2 DAYS LATER

I was eating breakfast with mom, dad and Sooyeon jie when I heard the TV.

My eyes turned to the TV in shock but my thoughts were interrupted when I heard my phone ring.

"Hello?"

"Shui. Pack. We're going somewhere. Meizuo and Ximen are coming over to pick you up. Lei's already at the airport. We're taking my jet." My eyebrows furrowed as I heard Xiaozi's voice.

"Xiaozi? What's going? The news said you and Ah Si were kidnapped. What do you mean 'pack'? Where are we going? Where are you?" I asked franticly.

"Just pack something for the beach and something to keep you warm okay? I'll explain everything when you get here. Bye." She said before hanging up.

"Mom, Dad, Jie, I have to go. My friends need me. I'll probably be back in a few days." I explained and my parents looked at each other in worry.

"Will you be safe dear?" Mom asked and I walked closer, hugging her and dad.

"I'll be fine mom. Ximen and Meizuo are there anyways. Besides, your daughter is a black belter in taekwondo. I can handle any danger. "I bragged, prompting my parents and Jie to laugh.

"All right. Just call us when you're coming home okay?" Dad said and I nodded.

"Give my love to your friends Soojung-ah, I hope they're all right." Jie said, hugging me tightly before I headed upstairs to pack.

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

Meizuo and Ximen arrived in less than 10 minutes and I handed my suitcase to Ximen as Meizuo and I said goodbye to my parents.

"Look after my little sister all right Meizuo? You wouldn't want a black eye on that handsome face of yours would you?" Jie jokingly threatened and I Meizuo laughed.

"I'm not kidding Meizuo. Take care of her if you do not want to end up in a body bag." Jie seriously said and I knew she was still joking but only I saw it so I silently smiled as Meizuo nodded rapidly.

We waved goodbye to my parents as Meizuo led me to Ximen's car.

"Meizuo, what's wrong with you? You're white as a sheet." Ximen joked, looking at Meizuo who sat beside him but Meizuo remained silent.

"Hey Shui. Don't take this the wrong way but I'd rather have Jing as a sister-in-law. Sooyeon looked like she was ready to pick out the color of my coffin." Meizuo seriously said as Ximen and I laughed at his fear.

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

We arrived at the airport and were escorted to Xiaozi's jet where Lei was already waiting inside and I immediately contacted Xiaozi. She just told me to wait and see when we got there.

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

We arrived at the island in almost an hour or so and Xiaozi had a camp set up for all of us. There was food and drinks with large tents for us to sleep in. Ximen sighed as he looked around. It was a little gloomy and it looked like it was about to rain.

"What's wrong Xixi?" I asked as I sat beside Meizuo on a beach chair. Lei was seated inside his tent near the zipper.

"I hate this place. Xiaozi, out of all the places you could've took Shancai and Ah Si, it had to be a deserted island in the middle of nowhere. Where's the sunshine, beach and hot girls you promised me?" Ximen complained and Meizuo scoffed, placing an arm around me.

"Uh excuse me. Hot girl. Singular. We have one right here Ximen." Meizuo teased as he kissed my cheek and I laughed, slightly pushing him away as Ximen gagged.

"I shouldn't have listened to you." Ximen said, turning to Xiaozi.

"Why are you here?" We all turned our heads to see a very exhausted looking Ah Si and Shancai. There were specks of sand on their clothes and they looked starving. Ah Si was slightly limping as he held Shancai with one arm and piece of wood in the other. They both look enraged.

"I'm going to beat you up!" Ah Si declared, advancing towards Ximen and whacked the piece of broken wood in the other. I stepped aside as Shancai tried to hit Meizuo who just laughed because Shancai couldn't reach his head.

I opted to sit beside Lei near the tent and watched as Ah Si and Shancai chased Ximen and Meizuo around. I laughed as Ah Si sat on Ximen who was laying flat on the sand, hitting his shoulders repeatedly as Ximen persistently stated that this wasn't his doing or Meizuo's.

After a few minutes, they all got up and walked over to the chairs, exhausted. I gave Shancai a small smile and a hug, not caring that sand was getting all over me.

"I'm glad you're both safe Shancai. I was so worried about the two of you." I said as Ah Si ruffled my hair in thanks before handing them both something to drink. I smiled as Ah Si opened his drink and gave it to Shancai before taking her drink that hadn't been opened yet.

