A few weeks had passed since the party and everything was going so well. Ah Si and Shancai were doing well. The same goes for me and Shuijing. The situation with her family had settled and she was now living in the Jung mansion. I helped her move most of her stuff a few days ago but we decided to keep her and Jing's house. She didn't want to put it up for sale and neither did me, Ximen and Ah Si because that house held so many memories for us.

Shuijing or as the media calls her now, Soojung, was attending a charity benefit along with Ah Si for tonight. She invited me to be her date but I politely declined and opted to pick her up afterwards because Ximen had already called me out to have drinks., of course being the understanding girlfriend that she is, politely agreed and said she'd call me when it was over.

"How are you lately, Master Ximen?" I asked, drinking the glass of alcohol in my hand.

"I'm all right. Still the same as before." He answered as he closed his phone before facing me.

"I guess so. Since your dad retired, you've been hosting the tea ceremonies on your own. That's so great. Unlike me." I said, before sadly looking at the alcohol in my glass.

"What's the matter? You've always participated in the exhibits, right?" Ximen asked, puzzled.

"I only participated. I wasn't responsible for a whole project. I just needed to take care of my part. It's different now. Whether it's a major or a minor thing, I have to put in a lot of effort in them. And there are so many details to take care of. I'm so stressed out." I complained, slowly drinking the alcohol in my hand as I remembered the piles of paperwork left in my house.

"You're a detailed person, so you wouldn't have a problem." Ximen stated and I smiled.

"I don't even have time for dates anymore. Shui's been really busy too, so whatever time I can spend with her I take it. I have to go after finishing my drink." I said, raising my glass at Ximen who clinked his glass with mine.

"What do you plan to do with Xiaoyou?" I curiously asked as my mind drifted to the younger girl who was chasing after my best friend.

"What can I do?" Ximen asked in confusion.

"I think she's quite courageous, but you won't do anything to her, right?" I asked and Ximen turned to me.

"Am I crazy? I'm not as brave as Ah Si. I don't want to get Shancai's flying kick." Ximen said and I laughed.

"Girls are like drinks at a bar. Compared to the strong ones, the fruity ones are easy to drink but we'd end up with a terrible hangover. You've had a variety of drinks. What kind of drink is Xiaoyou?" I asked as I looked at Ximen who continued to drink.

"Harsh words don't seem to be effective. I know she's forcing herself. But she keeps going forward and chasing after me. Never hitting the brakes even when she's speeding." Ximen explained.

"This girl is really devoted. Be careful." I warned him.

"You don't have to worry at all. I'm not the least bit interested in that kind of girl." He reassured me.

"Is that so? I think you've become warmhearted. You see even fewer women now." I teased my best friend who is obviously denying that he feels nothing for Xiaoyou.

"Aren't you going to see Shui?" He said, changing the topic.

"I should go." I answered, downing my drink.

"How's your first serious relationship going? I can't imagine how hard it is to be in one. You're always on call and under strict supervision. I know Shui knows how we hang out and have fun but she's got to have changed since she became your girlfriend." Ximen said and I shook my head.

"Shuijing isn't the jealous and panicky girlfriend you think she is. She knows how we are and she trusts me. Besides, I would never do anything to hurt her. I'd have to deal with you, Lei and Ah Si and not to mention Shancai." I pointed out.

"Meizuo, I know how much you love Shui. She's a goddess, indeed. You can worship her if you want. But don't forget the ordinary humans around you." Ximen reminded.

"Ximen. True love requires responsibility. When it's necessary, you have to make sacrifices for that person's future. Especially for me, I want to be better and become more mature if I want Shuijing to stay in my life because I can't imagine a future without her."I advised my friend who looked at me in awe.

"In the 20 years I've known you, this is the first time you've used the word, "sacrifice." Shuijing is really incredible. She taught you about sacrifice." Ximen commended and I smiled as my phone rang.

I pulled it out and saw Shui's name, making me smile wider.

"I have to go now." I said, leaving my friend alone and heading to pick up my girlfriend.

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

I rich people. 

I played with the skirt of my flowy brown and black polka dot corset maxi dress and lightly tapped my foot against the marbled floor as I continued to smile and mingle with other socialites and businessmen.

It's been 2 hours since the event started and I looked at Ah Si in agony.

And it's been 2 hours of:

"You two look so good together!"

"Are you dating?"

"I can imagine how your wedding will be! So grand!"

Ah Si was this close to blowing a fuse so I decided to step in and flash them my sweetest smile.

"I'm flattered that you all think we look good together but Ah Si and I are just friends. Nothing more." I explained, earning gasps and looks of dismay from the guests.

"That's right and besides I have a girlfriend and Shui has a boyfriend." Ah Si added and I nodded in agreement.

