Caught In His Embrace

Jo started preparing the batter, while a pair of eyes was following her every move. She felt like she was in a cooking competition. The mood was suddenly disrupted by a phone ring. Lu Ye Ze picked up the call and left the room.

Finally Jo could relax. She prepared two batters one sweet and one savoury. She noticed that Lu Ye Ze didn't have a sweet tooth, so she was quite puzzled by the fact that he liked French Toast, because this dish was sweet.

Jo finished cooking and was setting the table. On the balcony Lu Ye Ze was watching her through the large window. He couldn't hear the person at the other end anymore, he was entranced by his wife's every move. He ended the call and went inside.

"Come, let's eat!" Said Jo.

Lu Ye Ze sat down at the table, Jo picked up his plate and placed one sweet and one savoury, slices of toast on it. She poured him a cup of tea and asked.

"Try it! Tell me what do you think!"

Lu Ye Ze smiled at the girl and tried both of them. "Hmmm I like this one more!" He pointed at the savoury one.

"Do you?" Jo asked. It was no surprise to her, so she added another savoury slice of toast to his plate. Her suspicion of him, that asking for this dish was intentional, had just been confirmed.

After breakfast the couple went out. Jo was very excited she wanted to go and see the Christmas Market so Lu Ye Ze obliged. In Marché de Nöel at Notre Dame, the atmosphere was very lively. Children were running around with glazed apples and cotton candy in their hands, the smell of food and pastries in the air was spot on and the choirs that were singing Christmas carols, were inviting you to get into the festive mood.

Jo's eyes were sparkling, she was jumping from stall to stall admiring all the festive decorations that were beautifully displayed. It was getting dark outside already and the cold air was getting stronger and sharper. Jo started shivering. Lu Ye Ze noticed the trembling girl and proceeded in taking off his coat, but Jo stopped him. She put her arms around his neck to adjust his coat collar for him.

"You don't have to! Otherwise you will catch a cold!"

Suddenly they were very close to each other. When Jo realised she was in danger, being so close to this cunning fox, she started blushing and her ears were getting hot. She wanted to retreat instantly, but she was already caught in his embrace. Lu Ye Ze held her tight and whispered into her ear.

"Hmmm... You are seducing me, but you don't want to take the responsibility?!"

"Huh?... I... Ah! I didn't!" Jo was fully embarrassed now. "Let's buy a scarf, I will be warmer wrapped up in a scarf!" Jo hurriedly pulled away from his embrace, dragging him at the same time, towards a stall selling knitted accessories.

She selected a long wide woolly scarf and Lu Ye Ze helped her wrap it around her shoulders. She was looking down at it, while the man was still adjusting the scarf. Jo was thinking where to go next, she didn't want to return to the apartment, she wanted to continue roaming these streets, that she once visited before and absorb this feeling of familiarity and belonging as much as she could.

"Joanne!..." Jo got startled, her body stiffened instantly at the man's call. "... I will always wait for you!" Lu Ye Ze continued his sentence, in a hoarse deep voice.