I groaned when I heard my alarm go off. I lifted my head from my pillow and looked around my room. I reached for my phone and checked the time. 8:30 am. I pressed the button the lock it when it suddenly rang. Ah Si.

"Hello?" I answered, sleepiness still evident in my voice.

"Were you still sleeping?" I groaned in annoyance.

"If I was, would I be talking to you right now?" I spat back and rubbed my eyes.

"Well get up and come over here now! I have to show you guys something. Lei and Ximen are already here but Meizuo isn't. Call him and come over okay? Bye Shui!" He said as he hung up and I placed my phone on my bed side table.

I stretched and smelled something delicious. I inhaled it and smiled. BACON. I grabbed my dark blue silk robe with lace trimming and placed it over my pale blue nightgown and tied it around my waist. I slipped on my blue and black slide sandals with silver buckles, grabbed my phone and headed downstairs.

I followed the smell of bacon and headed for the kitchen. I stopped in my tracks when I saw someone cooking but my lips slowly pulled into a smile once I realized who it was.

Meizuo.

"Good morning." I greeted happily as I approached him causing him to turn his head and look back at me with a bright smile. He was wearing a plain white t-shirt, gray pajama bottoms, and black slide sandals.

"Good morning Shui." He greeted as he continued cooking. I walked over and wrapped my arms around him, leaning my head against his shoulder. I sighed in contentment.

"Did you sleep well?" He asked and I hummed in response, inhaling his scent. He chuckled before turning off the stove and dishing up the eggs and bacon before turning to me. He gave me a smile and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me close as I rested my hands on his chest. He continued to stare at me for a couple of minutes and I laughed.

"What?" I asked, giggling. He smiled and kissed me on the forehead.

"I love you." He stated and I smiled before leaning in and pressing my lips against him. After a few seconds, I pulled away and rested my forehead against his.

"I love you too." I stated which made him smile as he led me to the table. We ate in silence for a few minutes.

After we both had finished, I grabbed my plate and Meizuo's and headed to the sink. I walked back to grab the glass when Meizuo grabbed my arm and pulled me towards him, making me stumble a little which resulted in me sitting on his lap. I gasped as he turned me towards him and he just laughed and wrapped his arms around my stomach, nuzzling his head in my neck. I leaned back and rested my hands where his were.

"I still can't believe this is real. I've been holding back for so long and now..you're here in my arms." He said as he looked at me deeply. I gently caressed his face and leaned in, our noses touching as I sighed.

"Me too. I just wish it would be like this every day." I softly said and he nodded in agreement.

"It can." He answered and I pulled away and looked at him in confusion.

"How?" I asked and he flashed me a sweet smile.

"If you marry me." He said and my eyes widened slightly.

"W-w-what?" I asked and he just laughed and booped my nose before heading upstairs to shower and change, leaving me in shock.

Did he just.. indirectly.. ask me to marry him?

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

After finishing up in the kitchen, I headed upstairs to shower and get dressed. Ah Si was calling us nonstop and I had to send him a voicemail to get him to calm down and shut up.

After drying and straightening my hair, I changed into a light blue chiffon ruffled blouse tucked into black high waisted jeans and some white heels. I fastened on the the small Pandora silver drop earrings with flower-shaped purple gems on them that Lei had given me as a Christmas gift before grabbing my phone and keys and heading downstairs to find Meizuo waiting for me.

I smiled before walking over and grabbing his hand.

"Let's go before Ah Si murders us." I joked as he nodded and laughed in agreement, leading me out the door and to my car.

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

"Where have you been? We've been waiting forever!" I heard Ah Si complain as we walked downstairs, hand in hand. When we reached the bottom of the stairs, Ah Si looked at us, fuming. Ximen and Lei had amused looks on their faces.

"It's been 30 minutes Ah Si." Lei commented as he flipped through the pages of the book he was reading. I laughed and walked over to the couch to sit down beside Ximen with Meizuo trailing behind me.

