Love Began with the First Meeting

Elsa shook her head. "Why?"

"Because that city is their home." Charlie ran his sleek finger down her nose. "They have families in that city, loved ones and friends... So, it's beloved to them."

Elsa blinked, trying to understand the implications behind his words.

As they sat gazing at each other, the pilot announced that they were about to land, and the fasten seat-belt sign came on. As Elsa silently pondered over his words, the plane landed at the international airport of the Dragon Island.

When the cabin door opened, a soft sea wind blew in and the sun shone gently on them. All of them were familiar with the Dragon Island, except for Elsa. It was her first trip to the island.

They got off the plane and Elsa looked around the airport curiously. They got into a waiting sports car. Elsa looked out through the window. Lush trees were everywhere. It was clean and tidy all around as if it had been washed clean. Skyscrapers stood in rows, one after the other. It was a bustling international city, but the people were pretty quiet.

"It's more beautiful than in the pictures!" Elsa said, awed by its beauty.

A smile appeared on Charlie's lips. "That's because pictures have no life."

Elsa nodded and looked around. Everything in the city aroused her interest.

The car zoomed through the center of the city from the airport, and then into an avenue by the central plaza. It was very quiet now, away from the hustle and bustle of the main city. Elsa felt as if they had passed back through time.

The birds and insects were singing along the way. At the end of the road, their cars slowed down in front of a giant iron gate. It was opened slowly with a metallic roar, and guards near the gate bowed to them.

Even though Elsa had heard about the Long Family, she was still surprised by all this. Everything was very royal here, like the ancient times. She felt like she had gone back to the Middle Age.

When the cars came to a halt, attendants in black suits opened the car doors for them. Elsa was awed by the gesture, but the others took it for granted.

"Charlie... The engagement is tomorrow. Why are we here today?" Elsa asked timidly, looking around her.

"The children of the Long Family are required to go back to the Long Family Mansion once they are engaged," said Charlie. "We need to be honored. However, at the moment, Evelyn and I are not truly from the Long Family. So, we'll have to go to the Dragon Island National Congress after the engagement."

Elsa had heard about it from Charlie previously, but she had only vaguely understood it at that time. Now that she was finally on this island with such a long history, she felt the pressure.

Gulping nervously, Elsa followed Charlie into the house. Besides Brian and Molly, there was a handsome man and a graceful woman sitting in the hall.

"Lenny," Eric said to his secretary, as he looked at the couples walking in. "Fetch the medals."

"Yes, Mr. Eric Long." Lenny left and soon came back with two delicate looking boxes in her hands.

"I have already discussed this with Brian and Molly. We are out of time, so we'll go through the affairs of the Dragon Island after the engagement tomorrow." Eric opened the box and picked the two medals. Those who possessed the medal were recognized as a member of the Long Family. He pinned them on Charlie and Evelyn's chests. "As the Ruler of the Dragon Island, I welcome you back. From today, the future of the Long Family and the Dragon Island depends on you."

"Addison is excellent at what he does. We don't need to worry about the future," Evelyn said, rolling her eyes at all the formalities. "Uncle Eric is just jealous when we idle the days away outside the Dragon Island."

Eric burst into laughter and pinched Evelyn's nose lovingly, "Spare me. Don't speak out my thoughts so bluntly."

Evelyn pulled out her tongue at her uncle.

Everybody in the room laughed at her childish behavior.

Eric turned to Elsa and said with a mischievous smile, "Welcome to the Long Family. I hope this family brings you all that you have ever wanted-happiness, love and lots of pampering." He then winked at Evelyn, who grinned widely.

Elsa had a good feeling about this family. They could see right through you and make you relax under their exponential care.

"Thank you..." Elsa pursed her lips shyly, "Uncle Eric."

"Hmm," Eric smiled contentedly, and then turned to glare at Brian. "Why are you so damn lucky? All good things just fall into your laps. I wonder if my children will get such good partners," he sighed.

"Are you really worried about that, Uncle Eric?" Charlie asked, a tang of sarcasm in his gaze.

"Oh no, he isn't," the beautiful woman who had been silently inspecting Elsa, finally spoke. "It's I who have been brainwashing him into worrying about our kids."

"Aunt, you have been brainwashing Uncle for over ten years. Is it still interesting?" Evelyn asked with a surprised smile.

The woman raised her eyebrows proudly and stood up to hold Elsa's hands. She said gently, "Welcome to this adorable world which is full of love. I promise you," she said with a soft smile, "you will never regret this decision for the rest of your life. The men of the Long Family will not let that happen." She winked at Eric, exchanging silent words between them.

The honoring ceremony was simple and casual. This was what Eric had hoped for when the Long Family had separated in Richie's generation and had come back together again in Charlie's. No matter what the future held, he didn't think that Charlie would inherit the XK Intelligence Agency. So it was necessary that Charlie Long return to his family.

Of course, Brian and Molly thought the same as well.

The makeup experts worked their magic on Elsa. She looked at herself in the mirror, and almost didn't recognize herself. She felt like a princess from a fairy tale. The S-mile Grand Hotel in T City.

The engagement party was being held at the rooftop Garden on the rooftop. Before the ceremony began, there was a formal press conference because Addison wanted everyone to be informed that Charlie and Evelyn had returned to the Long Family.

"Hello, everyone. Thank you all for coming." The host of the ceremony motioned for everyone to be quiet, and then continued, "It's a special day for us today. Charlie Long and Evelyn Long have been welcomed back into the Long Family with open arms, and they have found their partners, too." He turned to look at the two couples on the stage.

They were completely surrounded by continuous flash lights from the cameras. It was crazy. After the brief introduction, the couples exchanged the crests with their partners.

Charlie and Evelyn pinned the Long Family's medal on Elsa's and Ezra's chests respectively. As the new son-in-law of the Long Family, Ezra said jokingly, "I think I've gotten myself into a matrilocal wedding."

His words made the guests burst into laughter. His parents shook their heads helplessly and whispered to Brian and Molly, "Ezra is senseless. Please don't mind him."

"Oh, don't worry. We love him," Molly exclaimed smiling at her children and their loved ones. "I have watched Ezra grow up since he was an infant. I am so happy that he is now a member of our family."

Elsa stood up on her tiptoes to peck Charlie on his lips. Blushing with a smile, she raised her head to look at him in the eye. He was smiling down at her warmly. "This is my mark! You belong to me now," she said, grinning from ear to ear.

The ceremony was filled with laughter and happiness. The constant flash of the cameras made the whole venue shine bright.

The more Molly looked at Elsa, the more she liked her. She liked Elsa because she was a little shy, but still expressed her love bravely. She wondered if she could ever be as brave as Elsa or Evelyn. Could she have avoided all those misunderstandings with Brian if she had been a little braver?

The past was nothing but a memory now. Even though such a long time had passed, she still felt the hurt sometimes. But now, the pain and the happiness were all part of her precious memories.

*

Allen stood on the street and stared at the big screen. He saw Elsa kissing Charlie with so much love in her eyes. Her words were like a knife to his already wounded heart.

'She is mine. Elsa belongs to me! If it wasn't for Charlie, Elsa would never have left me, the Shen Family would not have ended up like this and I would not have been kicked out of my own family. He is the reason for all this. Charlie Long!'

Allen glowered at Charlie's smile. He wanted to kill him and cut him into pieces. His eyes were filled with anger and darkness which had taken over his soul.

There was a sharp sound of screeching brakes. George stopped his car and got off. Taking a quick look at the screen, he shouted, "Allen, are you okay?"

*