“
Childhood friends prompt
Zhou mi….Zhou mi!”
“…Mmm?” Zhou mi opened his eyes slowly and looked up.
“It’s end of class already, wake up.”
“Oh….I fell asleep?” Zhou mi rubbed his eyes sleepily, he heard some girls giggle and he turned to give them a smile.
“Zhou mi is so cute, did you see him rub his eyes?”
“Yes!......”
Zhou mi ignored the girls’ cooing and started putting his books back into his bag.
“You don’t usually fall asleep in class, late night yesterday?” The classmate who woke him- Siwon asked him with a curious raise of eyebrows.
“Yea, I was studying for the university entrance exam.” Zhou mi frowned lightly- he had fallen asleep on his desk and had not even gotten half way of his intended progress.
“Oh, good luck then.” Siwon gave him a thumbs up.
“Thanks, I’ll go now, bye Siwon.”
Zhou mi waved goodbye before stepping out of the classroom.
Before he even set foot outside the school building, he heard some girls chatting excitedly
“Did you see Kyuhyun sunbae? He is so cool!”
“I would do anything to have him give me a ride on his bike!”
“I’m so jealous of Zhou mi sunbae!”
Zhou mi sighed at the mention of his name, the girls seemed to have noticed him and gave him an awkward smile before resorting to quiet whispering.
Outside the school building, Kyuhyun was leaning against the school fence, his bike beside him, he had his arms crossed and head bowed- not paying attention to the girls who pass by with shy greetings.
“Kyuhyun-ah.” Zhou mi called softly as he approached him, Kyuhyun immediately looked up.
“Hyung!” He smiled radiantly at Zhou mi, a complete opposite of the expression he was previously wearing. “What took you so long? I was getting worried!”
“I fell asleep in class…” Zhou mi scratched his head shyly
Kyuhyun frowned “You’ve been studying until late at night again?”
Zhou mi bit his lip at Kyuhyun’s disapproving gaze “It wasn’t that late….”
Kyuhyun’s frown deepened “You promised me you wouldn’t sleep late again!”
Zhou mi’s shoulders sagged “I know, I’m sorry Kyuhyun, it’s just- I really want to get into a good university.”
Kyuhyun pursed his lips and didn’t say anything, Zhou mi looked at him worriedly “Kyuhyunie….” He walked to Kyuhyun’s side and tugged at his sleeve “Are you angry at me?” He pouted and widened his eyes, giving his best “Puppy look” to Kyuhyun.
Kyuhyun sighed in defeat “What should I do with you hyung?” He ran his finger across Zhou mi’s fringe and tucked it behind his ear “Look after yourself…I go crazy worrying for you.”
Zhou mi pouted more “So are you still angry?”
Kyuhyun chuckled at Zhou mi’s expression “Of course not, I can never be angry at you, hyung.”
Zhou mi’s pout broke into a grin as he pulled Kyuhyun into a quick hug “Kyuhyunie’s the best!
Kyuhyun’s lips twitched into a smile “Let’s go home hyung.” He climbed onto his bike.
Zhou mi nodded happily as he climbed behind Kyuhyun, naturally hugging Kyuhyun’s waist as he rode them out of the school.
“…Kyuhyunnie…” Kyuhyun heard’s Zhou mi’s voice from behind him, slightly buffled by the light breeze of wind.
“Hmm?”
“Maybe I should start learning how to ride a bike too…”
Kyuhyun suddenly squeezed the brakes, halting the bike to a sudden stop and Zhou mi jolted into his back.
“Why?”
If Zhou mi learnt to ride a bike, then he wouldn’t need him to give him a ride to and from school anymore, he wouldn’t be able to feel Zhou mi’s arms wrapped around his waist and his head resting on his back everyday.
Kyuhyun clenched his teeth, he wouldn’t let it happen!
“Kyuhyunnie’s popular, the girls at the school get jealous of me…what is they gang up against me?” Zhou mi said jokingly.
“I’ll protect you.”
Zhou mi looked up in surprise, Kyuhyun’s expression was unreadable, but his words gave Zhou mi a sense of comfort.
