Hidden Love
Han Yu Pin Yin: Cang Ai
Author: Jennifer
Source: AAE Village
Translators: Jules

XZ loved to wait for her, especially since it gave him the opportunity to watch her smile as she walked towards him.  He was completely besotted with the telephone conversation they had this afternoon when she was trying so hard to appease him with her apologies.  Who would have known that an occasional argument and some jealousy between them could actually feel so good.  SM was going to buy him dinner tonight because of it…..

Looking at his watch, he knew he was more than half an hour early for their appointment.  He had told his secretary that he would not be returning to the office after the meeting he had, and came straight here instead.

He strolled around the park on his own.  Ever since SM returned from London, they had met here countless times.  The park bordered the city district, and was in a very convenient location.  There was always lots of people coming in and out during the day.  As the light faded, the number of people walking through also gradually reduced.

A male student rushed past XZ, almost knocking into him.  He was trying to get away from his group of friends.  “C’mon!  Come get me!  I will buy drinks tomorrow for whoever can catch me”  he called out to his friends.  Without noticing it, the boy had run into the oncoming traffic.  XZ realised what was happening, and rushed up……..

It was already six forty.  XZ still hadn’t turned up.  He was never late.  This time, he didn’t even give her call to inform her.  Surely, he was not still angry with her?  Thinking about what happened this afternoon SM could not help laughing.  Who would have known that he could be such a jealous sort?

This afternoon, because of the events concerning Mr Jin Zhi ?, XZ had actually lost his temper at her for the first time.  Jin sent to the same high school as SM, and was now working in the government planning department. SM only found out when she won the project for the Cultural Centre, which is being managed by the government.  Jin and SM get along well together, and, with his help, the project has been going very smoothly so far.  Jin would occasionally look SM up when he goes to Seoul.  They had become friends, and SM has often mentioned this to XZ.  This afternoon, SM had originally agreed to have lunch to XZ, who had just returned from his business trip to the UK.  XZ had insisted on meeting SM for lunch, saying that he missed her so much, even waiting until dinner time would be too hard to bear.  Unfortunately, Jin chose today to turn up, and SM’s boss decided to take Jin out to lunch.  SM was also instructed to attend.  Being a business requirement, SM could not refuse.  She drummed up the courage and rang to tell XZ, who promptly lost his temper at her.
“It’s this Jin again!  Just who’s more important to you, him or me?”  He jealously asked
“Of course you’re more important!”  She tried to console him
“If that’s the case, you can always refuse to go!”  XZ insisted
“But…. He’s arrived from out of town, and he’s an important client for our company.  It’s not as easy as that”  Even though SM and Jin were friends, SM’s boss was the one who insisted on the lunch.  SM really could not to refuse.
“So…. You’ve already said yes to him, haven’t you?”  XZ angrily replied.
“Yes”  SM replied meekly
“If that’s the case, why bother to ask me at all?”  saying that, XZ fell silent.  It really seemed like he was angry
“Forget it!  Just go then!”  saying that, XZ hung up on her.

It was the most unappetising meal SM had ever had.  The minute she got back to the office, she took out her mobile……

XZ looked at the message on his phone that she sent him, and smiled.
“When you’re not angry any more, could you please give me a call?”

“So, what delicious food did you have for lunch?”  XZ asked SM when he rang her
“I don’t know!  I could not taste a thing”  SM told him honestly
“This is because the gods are on my side, taking pity on poor me, who has to eat takeout lunch box in my office”  XZ replied.
“Are you still angry at me?”
“Of course!  While I was away, I spent all my time thinking of you.  All that Jin fellow has to do is turn up, and you push me aside for him”  XZ said sourly
“Ai yo!  Why you so like that?”  She didn’t know whether to laugh or to be angry
“In that case, I’ll buy you dinner tonight to apologise.  Will that do?”  SM said sweetly
“That’s more like it!  What are you going to treat me to?”  On hearing XZ‘s lighter tone, SM heaved a sigh of relief
“Well, how about…… a great big vat of vinegar?”  SM teased.
[How can I explain this?  “eating vinegar” in Chinese is the same word as “being jealous”.  SM is using a play on words to tease XZ about being so jealous]

She looked again at her watch.  It was already ten to seven.  She craned her neck to see of he was coming, but only saw two policemen walking around, examining some chalk marks on the ground.  Looks like there was just a car accident here.  SM suddenly felt uneasy.  She took out her mobile phone and began to dial.

As usual, the emergency ward was a mass of action.
“Thank goodness for your quick reflexes.  Thanks to you, our young man has only sustained minor injuries and will only need a short stay to recover from them”  Dr Zhang, chief surgeon of the Wen Rong Hospital said to XZ.  “Now you can go for your tests in peace, Xiang Zhe”.

