MBMS Chapter 7

“I don’t see the point in us arguing like this.”

“I don’t want to fight either.”

“I don’t understand why you think I don’t care enough about you.”

“And I don’t understand why you care so much about me yet refuse to take the next step.”

“Is there even room for us to take a step further?”

“I didn’t mean…!” Liang Su, somewhat angrily frustrated, “You think meeting the parents isn’t a good idea, moving in together isn’t a good idea, and even now, we’re in Las Vegas where it’s just $20 for a marriage certificate that feels like a self-deception to you.”

“You said it yourself—it’s self-deception.”

“I’m going to sleep.”

“Goodnight.”

In the darkness, the silence spread. Liang Su turned back and rested his face on Ai Siyuan’s shoulder.

“Sorry, I know you’re tired from flying over ten hours to attend this wedding with me. I shouldn’t have brought up those things now.”

“I came because I wanted to.”

“Yes, and the things you don’t want to do, you’d never want to do, no matter what.”

“I hope you would do the same,” Ai Siyuan said. “Don’t change yourself because of me.”

“What about my glasses, perfume, and the trench coat?”

“You can always switch back.”

“Goodnight.”

The wedding banquet officially began, and Liang Su sat next to Liang Hui, while Ai Siyuan stepped out to make a phone call.

“We had a fight,” Liang Su confessed.

“I know.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“My god, they should’ve given you two the honeymoon suite.”

“Cough,” Liang Su turned to look at the bride on the stage. “When was the last time I saw her, high school? She’s lost like thirty pounds.”

“If you ask me, that tacky and bloated wedding dress isn’t worth the effort.”

“As long as she likes it.”

“Love is indeed blind.”

“Is it just you two, or is everyone in fashion like this?”

Ai Siyuan sneaked back, taking his seat and whispering to Liang Hui after a glance at the main stage: “If you get married in a dress like that, I’ll ask for my gift money back as compensation for my mental anguish.”

“…” Liang Su looked around, relieved that no one else had heard.

As the event progressed, only the band remained on stage. After two songs, the atmosphere cooled down, and the host came up: “Does any guest want to come up and sing a song?”

Everyone looked around, but no one volunteered. Suddenly, Liang Hui raised Ai Siyuan’s hand high, shouting, “Here!”

“Oh! Let’s give a warm welcome!”

“What are you doing…” Liang Su was stunned.

Ai Siyuan was caught off guard, but sparse applause broke out, and he couldn’t disappoint them. He set down his wine glass and walked towards the stage.

“This is awkward,” Liang Su muttered.

“It’s okay, he’s a capable AI,” Liang Hui reassured.

Ai Siyuan, unflustered, reached the center of the stage, tapped the microphone, cleared his throat and began, “Today is a special day. I sincerely wish the couple all the happiness in the world, more sincerely than anyone here because I don’t know them at all. But I guess, they must be devout Christians, out of all the days in a year, they chose today, Christmas, as if saying, ‘Jesus, I’m going to steal your thunder today.’”

Laughter followed his remarks.

Liang Su watched Ai Siyuan on stage, a persona unknown to him yet again. Simultaneously, Ai Siyuan’s gaze found him.

“Believe it or not, I’ve never craved a wedding, but after today, maybe I’ll start considering it, especially seeing how happy the couple is.”

“Cliché,” Liang Hui whispered, managing her brother’s expectations.

“I know,” Liang Su acknowledged.

“I almost forgot, I came up here to sing. Let me think, definitely not ‘Kill Bill.’”

As the laughter faded and the room quieted, Ai Siyuan bent down to the mic, and softly sang a couple of lines:

♪ You’re just too good to be true ♪

♪ Can’t take my eyes off you ♪

His voice was deep, his pace slow, filled with uncertainty and hesitation.

Ai Siyuan raised the mic, gestured upwards, and the band quickly picked up the cue, instruments starting to play a beautiful melody.

♪ You’d be like heaven to touch ♪

♪ I wanna hold you so much ♪

♪ At long last love has arrived ♪

♪ And I thank God I’m alive ♪

The crowd murmured in awe.

Liang Su thought, the lead singer at the side of the stage drinking water must be feeling awkward now.

With the instrumental break, Ai Siyuan gestured to the crowd, inviting them to dance. Responding to the music’s call, guests set down their forks and entered the dance floor.

“Let’s dance too,” Liang Hui hooked her arm in Liang Su’s.

Naturally, Liang Su wouldn’t refuse.

♪ I love you baby, and if it’s quite all right ♪

♪ I need you baby to warm a lonely night ♪

♪ I love you baby ♪

♪ Trust in me when I say ♪

As the chorus began, many spontaneously joined in singing. Dancing softly to the gentle rhythm, Liang Su couldn’t take his eyes off the stage. He saw Ai Siyuan’s smile, beaming and steadfast as their eyes met.

Everyone knew he was waiting for him.

“I can’t stand it, I need to go up there.” Liang Su hurriedly withdrew his hand from Liang Hui’s waist.

Liang Hui sighed and cleared a path.

In seconds, Liang Su returned, pulling someone along and sternly warned, “Just dance, nothing else, got it?”

Then, he rushed through the crowd towards Ai Siyuan.

Liang Hui rolled her eyes.

Sometimes she dreamed of summer winds blowing past her ears, the warm air brushing her face then moving on without a trace, or feeling submerged in cold water, each attempt to break through the ice only bringing the suffocation closer.

Sometimes she woke up feeling inexplicably lost, sometimes even when close, she felt distant, sometimes confused about nothing in particular.

He saw Ai Siyuan’s gentle yet powerful gaze as his lips seemed to say “it’s okay.” The closer he got, the louder those words sounded, all worries dissipating.

He was going to kiss him now. Nothing else mattered.

Even though they had kissed countless times—in the morning, at night, every evening they met—this time, it was extraordinarily significant.

“I know you are true,” Ai Siyuan whispered, breathing deeply against Liang Su’s shoulder.

“I love you, too,” Liang Su embraced him even tighter.

In this world, no two people are exactly alike, nor are any two completely different.

But that doesn’t stop two people from loving each other.