116 A Pink Rose

And it was also a fact that Raelle's words would always find a way to sway the locks he had put on the door of his heart. He never thought anyone would be able to challenge his first love. No matter how bitter the ending of that love was, he still cherished the moment he had fallen in love for the very first time. He was a teenager. It was his first love. Everything about that was beautiful.

But just as deep the love was, that's how deep the scars were left. Maybe that's why he closed himself off from the world. But who knew that Raelle would be able to not only challenge his feelings in such a short time, but she would also be able to make him rethink his whole belief in love.

Shui Xian and Raelle had gotten on the road right after getting the gifts that Shui Koshing prepared for Mother Yue. As they drove towards Hyson's house, Shui Xian suddenly thought of something and stopped the car at the side of the road.

"We haven't reached yet," said Raelle as she looked at their surroundings.

"Come with me," he said vaguely as he alighted from the car.

Raelle unblocked her seatbelt and opened the car door. Just as she was supposed to get off, Shui Xian's beautiful hand appeared before her eyes. She looked up at his smiling eyes before taking his hand and following him.

He walked towards a flower shop and stepped inside with his wife. The shop attendant greeted them with a big smile and even enthusiastically went to them, "Sir, are you looking for a bouquet for your girlfriend? Do you need a suggestion?"

Raelle tilted her head towards Shui Xian and said, "I didn't ask for flowers."

"It's not for you," said Shui Xian.

Raelle didn't ask for whom he was buying it. She quietly looked around while Shui Xian instructed the shop attendant to make him a special bouquet of flowers. Raelle also leisurely walked around the shop. She stopped before a pot of pink roses. She continued to watch it intently before her fingers brushed the petals of the rose.

The shop attendant was giving Shui Xian his card back when she looked in Raelle's direction and said to Shui Xian, "Sir, your girlfriend is beautiful."

Shui Xian also turned his head around and momentarily paused as his breath hitched. From the glass windows, the sunlight was shining on one side of Raelle's face. A few strands of her hair were obstructing the view of her face, making anyone itch to move that hair out of the way. And yet, it added another charm to her beauty. She had no expression on her face but the way her fingers caressed the petals of the roses gave off a gentle feeling.

Shui Xian felt something tightening in his chest and couldn't help capturing this enchanting scene on his phone before he turned to the shop attendant to take the bouquet and said, "She isn't my girlfriend. She is my wife."

The shop attendant gasped softly in surprise and gave him a big smile saying, "You're one lucky husband then."

"I also think so," said Shui Xian.

He strode over to Raelle's side and offered his hand back to her, "Shall we?"

Raelle nodded her head as she took his hand again and left the shop with him. She could actually wait inside the car for him but he had still taken her to the flower shop even though she did nothing there. However, Shui Xian didn't think like her. He definitely got something very interesting from her visit to the flower shop.

As he sat inside the car, he pulled a single pink rose and gave it to her.

"I didn't ask for a flower," she said.

"Who said I was waiting for you to ask?" he retorted playfully and yet seriously.

Raelle looked at the rose in her hand for a while before asking, "Why did you even give it to me?"

"Because I felt like it," he answered.

It took them about an hour to reach Hyson's house. And coming to this residential area, Shui Xian was a little surprised. It wasn't anything like the high society. The housing society was in an average condition and looked rather lively with how children played on the roads and middle-aged aunties played mahjong on the streets.

"You can park your car around here," said Raelle. "We have to walk from here."

Shui Xian immediately found a spot for parking before he alighted to take the gifts from the backseat. He placed the beautiful purples and bright reds[1] in the hands of Raelle before taking the rest.

As Raelle and Shui Xian walked side by side on the congested streets, everyone's eyes were on this eye-catching pair. They looked out of place in this kind of place. Not just because of how gorgeously they both were dressed, but also because of their beautiful appearances.

"Hyson grew up here?" asked Shui Xian.

"From the time I know him, he had been living here," replied Raelle. "Why?"

Shui Xian hesitated before speaking his mind, "Actually, Hyson seemed like the son of an aristocrat family with his looks, temperament, manner, and how eloquent he is. That's why I find it a bit inconceivable that he grew up in such an environment."

"You haven't met his mother yet," said Raelle. "After seeing her, you'll get all the answers you need."

From just that remark, Shui Xian was really intrigued about Mother Yue. They had just come close to Hyson's house when they heard a commotion. Usually, Raelle would never take interest in such things. But today...

She just couldn't help moving towards the commotion because she could hear the most familiar voice. The voice she would never be able to mistake for anyone in this life!

[1] 'beautiful purples and bright reds': describing a brightly colored bouquet of flowers.