Chapter 6: New Friendship
"I don't think your parents would approve of me dropping you off looking all drenched like this. Maybe you ought to come over to my house first and dried off," suggested Lei.
She looked at him and looked down to herself, she guessed it was probably right. Nodding in agreement, she followed Lei to his car. 'Eh! This is a Mercedes, not the Porsche from last week. How many cars do Lei owned?'
"The Porsche was Ah Si's. I borrowed it from him since my car was in the workshop for repair. You don't think I'd buy myself a Porsche, do you?"
Lei's word startled her. 'How did he do that? How can he know what I was thinking? Sometimes, he creep me out. Well, to think about it, Porsche doesn't really suit Lei's personality.' She smiled at him. "You really have to tell me one day how you did that? Reading my thoughts like that."
Opening the passenger's door for her, he said, "One day, maybe. Let it be a secret for now."
"You are really mysterious and unpredictable, Hua Zhe Lei," commented Shan Chai, entering the car. Lei smiled at the comment.
Lei drove all the way to his house in silent and so does Shan Chai. Both are lost in their own thoughts. 'Hope mom wouldn't hit the ceiling when she heard I'm off to a boy's house. Not that we would be alone. one would think he'd have maids or servants. I would be safe there. I trust him though.'
"Okay, we're here."
"Oh my! Tha... that is your house? That's not a house, that's a mansion!"
"Well, it's not mine really. It's my family's. We had another one in Japan too since my parents practically live there and that my father's business was based there. I'm just here to complete my studies at Ying De."
The entrance to the house itself was magnificent and breathtaking. At each side of the road, there are hedges shaped as rabbits and deers, with lights covered all over them. Each one in different form. Upon reaching the main door, she saw that the house was a three-storey bungalow that was huge enough to fit five or maybe six family of eight. It was so big and divided into three blocks.
"Welcome home, young master Lei," welcomed a man in a long black suit, opening the door to their arrival. She can't help to feel awed and surprised by the huge main entrance of the house. The ceiling was so high above her heads with a big gold chandelier hanging in the middle of the entrance. There are paintings of the blue sky on the left and the paintings of sunset on the right side of the ceiling, and the walls have beautiful flowery designs crafted at the edges. 'Oh my god! This looks like the picture of a palace I saw in one of those property magazines. The inside was more exquisite than the outside. What does his father do anyway?' she questioned herself.
"Boon Seng, please show Miss Shan Chai the bathroom so that she can clean herself up and give her one of my clothes for her to change into."
"Right away, master Hua Zhe Lei. Come with me Miss."
Nodding her head to Lei, she followed the butler's steps. ~~
He entered his room and sat on the bed. Smiling, he can't believe Shan Chai was actually in his house.
"I forgive you and I miss you too, Lei." The flashback of the previous event on the rooftop came to his mind. 'She forgave me. and she missed me too. Does that mean she. I better not put my hopes too high.'
He changed his wet clothes and went downstairs. Sitting on the sofa in the living room, he dozed of while waiting for Shan Chai.
"Lei."
Upon hearing the lovely voice, he opened his eyes and saw the owner of the voice he missed all this while was standing in front of him wearing his khakis and shirt. The clothes were too big for her. The khakis looked like a long pant and the shirt was big enough to be her nightgown. He couldn't help smiling looking at her and her frowned face. "Don't laugh! You don't have anything smaller? These clothes make me look like a clown."
He shook his head. "My last year's clothes have been donated to the orphanage. Furthermore, I'm the only child. Don't worry. Let us eat something first before I buy you something more to your size, okay?"
"You don't have to buy me anything. I'll just wait for my clothes to dry."
"I don't think you'll have it back. I've asked them to throw it away."
"What?! How can you do that? Those clothes were mine! You have no right!! By the way, there are no more shops opened at this hour, and I need to get home."
He had known her reaction would be like this but he kept smiling. 'The look on her face was so adorable even when she was angry. If only she knows that I did not throw her clothes away, she would probably be more furious than this. I want to keep it. to conserve it for tonight. To ensure me that tonight did happen.'
