Chapter 22: True Friendship
Ah Si walked after Lei at the sidewalk outside VS with Xi Men not far behind him. Grabbing Lei's shoulder, he turned him around roughly to face him. Seeing what might happen, Xi Men ran to his friend's aid. He doesn't want Lei to be knocked down by Ah Si.
Even though all four of them have second-degree black belts in tae kwon do, with Ah Si's temper and sudden outburst, Lei would have no chance against him. Xi Men quickly pulled Ah Si away from Lei before he could raise his hand and brought his fist to Lei's face. Xi Men's act has staggered Ah Si to the side, quite a distance away from Lei.
Turning his head towards Xi Men, Ah Si shot him an annoyed, dagger sharp look before yelling out, "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?"
"Lei! Why the hell are you still standing there for? Go away! I don't know how long I can hold on to him!" ordered Xi Men, frantically trying his best retaining the raging, squirming Ah Si.
Lei looked at his two best friend one at a time. First Xi Men, then Ah Si. His void expression intact. Instead of walking away like what Xi Men had told him to do, he did the opposite. He sat down right there on the pavement.
Looking up at the shocked Xi Men and the angry, cursing Ah Si, which was exactly channeled out directly at Xi Men, Lei plainly muttered, "Tell me when you've stop playing."
Due to the shock, Xi Men has loosened his grip a bit and this made Ah Si able to free himself from him. Facing straight at Xi Men and gave out a rough shove, Ah Si shouted, "ARE YOU STUPID? Why did you fucking do that for? Where do you put your brain? At the knee?"
Still looking confused and watching unbelievably at Lei, Xi Men looked over at the red angry dragon in front of him and answered out softly, "Well, I guess I AM stupid."
Xi Men's answer shocked Ah Si. The reply was beyond his expectation thus making his anger subsided in the process. Putting his left hand on Xi Men's right shoulder, he patted him.
"Well", he said, "since you already know that, let me clear up the picture for you. I know you were thinking that I was about to punch up Lei, which I have every intention to do so at the beginning, but..." looking down at Lei, he continued, "confrontation is more appropriate in this case, I guess."
"So, you two finished your little wrestling tournament?" asked Lei, getting up and beat off dirt from his pants.
Just then, running footsteps was heard from behind them. Stopping abruptly beside Xi Men, with a grief stricken tone, Mei Zhuo gave out a cry, "Stop it!"
He quickly grabbed both Ah Si's hands and pulled them to Ah Si's back, holding them tight. Ah Si wailed in pain.
"Not again!" screamed Ah Si, disbelieved.
"Mei Zhuo, let me go! Why do the two of you think I am beating Lei?" continued Ah Si, looking over his shoulder at Mei Zhuo.
Mei Zhuo turned his sight over at Xi Men who was smiling amusingly. He loosened his grip on Ah Si's wrists when Xi Men shook his head, gesturing to him that it was not like what he had thought.
"I guess, watching Lei getting up from the sidewalk and beating off dirt from his pants was a believable sight of him being punched. What really happened, anyway?"
"I sat on the floor," replied Lei, short.
"Why?" asked Mei Zhuo again, curiosity still building up in him, "Why would you sit down on this dirty sidewalk?"
"Waiting for these two to finish their wrestling," another short, unenthusiastic reply from Lei.
Mei Zhuo raised his eyebrow to show he was discombobulated, "Huh?"
Xi Men put his arm around Mei Zhuo's shoulder. Grinning, he patted on Mei Zhuo's chest, ensuring him everything was okay. Ah Si smiled as well, standing beside Lei with his arm crossed, looking at the confused Mei Zhuo. Lei, though his blank expression hasn't changed, the spark in his eyes showed how amused and interested he was at the whole event that took place between his friends.
"Shock as we may, it seems that our Ah Si has all grown up. He already understands that talking is more befitting to settle out disagreement rather than the fist. I have never been so proud; my little brother has finally come of age."
