Coral looked at Tommy as if he were crazy and asked, “Tommy, are you okay? Did you forget to take your medication before leaving home?”
“For something I like, it’s worth spending any amount of money,” Tommy replied with a hint of metaphor. He gazed at Coral affectionately.
Coral seemed unable to detect the double meaning in his words and simply retorted with three words, “Money talks, baby!”
After the gourd was auctioned off, the rest of the auction felt rather dull. Some people even started yawning.
Coral also appeared uninterested but thankfully the auction was coming to an end soon.
At 7 pm sharp, the auction ended.
Coral tapped Leo’s arm and said, “Let’s go.”
As Leo stood up, Tommy did too. He quickly walked up to Coral and said, “Do you want me to give you a ride home?”
“No need. I’ll ride with Leo’s car instead. We’ll catch up another time,” Coral declined politely.
She greeted some acquaintances nearby before leaving the auction hall together with Leo.
While walking down stairs together though, Leo noticed that Coral seemed somewhat disappointed so he couldn’t help but ask her what was wrong.
“That gourd… I originally planned on buying it for you as a gift but then Tommy had to interfere. However since you raised its price so high, it helped me let out some steam,” she explained wistfully.
Hearing this made Leo’s heart skip a beat or two. What did she mean by wanting to buy him such an expensive gift?
“Ahem… it would be unfair for me not do anything in return though… why did you want to buy that for me?” he asked while trying hard not to show his excitement on his face.
Coral rolled her eyes at him dismissively saying, “Don’t flatter yourself too much! The reason why I wanted buy it is because of your contributions towards my company. Consider it as my way of rewarding your hard work.”
Leo breathed out in relief upon hearing this. It turned out he had been overthinking things after all!
Just as they stepped outside however, a white Maserati pulled up right in front of them.
Tommy got out from behind wheel looking just as handsome as ever while wearing a charming smile on his face.
“Coral, can I borrow ten minutes from your time? There is something important that we need discuss urgently,” Tommy implored earnestly while noticing how hesitant she looked about agreeing or not; turning towards Leo next, he added, “Mr. Bloomer, could you please wait here for us briefly? Miss Wilde will be back soon once we’re done talking.”
“I don’t mind waiting,” replied Leo smilingly before adding jokingly, “It’s all up Miss Wilde whether or not she wants talk more.”
“Coral, as a friend, can you spare ten minutes? I have something important to tell you, but it’s not convenient to talk here,” Tommy’s expression was sincere as he opened the passenger door for Coral.
Coral hesitated for a moment and turned to Leo. “Wait for me in the parking lot. I’ll be back in ten minutes.”
Watching the Maserati leave quickly, Leo had a strange smile on his face. He already knew what Tommy wanted to do.
The hotel was located at Lakeside Haven, just two or three minutes’ drive from Crescent Moon Lake.
In the evening breeze, Crescent Moon Lake was quiet and peaceful under the neon lights in the distance with an added touch of enchanting beauty.
The car stopped and Tommy gentlemanly opened Coral’s door and placed his hand on top of it.
The two stood by the railing; Coral glanced at the night sky and said lightly, “What brings me here?”
“Coral, do you remember this place?” Tommy gazed into the distance with deep affection on his face.
“The past is memories; there is no need to bring them up again,” Coral lost herself in thought with more than just a hint of sadness on her face.
Tommy withdrew his gaze and looked into Coral’s eyes, “But some things will never be forgotten; they will always remain in our hearts.”
With a long sigh, Tommy continued, “When we were young and reckless, we always wanted to make our mark outside this world. But after going abroad, I’ve never truly been happy because all that remains stuck in my mind is you.”
“Tommy…” Before Coral could finish her sentence, Tommy interrupted her, “Coral, I know that back then you already had feelings for me. I could feel it too but didn’t cherish it enough myself. Today I brought you here because I want to tell you that I want to pursue your love again!”
At this point, Coral’s expression had already calmed down, and she spoke calmly, “Tommy, the past is gone, and we are impossible now.”
“Are you together with Leo…?”
Coral shook her head gently, “Leo is just an ordinary friend of mine.” After saying these words, Coral couldn’t help but reveal a faint smile, because she remembered some interesting experiences she shared with Leo before.
Tommy caught the faint smile that appeared on Coral’s face. His expression sank for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.
With a confident tone, Tommy smiled and said, “Even if you had a boyfriend, before you get married, I have the right to pursue you. And I believe I can win your heart.”
Coral chuckled and replied, “You’re too confident. Anyway, it’s time to go back now. Can you give me a ride?”
“Before we go back, I have a gift for you,” Tommy said as he took out an exquisite wooden box from the car next to them. He opened it and took out a gourd. “I know you’re interested in this thing so I specially auctioned it and gave it to you.”
Tommy handed the gourd over to Coral.
“It’s too precious; sorry but I can’t accept it,” Coral refused.
Seeing that Coral didn’t want it, Tommy held the gourd in his left hand and extended it outside of the fence saying, “If you don’t want this, then there is no meaning for me keeping this valuable item; might as well throw into lake.”
“Are you trying to blackmail me?” Coral was both angry and amused by Tommy’s rogue behavior.
She had known Tommy for five years now so she understood his personality quite well; she didn’t doubt that he would throw the gourd into lake.
Coral did actually want this gourd but since someone else gave her as gift she found hard accepting it.
However, since if she didn’t take, then Tommy would throw away without any regret so she reached out her hand saying, “This eight million dollar item is too valuable to be thrown away like trash; give me instead! Let’s just say that I picked up from Crescent Moon Lake.”
The moon was bright, the stars were sparse. A Maserati raced past a white shadow on the Ring Lake Road.
Leaving the hotel parking lot, Leo was driving on the way back, while Coral held a delicate wooden box in her hand, lost in thought.
Leo glanced at the box in her hand and asked, “What are you holding?”
Coral gave him a strange look and asked, “Guess what it is?”