My phone beeped and I turned to Ah Si, smiling.

'Meizuo.' I mouthed and he laughed. I grabbed my purse before getting up from my seat, Ah Si following.

"I'd love to stay and chat but I'm afraid I have a prior engagement. Ah Si's friends are also looking for him."I explained and they all smiled and bid me and Ah Si goodbye.

"Thanks, Shui. I owe you one." He said, giving me a side hug and I smiled.

"You looked like you were going to punch that one guy's teeth out." I joked and Ah Si laughed as we walked out of the building and headed to where I saw my boyfriend waving at us. I squealed and carefully crossed the street before running into his outstretched arms. I sighed as I inhaled his scent and he kissed my hair.

"How was it?" I heard him say and I grumbled, making him laugh.

"Hey. I'm still here you know. Have some respect for people who don't have their girlfriends to keep them company." I heard Ah Si say as he walked over to us. I stuck my tongue out as I turned to face him, Meizuo's arms wrapped around my waist in a back hug position.

"Then go see your girlfriend." I calmly suggested and Ah Si smiled before running off to his car, leaving me and Meizuo.

"How was your day Zuo?" I asked and he sighed.

"Longer and tiring." He answered and I faced him, my lips pouting as I stared at him.

"But I'm okay now that I've seen you." He said and I smiled as he lightly kissed my lips.

"How about you? How was the event?" He asked and I groaned.

"I had to stop Ah Si from committing mass genocide." I seriously said and Meizuo laughed.

"Why? What happened?" He asked.

"Apparently they think Ah Si and I make a good couple. But don't worry, I made it as clear as possible that Ah Si and I are both taken by different people." I comforted my boyfriend who looked a little sad.

"I can't blame them. I mean, you're the heiress of one of the richest and most powerful companies in the world. Your family is even more influential than Ah Si's family. It's not a surprise people would try to pin you two together. Come to think of it, Ah Si and you don't look so-"His rambling was cut off by my lips. We stayed that way for a few seconds before I pulled away.

"I don't care if they think Ah Si and I are a match. I love you, Feng Meizuo. And nothing and no one will ever change that." I said, staring deeply at my boyfriend who slowly smiled before kissing my forehead.

"And I love you. So much." He replied.

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

More weeks had passed and I got busier and busier. I rarely saw Meizuo because he was busy with Ximen with their business and respective projects but he did his best to come see me at the company and I visited him at work to bring him some food and overdue kisses much to Ximen's dismay.

Lei had come back a few days ago and Ah Si and Shancai's relationship was at its best. I'd never seen Ah Si so happy ever since his dad died.

As for Xiaoyou and Ximen, I guess it was in development of some sorts. Ximen had told me about his first love when I was younger (I was the only one who knew) and I understood that he never truly got over her. That's why I could see the reason why he was trying so hard to push Xiaoyou away.

I was meeting the boys at a café because we were supposed to meet Ah Si afterward. He was on a date with Shancai.

"Hey, guys." I greeted tiredly as they all turned to me with concerned faces.

"Hey Shui." Lei and Ximen said as Meizuo grabbed my hand and led me to sit next to him. Lei passed me a cup of hot chocolate with some marshmallows. I smiled in thanks as I sipped the beverage and smiled in contentment before leaning back against Meizuo's arm that was around my chair.

"You look tired." Ximen commented and I nodded.

"Being an heiress and a COO is tiring especially if you've been gone from that position for the past 23 years. I haven't slept for the past 3 weeks." I said, resting my head on Meizuo's shoulder as he pulled me closer.

(A/N: This is me right now. I haven't slept properly for the past 3 weeks because finals are coming up and schoolwork just seems never ending. :((( Okay back to the story :( )

"It'll be all right Shui. I can come over and help you Shui so you can get some rest." Meizuo offered but I shook my head.

"I'm okay Zuo. Just a little bit of caffeine and I'm good." I said to reassure him but he frowned.

"But Shui-" He was cut off by Lei's phone ringing.

"It's Ah Si." Lei said, looking at us before he answered. I looked as his eyes widened slightly before he hurriedly sat up and turned his phone to us, now in speaker mode.

"Please come with us. This is your mother's command." An unfamiliar voice said. I assumed it was the bodyguards that Auntie got to keep an eye on Ah Si. They've been following Shancai and Ah Si around since they became boyfriend and girlfriend.

"All right. I'll go with you." We heard Ah Si answer as we all now sat up, tuning in to the conversation.

"But if you dare to hurt Dong Shancai, I'd surely make you pay for it." Ah Si answered before the call was cut.

"I think she knows Ah Si and Shancai are together." Ximen said and Lei frowned.

"Most definitely. She will never let the precious son of the Daoming group be with a commoner." Lei said.

