Cassandra's eyes were wide open, astonishment covering her face.
Fireworks lit up the sky in a dazzling array of pattern after pattern.
Some were green, the sparks raining down like a meteor shower.
Some were purple, glowing like smiling faces.
Some were gold, blossoming out like wild flowers.
And then there were the red, holding their shapes in burning hearts as the entire sky was painted bright with the color of romance.
As each explosion lit up the sky and scattered like falling flower pedals, the dark night shone as bright as day. Cassandra was enchanted.
She couldn't keep her eyes from the sky. Her astonishment slowly turned into jubilation and she couldn't wipe the smile off her face.
The burst of each firework reflected in her eyes and Rufus gazed as each color lit up her shining eyes.
"Like it?"
His voice was so soft and warm that even with two simple words, Cassandra could feel her knees buckle.
"A lot! It's so beautiful. Thank you."
She felt her voice choke, her eyes starting to well up a little bit as the gratitude spilled out of her.
Rufus smiled, instinctively leaning over and leaving a soft kiss on her forehead.
"I'm glad you like it."
He'd shipped the entire set of fireworks equipment along with all the fireworks from overseas but had thought little of the cost. All he could think of was making sure Cassandra liked it.
For Cassandra, the fireworks painted the most picturesque scene into the night sky. But for Rufus, the real beauty was in her eyes.
In her pure eyes, the fireworks bloomed. These were the clearest eyes he'd ever seen in his entire life.
As the fireworks faded into the night sky and the sounds of the explosions slowly drifted away, a sense of peace fell over their night.
Rufus removed his hands from covering Cassandra's ears, making their way down to cup her cheeks. He gently lifted her face, his eyes never wavering from hers, full to the brim with love.
"So, how are you going to thank me, huh?" he asked, a mischievous smile creeping onto his face.
as a feather; as if he was handling an
front of him, especially when he spoke with such an
want me to thank
Within seconds, she'd been transformed into this shy, stammering girl. The last few words
smile crept across his face and just like that,
this woman. A feeling of contentment filled his
the impromptu kiss. Her eyes stayed wide open in disbelief, and she could see nothing but
closed, he could feel that her mind was elsewhere from the kiss so he
to wander, I'll have to have a taste of you instead,"
closed her
when she was waiting for Rufus. Her stomach had been crying for
feel a little embarrassed by his brash suggestion and she didn't dare to move as far as her body was begging, afraid he might push it too far. So she stayed how she was, wrapped up in the kiss until her entire body became so
like a century, Rufus pulled away unwillingly from her seducing lips. It was only then that he opened his eyes
outside the window. Just as one stopped, another went off as families set off their crackers in celebration of the Lunar
set off their firecrackers, it must have passed midnight. And tonight, it meant the 15-day long Spring Festival had
got to spend my
taken aback by his abrupt
is right on the fifteenth day of the first month? Why didn't you tell me?" Cassandra
that his birthday had slipped
hadn't gotten him any present and worse, it was he that had gifted her the wonderful
do you want for your birthday? Let
up at him, the look of frustration and wonder mixing across her face.
need for that. You are my gift," he said, cupping
meant it. Cassandra was indeed the best gift he had ever received and nothing else could compare with how important she was
get you something,"
turning obstinate, embarrassed at her own carelessness for overlooking this occasion.
it was her again that had received the surprise. He had been so thoughtful and meticulous both times and here she was, not even knowing it was his
is as stubborn as she
his father, Horace barely paid attention to the day
got me a birthday
her face, hoping
trick worked as her eyes immediately lit up.
someone else. Come and
pulling him down the stairs to the dining
setting out the tableware. Then she ran into the kitchen to prepare the tea stew chicken she had cooked
fragrance of tea and chicken filling the room, making her stomach
him, he picked up his fork to cut up a small piece of the chicken
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