Six months later.
Ai looked at her reflection in her mirror, which dripped of jitters and restlessness. She took several deep breaths to pacify the pounding of her heart, but the thought of the upcoming event only added to the drum beats in her chest.
Dressed in a breath-taking light-cream gown, she paced the vanity room back and forth, trying to ease her nervousness. Intricate embroidery adorned the gown while delicate tendrils of silver thread weaved in the shape of vines running down across the side of her waist. As it cascaded downward, the silk flared like a regal cape.
But this incredibly light-weight dress also felt burdensome on her. She lacked tears to shed, and she quickly grabbed her phone, rapidly typing.
'Can I run away? I am shivering.'
A reply arrived an agonizing minute later.
'All the doors are closed. There is no way to escape.'
Ai felt heavily wronged at her fiance's threat. She expected his understanding and support, not evilness.
She plopped back on the couch, rushing into the furry embrace of the cats. "Jun-cute. Ai-chan. Look, how Jun bullies me. Shouldn't he be on my side?"
Ai-chan simply yawned and went back to her nap while Jun-cute hit her head with his lethal paws, hissing a fierce meow.
Don't always come crying to us, you pesky human!
His dark brown irises glared at her. Despite the hostility, Ai snuggled in their warmth. Amidst this cuddling, a booming voice resounded from outside.
"Ai-chaaaaan!! Your father is here!!"
He made a suave entry with the brightest and the most proud grin embracing his charming face. "My dear, you look beautiful!" He gasped, clutching his chest, unable to bear his daughter's cuteness.
His string of compliments abruptly got cut off as he was pushed aside by his long-time enemy. He threw a glare at the interference that disturbed his sweet time with his daughter. "Xie Nuying!"
She ignored his existence and instead focused on Ai for whom it was a very big day. Tears welled in her eyes seeing her beautiful daughter all ready to set the stage on fire.
"My Ai is so pretty…" she hugged her into a warm, loving embrace. "I am so proud of you. You reached this far with your own efforts and determination. I can hardly contain the happiness in my heart…" she sniffled.
"Mom…" her voice turned hoarse.
"Hey, hey! Today is not the day for my lovely daughter to be crying~" he grinned, pulling her cheek. "You will ruin your makeup and nobody will be able to recognize MissImperfectlyFine on the stage. You are the star, so you should be all sparkling and shining~"
A chuckle escaped her lips as gently wiped off the tear off her eyelash. She held their hands and confessed. "I am nervous, Mom, Dad."
Xie Nuying and Zhou Yichen placed their hands on top of hers. "There is no need to be nervous, dear. Everybody out there is present to cheer you on. Everybody has been waiting for this day ever since you won the Summit."
"So hold your head high and walk on the stage with a straight back," his eyes gleamed. "It's the launch event of your first book with Sky. Your readers are waiting for you. I know you will do great and so will your book. It's the day you have rightfully earned it so enjoy it to the fullest~"
She hugged them again, bursting into tears. "Sorry, I couldn't hold them back."
They laughed and hugged her back but harrumphed meeting each other's gazes.
Xie Nuying kissed her forehead. "I will do the touch up for you."
—
Fifteen minutes later, the time came for Ai to head to the back stage.
"Can I really not run away?" Ai clutched her belly, feeling a weird sensation pitting in her throat.
But Zhou Yichen and Xie Nuying pulled her arm and dragged her out of the vanity room. She gave them a hurtful and betrayed look as she climbed the steps to go past the curtain.
The backstage was dimly lit and the roars and cheers of people outside reverberated inside the space. It signified that the time was very near. Ai gulped with the pressure mounting on her, and she started inching backwards. But a pair of hands firmly held her shoulders.
"You are really naughty, aren't you?" A helpless sigh tickled her ear.
Jun wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her exposed shoulder. "It's a time to celebrate, not be afraid."
"There are too many people outside," Ai seriously voiced her concern.
"So did the Summit. But you did just fine. Just consider it as the same stage, the only difference is that it's solely meant for you."
"Th-that only difference is making me anxious."
Jun kissed her cheek. "Why fear when I am here? Even if you stumble or stutter, nobody will dare laugh at you. Just treat the stage as your playground~ You know what? Dad and Grandpa sitting in the audience are already on the lookout for any 'potential threats' who would dare make fun of you. If they do, that will be the last time they will laugh."
"..."
He softly flicked her temple. "It's your very own book launch so be proud and confident. It's a time you wish you had in the past. That's why you should relish this moment to its fullest."
His gentle but firm squeeze coupled with his encouraging words provided her with the much needed optimism. Ai kissed his cheek back. "Why are you so cute?"
He frowned. "I will be generous and forgive you since it's a big day for you."
She rolled her eyes.
The emcee on the stage started with her announcement which was a cue for Ai to soon enter after the introductory part will be over.
Jun pulled her face and placed a kiss on his lips, pouring every bit of his pride and love he felt towards Ai. His gaze met hers and he whispered, "Let's go, Ai. The world is yours."
Ai exhaled a shaky breath and nodded. She turned and parted the curtain, and as she stepped out, roars of claps thundered at her entrance.
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