“…What if Kyuhyunnie gets a girlfriend one day? You wont have time to give me a ride anymore…then I wont have anyway of getting to school and back home!”
“Then I won’t get a girlfriend.” Kyuhyun turned his head around and stared at Zhou mi, his expression stern.
Zhou mi gulped “Then what if I get a girlfriend? And I want to be able to escort her to and from school everyday?”
Kyuhyun stayed silent.
“…Kyuhyunnie?”
“…”
“Kyuhyunnie?” Sensing something wrong, Zhou mi tightened his arms around Kyuhyun’s waist.
“Is that what hyung wants?”
“Wha-“
“Does hyung want a girlfriend?” Kyuhyun’s voicehad a sharpness which made Zhou mi flinch.
“I-I was just joking Kyuhyun-ah...I don’t want a girlfriend yet.” Zhou mi leaned his head on Kyuhyun’s back “Don’t be angry…”
Kyuhyun relaxed slightly “Sorry hyung, I’m not angry at you.” Kyuhyun’s voice softened, he placed his hand over one of Zhou mi’s hands on his waist, intertwining their fingers together. “I just don’t like the idea of you having a girlfriend…the thought that you won’t have time for Kyuhyun anymore and I just-…“ He squeezed Zhou mi’s hand.
“Don’t worry Kyuhyun! Even if I have a girlfriend, I will always find time for you!” Zhou mi smiled brightly, Kyuhyun only nodded stiffly and gave him a forced smile before he started pedaling again.
But I don’t want hyung to have a girlfriend….
Zhou mi hopped off the bike in front of his house.
“Thanks Kyuhyunnie.”
“Wait.” He was just about to turn to walk to his house when he heard Kyuhyun’s voice.
“What’s wrong?” He cocked his head at Kyuhyun who had a smirk on his lips.
“Hyung, I just remembered, you were much politer when we were little.”
Zhou mi frowned, was he not polite now?
“What do you mean?”
“When we were little, hyung always thanked me and gave me a ‘reward’ when I did you favors, remember?”
Zhou mi thought for a bit before the memory hit him.
“T-that was when we were little…my mum taught me-..” He blushed and Kyuhyun chuckled “I gave hyung a ride and you made me angry twice today, I think I deserve a reward.”
“You said you weren’t angry…” Zhou mi muttered
“I lied, I was extremely angry hyung.” Kyuhyun said, a playful smile on his face.
Zhou mi made a face at him before he walked closer to Kyuhyun.
Kyuhyun smiled brightly and pointed at his cheek, Zhou mi leaned in and shyly placed a kiss to where Kyuhyun pointed.
“There, happy now?”
Kyuhyun grinned and quickly pulled Zhou mi in to place a kiss on Zhou mi’s cheeks.
“We’re even now.” Kyuhyun whispered, his warm breath tickled Zhou mi’s ear and Zhou mi felt heat creep up to his cheeks.
“I-I’m going now, bye Kyuhyunnie!” Zhou mi turned and rushed into his house, Kyuhyun’s gaze lingering after him.
Zhou mi shut the door and leaned back against it, his heart was beating like crazy, he placed his hand on his cheeks.
“Stupid Kyuhyun!”
-
Zhou mi looked up with a start as he heard a knock on his window, he opened the curtains to find Kyuhyun grinning at him, sitting on his roof.
“Kyuhyunnie?” Zhou mi opened the window and helped Kyuhyun in “I thought we were told not to climb through the roof anymore, it’s dangerous!”
Kyuhyun’s window is directly opposite Zhou mi’s the roofs of their houses touching, when they were little they would climb to each other’s rooms through their windows.
Kyuhyun only grinned mischievously and put a finger to his lip “No one would know.”
Zhou mi frowned disapprovingly but sat back down in front of his desk, Kyuhyun propped himself on Zhou mi’s bed, swinging his legs.
Zhou mi ignored him and continued to read his textbook when suddenly he felt a puff of warm breath on his ear.
“What are you doing?”
Zhou mi jumped back with a start to see Kyuhyun’s face only inches away from his own.
“S-studying.”