Hearing Xi Men's explanation, Ah Si made a detest face while Mei Zhuo stare in awe at him. Looking back at Xi Men, he smiled knowingly.
"Well, it's about time!" he exclaimed.
"If you are finish making fun of me, I have something private to discuss with Lei. So, please excuse us. See you guys tomorrow. Don't look at me like that! Have some faith in me... even if I do hit him, he'll still be in perfect condition. Lei, let's go!" urged Ah Si, gesturing Lei to follow him, leaving the other two behind.
Seeing both Lei and Ah Si walked away, Mei Zhuo looked over at Xi Men.
"You really think it's okay that we leave them together, alone?" asked Mei Zhuo looking a bit concerned.
Nodding, Xi Men added, "Yeah, I think it would be okay. I just hope they'll be able to settle their little disagreement tonight. I hate to see the both of them in conflict for a long period."
Walking the other way from Ah Si and Lei, Mei Zhuo and Xi Men went back to the direction of VS.
"Mind telling me what the reason of the little misunderstanding was?" asked Mei Zhuo, in hope that he'll managed to clear the confusion he's having.
"Ah Si like Shan Chai, but Shan Chai like Lei and Lei like Shan Chai."
"Shan Chai like Lei? Then, why did she agree to be with Ah Si? How could she? Did she was so afraid of Ah Si that she finally agreed to him, putting away her feelings for Lei behind?" Mei Zhuo asked continuously.
Xi Men smiled, he had left the important information he just knew about a little while earlier. Climbing up the stairs to VS side by side with Mei Zhuo, he answered, trying to control his excitement on telling Mei Zhuo about the relationship between Ah Si and Shan Chai.
"You are going to be shocked! The two are just brother and sister! Can you believe it? He was trying to win the bet by cheating! Our Ah Si... finally have some brains."
"You're kidding!! Really? So, we won the bet? I knew he wouldn't have the chance. He has no talent in them. But you must give credit to him for the act. Shan Chai agreed to him? So, what was the complication in it?" exclaimed Mei Zhuo excitedly.
"We didn't win the bet. I told him we'd take the bet back if he told me the truth. You are not going to believe this. I still don't approve of it too," Xi Men explained, "It seems that the Empress has arranged a marriage proposal for Ah Si and by trying to delay her plans, Ah Si is going to use Shan Chai. He wanted her mother to approve of her as his sister before he agrees to the proposal. And guess what? Shan Chai has no idea about it, at all!"
"No way! How could he do that to her? This would be trouble for her! The Empress is not going to agree to that arrangement. I'm sure of that! Even us, the heirs of the five richest family in Taiwan have a hard time to get approved by her to be Ah Si's friend, and after so many years, I still don't think she approved of us totally," argued Mei Zhuo, disapproving of Ah Si's action plan.
"That is what I told him. And Lei got angry of it too. That was the first time I saw him raised his voice like that and shockingly, it was to Ah Si," agreed Xi Men, seating down at the stool by the bar, beside Mei Zhuo.
"I hope Ah Si know what he's doing. Wait a minute... how did you know Lei like Shan Chai? And vice versa?" Mei Zhuo asked after he ordered a tequila drink to the bartender.
"Huh? Oh... well I kind off saw the two of them walking hand in hand at the beach where we all went about three weeks ago. They looked pretty close to one another, not just as friends."
"When? You spied on them?" asked Mei Zhuo, shocked.
"No! I happened to be at the beach too that night, making a call. The others, including you are already in bed," denied Xi Men, looking offended that Mei Zhuo would accuse of him of something so low as that.
"A call? In the middle of the night? At the beach? Alone? Why?" asked Mei Zhuo suspiciously, eyeing Xi Men warily.
"It's private. Come on, let us have a toast. Wow! That girl is hot! Excuse me and see how the master works his charm," Xi Men changed the topic and walked away towards the girl a few seats from Mei Zhuo, hoping that Mei Zhuo would forget about what he has mistakenly blurted out.
