Love O2O (Onscreen 2 Offscreen)

Chapter 20

They say that you spend your most special day with the people you most care about.

As I roam my eyes inside this vast space I'm standing at, I see unfamiliar faces, all holding banners that bear my image.

They are Yang Maos. People who have been with me since the beginning of my career as an actor. They've followed my schedules, went to my event and spent their money on my activities. Yet looking at each face in the crowd, I can barely recognize them.

Today is September 9, 2017. The most important day of my life this year. Yet, I'm lacking the most important person in my life.

Shuang.

I suppress a tear that threaten to escape. I should be used to this by now. I should have accepted the fact by now. She'll never appear in any of my events.

As long as she's Zheng Shuang and there are Yang Mao.

My thoughts get drained by the loud screams from the crowd. I follow to where there gazes landed. Up on the titron, senior Liu Tao appears to give her blessing.

"Yang Yang, I have nothing but praise for you. You've bloomed into an actor worth watching. I know that as good as you are an actor, you're every bit as great as a man. Cherish the love and happiness you have right now for it's rare to have both."

How did they get senior Liu Tao...?

"Ta jia hao, wo shi Wei Chen."

And Wei Chen too.

"Yang Yang, I pray that you continue to receive abundant blessings both in your career and personal life. We may not be close but I admire you as an actor and as a man. As a friend, I hope you take good care of the gifts that life gives you."

How come they were able to give those greetings?

Before I can even think further, Tianyu's face appears on the screen.

"Yang Yang, I wish you success in your career. Being an actor asks for so much in return that I sincerely wish for your hapiness. Success is a satisfying goal to achieve but happiness is a treasure worth cherishing for a lifetime."

As the screen fades to black, my vision catches an image from backstage. My heart gives a leap as I recognize the person silently cheering for me from afar.

After all these years, she finally decided to come.

As I walk towards her, the smile I have grows wider with each step.

"You're here."

She smiles at me, the kind that can make me believe I'm capable of doing anything.

"Where else would I be?"

As we come face to face, I reach for her hand. Without second thoughts, I pull her towards me.

"Run away with me."

She looks up at me, startled at my request. Before she can answer, I run with her.

"YANG YANG!"

We run without hearing the people calling out my name.

We run, ignoring the furious yells of my manager.

We run until all the sounds fade into silence.

As we stop to catch our breath, I face her. "The VCR greetings...?"

"I hope you liked it." She says with a smile.

"So that's why you were avoiding me these past few days, huh? You wanted to surprise me. Shi shi ni." I say as I tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear.

She has a thoughtful look for a moment.

"Yang Yang, I want you to know one thing."

I watch her closely, curious as to what she's thinking.

"I love you. I love you so much that I'm willing to do anything for you."

That's the first time she has ever said those words to me.

"No matter what the future holds for us, nothing can change the fact that I have loved you with all that my heart can ever give."

She touches the ring that I gave her, hanging in front of her chest.

"As long as I'm wearing this ring close to my heart, no other man can have what's yours."

She never spoke this way before. All the years we've known each other, this is the first time she has ever bared her soul.

"Shuang, I- "

"Yang, tonight, I want you to have me."

She faces me, our bodies closing in on each other.

"All of me."

I have always thought she's beautiful.

Back when we first met in 2011 at the Mango TV Festival, I've already been in awe by her simple beauty.

When we met again in London, that moment when I saw her waving her hand and calling my name amidst the loud noise of the airport, I was once again stunned by how effortlessly beautiful she was.

But now, as she stands in front of me, her beauty illuminates even more.

Pure, ethereal.

I take my time watching her as she moves towards me, as if memorizing each curve, each outline of her bare body. I watch as she walks slowly towards me, a woman in every inch, yet there's still a vulnerability of a girl.

My breath hitches as she lays her body on top of mine. I let my fingers run through her shoulders, memorizing the feel of them on my palms. My hands reach her chest, gently carressing, taunting the supple skin. My lips captures hers as she lets out a soft moan.

God, Shuang. You're so beautiful.

I wrap my arms around her as I trail kisses down her chin, to her neck, down to her heaving chest. I linger small kisses up her trembling chest, tracing the outline of each.

She throws her head back as I place soft kisses down her navel, traveling down to places that bring her intense pleasure. As I go lower, her moans grow louder.

"Yang, I want you. Now."

Holding her waist, I gently place her on the bed, my body laying on top of her. I capture her lips once more as I slowly enter her, her moans fading as I explore her lips.

As our bodies intertwine, chest heaving, sweat dripping, a feeling rushes towards me.

This is how it should be.

Us as one.