It had been about a week since Ah Si had left for London and here he was complaining to all of us via video call. I was at home working on some paperwork and reports I had to turn in for the company while the boys were at Mingde.

"Ah Si, how are you doing in London?" Ximen asked.

"I'm bored to death here." Ah Si complained.

"How is that possible? There must be a lot of pretty girls over there." Meizuo pointed out which made me roll my eyes.

"I don't see any." Ah Si said as he looked around before looking at us again.

"Oh, please. How can you live abroad with that kind of negative attitude?" I pointed out which the boys agreed to.

"Why don't you just come back here? We also lack one member for Bridge." Meizuo added.

"Now you realize how important I am, right?" Ah Si spat.

"You've always been important. Please. We haven't found any place with bigger space and privacy than your house." Meizuo teased as I laughed at Ah Si's reaction.

"Hey, you guys are so sensible." He scolded.

"Daoming Si, that's your only role." Meizuo retorted as he laughed with Ximen and I.

"Cut the nonsense. Where's Lei?" Ah Si asked as Meizuo passed the phone to Ximen who passed it to Lei.

"Lei, Ah Si is looking for you," Ximen said.

"What's up?" Lei greeted.

"What do you mean, what's up? Tell me. Why am I the one whom Shancai likes?" He asked.

"Can't you figure it out yourself?" Lei retorted.

"If I can do that on my own, why do I need to ask you?" Ah Si answered.

"Then come back and find out for yourself," Lei said as Ah Si sighed.

"Have you seen her lately? How is she?" Ah Si asked.

"I haven't seen her much. When I see Qinghe, he said that when Shancai is not in school, she's at her part-time job." Lei explained.

"And you Shuijing?" Ah Si asked as he turned to me.

"I talked to her a few days ago. She needed some help with this assignment she had. It had to do with food marketing. She seemed stressed and wasn't her usual self." I said as I frowned as I remembered the freshman.

"I see Shancai now." Lei said.

"Where? Now? Let me see her." Ah Si exclaimed as Lei switched the camera and showed Shancai walking very slowly. She looked dejected and just sad. Ah Si looked worried and I couldn't help but feel the same for the girl. She was still in denial for her feelings for Ah Si and Ah Si still didn't believe that Shancai liked him.

"Guys, I gotta go. I'll talk to you later okay? I still have a ton of work to do." I said as they all said bye and I hung up.

I looked to the pile of paperwork on my bed and the numerous reports I was still writing on my laptop. I sighed and pulled my hair into a ponytail.

'Let's do this!'

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Shuijing looked so tired." Lei pointed out as we sat on the basketball court.

"Yeah, I guess her dad is giving her even more paperwork and stuff to do now that Jing isn't around," Ximen said and I frowned.

"She really needs some time off. She's gonna get sick if she doesn't get some rest." I said worriedly.

"Then do something to help her Meizuo." Lei said and I looked at him confused.

"How do you propose I do that?" I asked.

"I don't know. You're her best friend. Figure it out." Lei said as he got up and walked away calmly.

I looked to Ximen who just shrugged. I sighed and began to think.

Hmm...What can I do to help her relax?

......

I got it!

"Ximen." I said as he turned to me.

"You and Lei are gonna help me with something," I said as he groaned while I smiled. Lei just looked at me with a bored look.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I stretched my arms as I let out a groan. I had just finished working and I was really hungry. I checked the time. 7:30 PM. My mind pondered if I still had food in the fridge. I tidied up and turned off my computer. I grabbed my phone and headed downstairs to the kitchen.

I opened the fridge. Hmm, nothing not even some leftover fried chicken. I sighed as I headed for the cupboard and grabbed a packet of instant noodles. As I was about to boil some water, the doorbell rang. My eyebrows furrowed as I put down the packet on the counter.

"Who is it?" I called out from behind the door.

"Food delivery!" A voice called out which made me more confused.

"But I didn't order any food-" I said as I opened the door and saw Ximen,Lei and Meizuo. I smiled but I was confused as to why they're here.

"Uh... Hey guys. What are you doing here?" I asked as I leaned on the door. They all looked at each other and smiled.

"Shui before we answer that, could you let us in? We're freezing here." Lei said as I laughed. I stepped aside to let them in before closing the door. We headed for the dining room.

"So what are you doing here?" I asked as I crossed my arms across my chest.

"Well, you seemed so tired and stressed so we decided to cheer you up. We brought you some comfort food." Meizuo said as he held up the bag. I smiled when I saw the name of my favorite Mexican restaurant.

"We brought you some stuff to help keep your energy up too." Ximen said as he and Lei held up bags of what looked like bottled Naked Green Machine juices, chips, and some sweets. Lei was holding another bag that had two tubs of my favorite ice cream flavors, mango, and chocolate. I smiled.

"You guys are so sweet." I said as they set the bags down on the table. I gave them all hugs as my way of thanks.

"Come on. Let's eat." Ximen invited as Meizuo began to take out the food from his bag while Lei helped me sort out what he and Ximen had brought. After that, I gave them plates and some cutlery as we began to chow down.