Kyuhyun forcefully shut Zhou mi’s text book “It’s late, you don’t want to end up sleeping in class again tomorrow.”
Zhou mi sighed. “Fine.”
Kyuhyun smiled in satisfaction, then Zhou mi suddenly hugged him.
“H-hyung, what are you doing?” Kyuhyun felt his face flare up in heat.
“Thanks Kui xian.”
Kyuhyun smiled at the pet name Zhou mi had given him when they were just children.
“For what?”
“Always looking after me, even though I’m your hyung…I don’t protect you…it’s more like the other way around.”
Kyuhyun stroked Zhou mi’s hair affectionately “I like it this way.”
Zhou mi looked up at Kyuhyun and pouted.
Kyuhyun can’t help but stare at Zhou mi’s lips,
“Don’t pout hyung.” Kyuhyun looked away.
Zhou mi stopped pouting and buried his head in Kyuhyun’s shoulder.
“Hyung.” Kyuhyun said after a while of silence.
Zhou mi didn’t reply.
“Hyung?” Kyuhyun gentley pulled Zhou mi back to see him with his eyes closed.
Kyuhyun’s eyes softened “Hyung….” He stroked Zhou mi’s cheek.
He carried Zhou mi to his bed and laid down beside him.
“Never leave me.” Kyuhyun whispered softly, he placed his lips lightly on Zhou mi’s forehead. “I’ll go crazy without you.”
-
“…hyung….wake up…” Zhou mi felt someone gently shaking him.
“Mnnm? Five more minutes…”
“Hyung, we’ll be late, wake up!” A slightly harder shove.
“Mmm…” Zhou mi batted at the person’s direction and threw his covers over his head.
Silence, then a sigh.
“Fine, you asked for it.”
“Ahhhhh!!!!!” Zhou mi felt himself being lifted out of his bed, his eyes shot open to see Kyuhyun’s smirking down at him.
“P-put me down!” Zhou mi pushed at Kyuhyun’s chest, Kyuhyun ignored him and carried him to the bathroom, where he let Zhou mi climb back on his feet.
“Be ready in 10 minutes.” Kyuhyun pushed Zhou mi towards the sink and left.
“Hmph.” Zhou mi poked his tongue out at the mirror and started forcefully brushing his teeth.
When he came back out, Kyuhyun was sitting on his bed reading a book.
“Did you go home last night?” Zhou mi looked at Kyuhyun in his uniform and hair neatly brushed.
“I went back in the morning, I wake up early unlike some lazy people.” Kyuhyun rolled his eyes.
Zhou mi sniffed, then suddenly smiled wickedly when his eyes caught something.
“That’s not how you do a tie Kyuhyun.” He undid Kyuhyun’s sloppily made tie and began tying it again around Kyuhyun’s neck.
“Heh, you might be smart and know how to ride a bike and wake up early, but I’m still better at these things then you!” Zhou mi smiled and patted the neatly done tie “There, all handsome now.”
Kyuhyun turned away to hide his blush “Let’s go downstairs now.”
-
Zhou mi’s mother smiled at Kyuhyun warmly when she saw him, it wasn’t a surprise that he shows up in the house.
“Good morning Kyuhyun, thank you for coming and waking Mimi up.” She poured two glasses of milk for the boys.
“Good morning.” Zhou mi echoed cheerfully.
“Good morning, ommo-nim.” Kyuhyun smiled brightly.
Zhou mi sat down and started shoving food down his mouth while Kyuhyun sipped at his milk.
“Do you not want any breakfast Kyuhyun?” Zhou mi’s mother asked with concern.
“Oh no, I ate at home already.” Kyuhyun answered politely.
Zhou mi’s mother nodded with a smile before Zhou mi quickly sat up, gulping down his milk in one go.
“Lets go now so we wont be late!” Zhou mi tugged at Kyuhyun’s hand.
“Wait.” Kyuhyun stopped him, placing his thumb beside Zhou mi’s lips and wiping it. “Crumbs.”
“Oh really?” Zhou mi let Kyuhyun dab at his mouth with a napkin.
“Aish, such a child Mi, how will you live without Kyuhyun taking care of you?” His mother sighed “I should just marry you off to Kyuhyun hm?” she winked.