"Yeah. What is so important that you called us so early in the morning?" Ximen asked as he played with his phone.

"It better not be a stupid reason Ah Si. If it is, I'm shaving your head bald." I threatened which made Ah Si whine and Meizuo laugh.

"Hey! It's not a stupid reason!" He defended.

"Then what is it?" Meizuo asked as Ah Si smiled and showed us a dark blue box. We all looked at each other in confusion.

"A box?" Ximen asked as Ah Si glared at him. I laughed as I leaned back on the couch.

"Not just a box. Look! Doesn't it look like me? Meizuo, take a picture of me!" Ah Si cheerfully said as he held up a slightly burnt cookie that I assumed was supposed to be him. He tossed his phone to Meizuo and proceeded to follow the cookie's expression. Meizuo laughed as he proceeded to take pictures of Ah Si.

"All right. Done. Take a look." Meizuo said as he tossed the phone back to Ah Si and leaned back on the couch with his arm around me, pulling me closer.

"This one won't do. I look so ugly here...The cookie looks so ugly in this one... This one won't do either, Both the cookie and I look so ugly. Help me take more photos later." Ah Si complained as he scrolled through the photos making Meizuo groan in annoyance.

"What's so good about this cookie? Has it been blessed?" Ximen teased and I laughed.

"Shancai gave it to him." Lei stated and Ah Si looked up from his phone and glared at Lei.

"The most precious happy face was eaten by you, you jerk. Damn it." Ah Si growled and Lei just smiled and continued to read his book.

"Look at this. Does it look like me? Look at this one. And this one.I like this one the most." Ah Si beamed as he showed us each cookie.

"I think Shancai is following the flow of abstract consciousness. She pursues a close resemblance, not an accurate representation." Meizuo teased which caused us to laugh.

"How were things with you two yesterday? Did anything groundbreaking happen?" Ximen asked and I leaned in closer to hear what Ah Si has to say.

"We just broke thin ground." Ah Si stated.

"How thin?" Meizuo asked curiously.

"We watched the stars together. And we even kissed." Ah excitedly said.

"WHAT?" Ximen and Meizuo both exclaimed.

"Awwwwww! That's so cute Ah Si!" I beamed as I reached for the mango frappuccino on the table.

"It's really thin." Ximen commented as he leaned back on the couch and drank his tea.

"Ah Si, are you really a man?" Meizuo asked which earned him a slap on the chest from me. He winced and pouted at me.

"Hey. I like it. So what? I didn't ask you to do the same." Ah Si defended. Meizuo just shook his head and laughed, pulling me closer and planting a kiss on the side of my head. Ximen placed his tea on the table and looked at us.

"Hey. You two are being unusually touchy today." Ximen commented as continued to look at us.

"Yeah. Did something happen?" Lei asked, closing his book and looked as well. Meizuo and I just looked at each other and smiled. I was about to answer Lei's question when Meizuo grabbed my face and pulled me in for a kiss. I smiled into the kiss and giggled as he pulled away.

"Does that answer your question?" Meizuo asked as Ximen's jaw dropped and Lei smiled teasingly.

"YOU'RE DATING?!" Ah Si asked in shock. I laughed as Meizuo grabbed my hand, intertwining our fingers.

"Finally." Ximen exclaimed as he sighed and leaned back on the couch. Lei just smiled and gave me a knowing look.

"Well, I still have to talk to Jongin and well Meizuo hasn't formally asked me yet." I teased which caused Meizuo to pout.

"Hey! I poured my heart out to you! Wasn't that enough?" He complained as he pinched my cheeks and I groaned and pushed his face away.

"Meizuo, a girl still wants to be asked okay? That's really important." I said dreamily which caused him to laugh and nod.

"Just let me talk to Jongin first okay?" I asked and he nodded in understanding as he pulled me closer and planted a kiss on my forehead.

