Forced by fate – Destined to be his Wife

“You want me to come and live with you in your apartment?” She repeated it slowly as if she wasn’t sure if it was a joke.

“Yeah. I figured now we are close, that it won’t be as weird. We can do our own thing, no diet restrictions, planned meals, standing to attention at the family dinner. We only have to go there for Sunday lunch once a week, like I used to.”

“If you’re sure you want to, then I have no complaints. It sounds like it would be closer to the art school too and easier for me to commute…. That is, if Rhea doesn’t hate it.” TangShi turned it over in her brain and didn’t see that it was much different to sharing his room at the big house, only she wouldn’t share a bed anymore. Her nerves hitched as the last sentence tumbled out and YuZhi automatically frowned, slight irritation that TangShi always considered Rhea’s feelings above her own.

He knew it should make him feel better that was she was this way, and considerate of his ex-girlfriend considering their circumstances, but this decision had nothing to do with Rhea and he didn’t really care if she liked it or not. He ignored her last words and carried on regardless.

“I can drop you and pick you up if we move there. It’s on my way to the company and we can figure out the times. It makes sense and will be easier on everyone.”

TangShi blushed and turned away with a shy smile, overjoyed and feeling gleeful at this unexpected arrangement. Assuming by everyone, he meant Rhea too and took it that she approved. If everyone was fine with it then so was she.

Never had she ever imagined YuZhi would want to move her out of that sterile environment into something that sounded a lot better for them both. More time together, away from prying eyes and judgmental stares. She would be able to relax and eat what she wanted to eat. Sleeping apart would be weird after so long but she always felt it wasn’t appropriate with Rhea in the picture. A sad thought passed over her though and her face crumbled as her feelings died painfully.

“Xiaosu? I won’t see her anymore?” It sobered her happiness and she turned back to him with genuine conflict written all over her face.

“Why not? She’s part of my family’s staff. I can have her come and work for us there. Commute back and forth when you want or need her. I mean, I tend to cook for myself or eat out so never had need for a housekeeper beyond the one who comes twice a week to clean. If you want XiaoSu to come instead, it can be done.” YuZhi just wanted to keep TangShi happy and if that did it, it wasn’t a hard compromise. She really didn’t ever ask for anything from him. She was low maintenance all the time, so he didn’t mind making allowances when she did ask.

“I’d like that. We can figure it out once I get used to my schedule and all of this.” TangShi beamed, a little ray of happiness bubbling inside and leaned back to enjoy the view once more. YuZhi watched her for a long second and smiled to himself, at that peaceful and content expression her face. She really wasn’t hard to make happy and he wished all these years Rhea had been this amicable and easy to please. His life would have been less stressful if she was as mellow as Tang.

They drove on, making small talk for the best part of a half hour before they finally pulled into park within walking distance of the bund. The waterfront mile long walk that passed by every historical and beautiful building in the city, while offering gorgeous views of Huangpu River.

While they moved and made their way to the attraction, they could tell a small music parade was in full swing, noise drifting on the air and heading this way. The scene was bright as there were temporary fairy lights strung from lamp post to lamppost for over a mile of the walkway, making it a magical and surreal view. There were food stalls and makeshift boutiques dotted along the railings, all visually pretty and they moved aside to join the watchers as the bright costume heavy parade moved on by.

YuZhi kept a hold on TangShi’s hand, fingers intertwined, and moved them to a position where she could watch without being shoved around by the crowd. Holding onto her and shielding her from behind when she became excited and childlike and started bouncing up and down to see. She was impulsively waving to the merry makers and grinning with joy at how beautiful it all was. TangShi forgot all her worries and stresses and fully immersed in the celebratory atmosphere and the happiness of the people around her.

Loud but enchanting music surrounded them, an array of bright and wonderful costumes, including a dancing Chinese dragon, swaying about and even a torch wielding dancer who swallowed fire. She watched in wide eyed awe, amazed, and mesmerized by the displays and forgot about everything else. TangShi was enamored with all of it and pulled YuZhi from stall to stall, pointing out performers and light shows and giggling crazily as they found something to look at with every turn. She was beyond happy, infectious with her enthusiasm, and loved the craziness of the people around her, all out enjoying a mild and clear skied evening. It was the perfect weather to be strolling this evening. Not too warm but dry and no hint of rain.

“Here, let’s try some of this!” TangShi gushed with excitement and tugged him by the hand to another nearby food vendor who was selling moon cakes. TangShi had all the energy and aura of a hyped-up puppy dog tonight and YuZhi was entertained by how animated and bright she was. Refusing none of her requests and allowing himself to be led about in her frenzy of excitement.

He was used to seeing calm and sweet TangShi and yet tonight she was like an inquisitive kid, running around tugging him to everything for fear she wouldn’t get to see it all. Pushing him to stalls to buy them random foods of fancy and bouncing giddily at everything that gave her pleasure. He found himself picking up on her buzz and feeling it too, joining in and really enjoying himself. Increasing his enthusiasm to make her happy and getting involved in with how much she was enjoying all this. It felt like he was viewing his city through the eyes of a child, suddenly aware of how mesmerizing Shanghai could be when you stopped enjoy it this way.

“Ooooh, candy floss!” She squealed in delight, pulling his jacket to attract his attention while he paid for their moon cakes. He almost missed grabbing the paper bag before she had him stumbling sideways in her eagerness to catch the walking seller who was moving through the crowd with bagged floss of pastel colors.

