83 Surprises

At the international airport in Country F, Su Linyu was about to board her flight.

She turned to Xiu Jin. "Such a shame. I thought we will go back together to City S."

He forced a smile. "Sorry. If something did not come up with our branch here, I wouldn't have changed my flight."

"If I had known, I would've booked the same flight as yours." She smiled and waved him goodbye as the announcement for boarding was heard.

He waved back, keeping his forced smile. After her plane had set off, he turned to his assistant.

"Where's my ticket?" He held out his hand.

The assistant handed the ticket to him skeptically. "Boss, are you sure you will go there by yourself?"

"Don't worry, she may be tough, but she won't kill me." Xiu Jin chuckled.

.

Aoi Xiu just came back from the company. She still resides in their old house which is a minka(1). When she took off her shoes at the genkan(2), she noticed a pair of oxfords neatly placed on the getabako(3).

She furrowed her brows. Do they have a visitor?

She went straight to her room and changed into loungewear. While she was changing, a voice was heard from behind her shouji door.

"Aoi-san, you have a visitor." She recognized the voice as one of the servant's.

She frowned. She was not expecting anyone. "Hai." she answered nonetheless.

She slid the shouji door to the sitting room where the servant was waiting. Her eyes widened as she saw the man sitting and enjoying a cup of tea.

"Surprise." Xiu Jin had a bright smile when she appeared.

______________________

As they were washing and drying dishes like how newlyweds would, Midori shot Dan a bunch of questions.

"Hey, did you really buy this restaurant? But even if you did, did it really have to close? Ah! Is it only for today? Will they resume operations after we leave?"

She was feeling guilty about the staff losing their jobs.

After drying and putting away the dishes, Dan headed upstairs without answering her questions.

Midori wiped her hands with a towel and hurriedly came after him, well more like run after him.

He was at the bedroom door when she finally caught up. She tugged onto his sleeve, panting.

"Wait...I..." she was catching her breath.

Finally he looked back at her. As she practically ran to chase him, she was almost hanging onto him to keep her balance.

Dan grabbed her by the waist to support her.

"You idiot!" She slammed her fists on his sturdy chest.

"Sorry." He said in a low voice. "I just wanna be chased, even just for once." He smiled.

This ridiculous explanation made Midori feel irritated but it also made her laugh.

"Why? Are you tired chasing after me?" She looked up at him, her eyes and lips alluring.

"Even if you leave for over a million times, I will always look for you."

Then, he changed his expression, as if he just recalled something. He dragged her to another room door. Then he paused just outside.

He turned to her. "Remember when you were scolding me on our wedding night?"

"Yeah. Because the ceremony was unplugged, but I didn't find photo and video coverage either! I know it was a secret wedding, but I also want photos to look at when we get old."

"So you're ready to grow old with me?" His smile was gentle.

She blushed and she moved her gaze towards the door.

Seeing she was eying the door, his hand turned the knob and a room full of photos appeared before her eyes.

The walls were covered not only of their wedding photos, but of their photos way back in high school--of their first date in the aquarium and atop the tower, of their visit in City H, of their interschool sports competition. It was as if he hired people to cover every moment they spent together, aside from the photos they took themselves.

As Midori scanned the room of photos, her eyes started to well up.

Dan stood beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

"You..! Why... How..?" She could not even express herself properly. Her tears started to fall, but her smile remained bright.

He embraced her and gave a kiss on her head as she poured her tears on his shirt. He led her to sit on a cushioned bench in the middle of the room. She leaned on him as she continued to admire the photos.

"Dori..." he whispered to her who remained in his arms.

She wiped her tears with the back of her hands. "Yeah?"

"This house...was never a restaurant." His face was serious.

"What do you mean?" She had a look of confusion.

"It has always been a villa. And now, it's our home."