XZ’s left side had abrasions and was bloodied.  His white shirt was also stained with blood.  Dr Zhang wanted XZ to have a head X-ray straight away.  After all, XZ is the heir to the Wen Rong conglomerate.  It would be unthinkable if XZ did not receive the best of care.  Head would certainly roll if he was ever neglected around here…..  However, XZ had insisted on making sure the child was safe before proceeding for his tests.

“Wait a minute!”  XZ suddenly remembered that SM was waiting for him at the park.  He borrowed the telephone from a nurse and started dialing.  His mobile phone had been left in the car in his rush to bring the child to the hospital.  SM’s phone was engaged.

“Xiang Zhe, let’s go!”  Dr Zhang and the nurse hurriedly dragged him off to the examination room.  XZ scrawled SM’s mobile number on a piece of paper and requested the nurse manning the reception to contact SM.

There was no answer on XZ’s mobile phone.  SM called his office and learnt from his secretary that he had left earlier in the day for a meeting and was not expected to return to the office.  Where could he be?  SM’s heart started to pound in fear.

Finally, her mobile phone rang.  It was the hospital.  “This is the emergency ward at the Wen Rong Hospital.  Mr Yin Xiang Zhe has been involved in a car accident”.
An accident!  SM was a bundle of nerves, her mind a complete blank.  She rushed to the emergency ward, and grabbed the first nurse she came across, asking “The person who came in earlier from the car accident – where is he?”
The nurse looked at her somberly and said “You’re too late”

SM’s legs suddenly gave way, and she almost fell to the ground.  She leaned against a wall, blindly walking forward, not knowing where she was headed.  Tears welled up in her eyes and came down her face in torrents.  Everything around her was a complete blur, her hearted was shattered.

“Shan Mei, Shan Mei!”  someone was calling out to her urgently.  It sounded like XZ, but she must be just hallucinating.  Shan Mei began to laugh bitterly.

A pair of strong hands came from behind and grabbed her by the shoulders.  There was no mistaking the feel of those hands.  Could dreams feel so real?  SM swung around and finally saw that XZ was really there behind her.

“Xue Zhang!”  she jumped into his arms with joy, and wept.  XZ was churning in confusion.
“What’s wrong?”  he held her tightly in his arms.
“I thought…. I thought you had….”  SM was sobbing uncontrollably, unable to reply.
“I’m perfectly alright.  Here, have a good look.”  He whispered gently in her ear.  She lifted her tear-filled eyes to look carefully at him, and finally smiled.

“Don’t you worry, Miss.  I guarantee that he’s OK”  Someone said from behind.
It was only then that SM realised there were other people around them.  She was so embarrassed, she quickly extracted herself from XZ’s arms and lowered her head to hide the tears on her face.

“This is Dr Zhang”  XZ introduced her.
“This is my friend, Zhen Shan Mei”
SM shyly nodded at the doctor.
“I can see that she’s your friend!”  the doctor said laughingly.

Dr Zhang carefully explained how to use the drugs and dressings that he prescribed, and gave a heap of advice to XZ.  SM listened very carefully, making sure she did not miss anything.

As they left the examination room, XZ held SM’s hand said “I hope you’ve listened carefully to the doctor’s advice”.  There was a twinkle in his eye.
“Listen?  Why should I even bother?” she glared at him.  “I told you not to drive so fast, but you just won’t listen, will you?”  she angrily replied.

XZ only smiled even more.  He had intended to explain the situation to SM, but he enjoyed having her worry and fuss over him.  It made him feel very loved and cherished (again, xing fu).  He wanted to enjoy the feeling for a little while longer.

As they approached the hospital doors, they heard hurried footsteps behind them.  “Mr Yin!” someone was calling out.  Turning around, they saw a middle-aged couple approach.
“Thank you so much for saving my son’s life!  If not for you, he could have died.”  The couple bowed repeatedly to show their gratitude.
“It’s nothing, really.”  XZ replied graciously, and proceeded to console the couple before parting ways.

“Why didn’t you tell me that earlier!”  SM was petulant.  She had just told him off for something he didn’t do.
XZ smiled at her and said “I love it when you worry and fuss over me”
“Why you so like that!”  SM glared at him.  She just had the fright of her life, and here he was, laughing and smiling away.  How dare he!

It was already 8:30pm by the time they arrived at XZ’s place.
“I’m alright!  It’s only a minor abrasion.  It’s already been dressed”  He tried to soothe SM
He had just had a shower, and she could not stop fussing over him.

She examined his wounds closely. “I’ll help you dress the wound!” SM offered worriedly, dragging him to sit down at the sofa.
“It just got dressed at the hospital!”  XZ said reluctantly.
“But you’ve just had a shower.  It needs to be dressed again!”  SM smiled at him persuasively.