“Mum!” Zhou mi blushed and pulled the grinning Kyuhyun out the door.
“My mum’s too much sometimes.” Zhou mi grumbled while climbing on the bike after Kyuhyun, wrapping his arms around Kyuhyun’s waist on instinct.
“I think she’s right.” Kyuhyun said, amused, he didn’t even have to look back to know that Zhou mi would pout.
“Ah! Look, it’s Kyuhyun sunbae!”
“Waah! Zhou mi sunbae too!”
“Of course, they’re always together, I don’t know which one I should be jealous of!”
They heard excited chatter of girls when they began nearing the school gate
Kyuhyun felt Zhou mi’s grip tighten around his waist
“Kyuhyunnie…maybe you should just let me off here and I can just walk in.” Zhou mi whispered.
Kyuhyun ignored him, continuing to pedal into school.
“Kyuhyun, please let me get off here…” Zhou mi said, louder this time.
“No.” Kyuhyun hissed “Don’t worry about what people say hyung, just hold onto me.”
Zhou mi lowered his head and kept silent.
Kyuhyun sighed and braked “Fine, you can get off.”
Zhou mi stepped off the bike, head still lowered.
“But I’m getting off too.” Kyuhyun jumped off his bike, Zhou mi looked up at him in surprise “Kyuhyunnie!…”
“Let’s go hyung, you asked for this.” Kyuhyun smirked before slinging his arm across Zhou mi’s waist, his other hand pushing his bike along the foot path.
“K-Kyuhyunnie, what are you doing?” Zhou mi tried to untangle the arm from his waist in vain.
“Are you embarrassed to be with me hyung?” Kyuhyun asked, his smile faded.
“No!” Zhou mi exclaimed “I-I just….don’t like people talking about us…”
Kyuhyun pulled Zhou mi closer to him by the waist, ignoring some screams he ignited from the crowd of girls.
“Don’t worry about them, only care about me. Okay?”
Zhou mi smiled and nodded shyly and Kyuhyun grinned at him.
-
“Seasoning!” A certain Kim Heechul threw himself at the pair, Kyuhyun quickly stepped in front of Zhou mi protectively.
“What do you want Kim Heechul?” He hissed, pulling Zhou mi closer to him.
“Tsk, It’s Kim Heechul sunbae for you! Step out of the way, I was having a moment with Seasoning.” Heechul rolled his eyes and tried to reach out for Zhou mi, but Kyuhyun flicked his hand away with a scowl.
“Heechul hyung! Good morning!” Zhou mi waved happily from behind Kyuhyun.
“Good morning my dear seasoning! Come to your hyung!” Heechul grinned and held out his arms for a hug.
Zhou mi looked cautiously at Kyuhyun, who shook his head with a stone face and dragged Zhou mi towards the school building.
“Yah! Cho Kyuhyun you punk! He’s not yours!” Heechul screeched from behind them.
Kyuhyun turned around to give him a smirk, he slung his arm around Zhou mi’s slim frame “All mine.” He mouthed and burst into laughter at the fuming Heechul.
“Kyuhyunnie? What’s so funny?” Zhou mi glanced at Kyuhyun, then at Heechul.
Not noticing Heechul’s expression, he smiled and waved “I’ll see you later, Heechul hyung!”
“No! Seasoning! Come back, you’re being kidnapped!” Heechul cried at the confused Zhou mi.
“What does he mean?” Zhou mi frowned, his lips naturally forming a pout, he looked at Kyuhyun for an explanation.
“I don’t know, maybe he’s just having a fit. Don’t pout.” Kyuhyun covered Zhou mi’s mouth with his hand and turned away, willing away the desire to kiss the pouting lips.
-
Revenge Club- Zhou mi/ Kris(Twins incest), Qmi, Other pairings.
Zhou mi bows politely, a shy smile on his lip, perfectly practiced.
“Sunbaenim, it’s nice to meet you.” His voice soft spoken, timid, a hint of nervousness.
The man pats him on the shoulder “I look forward to working with you.”
