe she just said that." 

"Of course you can't believe it. How many times did I keep telling you that you are in love with her? Yet you said I'm not old enough to understand. You just made my perfect sister-in-law leave. Hmph!" Small Xixi had overheard the last part of their conversation. 

"Where are you going?" 

"Home." Xu Tang was no longer in the mood to watch a movie. He had lost in love, just like that? 

Not only had he lost the woman he loved, he had lost his best friend too. 

___

Mu Zhichen waited for quite some time before he finally saw Lu Meili. "There you are. I was starting to think you had decided to run off with another man." He said half-jokingly. 

Lu Meili laughed. "Young master Mu, I..." 

"Call me by my name." Mu Zhichen corrected. He had realized that when she wanted to say something, she would just say it. She had never called his name in his presence before. 

"Mu Zhichen, I don't feel like watching a movie anymore. Can we go somewhere else?" 

Mu Zhichen didn't hurriedly ask for explanations regarding what had just transpired. Although he had bought tickets, he didn't feel annoyed. That small bit of money didn't matter in comparison to spending time with Lu Meili. He would just leave the tickets for other people to use. "Where do you want to go?" 

"I don't know. Perhaps we can just drive around then go for dinner?" 

"Good idea." 

He audaciously reached for her hand. "Meili, can I hold your hand?" 

Lu Meili blushed. Outside filming, only the men from her family and Xu Tang had held her hand before. It sounded kind of strange to hold hands with this man she had met only twice. 

But this was her future husband. No need to worry about it, right?

Slowly, she held out her hand and put it in his. 

As soon as that tiny palm stuck onto his, Mu Zhichen felt his heart race as a rush of scarlet crept up his ears. Was he really holding Lu Meili's hand? 

"That looks like a new couple. They are both blushing from holding each other's hand. How cute!" A few onlookers had their eyes on them. Although Lu Meili was not dressed like the noble young miss she was, and Mu Zhichen was dressed in simple casual clothes too, they were still quite outstanding. 

"A handsome man and a girl with heavenly beautiful looks. They are such a perfect match." 

"I wish them a hundred years together!" 

Adults were not the only ones who noticed this. A little boy selling ribbons and bracelets approached him. "Uncle, could you buy a bracelet? I promise they are really beautiful." 

Mu Zhichen chuckled and bought two. He didn't need them - he just didn't have the heart to reject the boy. He gave him two a hundred dollar bills. 

"Uncle, you gave me too much money." 

Mu Zhichen tapped his nose. "Take that as your reward for working hard." 

The boy was elated. "My dad says that if people are kind to me, I should be kind to them in return." He took out a red ribbon from his collection. "Here. If you give this to elder sister, She will be very happy. Elder sister is very beautiful and will look prettier with it." 

Lu Meili felt her heart melt. How could such a little boy be so cute? "Thank you little brother. You are too cute yourself." 

The boy was even more pleased, while Mu Zhichen's face turned dark. Uncle again? When Lu Meili was an elder sister?! 

Lu Meili was happily chatting away with the boy. She crouched and let him clumsily help her put a ribbon on her hair. "Very beautiful." He said.

"How about I buy all your ribbons? I will give some to my mother and sister. We can wear a different one every day." 

The boy happily gave her all of them. This pair was very kind. "Uncle, you must take good care of beautiful sister. If not, someone will take her away from you." 

Mu Zhichen rubbed his head. "Of course, I will not let anyone take her away." 

Xu Tang, the someone was still watching them with the intention of trying to take Lu Meili away, felt another pang of heartache.