"Don't you worry about that. Let's eat. I've asked the cook to make something for us." He took her hand and led her to the kitchen. The cook has made them chicken soup and croissant. The soup looked so delicious and since he didn't have anything for the whole day, he ate it instantly. "Aaaa. gomen nasai. I'm so hungry that I totally forgot about you. Come, join me. It's really delicious, you know."
She sat next to him and eats. "This is so delicious. Remember to remind me to thank the cook later," she said. "Lei, you really know how to speak Japanese?
"Emm. I learned it since I was 4," he answered, looking straight at her. He watched her eat, unable to believe his eyes that she really was sitting next to him.
"What? Don't just look at me. Finish your soup. It's already late. My parents would be worried if I'm still not home."
"Yes, madam," he joked. She smiled to his respond.
On the way to Shan Chai's house, they stopped in front a Giordano shop that seems to have opened just for him. He asked her to wait in the car and bought her a blue dress, a pair of white slacks and a pink blouse. 'I think these would suit her best. Can't wait to see her in them. Hope she'll like them,' he thought.
"These are for you. It would be the exchange for your clothes that I've thrown. Hope it would fit you perfectly," he said, handing the paper bag containing the clothes to her.
"I'm only taking this because you threw my clothes away, okay. Next time, don't easily throw other people's things away," she commented, making an upset look.
"Okay, I promise. Don't be angry with me anymore."
She turned towards him and stuck her tongue out. "Fooled you didn't I? Hahahaha... you should see your face. You are really worried that I'm mad at you, aren't you? I'm just kidding. But, I meant what I have said. Don't make other people's things as you pleased just because you are rich," she said.
He put his free hand on hers. "I'll do that. And, Shan Chai, thank you for giving me another chance. I promise not to hurt you anymore." Blushing, she just nodded her head. ~~
"Shan Chai, you're back? Why are you so late today? Huarrgghh. I heard a car stopped in front our house. Someone sent you back? Who was it? Is everything okay? Why are you dress like this? These clothes are too big for you. I don't remember you owning them." "Ma, I'm okay. It was raining so heavily. A friend of mine saw me standing under the bus stop and picked me up. He took me to his house so that I could change to something dry and then he sent me straight home."
"HE? You went to a boy's house? At night? Who was it? You're a girl. It is not appropriate for a girl to go to a boy's house at night especially when you don't have any relationship with him," nagged her mother.
"His name is Hua Zhe Lei. He is a very nice person and we did not do anything wrong. We're not alone either," explained her.
"HUA ZHE LEI? HUA ZHE? The Hua Zhe Insurance Corp.? You are friends with the heir of Hua Zhe family? Darling, darling, wait until you here this. Darling." exclaimed her mother while running towards her bedroom, anxious to tell her father. 'Oh boy. I know I shouldn't tell her his name. She practically keeps track of all the rich families in Taiwan.' She quickly entered her room and locked it. Her parents would surely ask her questions if she stayed behind.
Inside her room, she took out the clothes Lei has given her. 'This is so beautiful. How did he have guessed my size? Two pair? I'd have to give him back. he threw only one suit of my clothes, I really shouldn't take more than that from him. Emmm. I like this dress. I think I'll choose this one. His pretty smart to get rid of the price tag first.' Putting on the dress, she stood in front of the mirror and stare at it. The dress fits nicely. Smiling, she thanked Lei in her heart.
She was feeling really happy and glad. The first in two weeks. Her feelings felt calm, now that she has finally overcome her ego and follow her heart. It felt good to be friends again with Lei. She doesn't know his feelings towards her though but it's enough for her to be close again with him.