Zhou mi knows the man is look him down behind the dark raybands, he nods enthusiastically, like a rookie model would if they had a chance to film a photoshoot with the nation’s Love ballad prince Cho Kyuhyun.
Zhou mi does better than everyone had expected, the director raises his eyebrows, impressed as he called for a five minute break.
“Well done Zhou mi-ssi,” The photographer gave him a thumbs up and winked as he looked through the photos. “I was initially worried when your agency decided to give me a rookie I must admit, but I’m glad they did!”
Zhou mi accepts the praise shyly, pretends he doesn’t know Cho Kyuhyun is staring at him with an intense gaze.
Someone turns the radio up because it’s break time, a well paced female voice is reporting the news.
“During yesterday night, a explosion happened in a house of the residential area of Cheongdam dong, one death reported. Although the corpse is burnt to an unidentifiable state, the deceased man is confirmed to be Kim Soo Kwang, age 61. After police investigation, the explosion is believed to be caused by gas leakage in the kitchen. The is nothing suspicious about the death so far. Kim is a retired owner of the “St Petersburg Orphanage”, a group of past and present workers and children of the orphanage have gathered for a…….”
Zhou mi sees Cho Kyuhyun quiver at the name “Kim Soo Kwang.”
“That’s sad, poor man..” an assistant sighs, Zhou mi nods with empathy “That’s a horrible thing to happen to such a great man…” His gaze is still on Cho Kyuhyun’s stiffened body.
“Sunbaemin? Are you alright?”
Zhou mi puts a hand to Cho Kyuhyun’s shoulder, Cho Kyuhyun jolts back.
Everyone turns to them.
“Sunbaenim?...” Zhou mi frowns, a saddened and worried look on his face “Sorry did I do something wrong?”
Cho Kyuhyun shakes his head, pats Zhou mi’s shoulder and smiles “No no, sorry…I’m just tired.”
Zhou mi sighs with relief “Sunbaenim must be tired from a busy schedule, come!” He pulls Kyuhyun by the hand and sits him down on a chair.
He smiles his shy smile again as Kyuhyun looks at him with curiosity.
“Please allow me, sunbaenim.” Zhou mi leans towards him and Kyuhyun still stares.
Zhou mi puts his fingers to both sides of Kyuhyun’s temples and messages softly.
Kyuhyun closes his eyes and groans.
“You know pressure points?” Kyuhyun asks, his voice coarse.
“Relax, sunabenim…..”
-
Zhou mi opens the door and sighs, slumping back into the door.
He hears footsteps rushing down the stairs.
“Jia Heng…” Zhou mi lets the person pull him into a strong embrace.
“Gege…I missed you.” Jia heng is a little taller than Zhou mi, which is rare.
“Jia heng….” Zhou mi clings to his twin brother’s back, he is the only person that he could lean into, he could depend on and trust, because he’s his other half, his Jia Heng…
“Ge…” Jia Heng pulls back from the embrace, his eyes fierce with emotion.
He tips Zhou mi’s head back and kisses him, gentle yet filled with passion and desire. Zhou mi welcomes him with a whimper, raking his hands through Jia Heng’s hair, letting the younger twin’s tongue slip into his mouth with ease. Jia Heng dominates the kiss, strong and wanting.
“Jia Heng…Jia Heng….”
Jia Heng. The only importance of Zhou mi’s life. His strength to live, his protector.
“Ge…ge…..I can’t bear to be apart from you….thinking about you going to see that-“ Kris clenches his teeth. “Did you feel anything? Did your heart beat for him again? Tell me!” He asks desperately. Zhou mi stares at him, pulls him down to meet his lips as his answer.
“I only live for you…Jia heng…Ever since we reunited, my heart can only beat for you.” Zhou mi hugs Jia Heng’s neck tightly, burying his head into the strong chest.
“Jia heng….the explosion, you did it?” He closes his eyes as the painful memory flashes across his brain with clamor.
Jia heng feels the arms around his neck clench tighter, he strokes his older brother’s hair gently, as if afraid he would break.
“I can’t forgive him….Anyone who’s laid his hands on you…I’ll destroy them. You’re mine only.”