"Xiaozi, what's going on?" Shancai asked after taking a huge gulp of the yogurt drink.

"Can't you tell? This is my brilliant plan. Look at him. He got chased and then held captive. Poor thing. He just wants to be with you. So, I decided to bring you to this island." Xiaozi explained as Ah Si glared at her.

"Bring us? That was kidnapping." Ah Si complained.

"Your mom did things to Shancai's friends. I'm just giving her a taste of her own medicine." Xiaozi defended.

"So, your bodyguard used a taser on me?" Ah Si asked.

"That was me. How else could I beat you?" Xiaozi bragged as we silently laughed.

"What a jerk!" Ah Si exclaimed as he moved to murder Xiaozi but Shancai pulled him back.

"Stop it!" Shancai exclaimed.

"That scared me." Xiaozi stated, pulling her jacket collar closer.

"She's a girl. Don't hit her." Shancai reminded, patting Ah Si's shoulder.

"I understand why Monkey did this, but the three of you got involved too? And you even brought Shuijing here." Ah Si said, pointing at all of us.

"To be clear, I only knew what happened when I boarded the jet before coming here." I defended and Ah Si nodded, knowing I was telling the truth.

"Hey, don't take this prank too seriously. How about you forgive us?" Lei asked calmly as Ah Si downed his drink in one shot.

"Despite the weather, maybe you should do it today. Or you'll keep worrying about it." Xiaozi suggested and I was confused at first but then I smiled, realizing what she meant.

"I agree. Ah Si, Shancai, you can just properly do it again in Shanghai if you want. But for now, this seems like a good place to do it given the circumstances." I said and Xiaozi nodded in agreement.

"Do what?" Ximen asked in confusion. Lei and Meizuo looked puzzled as well.

"Get married. Destination weddings are always romantic. The rain is falling. How special." Xiaozi gushed and I nodded, smiling before looking at Shancai and Ah Si.

"Ah Si and Shancai would be the most terribly-dressed couple." Meizuo joked.

"We would be the most terribly-dressed bridesmaids and groomsmen too." Ximen added and I laughed.

"I'm sure Ah Si and Shancai can go through anything together." Lei said and I smiled, knowing it was true as Ah Si and Shancai looked at each other, determined looks on their faces.

"I've decided." Ah Si said before getting up and grabbing Shancai's hand, walking towards the water. We all stood up as well and looked at the couple.

"I've decided that no matter what happens, I have to be with Dong Shancai!" Ah Si yelled, facing the ocean and I smiled at his bravery.

"You like Shancai, Shancai likes you. We knew that a long time ago." Ximen yelled back in a teasing tone.

"Ah Si, what about your family business?" Meizuo yelled.

"I won't give up on Shancai or Daoming Group. I'm going back to London. I'll take care of everything. I'm Daoming Si! Because I'm Daoming Si, I'll never give up on Shancai!" Ah Si yelled in finality before turning to face Shancai who was smiling up at him. We all clapped in joy and I felt myself tearing up with joy.

We all yelled shouts of encouragement towards the couple as they smiled at each other sweetly.

I was glad everything turned out okay and hoped Ah Si's plan would work.

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

We all headed for bed in our separate tents. Ah Si and Shancai were in the one in the middle. Ximen's tent was beside Lei's and on Lei's other side was Xiaozi's. Meizuo and I were staying in the one next to Ah Si and Shancai.

I smiled to myself as I brushed my hair while staring at the sea. My thoughts were interrupted when I felt Meizuo hug me from behind. His arms wrapped around my stomach and his head rested on my shoulder.

"What are you smiling about?" He asked, sweetly as I leaned back into his chest. He propped himself up against a pillow as he hugged me tighter.

"Ah Si and Shancai. I'm so happy they're okay and that they're safe. I just hope Ah Si can still change his mom's mind about Shancai." I said as I closed my eyes and held onto Meizuo's hands. I heard him sigh as he kissed my eyelids, making me smile.

"Don't worry too much Shui. Besides Ah Si said it himself, he won't give up on Shancai no matter what. Just like how I'll never give you up. Not even for all the money in the world." He said and I smiled.

"Flirt." I said, pushing his face away as he leaned in for a kiss.

"I'm serious Shui." He said, moving my hand away from his face.

