Hey everyone! Hope you guys are having a great summer ^o^ Sorry for not updating this sooner...for all we know...ff.net...-.-;; Anyway, hope you guys enjoy this..and I¡¦ll write more soon ^o~

Disclaimer: CCS does not belong to me.

Key: check previous chapter

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Chapter 4: Breaking the Rule



¡§And there¡¦s a note along with it,¡¨ Kai beamed and handed a sealed envelop to young Meiling.

Squealing with delight, Meiling ripped open the letter and scanned through it.

Dear Meiling,

Hi, it¡¦s Xiao Ling! Sound like you¡¦re
having a bad time over there. But guess
what?! I¡¦m going to be in Hong Kong
tomorrow! Me and daddy is gonna be busy in
the morning but we can be together at night.
I¡¦m gonna wait for you in Shin Kwong
department store in downtown at seven
tomorrow. I¡¦ll see you then. Bye bye!

Xiao Ling

¡§AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!¡¨ Meiling screamed but was muffled up by Kai quickly.

¡§Meiling,¡¨ Kai sighed, ¡§you gotta remember not to wake up Mrs. Chang.¡¨

¡§I know, I know,¡¨ Meiling leaped up and down in her bed, ¡§but I have the greatest news!¡¨

¡§So what is it?¡¨ Kai sat comfortably on the rumpled mattress and asked.

¡§Xiao Ling is coming to town!¡¨ Meiling hissed, afraid to wake up the stone-faced housekeeper.

¡§Really?¡¨ Kai gasped. ¡§When?¡¨

¡§Tomorrow,¡¨ Meiling giggled, ¡§he said he¡¦ll wait for me downtown at seven.¡¨

Kai¡¦s bright face fell and her glance became solemn.

¡§What¡¦s the matter, Kai?¡¨ out of curiosity, Meiling asked.

¡§Meiling,¡¨ Kai began slowly, ¡§do you remember the rules Mrs. Chang set?¡¨

¡§Yup!¡¨ Meiling nodded her head. ¡§Let¡¦s see, get up at five in the morning, obey all rules, and never leave Li¡¦s household...at...night.¡¨

Kai closed her eyes, ¡§Yup, that one.¡¨

¡§But,¡¨ Meiling protested, her eyes moistened, ¡§can¡¦t the rules be bent a little occasionally? Isn¡¦t it important to see a friend?¡¨

¡§Listen, Meiling,¡¨ Kai caressed Meiling¡¦s face and wiped away her tear, ¡§usually the rules can be bent, but this is an exception...Xiao Ling¡¦s father is not allowed to have any contact with the Li clan, and that means you.¡¨

¡§It¡¦s not fair,¡¨ Meiling whimpered at the thought of the barrier between her and Xiao Ling, ¡§it¡¦s not fair.¡¨

¡§Aww...Meiling,¡¨ Kai sighed and pulled Meiling closer for a hug.

But Meiling pulled away, ¡§Why? WHY?¡¨

¡§Meiling...¡¨ Kai closed her eyes, ¡§you gotta understand...¡¨

¡§Understand what?!¡¨ Meiling glared at her friend, ¡§that I¡¦m a part of Li clan and should keep my distance away from my best friend?!¡¨ Tears rolled down the young girl¡¦s crimson eyes while she hissed, ¡§If being a part of this clan means giving up your friends, count me out. I hate this place and I WISH I¡¦M NOT HERE!¡¨

¡§But Meiling!¡¨ Kai called out desperately as Meiling raced down the stair.

¡§Young lady!¡¨ a stern voice called out behind Meiling¡¦s shadow.

Meiling froze in her track. The voice was way too familiar to be forgotten.

¡§Have you had no consideration for others?¡¨ Mrs. Chang fumed as she shouted over Meiling¡¦s dark head. ¡§It¡¦s close to five in the morning and where do you think you¡¦re going?¡¨

Meiling pouted and refused to answer Mrs. Chang¡¦s question.

¡§ANSWER ME!¡¨ Mrs. Chang hollered.

And Meiling withheld silence once again.

¡§Oh, so you want to play a game, right?¡¨ Mrs. Chang folded her arms across her chest although her beady eyes followed Meiling¡¦s movement. ¡§Well, here¡¦s a game for you.¡¨ Mrs. Chang bent down and glared at the little girl in the eyes, ¡§It¡¦s called following the rules. If you don¡¦t follow them, you¡¦ll simply be punished. Now, Meiling, where are you heading to?¡¨

Anger boiled in Meiling¡¦s blood and adrenaline rushed in her skin, but she held still and gritted her teeth, ¡§To practice.¡¨

¡§Good,¡¨ Mrs. Chang grinned satisfactory and walked briskly pass her.