Ah Si walked after Lei at the sidewalk outside VS with Xi Men not far behind him. Grabbing Lei's shoulder, he turned him around roughly to face him. Seeing what might happen, Xi Men ran to his friend's aid. He doesn't want Lei to be knocked down by Ah Si.
Even though all four of them have second-degree black belts in tae kwon do, with Ah Si's temper and sudden outburst, Lei would have no chance against him. Xi Men quickly pulled Ah Si away from Lei before he could raise his hand and brought his fist to Lei's face. Xi Men's act has staggered Ah Si to the side, quite a distance away from Lei.
Turning his head towards Xi Men, Ah Si shot him an annoyed, dagger sharp look before yelling out, "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?"
"Lei! Why the hell are you still standing there for? Go away! I don't know how long I can hold on to him!" ordered Xi Men, frantically trying his best retaining the raging, squirming Ah Si.
Lei looked at his two best friend one at a time. First Xi Men, then Ah Si. His void expression intact. Instead of walking away like what Xi Men had told him to do, he did the opposite. He sat down right there on the pavement.
Looking up at the shocked Xi Men and the angry, cursing Ah Si, which was exactly channeled out directly at Xi Men, Lei plainly muttered, "Tell me when you've stop playing."
Due to the shock, Xi Men has loosened his grip a bit and this made Ah Si able to free himself from him. Facing straight at Xi Men and gave out a rough shove, Ah Si shouted, "ARE YOU STUPID? Why did you fucking do that for? Where do you put your brain? At the knee?"
Still looking confused and watching unbelievably at Lei, Xi Men looked over at the red angry dragon in front of him and answered out softly, "Well, I guess I AM stupid."
Xi Men's answer shocked Ah Si. The reply was beyond his expectation thus making his anger subsided in the process. Putting his left hand on Xi Men's right shoulder, he patted him.
"Well", he said, "since you already know that, let me clear up the picture for you. I know you were thinking that I was about to punch up Lei, which I have every intention to do so at the beginning, but..." looking down at Lei, he continued, "confrontation is more appropriate in this case, I guess."
"So, you two finished your little wrestling tournament?" asked Lei, getting up and beat off dirt from his pants.
Just then, running footsteps was heard from behind them. Stopping abruptly beside Xi Men, with a grief stricken tone, Mei Zhuo gave out a cry, "Stop it!"
He quickly grabbed both Ah Si's hands and pulled them to Ah Si's back, holding them tight. Ah Si wailed in pain.
"Not again!" screamed Ah Si, disbelieved.
"Mei Zhuo, let me go! Why do the two of you think I am beating Lei?" continued Ah Si, looking over his shoulder at Mei Zhuo.
Mei Zhuo turned his sight over at Xi Men who was smiling amusingly. He loosened his grip on Ah Si's wrists when Xi Men shook his head, gesturing to him that it was not like what he had thought.
"I guess, watching Lei getting up from the sidewalk and beating off dirt from his pants was a believable sight of him being punched. What really happened, anyway?"
"I sat on the floor," replied Lei, short.
"Why?" asked Mei Zhuo again, curiosity still building up in him, "Why would you sit down on this dirty sidewalk?"
"Waiting for these two to finish their wrestling," another short, unenthusiastic reply from Lei.
Mei Zhuo raised his eyebrow to show he was discombobulated, "Huh?"
Xi Men put his arm around Mei Zhuo's shoulder. Grinning, he patted on Mei Zhuo's chest, ensuring him everything was okay. Ah Si smiled as well, standing beside Lei with his arm crossed, looking at the confused Mei Zhuo. Lei, though his blank expression hasn't changed, the spark in his eyes showed how amused and interested he was at the whole event that took place between his friends.
"Shock as we may, it seems that our Ah Si has all grown up. He already understands that talking is more befitting to settle out disagreement rather than the fist. I have never been so proud; my little brother has finally come of age."