“Tang, honey….. you need to slow down.” YuZhi laughed at her, following obediently, and had to pull ahead and lead her instead to catch up with him.

“Here… one of those, any color she wants.” He motioned the seller, nodding at his wares, and stopped to dig out his wallet again as TangShi leaned up on tiptoes and pointed at a pastel rainbow concoction in the bundle over the man’s head.

“That one. It looks like unicorn fluff.” She beamed, hauling it down and ripping it open in eagerness without waiting on YuZhi to pay. He handed the money over her head looking a lot like an indulgent boyfriend and thanked the man before sliding an arm around his preoccupied date. Guiding her to a nearby bench to sit because she was in a walkway and most likely about to get trampled while being too engrossed in her treat. He was laden with bags and packages from this food sprint they had been doing and they had only tasted about a third of what he was carrying so far. They wouldn’t need to stock up on snacks for a week or two.

“We could go dump these in the car and head over there to watch the show. There’s a big display of fireworks still to come and we need a nice quiet view.” YuZhi watched her, happy with how content she seemed, sitting picking at her floss delicately and propping it in her mouth while she tapped her feet to the nearby band playing music. He loved seeing her like this. Carefree and young with no inhibition and no care about acting a certain way or pleasing people around her. She seemed free in this moment, and it was infectious, making him feel like being wild and reckless too and enjoying it all the way she seemed to be doing. This was the girl he met eight years ago, that seemed shy at first and made his night one that he had never forgotten. She came alive and left the reserved TangShi behind when she was truly happy.

“Okay. I want to get boba tea to wash this down.” TangShi smiled his way, swaying her head from side to side to the song, looking unintentionally cute and he laughed at her and bopped her on the head with a gentle fist. She was adorable without trying and he wondered how had missed it for the first months they lived together.

“I swear you have reverted to fifteen years old tonight. You should be like this more often. I like it.”

“I’m having fun.” TangShi shrugged not really feeling like she was being all that different, it’s just she was letting him see the side only Linlin usually got to see. Relaxing because out here no one was expecting anything from her, and she trusted being in his company now. That he wouldn’t judge her or bully her anymore. She was opening up to him and being herself more often.

YuZhi leaned in and stroked her hair from her cheek that was caught in her food, and tucked it behind her ear softly, sliding to move closer.

“I’m happy that you’re happy. We should do this more often. Make it a regular thing. Date night.” He grinned, chuckling at her when her face turned pink, and she shook her head at him, looking shocked.

“We shouldn’t call it that, even if you’re joking.” She lowered her voice so others wouldn’t hear in case nosy citizens were hanging around. She still always had Rhea in the forefront of her mind whenever he said things like this, and that tremor of guilt ran over her. A shudder and flashback of her tearful face that night in the club and her unconcealed hatred.

“Come on, lets go to the car so I can have my arms back. I couldn’t eat another thing.” He motioned for her to follow as he gathered it all in one arm and hooked her hand in his once more to lead the way. Catching sight of someone aiming a cellphone their way and he turned his head towards her and shielded her best he could.

He knew this would be making the rounds tomorrow and no doubt spur another flood of calls from the currently silent Rhea. Another bout of jealousy, and he sighed in deflation. He knew he wasn’t being fair to her in all of this and avoiding conflict while her emotions were all over the place. He just didn’t know how else to navigate it and the cracks that had always been in their relationship were starting to gape wider and become prominent. He had no energy for any of it right now and he had no words to help Rhea get through this. They needed to cool off and get used to separation for the duration.

“What’s wrong? Are you fed up? Tired? Do you want to go home?” TangShi felt his change in mood and wrongly assumed it was because he was bored with this now.

“No. Pictures.” He inclined his head to the left as way of explanation and TangShi flushed and looked down at her feet automatically to hide her face, losing all the joy of a moment ago with that reminder of reality. Crashing in on herself and suddenly aware of her behaviors and how she would look in a picture. It made her self conscious.

“I wish they could leave us alone.” She sighed, sobering her mood and YuZhi pulled her close and slid his arm around her instead to help her feel secure. Agreeing with her that tonight he really wanted them to be able to be themselves without worrying about being seen or photographed. It felt like an invasion tonight, more so than usual.

“You get used to it but maybe we should drive somewhere and watch the fireworks from afar. Secluded. Get away from this to enjoy the fifty-two varieties of street food we’re packing.” He jested, motioning all her purchases and broke her sad mood, bringing a smile back to her face. Her happiness picking up again.

“On one condition?” She prodded him in the cheek, feeling playful and the photographer forgotten almost instantly.

“Hmmm?” YuZhi answered absentmindedly as he navigated her through a dense crowd of people as they headed for the carpark. Hyper aware always of people knocking into her small frame or getting between them to separate them while it was so busy. Pulling her into his chest and moving her around as she seemed oblivious to it.

“We lay on the bonnet to watch them. I always wanted to do it that way. Like in the movies!” She giggled as though it was some extravagant request, blinking up at him with a pleading cute girl expression and he broke into a smile. She never ceased to surprise him.

“Sounds good to me. On the condition you don’t make me eat anymore or I might throw up. I’ll happily sleep on the bonnet, under the stars, if we can stop buying cakes.” He joked and led her on to go find his car, knowing exactly where he was going to take her to view the show. Somewhere he had never taken Rhea, but it was a place close to heart and a place he hadn’t gone since his father passed away. It was secluded, high up and somewhere not many people ventured.