'I have never known I could have these feelings towards a guy. Lei, no matter if you don't have the same feelings as mine, but as long you are near me, that is good enough for me. I don't want to be apart from you again, Lei. When you stayed there, waiting for me, I am so glad that you too missed me and made the first move to settle the crisis between us. If only I could tell him this. huh,' she sighed. ~~
Dressing up that morning was easy. She knows instantly what to wear, the blue dress Lei gave her. Posing in front of the mirror, she imagined the look on Lei's face when he saw her in it. Smiling widely, she took the pink lip-gloss and applied it onto her lips. Braiding her hair and tied it up with a dark blue ribbon, she smiled satisfyingly to herself. 'I think I look presentable enough. What time is it? Oh no! It's already 7.50. I am going to be late for class. Wonder if he'll be there today.oh well, if he's there, he's there. If not, who am I to say.'
She was practically late when she entered the classroom but to her surprised, another teacher was occupying the classroom she was supposed to have. The most stunningly, gorgeous and attractive woman was teaching in front of the classroom. "Good morning, Miss Shan Chai I presumed," said the teacher. "Yes, ma'am. I am really sorry I'm late. I can explain, but isn't now supposed to be Mr. Chen's class?"
Smiling, the teacher explained, "Yes, it is. However, I was asked to give a lecture on grooming to this class. We were just going to pick a volunteer when you finally decide to join in. Maybe you'd be our volunteer then. Stand beside me now, and let us begin."
Unable to refuse, she stood by her side. 'How come I didn't know about this? You got into this mess all by yourself, Shan Chai. Being late again. you deserve this for being tardy.'
"Now, let us look at Shan Chai. The dress she wore matched her small, slim figure that made her looked more slender and less petite. Blue made her look fresh and sweet. However, the way she set her hair and choice of shoe is not well matched with the dress. Now class, what would you recommend?" she asked while putting her hand on Shan Chai's shoulder.
'Never has anyone compliments me of anything before. Who is she? She looks too young to be a lecturer.'
"Miss Teng, she is too plain and unattractive. Why should she be the volunteer? Even if she changed her way of dressing, put on make up, she will never be the same as the rest of us," argued one of her classmates.
She was not surprised they felt that way. They were never a friend to her from the beginning. However, she was surprised to hear the feedback from Miss Teng.
"Everybody is special in their own way. You may say that Shan Chai here is plain and unattractive but some may find her very much attractive and beautiful. Maybe it is the inner beauty that shone through that you may not notice. Never underestimated other people especially if you don't know them in person. To make it more interesting, I will groom Shan Chai and present her to you tomorrow. As for today, class is dismissed," Miss Teng told the whole classroom.
She stared at Miss Teng. 'What is she trying to prove? I will never be beautiful, much less attractive.'
"Shan Chai, come with me."
"Where are going, miss? I have another class in another hour, furthermore I have other appointments." 'I want to meet Lei. He may be waiting for me.'
"I want you to meet some of my friends. Well, if you have other appointments, we could ask them to send you there and wait till you're done." 'She is so persuasive! I can't seem to get away. I'm so sorry Lei. Hope you won't wait for me,' she sighed.
"It's okay. I'll just postpone it to some other time. But, Miss Teng, I do have other classes to attend to." Still smiling, Jing took her in hand and said, "Don't you worry about it. I've settled that for you. You will get today's notes for all of your classes at the end of the day. Even your attendance wouldn't be deducted, and, call me Jing okay?"
'She is so weird. What does she mean she has settled it for me? Why is she acting very friendly towards me? I hardly know her! This whole thing is a real blur. Now, how am I going to get out of this mess?' she thought, staring at Jing, unknowing how to react to the sudden affection from Jing.
They got to the café minutes later. She noticed that other students are staring at them. 'Don't tell me that she's another known person in college... Oh boy! Surely, they are going to make up another gossip about this. Why am I suddenly being the most wanted 'friend' among the hotshots of this college?' she quizzically thought.
She bumped into Jing's back when she suddenly stopped. "Sorry!" Jing just shook her head, gesturing that it's okay. She looked around and suddenly, she spotted a group of familiar faces at one of the tables.