He lifts Zhou mi’s face by the chin, leaning in to capture his lips again but Zhou mi pulls back, “Jia Heng… I- I’m dirty, tainted…you shouldn’t.…don’t-“
Jia Heng presses a kiss to Zhou mi’s pale neck.
“Jia-“ Zhou mi sucks in a breath as he feels the younger one’s kisses moving up towards his lips again.
“Ge, you’re not dirty at all. You’re an angel…pure and perfect..”
Zhou mi closes his eyes, shivers when he feels Jia Heng’s breath hot on his ear. “Come, ge.”
He lets Jia Heng lift him up, bridal style and kisses him back equally as eager as he is carried up the stairs.
“Ahem.”
A cough and Zhou mi pulls back abruptly, panting, with an unwilling Jia Heng still pining after his lips and when failed, starts pressing his kisses onto his neck.
“Ah Jia Heng, s-stop!” Zhou mi tried to free himself from Jia Heng’s embrace but the younger one holds onto him strong as he starts sucking on his neck.
Fei rolls his eyes at them “Take things back to the bedroom before Sulli sees, she’s still a minor Kris!”
Zhou mi feels Jia Heng, who Fei is referring to as “Kris” smirk against his neck. “Well maybe when she sees, she’ll finally start talking again.”
Fei scoffs “Hyun Woo will kill you, finish before they come back from school.”
Kris gives her an okay sign “We can fit in two rounds in before that.”
“Jia Heng!” Zhou mi turned beetroot red and Fei only shakes her head and murmurs something about them not being ‘horny teenagers anymore’ before turning on her heels and leaving.
Kris ignores Zhou mi’s telling off and carries him into their bedroom, laying him carefully on the bed.
“Ge.” He whispers, pushing Zhou mi’s hair out of the way as he lays his lips onto his forehead.
Zhou mi stops talking and looks into Jia Heng’s eyes.
“I love you, ge.”
Zhou mi closes his eyes and pulls Jia Heng down onto him.
When love walked in…again
It was another clear May day, the warm breeze bringing flower petals to flutter to the ground onto the luscious green grass.
It was perfect weather, couples and families filled the side walk, holding hands, sharing a drink, a father giving his sun a piggy back ride, it was laughter and smiles.
A couple sat inside a café, the man was staring at his coffee, stirring it mindlessly while the woman looked out the window, deep into thought.
There was an out-of-character silence between them. The man sighed inwardly. They were supposed to be the couple that was never silent, they were supposed to always buzz with excitement and laughter and fresh energy.
The man eyed his coffee, it had gone cold, the latte foam flat and dead.
What ever happened to them?
Or maybe nothing had ever happened at all, Li Shang lin had always wondered if that was why, maybe there had never been any romance between them at all, only friendship, maybe admiration on her side, and circumstances that had drawn them to be together.
“Shang lin…” The girl opened her mouth, her voice was gentle unlike the usual hyperactive scream when she called her name.
“What’s wrong? Are you bored?” He spoke with the same gentleness, but it was normal for him, he was always the gentleman, so concerned for everyone else around him that he forgets himself.
“We…Let’s break up.” She smiled forcefully, Shang lin stared at her, mouth slightly gaping.
“Xiao fen, what did you say?”
“Let’s break up.” She said, she giggled almost shyly “Let’s break up.” She repeated, she looked at the shocked Shang lin with all seriousness.
“We..I don’t think we’re even dating.” She joked “We’re better as friends..”
Shang lin composed himself, laying his hand on Xiao fen’s and squeezing it lightly “Xiao fen, tell me what I’m doing wrong…I can change.”
Xiao fen shook her head “No Shang lin, we- when we started dating, you were still in love with Ya yin, you only started dating me so they won’t be guilty.” It was a statement, not a question. She knew.
Shang lin wanted to deny it, to say No! He genuinely likes her! But he opened his mouth but nothing would come out.
“Shang lin..” She squeezed his hand in return “Please stop lying to yourself, you know it’s true.”
