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Jiao Jiao patted her chest as she flittered down the street. She desperately wanted to peek behind her but was too shy to meet Brother Qian's smoldering gaze again. Especially after crashing into him and making him think she was a silly fool who couldn't walk a few blocks!

His phoenix eyes seemed to pierce deeply into her heart and their shape reminded her of wings in flight. He was tall, much taller than her short little frame, but his warm presence comforted her rather than scaring her off.

Jiao Jiao hadn't interacted much with the male gender, only meeting regularly with the elders in the village or her teachers and schoolmates. Of course, her beautiful face had garnered lots of interest from the boys in her class, but she wasn't interested in their pointless taunts and teasing remarks.

As she walked, she stored his name and image like a dark sky meticulously collected each shimmering star when it appeared.Top of Form When she finally reached the noodle shop, she raised a secret smile. I hope we meet again soon.

.....

Despite whatever hopes they had, over the next two months, Jiao Jiao and Li Qian's paths only crossed once more.

Jing Mei's first gallery show was scheduled for the week before Jiao Jiao started school. She had been busy working with Mr. Kang on the layout and creating some larger pieces that he thought would intrigue the Shanghai art crowd. It was a dream for Jing Mei to have the space and equipment of a larger ceramic studio where she could try out some more ambitious pieces!

Jiao Jiao kept herself busy with summer homework that Huadian had sent over, weighed down with the knowledge that the pressure of her final year would be much heavier than she'd experienced before. She brushed and brushed and brushed some more – so much that her mom had to knock multiple times on her bedroom door the night of the gallery show.

"Jiao Jiao, what are you so concentrated on?" Jing Mei moved across the hardwood floor and knocked her daughter lightly on the head.

"Ow," Jiao Jiao hunched, then cutely scowled at her mom. Laughing, Jing Mei leaned forward to see a page filled with complex formulas in tiny writing. "Calculus again, hmm? Well, it's time to put it away and get ready for the show."

Jiao Jiao didn't really want to take a break from her papers, but she rubbed her tender head and moved to the closet. "Mom," she sighed, "I have to keep working on these so I don't fall behind the other kids in school."

"I know, but you need to feed your soul as much as your brain, hmm?" Jing Mei helped Jiao Jiao remove the hanger from the pretty party dress they'd selected for the gallery show.

The lavender dress had a gentle, sweetheart neckline and a charming bow tied at the back. Embroidered yellow and pink roses trailed lightly down the bodice and across the swishing tulle skirt. It was the prettiest dress Jiao Jiao had ever seen, and when she emerged from the dressing room, Jing Mei's eyes teared at the tender beauty emanating from her lovely daughter.

"You look perfect, oh wait one moment!" Jing Mei left the room before hurrying back with a carved box. Jing Mei removed a delicate pendant necklace and placed it around Jiao Jiao's neck.

Jiao Jiao clasped her hands to the pendant and leaned close to the vanity mirror to take a look. It was a beautiful rose-gold star engraved with the letter 'J.' "I love it!" Jiao Jiao caressed the smooth surface, which warmed quickly against the shallow of her throat.

"I know this has been a big step for us, my love. We're here in this big, strange city, and our dreams are coming true. It's been a bit scary," she laughed at Jiao Jiao's wide eyes, "yes, for me too! But I want you to know I'm so proud of your hard work." Jing Mei ran her fingers through the tresses that waved gently down to Jiao Jiao's waist.

"You too, Mom." Jiao Jiao leaned against her mom, and they smiled at each other in the mirror's reflection.

One was taller, with a graceful bearing and wisdom that was undeniable. The other was still a tender young shoot just finding her way in this world. They both had dreams to reach, though, and tonight was the first step into the stars.