She gently disinfected the wound on his shoulder and applied medication on it, then carefully changed the dressing on his forehead.
He could not help smiling at her careful demeanor.  “You’re just as bad as the staff at the hospital, making a mountain out of a molehill!”
“Why don’t you just behave yourself?”  SM returned, stifling a smile.

XZ followed her into the kitchen.  “What gourmet delicacies are you going to prepare for my dinner?”
“How about if I make some abalone congee?”  There really wasn’t much left in the fridge.
“Is this the treat you promised me?”  SM was supposed to buy him dinner tonight.
“It already so late, the good restaurants have all closed.  Please humour me!  I give you that treat when you get better.  It’s your own fault for not being more careful”.  She said with a twinkle in her eye.
“Oh, and Xue Zhang, you should really watch what you eat”  She instructed.
“OK” he said ruefully.
“You’re not to have chilli in your food, otherwise your wounds will take longer to heal”
“You’re the one who’s addicted to chilli”  XZ replied
“And don’t add soy sauce to your food, otherwise you might end up with a dark scar”  she continued.
“The person who likes to add soy sauce to her food is also you!”
The concern in her voice moved him.  XZ reached out and hooked her around the waist, pulling her into his arms.  SM stayed there contentedly.

“That nurse should really be fired.  She almost scared me out of my wits!”  SM said quietly.  Her voice was filled with gentleness.
“I would actually like to give her a bonus”  He gently rubbed his cheek against her forehead.
She looked up at him.  The smell of her filled his nostrils and stirred deep emotions in his heart.
“If not for her, how else would I finally realise how much you care for me?”  He looked deeply into her eyes.
The love and passion in his eyes touched her heart, causing SM’s face to turn a darker shade of red.

He could not resist it any more.  XZ bent his head and carefully, gently landed a kiss on those beautiful lips of hers.  Inch by inch, he explored her sweet, sensual lips.  She shut her eyes, taking in the feel of him.  XZ was completely lost now.
“Shan Mei, I love you”  he whispered in her ear.

He kissed her again.  This time the gentleness and hesitation was gone.  In its place was a roaring heat of passion.  SM shifted uncertainly.  XZ held her even more tightly, holding her here with the passion of his love for her.  Slowly, the heat of his passion melted her resistance.  Finally her hands reached up and pulled him down towards her, giving all of herself in the kiss.

It was almost ten by the time they finished dinner.
XZ picked up his car keys, intending to take her home.
“No!  You’re not allowed to drive this week.  It may affect your recovery”  she sounded very determined.
XZ chuckled “Hey, It’s not like I’ve broken my arm!  It’s only some minor abrasions.  Surely this is too much to ask!”
On hearing his words, SM realised that he was right.  She was really over reacting.

Every time he took her home, XZ felt the journey was too short.
“Will you come and cook me abalone congee again tomorrow?”  he looked at her.
“Won’t you get tired of it?”  She smiled
“As long as it’s your cooking, I will never tire of it”  his eyes held the flash of passion in their depths.
“What a sweet talker you are!  I’m going now”  SM blushed, pulling away from him..
“Wait a minute!”  he stopped her.
XZ took out a package from the back of his car.  It was wrapped in baby blue, and tied with a pink bow.
“A gift?”  SM asked with a brilliant smile.
“What is it?”
“Why don’t you open it and see”  he replied.
It was a pair of Wedgewood cups commemorating the change of the millennium.
“Isn’t this what you’ve always wanted?”

When they were in London, SM had seen them in a catalogue and fell in love with them.  The two of them had scoured all the Wedgewood shops in London, in search of a pair, but they were all out of stock.  After XZ had left, SM continued searching for them on her own without success.  She had said as much in a few letters she wrote at the time.  The minute XZ arrived in London this time, he had alerted all his contacts in London to be on the lookout for them, and finally managed to get a set.

She looked at him in wonder.  She herself had already forgotten all about it, but he still remembered.
“I was actually going to give it to you during lunch……”  She stopped him before he could say any more.  So this was why he was so anxious to see her at lunchtime…..
“What is it, hmm?”  he smiled, putting his arms around her shoulders.
She shook her head, and remained silent, burying her face in his chest.
After a while, he could hear quiet sobs coming from her.
“What is it?  What’s wrong?”  he asked anxiously
She only shook her head without replying.
XZ looked down at her face.  Indeed, she had been crying.
“Hey, surely you’re not so touched by these two little cups that you’re crying?”  he teased, taking out his hankerchief to wipe her tears away.

“Yin Xiang Zhe!  Why are you so good to me?”  she looked at him emotionally.
“Why?  I’m sure you know the answer to that question better than anyone else.”  he replied gently, his eyes filled with his love for her.

It’s because she is Zhen Shan Mei, his woman, the one that he loves.

He pulled her back into his embrace again…….