Shang lin slumped back into his chair. It was true what she said, he had dated her because of circumstances. Because he knew Ya yin and Yu jiang will still feel guilty if he didn’t ‘end up’ with any one, because they were the 2 single people out of a group of 6 and it was only reasonable that they ended up dating, because their personality fit so wel, because…….because Shang lin saw a little bit of himself in Xiao fen, he had always been by Ya yin’s side, Xiao fen had always been by his side.
“Xiao fen, I-I don’t like Ya yin like that anymore.“ That was true, she was married to Yu jiang, and he was in no position to still feel anything for her. Through time, the initial attraction had turned into a family type of love, she was still important to him, and he would do anything to protect her, just like he would protect Qiong or Xiao fen.
“Yes, but you don't like me like that either.” Xiao fen sighed.
Shang lin couldn’t bring himself to say anything.
“Shang lin, I’m not saying this so you will feel guilty, and I’m not purposely breaking up with you so you would want me back.” She looked into his eyes, he knew she was serious.
“Actually…I’m going back to Taiwan…” She leaned back onto her chair, “I-I met someone.” She smiled, her eyes softened as she looked out the window “He’s- he’s not as handsome as you, or as talented, or maybe not even as kind…” Her giggled again “But he likes me, loves me...and it’s nice to have someone pursuing me for a change.” She joked at the last sentence.
“He’s going to Taiwan, he asked me to go with him…and my family’s been pestering to go back too..” She touched his hand lightly “I’m sorry Shang lin, but let’s break up.”
Shang lin sat there for a moment, stunned. He was all ready to apologize, then swear to her he would do better, and ask if they could start over again. But she met someone, someone who would give her happiness, and what right did he have to stop that? Even if they start over, it would be the same.
He was surprised that he didn’t feel any sadness, or feel betrayed. There was a pity that she would be leaving this place, but he was calm.
She looked at him, like she knew what he was feeling.
“Shang lin, thank you for making me happy. But it’s time that you find your happiness too.”
-
Shang lin sighed as he slumped onto the modelling table of Chuan, Xiao fen’s last words playing in his head.
Happiness….
He didn’t understand, his happiness was seeing the people around him being happy.
“Shang lin.” A light touch to his arm, he looked up to see Ya yin and Yu jiang looking down at him, eyes filled with sympathy.
“Xiao fen told me about it..” Ya yin said, touching his hand in a comforting way “Are you alright?”
Shang lin felt worse, he thought Ya yin would be mad at him. “I’m sorry Ya yin, I couldn’t make Xiao fen happy…”
“Don’t say that.” Yu jiang his him lightly on the shoulder “Your own words, relationships aren’t something that can be forced.”
Ya yin nodded “She’s found someone, it’s just you…”
“I’m fine.” Shang lin put a smile on his face and sat up “I just feel sad that I must have been a bad boyfriend.”
“No!” Ya yin shook her head “Everyone can see how good you treat her, Xiao fen knows too…it’s just sometimes treating someone well doesn’t mean you make them feel loved…..”
Yu jiang quickly put a finger to his lip and Ya yin stopped talking.
“It’s alright, Yu jiang.” Shang lin patted the hand on his shoulder “I know, I just…that’s why I said I’m a bad boyfriend, if I can’t even make her feel loved..”
“You’ll meet someone Shang lin, don’t worry. It comes naturally when you meet the right one.” Ya yin said, Yu jiang and her shared a look and they both smiled. They were so in love, Shang lin could feel it in the air around them.
Shang lin nodded bitterly.
You’ll find someone, they all said.
Shang lin’s phone vibrated against his pocket, he whipped it out to see it was his dad calling him, not surprisingly.
“Wei?” He answered the phone, trying not to sound unenthusiastic.
“Shang lin, come to the company quickly.” His father’s voice boomed through the phone with authority. Even though their relationship has improved, his dad was still as serious as ever when it came to work.
“Which company?” Shang lin sighed and waved at Yu jiang and Ya yin who gestured to him they were going.
“Yuan shi of course, would I be calling your tiny studio a company?” His father was still irritated he had chosen to work at Chuan instead of staying in the big company, but he had just gotten out of hospital then and his father has submissive to everything he did.
“Lao ba.” He qas quick to be defensive, especially when it concerned the studio.