**********

After a long day of martial art training and eating dinner under the watchful eyes of Mrs. Chang, Meiling was finally excused to her room.

Meiling sighed as she closed the door behind her and fell into her soft mattress.

There was a knock on the door.

¡§Meiling?¡¨

After a moment of pause, Meiling answered, ¡§Yeah?¡¨

¡§Can I come in?¡¨

¡§...whatever.¡¨

Kai opened the door gently, ¡§Are you still mad?¡¨

¡§Yes,¡¨ Meiling muttered and flipped over in her bed.

¡§Well, I know you¡¦re mad, Meiling,¡¨ Kai started, ¡§but I have a plan.¡¨

¡§For what?¡¨ Meiling mumbled.

¡§To get you to downtown.¡¨

Meiling faced Kai finally, ¡§You mean it? I can really go see Xiao Ling?¡¨

Kai closed her eyes, knowing the mess she would entangle herself and Meiling in, ¡§Yes.¡¨

¡§Alright!¡¨

**********

An eight-years-old squirmed in his seat as his sapphire eyes flickered, glowing brightly.

His father chuckled, ¡§Stay still, Xiao Ling. You¡¦ll see Meiling...although I¡¦m not entirely sure if Li clan would allow you two to meet...¡¨

The little boy¡¦s face scrunched up and a pout appeared on his face, ¡§Meiling will show up, she promised me.¡¨

¡§Okay, okay,¡¨ Xiao Ling¡¦s father sighed, ¡§geez, can¡¦t you take a joke?¡¨

Xiao Ling glared, still pouting, ¡§That¡¦s not funny.¡¨

¡§Hey,¡¨ his father smiled, ¡§don¡¦t pull my legs!¡¨

¡§I¡¦m too short to pull them!¡¨ Xiao Ling muttered although he also gave his father a huge grin.

(AN: I know...corny joke...sorry...^^;;)

**********

Mrs. Chang glanced at Meiling¡¦s room suspiciously, wondering why the little naughty girl would be sleeping so early.

She narrowed her eyes as she watched Kai closely Meiling¡¦s door gently, *that naughty girl should never be meddling with servants!*

Mrs. Chang quickened her steps and came face-to-face with the frightened maid, ¡§Kai!¡¨

¡§Y-yes, ma¡¦am,¡¨ Kai bowed her head humbly.

¡§Where¡¦s Meiling?¡¨ Mrs. Chang folded her arms as she watched pores of perspiration ran down the poor maid¡¦s forehead.

¡§S-she¡¦s s-sleeping, m-ma¡¦am,¡¨ Kai looked down, unable to stare into the keen eyes of the old housekeeper.

¡§Really?¡¨ Mrs. Chang cocked her head and marched straight to Meiling¡¦s door.

¡§No, Mrs. Chang!¡¨

**********

¡§Thank you, mister!¡¨ a little small girl hopped off the taxi and waved goodbye to him.

(AN: it¡¦s not real, so don¡¦t ask how can a five-years-old takes a cab alone.)

She skipped along the sidewalk, her silky black pigtails flowing behind as she halted in front of the Shin Kwong department store.

She smiled inwardly, ¡§Xiao Ling will be here any minute.¡¨

**********

¡§Darn!¡¨ the driver frowned as he honked at the traffic in front.

¡§What¡¦s wrong, father?¡¨ Xiao Ling peered out of his window.

¡§Looks like there¡¦s an accident and we¡¦re trapped here,¡¨ sighed the father.

¡§I can walk!¡¨ Xiao Ling offered, his heart leaped in joy yearning to see his playmate¡¦s face.

His father shook his head, ¡§It¡¦s too dangerous.¡¨

¡§But father, I can protect myself!¡¨ Xiao Ling argued. ¡§Besides, Meiling might be there all alone and afraid...¡¨

¡§...¡¨ Xiao Ling¡¦s father was speechless. How could he endanger a little girl¡¦s life? But is it more important than his son?

¡§Anyway,¡¨ Xiao Ling unlocked the door, ¡§I¡¦ll see you later, father.¡¨

¡§But...¡¨

¡§Bye!¡¨

**********

After walking for a few minutes, the little figure finally saw the department store, *There! I found it!*

Being too eager, the little kid crossed the street without looking.

¡§WATCH OUT!¡¨ someone screamed, but it was too late.

The brake was pressed all way to the end and the tires squeaked leaving a long tire mark. Yet the little boy flew up upon the impact, drops of blood dripped onto the ground.

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