Shanghai.
Yunru's promotion and medal ceremony party was a blast, and it went for a long time. Soo Enlai hugged his son, his lips curving into a proud grin.
"How did you like Zizi's surprise?"
Yunru narrowed his eyes. "Clearly, you enjoyed my plight, didn't you, Dad?"
"What's with that accusing tone you are using against your father? Of course, all fathers enjoy their sons' plights. It's only natural."
His mouth twitched.
Soo Enlai slyly nudged his shoulder with a mischievous smile. "The one thing I liked the most about tonight was Zizi's shock. She must be so happy with your confession in front of everyone. Every woman loves such romantic gestures," he proudly said, "I did a similar thing in my good young days, and that was when I fell even harder for your mother. She looked the most beautiful when she blushed."
Yunru coughed. Truth to be told, he was barely listening to his father. His heart was still thudding loudly in his chest ever since he uttered those three magical words to Zizi. He wanted to find her, but she had run away with lightning speed after his confession that everybody really found funny.
An arm hung around his neck, and he snapped out of his daze.
"Yo buddy, do you still remember the friend you cursed?"
Feng Xiao let out all his grievances. "Do you still think about me even a little bit? Do you feel ashamed to realize that you needlessly bullied your good friend and cursed him!? Do you have a heart!? Answer me! Do you have to say anything about the dark circles I have under my eyes right now!?"
"*Ahem* I am sorry. I misunderstood you," Yunru sincerely apologized.
"An apology isn't gonna do anything!" He cried. "Do you know I wanted to look my best tonight? I hoped to score a date and if possible, a girlfriend! I wanted to look dashing, but these dark circles your torture left me with! Soo Yunru, if I die single, then I tell you my ghost will haunt you for the rest of your life!"
Yunru pressed his brows.
Soo Enlai burst into laughter. "Hahaha. Don't worry, son. Why fear when Soo Enlai is here! I will help you find the perfect woman for you. Let me take charge of your love life, hoho!"
Feng Xiao dumped Yunru and jumped into his hug as he sobbed. "Uncle Soo is the best! You are the only one who understands me the most! Thank you, Uncle! Let me kowtow before you!"
"No need, no need," he waved his hand in dismissal, "As a parent it's my responsibility to correct my son's mistakes. Your single days are gonna end soon enough."
Feng Xiao revered him as if he met a messiah.
Yunru rolled his eyes. "I will be back."
Soo Enlai raised his brow at him. "I don't think so…"
"What?"
"Nothing. Leave. Find Zizi as soon as possible. Now, shoo."
---
Yunru walked along the corridor and reached the ladies' room. He looked left and right and knocked on the door.
"*Cough* Princess, are you inside?"
Silence.
He looked down and saw a shadow move.
"Princess, I know you are inside. Will you come out?" He helplessly chuckled. "I thought you would jump into my hug, but you ran away."
There was still no answer.
Yunru scratched his chin. "Is Princess shy now? How about all the times you flirted with me? You know, I am very happy today. Finally, I made you speechless today, haha."
Suddenly, the door opened, and Zizi rushed out, with her cheeks puffing up like a balloon.
"You! Can you really blame me? You you...you didn't even give a warning. I thought I was gonna die of a heart attack…"
Yunru quickly pulled her in his arms. "Well at least that brought you out of your hiding place."
"..."
Damn it!
"You are sly."
"I cannot compete against Princess with her natural flirting abilities and giving me heart attacks out of the blue all the time."
She guiltily looked away.
He squeezed her waist, and his gaze bore into hers, watching her ears tinted in red.
"You cannot run away now. You haven't given me your answer yet."
Zizi felt ticklish where his fingers pressed her. "Y-you know my answer already, don't you…? I have been e-expressing it all the time…"
"But tonight is different. So, I want to hear it from your lips one more time."
Her face reddened.
"Why are you so stubborn today?"
He wrapped his other arm around her too and hummed. "Aren't you being stubborn too?"
"I am not!"
"You are."
"I am not!"
"You are~" he was enjoying teasing her.
"*Ahem!*" They heard a voice from behind them.
Yunru turned, and taking this chance, Zizi scooted away from him. He narrowed his eyes. "You do realize you cannot escape for a long time, don't you?"
She simply averted her gaze.
Yunru sighed and looked back at the man, who seemed embarrassed. "Mr. Soo Yunru and Miss. Han Zizi, right?"
"Yes."
"Your father, Mr. Soo Enlai, has booked a cab for you two. Will you please come with me?"
He blinked. "Dad?"
"Yes."
"But we aren't going anywhere."
"Sir, Mr. Soo said to fetch you and take you to the place he told me to."
Zizi was interested too.
"I think Dad has planned a surprise for you!" Her eyes beamed.
Yunru quickly dropped a message to his father, and he got the same response.
'Just sit in the cab and don't question your honorable father! You are so gonna thank me for this!'
"..."
Why does he always have to be so dramatic?
"Dad has indeed sent this man."
"Then let's not waste time! I wanna see what he has planned for you!" Zizi was more eager than the birthday boy himself. "He didn't say anything about planning his own surprise for you."
He chuckled. "Alright."
He looked at the driver. "Let's go."
---
A while later, the driver dropped them off to their destination, which was a five-star hotel.
The receptionist greeted them with a smile and handed something to Yunru.
He saw that it was a pair of keys. Zizi was confused.
Yunru asked, "What is this for?"
She said, "These are your room keys."
"Room?"
"Yes. Mr. Soo Enlai has booked a honeymoon suit for you. Please enjoy."
"!!!"
"!!!"