The Inconceivable Flame: A Fallen Angel“s Disguise

One might define beauty in a million ways but for Xiao Zhiren, all the world’s beauty was standing before him. The girl before him didn’t look awkward at all. With her straight posture, she seemed confident in herself. It wasn’t her usual vanity or self-conceitedness. This confidence was her pride that she felt within herself.

She was dressed in a lace fishtail Cheongsam with train which was in the champagne-colored lining and white lace details. It was a cool blend of bodycon crochet lace fabric with mandarin collar and Chinese hand-made knot buttons at the back. The mermaid silhouette and her long legs made a statement of their own.

The raven-colored straight hair was styled in soft wavy curls that cascaded over her right shoulder. Beautiful rhinestones encrusted olive leaf ear cuff could be seen on her left ear. A light pink colored lipstick adorned her lips.

Trying to walk in that long gown, she lifted her eyes slowly to find Xiao Zhiren. He stood right before her with dazzling light in his eyes and a small smile playing on his lips. Looking into his eyes, she found the courage to smile as she knew this was it.

He saw his woman being unapologetically herself

Comfortable even in her perfect imperfections

The essence of her beauty lied in her eyes

Eyes that looked tranquil like water with a waver of uncertainty

what lied beneath that surface was an ocean of wonder and ambiguity

But it was a woman’s heart

Looking for herself in the eyes of her sweetheart

Even her reflection seemed to be caressed by his love

Oh, how she wished that moment to stop

Because that mirror of his eyes made all her

doubts to deter

What remained was;

Her wild and wandering soul

That taught her love was the recipe of chaos

Pity that the chaos had already begun

But those were the troubles of a woman’s heart

That taught her that boundary was just another pass

Perhaps that’s how she ignited that wild thirst in his soul

She offered her small fire for him to hold

But it was a woman’s heart

lying in the hands of her sweetheart

"You look breathtaking." The compliment came from Melody who couldn’t keep her eyes away from Ru.

As for Xiao Zhiren, he stood silently and perhaps his silence was the biggest compliment she was looking for. Because in that silent moment where their eyes met, he had already poured his heart out to her. What else could he do? She was all that he could wish for and much more. And words could never be enough to describe that.

"Let me bring the heels," Melody rushed out to find the matching heels for her leaving both of them alone.

Out of the blue, Xiao Zhiren went on his one knee as he took her hand in his own and looked up into her eyes. Planting a feather-like kiss on her knuckles, he said, "My fair lady, bestow me with the honor of being your partner."

Ru rolled her eyes at his performance and said, "I’m already your partner."

"For the rest of life to come." Xiao Zhiren looked at her eagerly while she narrowed her eyes at him.

"Only for tonight. Don’t push your luck." She tried to retract her hand but he didn’t let her do so.

"I have to push my luck." He said with admiration in his eyes and a warmth in his voice.

"Why?" She questioned.

"Only by pushing I can break your walls." He replied with a cheeky smirk of his own and added, "Besides, it’s my way of turning your no into a yes."

"I’d say, you’re trying too hard," Ru said and took a step back as she saw Melody coming back inside.

"Try these on," Melody placed 4-inch heels before her.

Ru looked at the heel that looked scary to her for some reason before looking at Melody with a doubt visible in her eyes. But Melody reassured her with a smile and Ru reluctantly made her feet cage between those torturous heels. Her already tall figure towered way more. And after wearing the heels, she was wondering... How was she supposed to walk in those?

She tried to take a step but ended up losing her momentum. Then her fight was with her reflexes and gravity. But before her own reflexes could kick in, Xiao Zhiren had already held her by her waist. Ru clutched his shirt to keep her balance and looked at his signature smirk again.

"It seems like a play of destiny." He whispered softly.

"And what’s the play?"

"You falling in my arms. Right where you belong." He answered solemnly with not a hint of playfulness in his eyes anymore.

"I don’t belong in your arms," she argued back.

"That’s what you think. Because you, my fair lady, are still oblivious to this game we call fate." He countered. "And fate often leads us to love."

"And love is just another name for pain." Ru’s answered made him silent for a second before he made her stand back up.

Tapping her nose playfully, he turned to Melody again and said, "Get her those chunky heels no more than 3-inch. She won’t be able to walk in these stilettos."

Melody nodded since she had already seen it herself how bad Ru was with heels. She brought the pair of chunky heels for Ru as per Xiao Zhiren’s request and asked her to try. This pair was much better than the earlier one so Ru managed to walk but she was still having difficulty with the long gown that was getting tangled with her each step.

"I told you last time, take smaller steps. The way you’re walking, soon you’ll be lying flat on the floor twisting your own ankle." Xiao Zhiren reminded her in a hushed tone and Ru had to agree because he was indeed right. "See over there," he pointed at Melody and Ru followed along. "Copy her movements. You’re the genius here. You’ll be able to learn in a minute."

Ru glared at him hatefully for using her own words against herself but still focused on the way Melody walked. Her each step was well-balanced as she walked with ease. One step at a time and effortlessly trudging around.

It took her a moment or two longer but she got the gist of it and managed to walk civilly without falling or tripping around.

Xiao Zhiren also dressed up in a clean-cut black suit and a crisp white shirt underneath. He looked sharp, elegant and equally matched with her beauty.

Ru was staring at him without blinking when her stupid conscious woke up, ’Isn’t he handsome?’

Ru nodded in a daze before shaking her head. ’Don’t be ridiculous! Who’s handsome?’

’Keep denying. You love to do it anyway.’ Her conscious retorted in contempt.

’Okay, he’s handsome. But I look at him almost every day. Don’t you think beauty wears out?’ Ru countered with her own words.

’Right... Beauty doesn’t wear out. Your eyesight is wearing out!’ Her conscious shouted back. When Ru didn’t reply, her conscious again buzzed in her mind, ’Don’t forget, the chaos in your heart has already begun. Now, the moment of realization and acceptance is left.’

Ru blocked out the voiced in her head and looked at Xiao Zhiren’s hand that appeared before her eyes. She hesitatingly placed her hand in his and he intertwined their fingers almost instantly and naturally. Her hands weren’t that small but it still fits perfectly in his big ones.

He said his goodbye to Melody and thanked her again while Ru silently accompanied him to the car that brought them here. But Xiao Zhiren didn’t board it and pulled her over towards the limousine that was parked beside it.

The driver opened the door for them and both of them settled in. In the car, he noticed how she kept trying to move her hair away from her neck and it made his lips curl upward. "Is it really uncomfortable?"

"I’ve always disliked long hair. First, it’s bothersome to manage them and second, they make me feel hot. See, even in this air-conditioned car, I’m sweating." Ru replied which seemed more like complaining to him.

"Excuses." He muttered under his breath and recalled something as he spoke again, "I heard something about your diet plan. When did you get one of those?"

"What do you mean? I always had a diet plan." Ru answered honestly.

"You have the biggest appetite I’ve ever seen in anyone in my whole life."

"That’s not called big appetite. That’s me eating a healthy and well-balanced diet."

Xiao Zhiren looked at her wide-eyed. ’Healthy and well-balanced? Her definition of healthy is completely distorted.’ But of course, he didn’t say that out loud. Because he knew he couldn’t possibly question her food habits. She’ll get mad. Like super mad. And right now, he couldn’t afford that.