Chapter 222 - Cross Another First

Back in the icing rink, Liu Meilien's breath caught in her throat as Qing Lok answered his phone. He smiled at her and if she wasn't standing on ice, she would've melted to the floor. He did not seem to notice but he was holding her by her waist, helping her steady by pressing her body to his.

His warmth crawled even from the layers of clothes they had on and she could feel his hand on her waist like a hot iron. He was just looking at her face as he listened to the short message, not breaking eye contact.

In normal situations, she would've already looked away. But something about the way he was looking at her that pinned her into position.

Just as easily as they got into that situation, it was over in less than fifteen seconds. Qing Lok pocketed his phone. "There's been an emergency. We have to go."

"What emergency?" she asked, feeling sad already as he helped her stand next to him and she clutched on his arm.

"I'll tell you later when we're alone. But we have to get out of here."

While someone was pulling the laces of her skates, Qing Lok was on the phone, a short distance away. When he saw her looking, he sent her a reassuring smile and waved.

Finally, when it was just the two of them, Qing Lok had told her that Da Xia got into an accident and YANG didn't want to be inconsiderate with the situation—which was also the reason why they would postpone posting the first episode of A Day of Firsts in their page.

Liu Meilien had never felt the anger towards Da Xia, but now all she wanted to do was strangle the woman. What a clever way to stop things that were in motion and at the same time get the publicity that she needed.

**

Liu Meilien was looking out her window with her arms crossed on her chest.

"Are you sad?" she heard Qing Lok asked from the driver's seat. 

She only pouted even though he could not see it.

"Don't worry so much about it. It's for your own safety."

Qing Lok had easily made a call to one of the drivers in their house and was brought a new car to use in less than twenty minutes. One of the men from the mafia came along to check the car for bombs. 

Qing Lok tried to cheer her up. "Isn't this a memorable date?" he asked with a light tone. "I think you're the only one who had a date at the same time an explosion happened."

Liu Meilien did not answer.

Qing Lok was already starting to feel panic crawling from his toes, working its way up to his legs. Later, it would swallow him whole. They were already near Feng Lizhao's mansion, meaning his time was running out.

"Are you mad at me?" he asked, just throwing it out there.

Driven by guilt, Liu Meilien finally answered. "I'm not mad at you. I'm just disappointed with what happened."

Qing Lok racked his brain and remembered he asked her earlier if she would cross another thing from her firsts. "Do you want to go somewhere else before I take you home?"

That seemed to lit her up. Liu Meilien had also forgotten about their conversation earlier because of the sudden flurry that they had to go home because of the explosion. "I don't have an idea what we should—"

The coming car's headlights suddenly flashed and something from Qing Lok's ears twinkled. 

"I want a piercing," she blurted out.

"What?!" Qing Lok laughed. "Are you sure? Don't you have two already?"

"I do," she lowered her head. "But I had always wanted something on my outer lobe. It'll be my FIRST additional piercing."

Qing Lok took this into consideration and realized it was not his choice. Liu Meilien wanted this then so be it. "I know a place."

He turned the car around.

**

Liu Meilien was mostly disappointed that her time with Qing Lok had been cut short and she was more excited that he offered they go somewhere else.

Now seating on one of the leather chairs, she wanted to rethink her decision of getting her ears pierced.

"I got all my piercings here. Nothing to worry about," Qing Lok said as the tattooed man prepared to puncture her. They had already chosen an earring, a diamond stud. She was laying down and on the other side Qing Lok was holding her hand like a supportive husband while her wife is in labor. 

"Are you scared?" he asked.

"Will it be painful?"

"It'll be a flash of pain, then you won't anything for a little while. Then when you get home… that's when you'd really feel it."

Qing Lok was right, it was just a flash of pain. But she felt the needle passing through the soft bone of her ear and then it was gone.

"Look, it's over." Qing Lok handed her a mirror and she turned her face.

Her heart leaped. "Oh my God, it looks good." The small diamond caught light and seemed to wink at her.

"It will look better if you add another one, in the future you can change it to hoops," said the piercer.

She looked at Qing Lok. "May I see yours?"

On his left ear, a semi-thick hoop hugged the lobe.

"I'll get that other one," said she and she grinned at Qing Lok's shocked face.

Two minutes later, they were already paying. Qing Lok already had his card out when she put a stop. "Please let me pay for this."

Qing Lok studied her for a moment then withdrew his hand. "Okay."

When they got to the car, she was more happier than the last time she was there. All throughout the day, this was the thing that really made her content. On their way home, Qing Lok was giving her tips so she could avoid the infection that seemed to pester most of the clients due to lack of hygiene. 

Before she knew it, she was feeling sad again because they entered her neighborhood and she had to say goodbye to him. 

"Okay, here are your stuff," Qing Lok handed her personal items from the backseat.

"Okay," she said quietly. "Well, aren't you going to open the door for me?" she joked.

"I will," he answered quickly. "It's just that…"

Liu Meilien felt her stomach clenched. Oh my goodness, he's going to kiss her!

But he turned the light on and they were showered with light orange light. He fumbled on the inside of his coat and pulled out a rectangle casing. "I've been meaning to give this to you but I always left it at home."

"What is it?" she pulled the lid open. She was confused at first then she realized that it was the necklace she had been gunning for at the auction. The thin chain with diamonds. "I can't accept that!"

"Why not? I bought it for you."

"Why?"

"Because…" he licked his lips. "I saw how much you wanted it and I saw how your mother stopped you. I just had to…" he shrugged. "It's a gift."

She closed the lid. "Thank you, Qing Lok," she said. "If I had known guys would give me a diamond necklace after a date I would've forced one to go out with me years ago," she grinned and slid the case to her bag. "Really, it means a lot."

She leaned forward, taking all her guts with her, and pressed a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you, for today too."

Qing Lok's hand closed on her forearm and she was sure he was going to do it—that he was going to kiss her. He inched closer but stopped himself half-way and turned his head.

Liu Meilien felt her stomach dropped to the floor.

"It's not the right time for it," he sighed. He squeezed her. "I'll take you out on a date again. On a REAL date. Just us. Then let's figure things out from there."

She nodded and smiled. "Okay."

Qing Lok got out of the car and opened the door for her. At the gate, he pushed her hair behind her ear. "You look so beautiful," he said and leaned to press a kiss on her cheek. "Good night."