Clock

Chen Kaori frowned as the small analog clock at the end of the sleeve showed the time an hour late from the actual time.

She felt her body being helped up and stabilized.

Her eyes widened when she saw the gentleman who saved her.

"Zi-zifeng..."

"Long time, no see." He Zifeng's handsome face appeared.

"I...wha-what are doing here? Wha-when did you get here?!"

He chuckled, "You don't want me here? I'll just leave then."

"No, wait!" Chen Kaori grasped onto his arm as she tried to dash with her heels. "Since...since you're here, can you...can you accompany me to the party?"

He Zifeng smiled teasingly at her. "But I don't have an invitation."

"I do!" she instinctively held up her invitation.

He Zifeng frowned. 'Why do you have an invitation? You're supposed to be part of the hosting family.' he wanted to ask her, but decided against it.

"Let's go in?" Chen Kaori had a beaming smile. It was as if she was brought back to life.

When she was coming alone into the party, her smile was subtle and forced, but as soon as she saw him, her eyes started to sparkle.

As she came into the hall arm linked with his, she felt even more confident.

Since nobody else knew her, Chen Kaori stayed with He Zifeng, sipping drinks while observing people while waiting for the host family.

"How did you plan to survive in this party anyway?" He Zifeng suddenly asked.

Chen Kaori looked at him. "I'll be fine," she said with a smile.

"Really? After falling disgracefully even before it started?"

"Eh...wait a minute, why are you here anyway?!" Chen Kaori let his arm go then turned her body to fully face him as she crossed her arms chest level.

He Zifeng cleared his throat and tried to look away as her gesture emphasized her chest.

To Chen Kaori, he looked guilty about something so she tried to pry on why he crossed oceans when he was busy with his papers.

"Uh...there was an emergency at the branch office. My father asked me to handle it."

Chen Kaori looked quizzical. "You were not invited to the party. Why were you outside the hall, all dressed up?"

"Uh...I was gonna surprise you." he revealed.

Chen Kaori laughed at his nervous look. Then she had a sad expression and looked down at her sore feet in heels.

"What's wrong?" He Zifeng's face was full of concern and he did not even make an effort to hide it.

"You don't need to make excuses. If you are really here for business, you should mingle around. I'll be fine."

He Zifeng felt as if he was drenched with cold water. He really wanted to see her, be her date to the party, but she concocted a complicated explanation of his presence in her mind.

"Or are you waiting for my mother and her family? That makes more sense actually. Just be patient. She is not that unreasonable. Even though she belongs to the royal family, she will not keep guests waiting for too long."

He Zifeng looked down at his cufflink. It was only 30 minutes since the party started, but he already wanted to drag Chen Kaori out of the hall.

She was trying to smile, but he can see that she was sad remembering that her mother already belongs to another family.

"Oh...yeah, those cufflinks sure are unique," she said with a smile, trying to divert the depressing topic.

"I just got them." He Zifeng tried to show them off.

Chen Kaori looked closely at both cufflinks, then realized that one is ahead than the other. "They tell different times."

"One for time in my university, the other for time in yours."

Chen Kaori forced a laugh again. "Why bother put time on cufflinks? You can wear a timepiece on your wrist with different timezones."

"These suited the occasion." He Zifeng gave her a smile.

"So you planned to come all along? Were you already in this hotel last night, pretending to be sleeping in, and being grumpy to me?!"

"No, I...I really am..."

Just then, their little banter was interrupted by the announcement that the host family had arrived.