Chapter 179 - You

The dinner proceeded in a lively and festive manner. 

Aside from Eli who was extremely enjoying the rice, the Blades were also particularly excited because of Leon's arrival.

Kayden, on the other hand, enjoyed his time carrying Little Han on his lap and feeding him his special food. 

One time, Little Han became so enthusiastic that he reached out his two little hands wanting to carry the spoon on his own. 

Kayden, who was now a certified baby slave, smilingly spoiled Little Han and let him do what he wanted. Only for Little Han to overturn his food bowl because he couldn't control his little hands that well.

"Hahaha!" Everyone couldn't help but burst into hearty laughs. 

Meanwhile, the innocent Little Han also flashed his two milk teeth and smiled along, "Jihihihi!" 

After the meal, everyone was still in a good mood and decided to relax for a little while. 

Because Leon missed Little Han so much, Eli let them bond with each other while she read some music sheets as part of her training. 

Leon bathed Little Han, sprinkled his little body with the fragrant baby powder and dressed him with a simple fleece onesie. Little Han looked like a little white sheep!

Since it was still early evening, he played with him on the plushie playground. Rolling around the cushioned floor, following Little Han wherever he went on his little kingdom, Leon lovingly spent quality time with him. 

Eli couldn't help but watch the two with warmth in her eyes. Looking at the two sources of joy she had, Eli felt so full that she wanted a way to express those feelings.

She had long decided to face her feelings for Leon, yet she realized that it was quite hard to say it right away. 

Many people could say 'I love you' as if they only meant to please the person in front of them. 

However, for Eli, it was so hard to say because for her it was all her heart and soul was feeling right now, but somehow, these wouldn't come out from her mouth. 

Helpless, she carefully put away the music sheets and her eyes subconsciously wandered on the grand piano beside her, a modern popular song came from on her mind. 

'I see the light', a famous theme song from one of her favorite animated Disney movies, 'Tangled'. 

For her, the feelings she had right now perfectly fit the melody of this song. It wasn't a classical piece, yes, but the charm of this song was the lyrics perfectly fitted into the melody and the characters who sang the song in the movie. 

She took a deep breath and softly touched the keys. A gentle and melodic arpeggio playing of the C major chord filled the entire cottage.

The intro of the song was simple with the familiar C family chord progression, yet in Eli's heart she was singing the lyrics of the song. 

The song talked about how one spent the days and years being cooped up with her own world, until she met her 'light'. 

Just like Eli, she spent an entire lifetime in the dark and lonely society who only expected her to work and work and work.

It took her another lifetime to meet the people who could be her light, Leon and Little Han. 

I'm where I'm meant to be… On Leon and Little Han's side, spending the days in this little cottage with the rest of the family. 

Leon and Little Han paused, deeply mesmerized at the enchanting melody Eli was creating. Leon was not hearing any words but he was somehow drawn to Eli's music as if each of the notes were speaking to his heart. 

After one round of the verse and chorus part, the song would change key from C to E flat. Eli skillfully did this by using dynamics to dramatically increase the emotions of the song as the key rises. 

This also perfectly captured Leon's heart, as if it was lifted in the air and carried by the wind along with the harmony the piece created. 

Little Han sat on the plushie playground in a well behaved manner, cutely clapping his hands as he cheered on his mommy.  The way he sat was like how Baobao would fawningly sit on the floor and stare intently at Eli, marveling at the music she created.

Eli continued to play the song with all her heart. She used this channel to let out the overwhelming feelings she had in her heart right now. 

Every inch of her soul was immersed in bringing out the emotions of the song through her way of playing, wishing that it would reach the two bright stars that made her life complete.

Softly, the last lines of the melody were delivered.  Strangely, the raging emotions inside her also calmed down. However, her soul still remained unsatisfied, it was screaming. 

Let it be known! Let him know!

What's the use of saying it tomorrow? Say it now!

What's the use of saving these words in your heart? Let him know with your very own voice!

However, Eli knows what she was feeling couldn't be fully captured by the three words, I love you.

It's more than that. It's deeper than that. 

Succumbing with the urge, she slowly stood from the stool beside the grand piano. She felt her body so tense and nervous, yet she knew that she had to confront everything right now. 

Or else, how will she sleep later on? How will she face Leon moving forward?

She took slow steady steps, keeping her face as calm as she could. Eli approached the plushie playground where the two were wordlessly sitting, also intently looking at her. 

To ease her nervousness, she reached out for Little Han, who obediently snuggled in her arms in a relaxed manner, as if absorbing all the nervousness she was bearing, making her calm down a little bit. 

For some reason, Leon was still in a trance even after the music had finished. He was battling in his heart about the sensation he felt while listening to the song. 

Somehow he wanted to decipher what the song meant for Eli.

Would it be the same as what I have felt while listening to the song? Could it be that I was right? The song was meant to communicate her feelings for me?

That couldn't possibly be true! He knew Eli, she would still treat her like a normal colleague and friend - a reliable partner in raising Little Han.

But not a romantic partner. 

However, there was something screaming deep inside him. That's not the case! That's not it!

Puzzled, he wrestled with this thought while still maintaining a calm expression. His eyes followed Eli's every move. 

Eli mustered all of her courage. She sat close in front of Leon while hugging the silent Little Han, as if he was the source of her confidence.

"The first time you saw me, you stubbornly insisted that we enter into a husband and wife relationship, while I stubbornly refused." She said, looking deep into Leon's eyes.

"I can still remember your straight face saying how we should do a marriage with love and how easy you think it was." Eli couldn't help but smile, "Then in contrast, how you appeared to be extremely embarrassed while I demanded you to call me by my nickname."

Listening to Eli reminisce about the first interactions that they had, Leon also couldn't help but smile shyly, he was indeed extremely shocked and embarrassed at that time. 

Rubbing his head in embarrassment, he softly muttered "It was my first time calling a lady so intimately like that…" He tried to explain.

"I know…" Eli replied with a smile, "I just couldn't help but think, how you suddenly changed from a cold prince without any clue in love, to a shy bashful man to an aggressive and straight forward man along the way." 

Eli continued with an accusing look, "You even learned how to be flirtatious and cheeky with me." 

Leon let out a soft chuckle after hearing Eli's accusations. 

"But compared to how fast you change, I am seemingly on the slower side." Eli muttered softly. "I kept on running away from your advances yet a part of me was slowly accepting every drop of your presence."

"Even at the day we became apart from each other, I still kept denying the fact that I have long accepted you in my heart."

"Unlike you, I have wasted so much time."

"Unlike you, I ran and hid, instead of confronting my feelings. I even thought that the matters around us were more important than our state."

"Unlike you, I held back, thinking that it was for our very own good."

Eli couldn't help but hang her head low, she lightly tightened her hug with the relaxed Little Han. 

"But, Leon.. I think it's bad for my heart… I-"

Eli was about to continue when she felt a strong pair of arms, gently securing her and Little Han safely in his arms.

"Say no more…" She heard him say with a voice that was the gentless she had heard from him.

"Accepting me is more than enough. My heart, my mind and my soul are now screaming with joy, even when you don't say it. Everything in me could feel it. It's more than enough." Leon tightened his embrace as if wanting his body to become one with Eli. 

"Uhn.." Eli snuggled in his embrace, she let her nose breath the scent of his body and buried it in her memories. 

"Leon, my soul longs for you." Closing her eyes she sweetly muttered. 

"My heart says I have found love. But my soul screamed. I have found whom my soul loves1." Eli couldn't help but remember the most romantic phrase in the Scripture. It was what Eli was exactly experiencing right now. 

"The one whom my soul deeply loves is You, Leon.."