"You haven't told him yet?" Lei asked as I shook my head and frowned.

"I've been trying to reach him but he's always busy. Hopefully, I can get a hold of him later tonight." I explained and Meizuo rubbed my shoulder in comfort.

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

I was having lunch with Meizuo when Jongin called me and requested a video chat. I swiped the answer button and was greeted by a smiling Jongin.

"Shuijingggg! Hey! Sorry I haven't been answering my phone. I've been really busy." he explained remorsefully.

"It's okay Jonginnie. How you've been?" I asked sweetly much to Meizuo's annoyance who sat across from me.

"Things have been great here. Actually, I'm in Shanghai already and I'm heading for Mingde." He stated and my eyes widened.

"Really? You're back already?" I asked as I sneaked a glance at Meizuo who looked surprised.

"Yeah. Just got in this morning and I really have to talk to you. It's important." He said which made me a tinge bit nervous.

"Okay, I'll meet you near the entrance." I said as he hung up. I sighed as I leaned back on my chair.

"What's wrong Shui?" Meizuo asked, reaching for my hand and proceeding to rub circles on it.

"Jongin needs to talk to me. He seemed kinda serious and it's making me nervous." I said as I grasped his hand.

"It'll be fine Shui. Jongin's a good guy." He reassured me as I continued to dread the conversation up ahead.

After a few minutes, Jongin had texted me that he was parked near the entrance so I headed over to meet him. Meizuo insisted on coming with me.

As we walked closer, I could see a gray BMW parked right outside with the driver of the said vehicle leaning against it with his hands in his pockets, looking down at the ground. His hair was dyed to a dirty blonde that it was almost looked brown. He had on a collared long-sleeved button-up top with the sleeves slightly going past his wrists and a pair of gray trousers and white sneakers. He had a brown messenger bag strapped across his body and despite his mature choice of clothing, he still had the face of a young boy.

"Jongin ah!" I called out happily as he turned his head to smile and wave at me. I hurriedly walked over to give him a hug (much to Meizuo's annoyance) which he returned.

"Good to see you.I missed you." He said as he pulled away and noticed Meizuo behind me.

"Hello again Meizuo." He politely called as he shook Meizuo's hand. I could see Meizuo's face slightly stiffen and I silently laughed.

"So what did you want to talk about?" I asked as I pulled away and walked over to a bench.

"It's actually good that both of you are here." He said as he looked at Meizuo who looked confused and frankly I was too.

"What is it?" I asked as I sat down in between Jongin and Meizuo.

"I'm stepping down as the successor of the Kim Group." He said and my eyes widened.

"What? What do you mean you're stepping down? Do your parents know? How did they react?" I asked in complete shock.

"I talked to my parents about it and they said that they wouldn't force me to go down a path I don't want to take. They want me to be happy." He explained and I nodded in understanding.

"So what are you gonna do now?" I asked curiously.

"I'm gonna travel for a while and there's this really nice music company that's holding auditions for this idol group in Korea. I'm still debating whether I should do it or not." He said and I beamed.

"You should totally do it! You're an amazing dancer Jongin!"I exclaimed and he sheepishly smiled as he ruffled my hair.

"Thanks Shui." He said as he placed a kiss on the back of my hand before turning to Meizuo.

"Meizuo, can I have a word? Alone?" He asked and I turned to Meizuo who looked at him in confusion.

"Okay. I'll leave you to it." I said as I hugged Jongin and squeezed Meizuo's hand in comfort before leaving the two alone.

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

I was curious as to why he wanted to speak to me alone.

"So why did you wanna talk to me?" I asked as I stood up and placed my hands in my pockets.

"I know we don't know each other that well and that you don't really like me but I need a favor." He said as he stood up as well. I scoffed.

"What makes you think I'll do it?" I asked and he smiled.