'Uh oh. that's F4. Please don't let it be them... please,' she hoped secretly. However, her fear came true when Jing waved and pulled her along towards the group.
"Hi guys! Sorry I'm late. I have someone to introduce to all of you. Eh! Where's Lei?"
"Missing as always. I've left a message on his phone. He'll come by later, probably," answered the one called Mei Zhuo, if she's not mistaken.
"Hmm. I'll have a talk with him later. Anyway, this is Shan Chai. She's in my grooming class. I'm going to groom her and change her into the most stunning girl in class, and you guys have the pleasure to be the judge. Shan Chai, the one wearing spectacles is Xi Men, the one with the flowery shirt is Mei Zhuo and the last person here is Dao Ming Si. The other person is called Hua Zhe Lei. Maybe you've heard of them before. They are called F4," introduced Jing, pushing her in front of everyone.
She tried to smile and be nice to them for the sake of Jing, but, the reaction she received from them changed her mind. Mei Zhuo and Xi Men looked at her with a sly, cunning smile on their faces while Ah Si, seemed to be ignoring her.
"Face and figure like her.stunning? Ha! Good Luck!"
PHAK!!
Without her noticing it, she already smacked Ah Si on the head with the textbook she's holding. "OWWW!!!" Rubbing his head, Ah Si glared at her. "Stupid woman. can't you tell that I'm just joking? You're too serious."
"That's joking? You called that a joke? Quite a sense of humor, eh. You're the one that is stupid!"
"Who are you to call me stupid? I'm Dao Ming Si, the heir of the Dao Ming family and a man with."
"SENSE! Yeah, we know!" exclaimed the other three, who has been watching the two of them quarrelling.
Realizing that she was the center of attraction, she sheepishly smiled towards the other three. "I'm sorry err. Miss Jing, Mr. Xi Men and Mr. Mei Zhuo."
"Ha ha ha ha! Stop it! Don't be too formal with us. just call us by our names, okay Shan Chai?" said Xi Men, laughing at her formality.
"Now, the two of you shake hands and apologize. Let us all be friends, okay? Ah Si?" asked Jing.
"Okay, okay! Shan Chai, I'm sorry for all the things I've done to you. Can we be friends?" apologized Ah Si, holding out his hand. Looking at his hand and the faces around her, she took his hand and nodded. "I'm sorry too."
"Okay now, since all of us are already friends, let's get going."
"Going? Where to?" she asked.
"Stupid girl. just follow and stop asking questions," kidded Ah Si, playfully ruffled her hair. "Don't call me stupid, stupid!" She hit him slightly on the arm, smiling. The rest of the group also laughed at their childish act.
"Where is everybody going?" A sullen voice suddenly heard.
Everybody turned around to the direction of the voice. To her surprised it was Lei. She smiled at him, pleased to meet him even at a different condition, but it seemed that he just looked blankly at her. 'Why does he look so different? So serious and moody? He doesn't even smiled back. he acted as if he doesn't even knows me.'
"Lei! Where have you been? We've been searching high and low for you. You're always M.I.A. Anyway, this is Shan Chai. All of us are going over to Ah Si's house. Jing wants to make a makeover for Shan Chai and we are going to be the judge, isn't that fun? Glad you could make it here in time," said Xi Men cheerfully, grabbing Lei on the shoulder.
Looking straight at her, without any greet or even a smile, he freed himself from Xi Men and walked away. "Lei!" called out Jing.
Blinking her eyes, she can't seem to believe the person that has just left was Lei. He was so much different from the Lei he knew. Deep down, Lei's attitude hurt her. 'Why must he act like he doesn't know me? Has he forgotten all about me? Even yesterday?'
"Sorry about Lei, Shan Chai. He doesn't socialize much with other people. Even with us, he kept his feelings to himself. But, he's a great a person and friend, in his own way that is," said Mei Zhuo, trying to comfort her.
She smiled at him and the rest of the group. Shockingly, Ah Si took her hand and dragged her out of the café. "Let's go."
