Young Master Liem
Young Miss Liem: Gifts

After the second meeting, Siaw Cing was surprised by the arrival of gifts from Antony who was delivered to the Liem family home by the Gwie family members. In his heart Siaw Cing thought, why should I have people send gifts for him and why would Antony send gifts to him even if he is not on his birthday?

That comes in the form of a bouquet of flowers, or a gift box containing books, cakes and the last is a white dress of European style. Along with the white dress was an envelope containing a letter about Antony's request that Siaw Cing accompany her to a party, wearing the gift dress. The party itself was held on Saturday, at seven in the evening, about three more days since the dress was received by Siaw Cing.

“There's just that guy. Just once came here, the request has been various,” muttered Siaw Cing.

But because the dress was so beautiful, Siaw Cing became curious to try it. She brought the white dress to her room and put it on. The girl wondered why the dress fit on her body, as if Antony already understood the size of the woman's body, making Siaw Cing so suspicious.

“Did he come here first while researching my shape and size?”

For some reason Siaw Cing was happy to see herself in a white dress given by Antony, like a princess of a fairy tale king. Antony has a good taste when it comes to dress, and apparently can choose a beautiful dress for a teenage girl.

***

Antony was worried at his house. He was afraid that Siaw Cing did not like the gifts he gave. Moreover, the gift was given by the middleman of a jongos, not given alone. He also did not understand why he had the desire to give the gifts to a girl who had met him twice.

What makes Antony relieved is that none of the gifts were returned. Then Siaw Cing received it well.

About taking him to a party on Saturday night, Antony is like betting on a gambling table. He had plans to pick up Siaw Cing at his house at half-time. The girl could have accepted his invitation, or even scolded him and told him to go home.

Siaw Cing made Antony very curious, so that he seized the young man's mind day and night. The girl was just the way she was and it wasn't easy to pay attention to Antony. Though usually the girls are competing to grab his attention with their appearance.

Antony has been used to a wide variety of parties since childhood, from birthday parties to parties held by Dutch East Indies officials for their children. A party full of frenetic frenzy and the lives of the upper class elites. All the girls dress up, their lips smeared with lipstick of various colors with thick powder, eyebrows are shaped so much and red cheeks are polished. They all look beautiful like dolls, so it is difficult to find real faces. All hiding behind a thick makeup mask.

But Siaw Cing at her brother's wedding party appeared so innocent, with typical teenage skin that looks pure and not excessive. Madam Liem had wanted to dress Siaw Cing, but her daughter did not want to be dressed excessively, quite thin powder and a little lipstick with a pink color that was close to the original color of her own lips. His eyebrows are still original, never once shaved or drawn with a pencil. Such is the purity of women who have been wanted to be seen by Antony Gwie.

***

“Mama, there is a young man who wants to take me to the party, good thing I accept or not invite?” siaw Cing asked Madam Liem.

Mrs. Liem was shocked to hear Siaw Cing say so. There was no rain, no wind suddenly there was magically a man who intended to invite the innocent girl to party.

“Who is he, who confidently invites Mama's child?”

“I also wonder Ma. Even though he had only met twice, he had dared to go out partying. Maybe he is not a native of Semarang, his behavior does not reflect the youth of Semarang in general.”

“What's the name?”

“She said her name was Antony Gwie.”

Mrs Liem is no stranger to the surname behind Antony's name, but she is not yet sure if it is the famous Gwie surname.

“How does it look?”

“Wearing European-style clothing, such as Koh Wan Siang now and the accent, seems to be somewhat different from the dialect of Semarang people in general.”

People who since childhood in school in the Netherlands such as Antony would have a different language style and accent with Chinese youth who were born and live in Semarang in general. But as far as you know, Mrs. Liem, the children of the Gwie family were indeed schooled in the Netherlands in order to receive the best education.

Gwie's family has family members living in the Netherlands, who can accommodate Antony while undergoing education there. The young man lived in the Netherlands with his uncle and aunt. His uncle was a Dutchman who married Antony's father's younger sister.

Although Antony had lived in the Netherlands for a long time, but he did not want to marry a European girl. He still aspires to return to Semarang and help the family business, and marry a Chinese woman.

Antony had returned home and worked at his family's company as he wished, but he never found a Chinese girl in Semarang that he liked, until he saw Siaw Cing at Sun Kwan's wedding.

***

Mrs Liem just believed that Antony was the son of the famous Gwie family when he came to pick up Siaw Cing. Mrs. Liem met Antony when the man came, while Siaw Cing was still getting ready in his room. Mrs. Liem proposes to Siaw Cing to accept Antony's invitation, because the woman is curious about Antony's figure.

Mrs. Liem certainly knew Antony was the son of NV owner Gwie Ting Tjiang, having seen him with Mr. Gwie at Sun Kwan's wedding, only he didn't know his name was Antony.

“Oh, apparently you are Mr. Gwie's son, I just found out that your name is Antony,”. Liem's.

“Actually Antony is just a nickname, not my birth name. My real name is Gwie Ting Tjiang, same as my family company name.”

“So Antony's name is like a pseudonym so?”

“Hahaha... true Mistress, so that people do not remember me as the company name.”

Now Mrs. Liem understands the origin of the name Antony. Hearing the fact that his heart was happy not a bitch, like getting a collapsed durian. Looks like Antony likes Siaw Cing, which is a very good thing. As expected, Mrs. Liem's. It was just that Siaw Cing still did not understand what was really going on.

Siaw Cing finally came out and met Antony who was wearing a suit all white, as the color of the dress that Antony presented to Siaw Cing, who was now wearing the girl.

Siaw Cing looks beautiful, even though he appears without excessive makeup. That time she wanted to wear jewelry to complete her dress. If the jewelry is worn for a while is not why, thought Siaw Cing.

Antony watched Siaw Cing from head to toe. The girl was very charming that night, far away from her everyday appearance at home.

Like a prince from a fairyland, Antony raised his hand so that Siaw Cing would give his hand to hold. Siaw Cing turned to his mother first to ask for approval, Ms. Liem nodded so that the girl was finally willing to give her hand to Antony.

“I'm glad you want to accept my invitation to the party.”

“Actually what is this party?” ask Siaw Cing.

“Children's birthday party Resident Semarang.”

“A... What?!”?

Siaw Cing did not expect that he would be taken to the party of the upper class of Semarang. The Resident is one level below the Governor-General in the Dutch East Indies system of government. His office holder is Dutch. No wonder Antony gave her a gift of European-style dresses.

Mrs. Liem smiled at the behavior of Siaw Cing who was still so public with the association of the upper class in Semarang.

“Later you will get used to it, don't be so nervous,” advice Ny. Liem to Siaw Cing.

“Why didn't you tell me that we were going to the Resident's children's party, I'm now so nervous,” Siaw Cing told Antony.

“Sorry, I deliberately didn't say it as a surprise.”

“Ya.. now I'm surprised for real, it looks like you're satisfied.”

Antony laughed when he heard Siaw Cing say that. Siaw Cing inevitably had to walk in Antony's arms according to western-style etiquette. Siaw Cing never thought that he would have to experience such shocking things in his life. Her life is completely changed with the arrival of Antony Gwie.

Antony comes to the Liem family home in a black Daimler car. Only very rich people could own a car. The Siaw Cing family only had a horse carriage. Daimler cars must be ordered first from Europe, and the price and delivery is certainly not cheap.

Now Antony and Siaw Cing are sitting in the back seat of the driver, in his heart Siaw Cing is so nervous because this is the first time he went with a man, to the Resident children's party anyway.