"Because I know you would never let anything happen to Shuijing." He said and I grew tense.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"We both know that Shuijing's parents aren't going to be happy when they find out. They'll probably blame Shuijing for it. We're supposed to announce our 'engagement' at her birthday party tomorrow but my parents have not agreed to it. Mr. and Mrs. Tengtang are dead set on announcing it despite my parents' disapproval." He explained and I nodded.

"How can I help?" I asked and he smiled.

"After the party, I'm leaving for Korea. Can you make sure that Shuijing can still enjoy her birthday? Seeing as that you're her boyfriend and all." He said which made my eyes widen.

"H-how? W-what?" I asked in shock.

"I could practically feel your desire to kill me when Shuijing hugged me. It's okay, I know Shuijing would choose you no matter what." He said sadly with a smile.

"Sorry man." I said and he waved it off.

"Hey, I love her okay? And I want her to be happy even if it's not with me." He said and I smiled.

"Thanks man." I said sincerely and he smiled back.

We talked for a few more minutes. He was actually a really nice guy and he seemed to care about Shuijing a lot.

Shuijing came back after a little while with coffee. She handed one to Jongin and one to me.

"What were you talking about?" She asked and I laughed as I kissed her cheek.

"Zuo!" She exclaimed as she pushed me away with wide eyes before turning to Jongin who just smiled at her.

"It's okay Shui. I already knew. I'm really happy for you." He said as he turned to look at us with a sincere smile. Shujing smiled and grasped his hand in return.

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

After Jongin had left, Meizuo and I walked back to the Bridge room hand in hand.

"Shui?" He asked as I grasped his hand and I hummed in response.

"Your birthday party is tomorrow. What do you think Auntie and Uncle's reaction will be when they find out about Jongin?" He asked worriedly and I frowned.

"I don't know but I'm already dreading it Zuo." I said as I sat down on the couch. Meizuo sighed and wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

"It'll be fine Shui. If anything does go down, we'll be there okay?" He reassured me and I smiled as I leaned onto him as he pulled me closer.

"I won't let anything happen to you." He added and I sighed as I wrapped my arms around him.

I closed my eyes and prayed to God that things will turn out okay.

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

After class, Meizuo and I headed for the tea shop where Shancai and Xiaoyou work.

"Shancai! Xiaoyou!" I called out which made the two girls look at me.

"Shuijing! Welcome!" Xiaoyou called out and Shancai walked closer as Meizuo and I stood at the counter.

"What are you doing here?" Shancai asked curiously and I turned to Meizuo who handed me two opal colored envelopes that were sealed with a gold-colored wax seal with my initials. The back of the envelopes had Shancai and Xiaoyou's names written in cursive and were painted a shimmering gold.

"What's this?" Xiaoyou asked and I smiled.

"Invitations for my birthday party tomorrow evening. I want you both to be there." I beamed as Xiaoyou happily opened the envelope and read the details of the party on the small opal colored paper.

"This seems really fancy Shui, are you sure you want us to come?" Shancai asked. I assumed she was still traumatized over what happened during Ah Si's birthday party.

"Shancai, don't worry. Ah Si's mom won't be able to get near you okay? Besides, I want you both there because you're my friends." I said which caused the two girls to smile and Meizuo to cough. I teasingly glared at him.

"What? You're not exactly in the friend category anymore." I teased and he smiled as he pulled me closer and wrapped his arms around my waist, trapping me in a back hug. I giggled and then I remembered something.

"Oh yeah! I almost forgot." I said as I fished out two more envelopes from my purse and handed it to Shancai.

"Do you mind giving these to Qinghe and Li Zhen? Tell them to come to okay?" I said as Meizuo rubbed my shoulder and Shancai nodded in response.

"Shui, we gotta go. We're meeting up with Ah Si, Ximen, and Lei at the restaurant." Meizuo reminded and I nodded.

"I'll see you there! Take care you two!" I said with a wave as I walked out with Meizuo.

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

Please don't forget to comment and vote!