"I don't think your parents would approve of me dropping you off looking all drenched like this. Maybe you ought to come over to my house first and dried off," suggested Lei.
She looked at him and looked down to herself, she guessed it was probably right. Nodding in agreement, she followed Lei to his car. 'Eh! This is a Mercedes, not the Porsche from last week. How many cars do Lei owned?'
"The Porsche was Ah Si's. I borrowed it from him since my car was in the workshop for repair. You don't think I'd buy myself a Porsche, do you?"
Lei's word startled her. 'How did he do that? How can he know what I was thinking? Sometimes, he creep me out. Well, to think about it, Porsche doesn't really suit Lei's personality.' She smiled at him. "You really have to tell me one day how you did that? Reading my thoughts like that."
Opening the passenger's door for her, he said, "One day, maybe. Let it be a secret for now."
"You are really mysterious and unpredictable, Hua Zhe Lei," commented Shan Chai, entering the car. Lei smiled at the comment.
Lei drove all the way to his house in silent and so does Shan Chai. Both are lost in their own thoughts. 'Hope mom wouldn't hit the ceiling when she heard I'm off to a boy's house. Not that we would be alone. one would think he'd have maids or servants. I would be safe there. I trust him though.'
"Okay, we're here."
"Oh my! Tha... that is your house? That's not a house, that's a mansion!"
"Well, it's not mine really. It's my family's. We had another one in Japan too since my parents practically live there and that my father's business was based there. I'm just here to complete my studies at Ying De."
The entrance to the house itself was magnificent and breathtaking. At each side of the road, there are hedges shaped as rabbits and deers, with lights covered all over them. Each one in different form. Upon reaching the main door, she saw that the house was a three-storey bungalow that was huge enough to fit five or maybe six family of eight. It was so big and divided into three blocks.
"Welcome home, young master Lei," welcomed a man in a long black suit, opening the door to their arrival. She can't help to feel awed and surprised by the huge main entrance of the house. The ceiling was so high above her heads with a big gold chandelier hanging in the middle of the entrance. There are paintings of the blue sky on the left and the paintings of sunset on the right side of the ceiling, and the walls have beautiful flowery designs crafted at the edges. 'Oh my god! This looks like the picture of a palace I saw in one of those property magazines. The inside was more exquisite than the outside. What does his father do anyway?' she questioned herself.
"Boon Seng, please show Miss Shan Chai the bathroom so that she can clean herself up and give her one of my clothes for her to change into."
"Right away, master Hua Zhe Lei. Come with me Miss."
Nodding her head to Lei, she followed the butler's steps. ~~
He entered his room and sat on the bed. Smiling, he can't believe Shan Chai was actually in his house.
"I forgive you and I miss you too, Lei." The flashback of the previous event on the rooftop came to his mind. 'She forgave me. and she missed me too. Does that mean she. I better not put my hopes too high.'
He changed his wet clothes and went downstairs. Sitting on the sofa in the living room, he dozed of while waiting for Shan Chai.
"Lei."
Upon hearing the lovely voice, he opened his eyes and saw the owner of the voice he missed all this while was standing in front of him wearing his khakis and shirt. The clothes were too big for her. The khakis looked like a long pant and the shirt was big enough to be her nightgown. He couldn't help smiling looking at her and her frowned face. "Don't laugh! You don't have anything smaller? These clothes make me look like a clown."
He shook his head. "My last year's clothes have been donated to the orphanage. Furthermore, I'm the only child. Don't worry. Let us eat something first before I buy you something more to your size, okay?"
"You don't have to buy me anything. I'll just wait for my clothes to dry."
"I don't think you'll have it back. I've asked them to throw it away."
"What?! How can you do that? Those clothes were mine! You have no right!! By the way, there are no more shops opened at this hour, and I need to get home."
He had known her reaction would be like this but he kept smiling. 'The look on her face was so adorable even when she was angry. If only she knows that I did not throw her clothes away, she would probably be more furious than this. I want to keep it. to conserve it for tonight. To ensure me that tonight did happen.'