Hearing Xi Men's explanation, Ah Si made a detest face while Mei Zhuo stare in awe at him. Looking back at Xi Men, he smiled knowingly.
"Well, it's about time!" he exclaimed.
"If you are finish making fun of me, I have something private to discuss with Lei. So, please excuse us. See you guys tomorrow. Don't look at me like that! Have some faith in me... even if I do hit him, he'll still be in perfect condition. Lei, let's go!" urged Ah Si, gesturing Lei to follow him, leaving the other two behind.
Seeing both Lei and Ah Si walked away, Mei Zhuo looked over at Xi Men.
"You really think it's okay that we leave them together, alone?" asked Mei Zhuo looking a bit concerned.
Nodding, Xi Men added, "Yeah, I think it would be okay. I just hope they'll be able to settle their little disagreement tonight. I hate to see the both of them in conflict for a long period."
Walking the other way from Ah Si and Lei, Mei Zhuo and Xi Men went back to the direction of VS.
"Mind telling me what the reason of the little misunderstanding was?" asked Mei Zhuo, in hope that he'll managed to clear the confusion he's having.
"Ah Si like Shan Chai, but Shan Chai like Lei and Lei like Shan Chai."
"Shan Chai like Lei? Then, why did she agree to be with Ah Si? How could she? Did she was so afraid of Ah Si that she finally agreed to him, putting away her feelings for Lei behind?" Mei Zhuo asked continuously.
Xi Men smiled, he had left the important information he just knew about a little while earlier. Climbing up the stairs to VS side by side with Mei Zhuo, he answered, trying to control his excitement on telling Mei Zhuo about the relationship between Ah Si and Shan Chai.
"You are going to be shocked! The two are just brother and sister! Can you believe it? He was trying to win the bet by cheating! Our Ah Si... finally have some brains."
"You're kidding!! Really? So, we won the bet? I knew he wouldn't have the chance. He has no talent in them. But you must give credit to him for the act. Shan Chai agreed to him? So, what was the complication in it?" exclaimed Mei Zhuo excitedly.
"We didn't win the bet. I told him we'd take the bet back if he told me the truth. You are not going to believe this. I still don't approve of it too," Xi Men explained, "It seems that the Empress has arranged a marriage proposal for Ah Si and by trying to delay her plans, Ah Si is going to use Shan Chai. He wanted her mother to approve of her as his sister before he agrees to the proposal. And guess what? Shan Chai has no idea about it, at all!"
"No way! How could he do that to her? This would be trouble for her! The Empress is not going to agree to that arrangement. I'm sure of that! Even us, the heirs of the five richest family in Taiwan have a hard time to get approved by her to be Ah Si's friend, and after so many years, I still don't think she approved of us totally," argued Mei Zhuo, disapproving of Ah Si's action plan.
"That is what I told him. And Lei got angry of it too. That was the first time I saw him raised his voice like that and shockingly, it was to Ah Si," agreed Xi Men, seating down at the stool by the bar, beside Mei Zhuo.
"I hope Ah Si know what he's doing. Wait a minute... how did you know Lei like Shan Chai? And vice versa?" Mei Zhuo asked after he ordered a tequila drink to the bartender.
"Huh? Oh... well I kind off saw the two of them walking hand in hand at the beach where we all went about three weeks ago. They looked pretty close to one another, not just as friends."
"When? You spied on them?" asked Mei Zhuo, shocked.
"No! I happened to be at the beach too that night, making a call. The others, including you are already in bed," denied Xi Men, looking offended that Mei Zhuo would accuse of him of something so low as that.
"A call? In the middle of the night? At the beach? Alone? Why?" asked Mei Zhuo suspiciously, eyeing Xi Men warily.
"It's private. Come on, let us have a toast. Wow! That girl is hot! Excuse me and see how the master works his charm," Xi Men changed the topic and walked away towards the girl a few seats from Mei Zhuo, hoping that Mei Zhuo would forget about what he has mistakenly blurted out.