"I know I'm not perfect Shui. I know I've made you cry and broke your heart so many times when we were younger but I want you to know that no matter how many mistakes I make, I will never stop chasing after you. I'll ask for your forgiveness every single day because I couldn't bare to wake up each morning knowing that you're not by my side. I can't live without you Shui." He said, tearing up and I pulled him in for a hug as he sobbed.

This was a first for me because Meizuo never cries. In the 19 years that I've known him, I've never seen him cry.

"Shh.. Don't cry Zuo. I'm not blaming you for your past mistakes. I'm not going anywhere okay? And even if something happens in the future, I won't leave you. I'll stay and we'll work things out because that's what people who love each other do." I said, rubbing his back as he continued to hug me.

We eventually fell asleep and I stayed in his arms as he pulled the blanket towards us.

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

It was probably really early in the morning because it was still dark out, I saw a flash of light and lightly shook Meizuo.

"What? Shui?" He groggily answered and I pointed outside as I heard the zipper of the tent open and a flash of light shone on me and Meizuo.

"Who are you?" I asked as Meizuo slowly moved in front of me protectively.

"We work under the Daoming Group." One answered and I realized that they were Ah Si's bodyguards. I groaned and covered my face in my hands as Meizuo sighed.

"They had to find us at some point." He complained and not even a few minutes later, I heard the bodyguards stop search and say that they found Ah Si but not Xiaozi. My eyebrows furrowed as I grabbed my phone and called Xiaozi but she wasn't answering.

I had a sinking feeling in my stomach that more trouble was coming the moment we step foot in Shanghai.

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

They escorted us to a yacht that was heading straight for Shanghai. We arrived in less than an hour and I could hear the clamor of people from outside. We all headed outside and the commotion grew louder as Ah Si walked off the boat followed by Shancai, Lei, Ximen, me and Meizuo.

I sighed as I looked at the multiple reporters from different news companies, shouting for a statement from Ah Si who stood beside Shancai.

"What happened? Who are all these people?" Shancai asked. Ximen, Meizuo and I moved forward to shield Ah Si and Shancai while Lei stayed beside the couple.

"The only son of Daoming Group went missing, it's probably all over the news." Ximen stated.

"That's great. Now we're probably seen as kidnappers. The first thing we have to do is to find Xiaozi." Meizuo concluded and I shook my head and looked at the media.

"The media is here for Ah Si. Let's split up. Shui and I will stay with Ah Si. You guys take Shancai and go the other way." Lei told Ximen and Meizuo and I nodded.

"That's a good idea. We have to get Shancai out of here." I said.

"Why do I have to part with Shancai?" Ah Si asked, turning to look at Lei and I.

"You want your mom to see you hold Shancai's hand after seeing the news?" Lei asked. Ah Si turned silent for a moment before nodding firmly.

"Yes. I want her to see it. I want the whole world to see." Ah Si confidently stated, earning a laugh from me and Lei.

"I don't know if you're brave or stupid." Lei said.

"I'm both of them." Ah Si said.

"All right. I'll walk with you. Ximen, Meizuo, you guys help distract the media." Lei said.

"Lei, you've got Shui right?" Meizuo asked as he handed me over to Lei who nodded.

"I'll be fine Zuo. I can take care of myself." I said before I looped my arm with Lei's and we began to walk towards the media as Ximen and Meizuo walked first. Ah Si held Shancai's hand tightly as they began to walk, me and Lei following close behind.

We pushed through the crowd with Ximen and Meizuo's help. I got a little nervous as I held onto Lei's arm tighter. He lightly rubbed my hand and told me to keep moving because we were almost to the car. As we continued to walk, the media didn't stop asking questions.

"Say something."

"Where did you go?"

"Can you explain?"

"Please answer."

"Mr. Daoming, explain where you've been."

Reporters pushed and pulled as Ah Si held onto Shancai tighter when they started asking about her. Ah Si accidentally let go of Shancai's hand because of the tight crowd and Shancai struggled to get to him. She yelled for him as she reached out her hand. Ah Si pushed through the crowd, reaching for Shancai. Lei and I tried to push through as well but we were blocked by multiple reporters. Ximen and Meizuo were trying to get past as well but failed.

I gasped when I saw a man with a knife advancing towards Ah Si, I know Lei saw it too and he quickly apprehended the man, pushing him against the railing of the docks. I sighed in relief but jumped when I saw another man with a knife. I screamed and pushed everyone away as I tried to get to Ah Si but it was too late.

Ah Si was on the ground.

