"Dance with you? Why?" Zhu Rui questioned.

"Just finish your food. I wonder how you could eat so much?" murmured Zhao and walked to the other side of the platform. He looked at the water and the yellow lights which were brightening it. Zhu Rui looked towards him. She quickly finishes her food and wiped her mouth.

"I am done, Zhao," Zhu Rui asserted. Zhao turned to look at her and took out his hands from his pants pockets. He looked towards the end of the water platform where the three waiters were standing. They came there and took the plates, thus cleaning the table. The table was also taken from there. The platform was now empty. Zhao and Zhu Rui looked into each other's eyes when Zhao reached out his hand.

"Do not stare. Hold my hand," Zhao said in a commanding tone. Zhu Rui huffed and put her hand gently over his hand, looking into his eyes. Zhao pulled her lightly towards him. He then grabbed her other hand put it over his left shoulder.

"I expect you know how to dance," said Zhao in a low voice. Zhu Rui hummed when the music started playing. They moved at their places, both looking into each other's eyes.

"Wh-why are you staring at me like that?" Zhu Rui questioned while stuttering.

"When did you leave those big glasses? I still had that image of you in my mind," Zhao stated. Zhu Rui blinked her eyes when Zhao swirled her, such that her back was bent slightly but Zhao was holding her. The next second, he pulled her up. "I asked a question but you did not answer," Zhao whispered.

"Ahh... that, I had laser surgery for eyes. I have never liked those glasses-"

"You used to look good in those glasses. We hardly used to talk but whenever I saw you, you look like a bunny to me," said Zhao. A smile carved on his lips recalling that. Zhu Rui had never expected such a reaction from him.

"You liked me in those glasses?" Zhu Rui questioned.

"Yes," Zhao answered.

"But society did not accept me. I had those big round glasses with big two teeth which made me look ugly. I never wanted to put on those braces but because people judge you, that is why I have to undergo so many things. You cannot understand it," Zhu Rui said.

"Tell me I want to understand," Zhao stated.

"Eh? What happened to you today?" Zhu Rui murmured. Zhao caught her words "Nothing has happened to me. I want to know the person with whom I am living. Is it wrong to know you?" he then asked. Zhu Rui took a deep breath and then started speaking.

"Mom- dad used to tell me that if I put on those braces as it will make me look beautiful later in my life. I can smile which earlier I had to hide most of the time. I know it makes you beautiful but people do not see you beautiful until you have everything perfect in your appearance," stated Zhu Rui and chuckled.

"Umm... you must have gone through people's comments on you. Society judges you and we all people grow with the society. If we try to go differently either thing turns good or bad. It is all upon you. But I had never judged you. You used to look beautiful in those teeth as well- like a cute bunny." Zhao said with a smile.

"Ahh, why are you saying so many good things towards me? I am not able to digest this fact that you are praising me in some way," asserted Zhu Rui. Zhao chuckled "you should be happy when I am saying this. I hardly praise anyone."

"You praise Mishi every time," Zhu Rui mumbled.

"She is a different case. Wait for a second, why are you taking Mishi in between our talks?" Zhao asked.

"I said, in general, you always praise Mishi," Zhu Rui replied.

"She deserves to be praised," Zhao pronounced.

"I know. You do not need to remind me. It is just I do not like her at all so try not to take her name in front of me," stated Zhu Rui.

"Why are you so jealous of her?" Zhao questioned.

"I am not jealous of her in any way. It is just because of her my husband does not see me. Even if she is married, my husband still longs for her. I hate that. She made you work in those small shops, cafes earlier. There are many reasons for my hatred towards her," Zhu Rui snapped at him.

"This is the reason I do not like you. I do not see you as a woman because you think only of yourself," Zhao said in a serious tone. Zhu Rui felt bad upon hearing those words. She pulled her hands back but Zhao did not let them go. "Dance is not over yet," he said in a commanding tone.

Zhu Rui gulped her anger down the throat when the next thing completely startled her. Zhao reached his one hand behind her neck and pulled her closer to his lips. Before she could react, Zhao kissed her. The manager who works for his father took photos of them and sent them to Lee Shan Bin. Releasing her, he said, "Now, it is over." Saying this he pushed her off. She could not balance herself and fell down the platform into the water.

Zhao turned his face away and stepped ahead when Zhu Rui shouted for help. "Aish," he mumbled and then jumped into that water pool. He caught her and they both came out of that water pool. The manager there handed the towels to them when Zhao told the manager to show him the way towards a suite. Zhao carried Zhu Rui in his arms and followed the manager. Zhu Rui is hydrophobic so as soon as she fell into the water, she lost consciousness because of fear.

Zhao flipped his wet hair and told the woman staff to change Zhu Rui's clothes. The manager provided them a new pair of clothes. Zhao went inside the washroom to change while Zhu Rui was in the room. Once he was done, he came out and saw her on the bed still unconscious. He wiped off his hair and put the towel on the chair. "Thanks to dad my Christmas Eve turned this way," murmured Zhao.

~~~~~~~~~~

Chang told Ru Shi that they had to go to the party. "I cannot go to the party," said Ru Shi.

"What? Why?" Chunhua asked who had also returned from the other city.

"I have many assignments to submit tomorrow. If I will get late then my grades will fall." Ru Shi explained to them the reason. Chang and Chunhua looked at each other.

"So, will you stay alone?" Chang asked.

Ru Shi nodded. "This place is safest. Do not worry about me. You two should go and enjoy," asserted Ru Shi. They both nodded and told her that they would return in the morning as they would go to their sister's house. Ru Shi nodded and told them to enjoy the party. Once they left, she went to her room and started working on the assignments. After 2 hours, her phone rang and she without checking who was calling her answered the call.

"Hello," she said in a low voice. Her focus was on the laptop when from the other side the person said, "Come out of your apartment. I am waiting for you." Ru Shi looked at the screen and read Gan Dewei's name.

"I am not coming out. Now, do not disturb me," stated Ru Shi. She was going to hang up the call when Gan Dewei, "If you cut the call now, I will come there. You do not want people to know that this is the residential apartment of Chunhua Xin. So, better come out. I am waiting for you in front of the building." Saying this Gan Dewei cut the call.

Ru Shi sighed. She put on her slippers and left the apartment. As she came out of the rotating door, she saw Gan Dewei was pacing above and forth. She walked to him "Hey, why did you call me out?" Ru Shi questioned him. Hearing her voice, Gan Dewei turned to look at her and smiled.

He walked to her and hugged her tightly. Ru Shi was pushing him but he did not pull away. "Merry Christmas," these two words fell from his mouth. Ru Shi stopped struggling when he pulled back. He then grabbed her hand and took her with him. "Leave me. Where are you taking me to?" Ru Shi shouted at him. They reached the parking lot, where he took her to his car. Stopping right in front of it, he opened it and took out a paper bag. He turned top Ru Shi "here, it is for you," he said.

"I do not want this," Ru Shi said.

"It is your Christmas gift so, do not refuse," Gan Dewei said, handing her the bag. Ru Shi was annoyed by his behavior but did not say anything. The next second, he made Ru Shi sit inside his car and then drove away from there.