"What about Shancai? We have to help her. Who knows what Auntie has in store for her now that she's taken Ah Si away." I said and Meizuo nodded.

"Let's go see her tomorrow morning at Mingde." He said and we all nodded in agreement.

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

Lei, Meizuo, and I waited for Ximen to come back from picking up Shancai at her building. The three of us were waiting at the rooftop where Shancai and Lei used to talk. I sat beside Lei on one of the boxes near the wall with Meizuo standing in front of me. A few minutes later, we heard Ximen and Shancai walk up the stairs.

"Why are you all here? Did something happen?" Shancai asked looking at all of us, clearly confused.

"Ah Si temporarily left Mingde." Lei spoke.

"Left Mingde? Yesterday, we still..." Shancai trailed off.

"We think his mom found out about you two." I said, looking at the younger girl in worry.

"The reason why we came here is because Lei received a strange phone call yesterday." Meizuo explained.

"What kind of phone call?" Shancai asked.

"He called me yesterday but didn't say a word. We heard him telling someone not to hurt you. So we know something happened to Ah Si." Lei said, looking at Shancai.

"Ah Si must have called Lei to let us know he's gone." Ximen said.

"After this happened, Shui and I went to Ah Si's house. They said that Ah Si already went back to London." Meizuo stated and I nodded in agreement.

After Meizuo said that, Shancai looked so deep in thought. I slowly got down from the box and gave the poor girl a hug.

"I'll try calling Zhuang jie again. I haven't been able to reach her all morning." I told the guys.

"If Zhuang jie knows what's happening, she would've immediately tried to contact us." Shancai said.

"You know their family situation. Zhuang jie cannot change whatever Ah Si's mom has decided." Meizuo reminded.

"Shancai. So... what do you plan to do?" Ximen asked.

"Every single time, it's Daoming Si who has been protecting me... and loving me. I never did anything for him. This time, I won't just wait for him. I'm going to London... to fulfill our promise to each other." Shancai declared, determination in her eyes.

"Are you sure? This is serious." Lei asked.

"You're going to face Daoming Feng." Meizuo added.

"She can deport you from England with a flick of her finger. No one would be able to help you. It might end badly for you." Ximen reminded.

"I need to see Daoming Si no matter what happens." Shancai firmly declared and I smiled at how much Shancai had changed. She had become so brave because of Ah Si, she was now willing to fight for him.

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

THE NEXT DAY

We all waited outside Shancai's house early in the morning because we wanted to see her off. We all offered to pay for her travel and lodging but of course, Shancai being Shancai rejected the offer. I tried to slip in some pocket money for her but she caught me and said that she still hadn't paid me back for all the damage and appliances she used my card to pay with.

We heard the door open and there was Shancai, readily dressed for London's cold weather and carrying a light pink-colored suitcase.

"You're all here." She stated, looking at all of us.

"Did you bring your passport?" Lei asked and Shancai hummed in response.

"Have you booked a place to stay?" Lei asked again and Shancai lightly laughed before pulling out her phone and showing it to Lei.

"I booked it in Airbnb. I've already contacted the landlady. It will be fine." Shancai explained.

"Shancai. We came to see you off in person, aren't we nice?" Ximen joked, earning a laugh and eye roll from the younger girl.

"Meng Jiangnü brought down the Great Wall with her tears. You traveled a thousand miles to look for your boyfriend. "Meizuo continued and I lightly elbowed him.

"Bring down the Great Wall with tears? Daoming Si's still alive." Shancai protested.

"By the way, Shancai, Ximen, and I will take care of Xiaoyou and Qinghe's families." I added as Shancai smiled in thanks.

"No need to thank me. I'm just naturally nice." Ximen bragged.

"Don't use this chance to take advantage of Xiaoyou." Shancai reminded as Ximen sighed and silently nodded.

"All right. My ride is here. I need to get to the airport. Thanks for coming." Shancai said, referring to the taxi that was waiting outside their complex. I walked hand in hand with Meizuo as we all walked Shancai to the car. Ximen took her luggage and placed it in the trunk.

"Shancai. Call us when you arrive. Call us when you reach the place you're staying at and when you see Ah Si." Lei said and Shancai nodded before the car drove away.

We all looked at the taxi and I sighed, causing Meizuo to turn to me.

"What is it?" He asked, pulling me closer to him.

"I just hope things will be all right with them." I said and he kissed my forehead in comfort.

"Don't worry Shui. They didn't take this long to get together just to give up now." Ximen said and I nodded.

'I hope so.'

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

Please don't forget to comment and vote!

Hey guys! I'm really sorry I skipped the Ximen and Xiaoyou story arc but I just couldn't find a part where I could conveniently slide Shuijing in without her looking like a side character.