"Don't you worry about that. Let's eat. I've asked the cook to make something for us." He took her hand and led her to the kitchen. The cook has made them chicken soup and croissant. The soup looked so delicious and since he didn't have anything for the whole day, he ate it instantly. "Aaaa. gomen nasai. I'm so hungry that I totally forgot about you. Come, join me. It's really delicious, you know."
She sat next to him and eats. "This is so delicious. Remember to remind me to thank the cook later," she said. "Lei, you really know how to speak Japanese?
"Emm. I learned it since I was 4," he answered, looking straight at her. He watched her eat, unable to believe his eyes that she really was sitting next to him.
"What? Don't just look at me. Finish your soup. It's already late. My parents would be worried if I'm still not home."
"Yes, madam," he joked. She smiled to his respond.
On the way to Shan Chai's house, they stopped in front a Giordano shop that seems to have opened just for him. He asked her to wait in the car and bought her a blue dress, a pair of white slacks and a pink blouse. 'I think these would suit her best. Can't wait to see her in them. Hope she'll like them,' he thought.
"These are for you. It would be the exchange for your clothes that I've thrown. Hope it would fit you perfectly," he said, handing the paper bag containing the clothes to her.
"I'm only taking this because you threw my clothes away, okay. Next time, don't easily throw other people's things away," she commented, making an upset look.
"Okay, I promise. Don't be angry with me anymore."
She turned towards him and stuck her tongue out. "Fooled you didn't I? Hahahaha... you should see your face. You are really worried that I'm mad at you, aren't you? I'm just kidding. But, I meant what I have said. Don't make other people's things as you pleased just because you are rich," she said.
He put his free hand on hers. "I'll do that. And, Shan Chai, thank you for giving me another chance. I promise not to hurt you anymore." Blushing, she just nodded her head. ~~
"Shan Chai, you're back? Why are you so late today? Huarrgghh. I heard a car stopped in front our house. Someone sent you back? Who was it? Is everything okay? Why are you dress like this? These clothes are too big for you. I don't remember you owning them." "Ma, I'm okay. It was raining so heavily. A friend of mine saw me standing under the bus stop and picked me up. He took me to his house so that I could change to something dry and then he sent me straight home."
"HE? You went to a boy's house? At night? Who was it? You're a girl. It is not appropriate for a girl to go to a boy's house at night especially when you don't have any relationship with him," nagged her mother.
"His name is Hua Zhe Lei. He is a very nice person and we did not do anything wrong. We're not alone either," explained her.
"HUA ZHE LEI? HUA ZHE? The Hua Zhe Insurance Corp.? You are friends with the heir of Hua Zhe family? Darling, darling, wait until you here this. Darling." exclaimed her mother while running towards her bedroom, anxious to tell her father. 'Oh boy. I know I shouldn't tell her his name. She practically keeps track of all the rich families in Taiwan.' She quickly entered her room and locked it. Her parents would surely ask her questions if she stayed behind.
Inside her room, she took out the clothes Lei has given her. 'This is so beautiful. How did he have guessed my size? Two pair? I'd have to give him back. he threw only one suit of my clothes, I really shouldn't take more than that from him. Emmm. I like this dress. I think I'll choose this one. His pretty smart to get rid of the price tag first.' Putting on the dress, she stood in front of the mirror and stare at it. The dress fits nicely. Smiling, she thanked Lei in her heart.
She was feeling really happy and glad. The first in two weeks. Her feelings felt calm, now that she has finally overcome her ego and follow her heart. It felt good to be friends again with Lei. She doesn't know his feelings towards her though but it's enough for her to be close again with him.