"Mm. This is so good Zuo. Thank you so much. I really needed this. I'm so drained and tired." I said as I took a bite out of my burrito and stabbed a piece of chili cheese fries with my fork.

"So what's going on Shui? Why do you have double the work that you have to do?" Ximen asked as he ate a jalapeno and cheese tortilla.

"Dad's been having problems with some of our investors lately and Mom has been trying to help out too but it's not enough. They won't tell me what exactly went down but my assistant in Paris said that Dad had argued with one of our main partners. They weren't very happy so they cut off all ties with Dad. After that incident, numerous investors did the same and we're left with just a sufficient number of investors and business partners. So now,I have to work twice as hard to keep them happy and interested in the company." I explained as I drank my soda.

"What about Jing? Does she know what's happening?" Lei suddenly asked which made me shocked but I decided not to make a big deal out of it.

"She does but Mom and Dad are telling her to stay in Paris for a while. They don't want her to worry about this and just want her to focus on her wedding." I explained as Lei ate a taco. I sighed.

"Yeah. It sucks." I said as I cut a piece of grilled chicken.

"Hey. It'll blow over soon okay?" Meizuo comforted as he patted my back. I gave a small smile as I continued to chew.

'I hope so.'

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

We talked for another 2 hours in the living room after we ate. We had decided to ultimately sleep over at her house. Shuijing offered us the spare rooms we used to stay in when we were kids whenever we used to come over. Lei and Ximen had already gone up while Shuijing and I kept talking. I was talking to her about the piano recital of one of her favorite pianists that my family was arranging in a few months and I told her she'd be more than welcome to come, given the fact that I already reserved a seat for her. I didn't even notice she had fallen asleep on my shoulder. I smiled and carefully carried her upstairs. I slowly opened the door to her room and laid her down on the bed. I grabbed her blanket and covered her up. She stirred slightly and pulled the blanket closer to her. I smiled as I brushed a stray hair away from her face.

My hand lingered there for a moment as I observed her face. I looked down at her lips and began to lean in.

Closer and closer...

"Ahem." I heard a throat clear and I froze as I slowly turned my head at the doorway.

"Uhm... I was just-" I whispered, trying to explain myself as Lei stepped closer.

"You don't have to whisper Meizuo. We both know that Shuijing sleeps like a dead person. She can't hear nor feel anything." Lei joked which made me laugh.

"Yeah." I said as I stared back at Shuijing.

"Do you love her?" Lei suddenly asked which made me whip my head to face him.

"What?" I asked in disbelief.

"Shuijing. Do you love her?" He asked as he looked at the younger Tengtang sibling then back at me.

"Of course I do. She's my best friend." I answered nonchalantly. Why was he asking me this?

"Meizuo, you know that's not what I meant." He asked which made my eyes widen.

"I-I I don't know Lei." I answered honestly as I sighed.

"Something's different with her Lei. I feel my heart skipping a beat whenever she laughs or smiles. I feel sad when I don't see her. I find myself staring at her for long periods of time and I- oh God.." I continued and my eyes suddenly widened in realization.

"" I confessed softly and Lei nodded. I looked back to Shuijing then back at Lei.

"Lei, I can't be in love with her. This is wrong." I said.

"Meizuo, there's nothing wrong with falling in love. Shuijing is kind and beautiful. You've known her for so long. I think you've always been in love with her and it's a surprise you didn't realize it sooner." Lei said.

"You may not notice it Meizuo but we all do. We see the way you look at her with adoration. We see the way you hold her with care and love. We see the way you stare down other guys who have caught Shuijing's attention and vice versa." Lei continued and I shook my head.

"T-t-that's what's best friends do. We protect each other." I stuttered as I looked away from Lei.

"Deny it all you want but we both know it's true Meizuo. I'm telling you this now because I don't want you to go through what Jing and I went through. You still have a chance to tell her early what you feel." Lei said. I walked closer to Shuijing and sat down on the side of the bed.

"I don't think I can Lei... I don't want to lose her and besides, she would never love me back." I said as I softly ran my fingers through her hair.

"You won't Meizuo and what makes you so sure she won't love you back?" Lei asked.

"Because she knows my history with women. I may not be a jerk but my track record isn't that good either Lei. I don't want her to get hurt because of me." I answered.

"She may not get hurt but you will." Lei said as he turned to walk away. My eyebrows furrowed.

"Lei. What do you mean I'll get hurt?" I asked in confusion and Lei sighed.

"Now I don't know if this is true but I talked to Jing a few days ago and she told me that her parents were planning on finding a fiance for Shuijing." Lei confessed and my eyes widened.

"So Meizuo? Are you going to tell her? Or are you gonna wait around until the comes when she gets engaged and you lose her completely?" Lei asked and I stayed silent. He sighed and patted me on the back before closing the door.

I walked back to the bed and brushed through Shuijing's hair.

"I'm so confused Shui...But I don't want to lose you.." I cried out as tears began to fall from my eyes. I leaned down and kissed her on the forehead before I stood up and left her room.

I leaned against the door and shut my eyes.

'What am I supposed to do?'

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