Chapter 99 - A Binyeo

Even before Shi Ai could open the box,a girl exclaimed dramatically and loudly. When everybody turned to look at her she blushed and pointed,"That box looked familiar. I was trying to think where I have seen this unique shade when it suddenly struck me,:This is the patented box of designer Jean Pierre!"

Anybody who had even a minor interest in the fashion industry had heard of the designer. She was known to make only two pieces of jewellery a year. It was said to be entirely handmade,unique and for private collectors only. Jean Pierre had recently been in the news when she had cancelled an order from a big celebrity so that she could design something else. Nobosy had known what it was she was working on and no one had come forward to boast. One of her assistants had leaked the information that whatever Ms. Pierre was designing was part of a couple set and the design belonged to the customer himself. But since there were two pieces,she had not taken on anyone else's requests.

All the girls felt even more jealous while some even speculated why Dr Zhang would give an orphan niece such a valuable gift..like someone who someone courting her..

Finally, Shi Ai lifted the lid of the box and felt her eyes widen in amazement. Inside was a hair clip with a long stick decorated with a beautigully carved phoenix on one end. Its wings were spread beautifully and it's green eyes seemed to be staring straight at Shi Ai. Most of the students were almost disappointed at this gift as they felt that it could not live upto the hype. But Shi Ai clutched the clip to her chest with bright shiny eyes and caressed the phoenix lovingly.Just then a young boy named Bo Jian,who was a friend of Zhang Min,came forward and stared intently at the piece in Shi Ai's hand. Bo Jian belonged to a family that had been in the jewellery business for more that three generations.Seeing his absorption with Shi Ai's gift,,Zhang Min came forward and asked what the matter was. What the boy said next,stumped everyone. "This is a modern Binyeo. A binyeo is a hairclip from the joseon dynasty where the girls put this in their hair when they turned adults. If this design is the one made by Jean Pierre then the other is a a dragon piece which makes for a perfect pair like yin and yang which can also stand for wedded bliss. Also you see the imperial jade eyes of the phoenix? Those pieces are real jadeite. This simple clip is more valuable that all the jewellery here combined." Jian's eyes then turned to Shi Ai and he asked seriously,"Miss Shi,do you really have a fiance who has gifted you this? Because if that is so thenhe really values a lot.."

Shi Ai was overwhelmed with the thoughtful gift that Ah Hai had sent her and ran upto her room. The abandoned guests and the silly cake forgotten. She tied her hair into a side knot and looked into the mirror. The clip matched her to perfection. Had this really been designed as part of a set and was it his design?,she wondered to herself. Her eyes would not leave the mirror..and the  beautiful hair accessory..

Downstairs,Zhang Min tried to control the situation as suddenly everyone started to gossip. He gestured the servers to take the cake for  ow and soon music started to play. The host came forward and expertly handled the situation inviting everyone to the dance floor. Zhang Min glared at his father and walking to him whispered,"Dad! You could have given her the gift later or even before the party!Why did it have to be now."

Dr Zhang looked at his son seriously and said,"Because I happen to value my skin.Your mother wants to encourage Shi Ai to date other boys. And you went along and invited those boys here. Do you hate these friends of yours? What do you think will happen when one of these becomes Ah Hai Long's love rival?"

Zhang Min's frown turned even more ferocious as he protested,"But he himself asked her to date! What Shi Ai feels for that man is puppy love!"

Dr Zhang rebuked Zhang Min and said,"Min Min, be that as it may be,it is not upto us to shove others in her face. And any boy that wishes to woo the girl needs to know that she already has someone in her heart. Also boys this age are just out to have fun and not serious about relationships. Shi Ai does not need that.Now stop bothering me and go have fun at this party. You did what you thought was right and I did what I thought was right.Now scram."

That said,Dr Zhang left the party. Once Dr zhang was gone,Zhang Min was approached by Bo Jian. In a low voice,Jian asked Zhang Min,"Min Min? Is your cousin really engaged?"

The hesitating voice made Zhang Min tilt his head to the side as he scrutinized his friend. The anxious look in his eyes confirmed the doubt Zhang Min had.

Smiling a little wickedly,Zhang Min teased,"will wonders never cease? The mighty Bo Jian is interested in my sister?"

Bo Jian could feel his ears turn red at Zhang Min's teasing so he grumbled,"Shut up and tell me. I don't want to snatch someone who belongs to somebody else. Who is the boy? And does he really appreciate Shi Ai. If he really is her fiance,why did he not come here himself instead of just sending over a gift?"

Zhang Min realised that poor Bo Jian had fallen deep for Shi Ai. Since these feeling were sincere,Zhang Min said honestly,"Sigh!!She does ans doesn't have fiance. It's complicated so bear with me. Shi Ai believes herself to be in love with someone already and has made him promise to marry her once she is grown up. Regarding the other party,thought he does not seem to be in love with Shi Ai, he does care for her. And so as far as those two are concerned,the future is in the air. Now if you are able to snatch Shi Ai's heart completely, I think the personn may not protest too much. But I cannot be too sure because he is an enigma to everyone."

Bo Jian heard the explanation and answered his own question after that," And that person is a soldier?"

Zhang Min smiled at that and sharply replied,"You have good observation skills,Jian.You guessed that from the cake?.So tell me,are you still going to woo my sister?"

Bo Jian seemed deep in thought as he thought this through. Before he could reach a decision,however,Shi Ai returned to the party. 

And at that moment,Bo Jian's principles flew out of the window and he vowed,"I am going to do my best to woo her and make her mine. That missing Knight can remain missing."

His piece said,Bo Jian started to move towards the beauty but was stopped by Zhang Min who warned in a lethal voice," I will not interfere if you try to court her. You are a good person and you will have my blessings.But any underhanded methods and you will pay for it with your life.or more.Remember that."

Bo Jian felt his brows rise at this. Was Zhang Min encouraging him or discouraging him? Shrugging his shoulders,he moved towards the girl who he had decided was going to be the future Mrs Bo..His anticipation increased as he moved closer to Shi Ai but then so did his displeasure.Shi Ai was wearing another man's gift. He laughed to himself. He was already becoming possessive of her and they were yet to go for a date.. Once he reached Shi Ai,he extended his hand and asked,"Miss Birthday girl,will you do me the honor of a dance?"

Shi AI looked at the extended hand and smiled softly. She recognized Bo Jian and the fact that he had told her about the hairpin made her feel grateful so she placed her soft and small hands into his large ones and let him lead her to the dance floor.

On the dance floor, Bo Jian placed a hand on Shi Ai's waist and pulling her closer but still at a respectable distance,began the dance. He felt a jolt of electricity pass through his hand at the touch and looked at Shi Ai to see if she had experienced anything similar. But,she was not even looking at him,just looking around at others dancing. Jian cleared his throat and said, Thank you for inviting me to your coming of age party!"

This sentence brought Shi Ai's attention back to Bo Jian and she said softly,"You are welcome. You are Brother Zhang Min's good friend after all."

In one sentence,Bo Jian felt that Shi Ai had drawn a line between them but he marched on,"Miss Shi,can I be your friend also?"

Shi Ai looked into Bo Jian's deep eyes then and answered without thinking much,"Of course.We can be friends."