Wang Zen stood in an empty hallway with Shibi, who was stuffing his face of food.

“Wang Zen?” Jun Nee said, peeking in on him. “There you are!”

Zen nodded at her. “Did Mom send you to fetch me?”

She nodded.

“I guess I can’t hide out here forever.”

“You really don’t want to do this hey?”

It was his turn to nod. “Oh well,” Zen said, stretching his arm as if he was warming up for a training session. “I better get ready to take my medicine.”

“I am sorry, Wang Zen.” Jun Nee said.

Zen tilted his head in confusion. “I don’t see why you have to be sorry, Jun Nee.”

“I think I may know something… something that could help you out of this marriage situation.”

“Really?” Zen said, sceptically.

“But I’ve been a thorn in your mother’s side lately that I am certain that my word doesn’t mean much.”

“What is this thing that you think will get me out of this?”

She shook her head no. “I cannot say! I don’t want to bring any shame to the Choi family.” She had a look of determination on her face. “No matter, I’ll Madam City Lord.” She ran off.

“Yeah… that was weird.” He turned to Shibi. “That was weird, right Shibi?”

The ape nodded. Then continued to eat.

Jun Nee approached the City Lord. Ling was surrounded by important guests. She was looking for a gap to talk to her but she was too busy. She waited for the guests to start making their way to the long dinning table they had set up.

Jun Nee quickly approached her. “Madam City Lord,” she said.

“Jun Nee, where is my son? He should be seated next to Jingyi.”

“He is coming, Madam City Lord, I have something important to tell you.”

“Later, Jun Nee, just make sure he is here.”

“But ma’am, I have something important to tell you.”

Ling was already on the move. “It can wait.”

“But madam City Lord, it is about the Choi family.” Jun Nee said. “This could effect the wed…”

“This again Jun Nee?” she said. “I am the City Lord. There is nothing about the Choi family that I do not know about. Now do as I say.”

Jun Nee opened and closed her mouth before bowing. “Yes, Ma’am.” She departed, looking sad. “I am sorry, Wang Zen.” She said under her breath.

“It is getting quiet,” Zen said. “We should go, Shibi.”

“Yes, Shibi and Turd should go.” Shibi said.

“Uh?”

“Turd should lead the way.”

“Why are you calling me Turd?”

“Cause Turd is not Zen.” Shibi said, poking himwith a finger. “Cause Zen doesn’t like Jingyi. Zen likes big hairy women, not Jingyi.”

Zen roll,ed his eyes, “this again?”

“Yes, and Zen would not allow anyone, even Mom to do anything that would stop him from getting to Zen’s goal. Only Turd would do that.”

Zen smirked. “I-I guess you’re right.” He turned and readied himself to enter the dining room. “Alright, Shibi, say goodbye to Turd, cause Wang Zen is back!”

“Please daughter,” Mr. Choi whispered to Jingyi, “listen to reason.”

“I am listening to reason, Father. I will marry no fool to save my own skin while my father struggles. I will be by your side through the hard times and will help you to better times.” Jingyi looked at Zen as he entered the room. “There is Wang Zen, I will tell him.”

She marched towards Zen. Mr. Choi tried following after him.

“Duaghter, please wait.” Mr. Choi said.

“Wang Zen…” Jingyi said when she was near Zen.

Zen raised his hand to silence her before he continued forward. Jingyi and Choi looked at him in confusion.

Zen used an empty seat to climb on the long dining table. Everyone who was seated and standing around looked at him in confusion. Zen walked along the table. He made sure to step into every plate of food as he walked along the long table towards the head where his mother sat. He stomped extra hard in the plates of Tiang-Ji Jia, Grandfather Jiao and any of the Li family, this was to ensure that they got splashed with as much food as possible.

Before he could reach all the way to the head, he stepped into a large bowl of salad. He and his mother exchanged a looks. Her eyes were one of confusion and anger held back, while he had an apologetic look.

He spun around, making the bowl of salad beneath spin along with him. He looked at the guests in the room seriously… as seriously as a man standing in a bowl of salad could be.

“All of you, listen to me and listen to me carefully. What I say and do is of my own accord and is no reflection on my family nor the City Lord.” He said. “I am Wang Zen. I will grow strong and I will bring my family, the Wang family to nobility. I will bring them back to the top of the pyramid. Not through anyone’s help, not through some any partnerships but by my own power and by my own hands! Now, I’ll take my leave.”

He spun around again and faced his mother. He bowed low towards his mother.

“Thank you, for everything you’ve done to help me, Mother.” He then leapt off the table, making sure to kick the bowl so that it spilled most of its contents on Jiao and ultimately landed on Jiao’s head as if it were a hat.

Both Jiao and Jiang-ji became livid but Zen was already gone…

Zen laughed as he ran through the field of the City Lord’s mansion.

“Zen’er! Zen’er!”

Zen slid to a stop. He looked back. He could see the feminine figure running towards him. “Jun Nee, how did you find me so fast?”

“Have you forgotten? I have always been faster than you.”

Zen smiled. “Yeah, I kinda forgot about that.”

They both remained silent for a while. They could hear the wings of insects and crickets chirping in the night time.

“Zen’er...” she clasped her hands together and looked down. “You’re going now?”

He nodded. “If I stay, mom would kill me. I’ll stay away for a while until she calms down.”

“Will I see you again?” she said sadly.

“Of course you will.” Zen said, as he turned around and began running. “You’re one of my best friends! Of course I’ll see you again!”

“Alright!” she said, tears shining in her eyes. “Don’t stay away for too long!”

“Tell Shibi I’m sorry for leaving him behind but I’ll summon him when I can! Bye!”