Red liquid slowly seeping into the fabric of his shirt. The crowd slowly parted and Lei handed the man to the security while the other half of the security was able to apprehend the man before he could escape.

Shancai yelled for Ah Si who was bleeding profusely on the ground as she continued to push through the rest of the crowd. Ximen and Meizuo quickly ran and looked in shock at their friend.

Dear God, Ah Si.

be all right.

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

We all waited for Ah Si's surgery to finish. Lei was pacing back and forth. Ximen and Meizuo were still shaken up while I was tending to Shancai, attempting to get her to stop crying. I wanted to cry but I knew I had to be strong for her.

I saw Lei look at Shancai and nodded at him, making way for him to comfort her as I went to Meizuo and let out the tears I've been holding back as he hugged me. I wrapped my arms around him in a side hug, leaning against his chest as I cried.

"Lei. He was covered in blood." I heard Shancai say, her voice still shaking.

"Don't worry. He'll be all right." Lei said, placing a hand on her hand.

"Am I too greedy? That's why the heavens are punishing us." Shancai said in between tears but Lei shook his head.

"This is not a punishment. It's a test. People who can surpass this test can obtain happiness." Lei explained and Shancai sniffled.

The police arrived shortly afterward to talk to us. I stayed beside Shancai as the younger girl continued to cry. I slowly pulled her in for a side hug as she cried.

"Why did this happen? Who exactly hurt Ah Si?" I heard Meizuo's voice yell in anger.

"We have already arrested two suspects. And they already confessed that they were former employees of the Daoming Group's hotel chain. The hotel closed down due to poor management and they lost their jobs. So they wanted revenge." The police explained and my heart twisted. I stood up and walked in front of Lei.

"Ah Si had nothing to do with it! Why did they have to hurt him! He's innocent! He's never hurt anyone." I shouted as tears streamed down my face. Lei slowly pulled me back and handed me to Meizuo who rubbed my arm to calm me down.

"Ah Si's never hurt anyone Zuo.. He's a good person." I said as I cried into his chest and he caressed my hair.

"I know baby. We all know he is. They already caught the guys okay? Calm down." He said, as he kissed my hair.

"Also, Ms. He Yuanzi also confessed that the kidnapping on the island was a prank of hers. Aren't you aware of that?" The police asked.

"Ms. Xiaozi invited us for a party on their island. We just found out about the prank after we arrived. But our phones didn't have any signal, so we couldn't contact the police." Ximen explained and the police nodded.

"Okay. Please come to the station to record your statement." He told us.

"The four of us will go with you first. Please give Shancai more time... for her statement." Lei said as he looked over at Shancai. I frowned as I pulled away from Meizuo and sat beside Shancai again, rubbing her back.

"All right. You can come with us first." The police said.

"I'll stay with Shancai. I'll drop by the station later officer." I said and he nodded. Meizuo kissed my forehead before leaving with Lei and Ximen and told me to call him when Ah Si gets out of surgery.

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

A few hours pass and I called my parents to say that I was staying with Shancai at the hospital and that I wasn't harmed or anything. They said they understood and told me to call them when Ah Si was out of danger.

I heard the E.R's doors open and hurriedly walked over to the doctor, Shancai standing up as well.

"Doctor. How is Daoming Si?" Shancai asked.

"The surgery was a success. The patient is out of danger. However, his skull suffered a severe impact, which may result to clogging of blood vessels or compressed nerves. We still have to determine whether it would have any after-effect. You can visit him in his room later." The doctor explained.

"Thank you, Doctor." Shancai said.

"You're welcome." The doctor said before walking away.

I went with Shancai to Ah Si's room where he was still unconscious. A few minutes later, Xiaozi had arrived, bringing some clothes and food for Shancai. Shancai remained silent and Xiaozi became silent as well.

"Sorry. If it wasn't because of me, Ah Si wouldn't have been stabbed." Xiaozi apologized.

"It's not your fault. You don't need to feel guilty." Shancai comforted.

"I caused so much trouble. Actually, I can't even look you two in the eye." Xiaozi confessed guiltily.

"You meant well Xiaozi. We know this wasn't what you expected." I told her, giving her a small smile.

"Shuijing's right. I know you did it so Daoming Si and I can be together. Stay and wait with me and Shuijing until he wakes up. With you around, I'll feel brave and more confident." Shancai said.

"Really?" Xiaozi asked, surprised.