“Okay okay, I’m just joking. But come to the president’s office right now.”
The phone beeped and Shang lin unwillingly dragged himself out the studio and onto his black Hummer.
“Zhong cai, Lao ba.” He knocked and stepped into the big office. The two elder men smiled to greet him.
“Shang lin, you came.” Ya yin’s grandfather had been the one to change the most, from a grumpy dictator to an understanding president, his change had won over the loyalty of his workers.
“Yes, how can I help you today?”
Yuan Hao Tian chuckled and gestured him to sit, he sat down obediently.
“I may need your help for more than one day Shang lin.” He patted the younger man on the shoulder.
“Yes, just tell me, I would be willing to do anything within my abilities.”
“Well Shang lin, you know that Yuan shi and your dad’s company has had multiple collaboration projects in the past year.”
Shang lin nodded, it was one of the reasons why his dad had chosen to stay at Huan qiu instead of going back to Yuan shi last year.
“We have been planning a multi-billion project for quite sometime, and this time we have another international company who are also involved.” His dad put a folder out in front of him.
“Shen Zhen resort village project. Yuan shi, Huan qiu, and….Chang cheng?”
“Yes, do you know the company?”
“Yes, Korean?” Shang lin searched his brain until he hit something “Jang Sung Group, they are one of the leading corporate groups in South Korea.”
His father nodded with approval “They have experience in a resort village project like this. But we’re worried….”
Shang lin panicked for a moment he was going to be sent into another spying mission. Yuan Hao Tian seemed to have noticed his stiffened position and laughed “Don’t worry Shang lin, we won’t be letting you do anything dangerous even if you begged us!”
Shang lin relaxed “Then..?”
“Their representative for this project is none other than their president’s son.” His father opened the folder to show a photo of two men, seemingly a father and son duo. “He’ll be coming to Shen Zhen for the project.”
“Chao…Gui…Xian?” Shang lin read the name on the profile under the photo, the boy on the photo stared back at him with a stern expression, he looked no older than Shang lin, maybe even younger.
“He had just started handling the family business and has been said to be a little…reckless. So me and your father both thought it would be unsuiting for us oldies to be the one to host him while he comes for the project.”
Shang lin chuckled “Zhong cai, what you really mean is…you won’t be able to stand him, and you.” He pointed at his dad “Not knowing how ‘reckless’ he really is, are scared you’ll say something to displease him. So you want me,” He pointed at himself, “to be the sacrifice and play host while he’s here?”
The two elder men smiled sheepishly and didn’t say anything to deny his theory.
“Shang lin, we both thought it would be easier for you younger people to communicate with each other..” Yuan Hao Tian sighed “Just look at me and Ya yin, we still try hard not to break out into a fight whenever we have differing opinions.”
“And me, you and Qiong?” His father sighed too, extra dramatically.
“Alright. I didn’t even say anything yet, you can take back the fake tears.” Shang lin closed the folder and placed it on his lap “I said I would do anything within my abilities to help you.”
Yuan Hao Tian and his father grinned, patting him on the back “Good, good, we’re counting on you Shang lin.”
“But that means you might be busier than usual, if you are balancing between this and working at the studio.” His father frowned, he was still concerned for his son’s health!
“I don’t mind, I’m extra free now….since I just got out of a relationship.” He said, trying to sound casual.
“What? You and Xiao fen?!” His father gasped. “Why?”
“I got dumped. We weren’t suitable for each other anyway.” He shrugged.
“Ah, I really don’t understand you young people with your relationships.” Yuan Hao Tian shook his head.
His father sighed “You! Look at Ya yin and Yu jiang, already happily married. Even your little sister Qiong and Qing feng are engaged! And you still haven’t taken your relationship to the next level, of course Xiao fen will get frustrated!”
Zhou mi pushed himself up from the seat, the folder in his hands. “Alright lao ba. I just want to concentrate on my career now. When is Mr. Cao arriving?”
“Tomorrow afternoon.” His father answered, still looking at him with disapproval.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make his stay enjoyable.” Shang lin bowed to Yuan Hao Tian before leaving the room.