'I have never known I could have these feelings towards a guy. Lei, no matter if you don't have the same feelings as mine, but as long you are near me, that is good enough for me. I don't want to be apart from you again, Lei. When you stayed there, waiting for me, I am so glad that you too missed me and made the first move to settle the crisis between us. If only I could tell him this. huh,' she sighed. ~~
Dressing up that morning was easy. She knows instantly what to wear, the blue dress Lei gave her. Posing in front of the mirror, she imagined the look on Lei's face when he saw her in it. Smiling widely, she took the pink lip-gloss and applied it onto her lips. Braiding her hair and tied it up with a dark blue ribbon, she smiled satisfyingly to herself. 'I think I look presentable enough. What time is it? Oh no! It's already 7.50. I am going to be late for class. Wonder if he'll be there today.oh well, if he's there, he's there. If not, who am I to say.'
She was practically late when she entered the classroom but to her surprised, another teacher was occupying the classroom she was supposed to have. The most stunningly, gorgeous and attractive woman was teaching in front of the classroom. "Good morning, Miss Shan Chai I presumed," said the teacher. "Yes, ma'am. I am really sorry I'm late. I can explain, but isn't now supposed to be Mr. Chen's class?"
Smiling, the teacher explained, "Yes, it is. However, I was asked to give a lecture on grooming to this class. We were just going to pick a volunteer when you finally decide to join in. Maybe you'd be our volunteer then. Stand beside me now, and let us begin."
Unable to refuse, she stood by her side. 'How come I didn't know about this? You got into this mess all by yourself, Shan Chai. Being late again. you deserve this for being tardy.'
"Now, let us look at Shan Chai. The dress she wore matched her small, slim figure that made her looked more slender and less petite. Blue made her look fresh and sweet. However, the way she set her hair and choice of shoe is not well matched with the dress. Now class, what would you recommend?" she asked while putting her hand on Shan Chai's shoulder.
'Never has anyone compliments me of anything before. Who is she? She looks too young to be a lecturer.'
"Miss Teng, she is too plain and unattractive. Why should she be the volunteer? Even if she changed her way of dressing, put on make up, she will never be the same as the rest of us," argued one of her classmates.
She was not surprised they felt that way. They were never a friend to her from the beginning. However, she was surprised to hear the feedback from Miss Teng.
"Everybody is special in their own way. You may say that Shan Chai here is plain and unattractive but some may find her very much attractive and beautiful. Maybe it is the inner beauty that shone through that you may not notice. Never underestimated other people especially if you don't know them in person. To make it more interesting, I will groom Shan Chai and present her to you tomorrow. As for today, class is dismissed," Miss Teng told the whole classroom.
She stared at Miss Teng. 'What is she trying to prove? I will never be beautiful, much less attractive.'
"Shan Chai, come with me."
"Where are going, miss? I have another class in another hour, furthermore I have other appointments." 'I want to meet Lei. He may be waiting for me.'
"I want you to meet some of my friends. Well, if you have other appointments, we could ask them to send you there and wait till you're done." 'She is so persuasive! I can't seem to get away. I'm so sorry Lei. Hope you won't wait for me,' she sighed.
"It's okay. I'll just postpone it to some other time. But, Miss Teng, I do have other classes to attend to." Still smiling, Jing took her in hand and said, "Don't you worry about it. I've settled that for you. You will get today's notes for all of your classes at the end of the day. Even your attendance wouldn't be deducted, and, call me Jing okay?"
'She is so weird. What does she mean she has settled it for me? Why is she acting very friendly towards me? I hardly know her! This whole thing is a real blur. Now, how am I going to get out of this mess?' she thought, staring at Jing, unknowing how to react to the sudden affection from Jing.
They got to the café minutes later. She noticed that other students are staring at them. 'Don't tell me that she's another known person in college... Oh boy! Surely, they are going to make up another gossip about this. Why am I suddenly being the most wanted 'friend' among the hotshots of this college?' she quizzically thought.
She bumped into Jing's back when she suddenly stopped. "Sorry!" Jing just shook her head, gesturing that it's okay. She looked around and suddenly, she spotted a group of familiar faces at one of the tables.
'Uh oh. that's F4. Please don't let it be them... please,' she hoped secretly. However, her fear came true when Jing waved and pulled her along towards the group.
"Hi guys! Sorry I'm late. I have someone to introduce to all of you. Eh! Where's Lei?"
"Missing as always. I've left a message on his phone. He'll come by later, probably," answered the one called Mei Zhuo, if she's not mistaken.
"Hmm. I'll have a talk with him later. Anyway, this is Shan Chai. She's in my grooming class. I'm going to groom her and change her into the most stunning girl in class, and you guys have the pleasure to be the judge. Shan Chai, the one wearing spectacles is Xi Men, the one with the flowery shirt is Mei Zhuo and the last person here is Dao Ming Si. The other person is called Hua Zhe Lei. Maybe you've heard of them before. They are called F4," introduced Jing, pushing her in front of everyone.
She tried to smile and be nice to them for the sake of Jing, but, the reaction she received from them changed her mind. Mei Zhuo and Xi Men looked at her with a sly, cunning smile on their faces while Ah Si, seemed to be ignoring her.
"Face and figure like her.stunning? Ha! Good Luck!"
PHAK!!
Without her noticing it, she already smacked Ah Si on the head with the textbook she's holding. "OWWW!!!" Rubbing his head, Ah Si glared at her. "Stupid woman. can't you tell that I'm just joking? You're too serious."
"That's joking? You called that a joke? Quite a sense of humor, eh. You're the one that is stupid!"
"Who are you to call me stupid? I'm Dao Ming Si, the heir of the Dao Ming family and a man with."
"SENSE! Yeah, we know!" exclaimed the other three, who has been watching the two of them quarrelling.
Realizing that she was the center of attraction, she sheepishly smiled towards the other three. "I'm sorry err. Miss Jing, Mr. Xi Men and Mr. Mei Zhuo."
"Ha ha ha ha! Stop it! Don't be too formal with us. just call us by our names, okay Shan Chai?" said Xi Men, laughing at her formality.
"Now, the two of you shake hands and apologize. Let us all be friends, okay? Ah Si?" asked Jing.
"Okay, okay! Shan Chai, I'm sorry for all the things I've done to you. Can we be friends?" apologized Ah Si, holding out his hand. Looking at his hand and the faces around her, she took his hand and nodded. "I'm sorry too."
"Okay now, since all of us are already friends, let's get going."
"Going? Where to?" she asked.
"Stupid girl. just follow and stop asking questions," kidded Ah Si, playfully ruffled her hair. "Don't call me stupid, stupid!" She hit him slightly on the arm, smiling. The rest of the group also laughed at their childish act.
"Where is everybody going?" A sullen voice suddenly heard.
Everybody turned around to the direction of the voice. To her surprised it was Lei. She smiled at him, pleased to meet him even at a different condition, but it seemed that he just looked blankly at her. 'Why does he look so different? So serious and moody? He doesn't even smiled back. he acted as if he doesn't even knows me.'
"Lei! Where have you been? We've been searching high and low for you. You're always M.I.A. Anyway, this is Shan Chai. All of us are going over to Ah Si's house. Jing wants to make a makeover for Shan Chai and we are going to be the judge, isn't that fun? Glad you could make it here in time," said Xi Men cheerfully, grabbing Lei on the shoulder.
Looking straight at her, without any greet or even a smile, he freed himself from Xi Men and walked away. "Lei!" called out Jing.
Blinking her eyes, she can't seem to believe the person that has just left was Lei. He was so much different from the Lei he knew. Deep down, Lei's attitude hurt her. 'Why must he act like he doesn't know me? Has he forgotten all about me? Even yesterday?'
"Sorry about Lei, Shan Chai. He doesn't socialize much with other people. Even with us, he kept his feelings to himself. But, he's a great a person and friend, in his own way that is," said Mei Zhuo, trying to comfort her.
She smiled at him and the rest of the group. Shockingly, Ah Si took her hand and dragged her out of the café. "Let's go."