Touched by an Angel Chapter 9- Too Complicated

Silence.

At times you would want the earth to swallow you. Right now was one of those moments for Lei. What should he do? What was he supposed to do? Jing stared at him, awaiting his answer. Shan Cai stared at him as well, but perhaps for a slightly different reason. Lei opened his mouth, but then closed it again.

Finally, he nodded mutely.

Jing smiled pleasantly and extended her hand to Shan Cai and said, "Hi, I'm Teng Tang Jing. You can call me Jing. I used to be a student at Ying De too, but I've graduated and am studying in Paris."

Shan Cai smiled back at Jing, and shook her outstretched lightly, knowing full well who she was. Who in the whole of Taiwan didn't know Teng Tang Jing? Unless you were blind, there was absolutely no chance you could miss all the advertisements she's been in that was hanging from almost every business building in Taiwan.

"Hi," she replied. "I'm Shan Cai. I'm a junior here."

Jing glanced at her work and Shan Cai shuffled in front of it, slightly embarrassed by Jing's scrutinizing gaze. She didn't know why someone like Teng Tang Jing would be interested in her, a mere commoner. But then again, so much weird stuff has been happening lately that she can't be sure. For instance, a week ago today she would've never dreamed of talking to Hua Ze Lei, let alone be friends with him.

Jing frowned lightly. "Shan Cai... I think I've heard that name before somewhere." Then she grinned as she remembered. "Dong Shan Cai- Dux two years in a row. You're on the honor board. That's where I read your name. It's great to meet you."

Shan Cai blushed and replied modestly, "It' just luck. There are heaps of people here who are just as smart, study just as much as me... I just got lucky."

"As if," said Jing, "It's not as if I haven't been to Ying De. I know what it's like. No one here bothers with work. All they ever do is compete with each other's looks, cars, clothes, and even whom they're dating. Its all so superficial."

Lei breathed out a sigh of relief as he saw how well Jing and Shan Cai was getting on. And then he wondered- what was he worried about in the first place? That Jing would look down on Shan Cai like all the other rich girls at Ying De? Of course not. Jing would never do something like that. She was reasonable, kind, helping. That was why he loved her. He was being stupid. He knew Jing better than that.


Lei was getting into his brand new BMW when a voice called out to him. He turned and saw Jing walking briskly towards him, her hair bouncing lightly with each step she took. She paused to let a couple of students walk in front of her, and then jogged slowly up to him.

"Hey," she greeted, flicking her hair back. "Are you busy?"

Lei shrugged carelessly. "I've got nothing to do."

Jing paused slightly before she began again. "Do you... Do you want to spend the afternoon together? You know... catch up. I've been away for so long. It'll be good to speak with an old friend again." She put a particular emphasis on the word 'friend'.

Lei's heart jumped to his throat as she finished. He couldn't believe that Jing had suggested this. Did it mean that she wanted to get back together? But if so, why did she emphasize the word 'friend'? Was it because she didn't want to voice it out completely? Or was it because he misunderstood everything? At the thought of the possibility of having another chance with Jing, part of him was screaming with joy, yet another part of him was oddly reluctant. Why was that?

Jing was looking at him expectantly, so he replied casually, "Sure." He motioned for her to get into the car, and he himself jumped in as well, heart swelling with excitement and dread. "Where do you want to go?" he asked.

Jing shrugged. "Anywhere," she replied and smiled at him, "Anywhere you decided will be fine with me."

Lei's heart cringed at her smile. Smiling, he suggested, "Why don't we just drive along and stop at wherever we end up? How does that sound?"

Jing nodded and combed her hair with her hand. "It'll be a nice feeling, speeding along and letting the wind rustle through us, and then ending up at wherever fate leads us. A bit like life, when you think about it. I like it. Let's do it."

Lei grinned and pressed down the accelerator. The black BMW sped through the parking spaces of Ying De and soon faded into the light of the setting sun.


Lei got home late that night. His butler fussed over him, only to be dismissed with a tired wave of the hand. Lei threw himself down onto the sofa, and turned to switch on a nearby lamp. Even though he was really tired, he couldn't help but smile.

He had such a wonderful time with Jing that afternoon. He hadn't felt so happy and carefree for a very long time. Jing and him had talked and laughed as if there was nothing wrong between them. Perhaps there never really was, thought Lei. Maybe it was just a chance for us to appreciate each other more. It was just that he felt so comfortable with Jing. Only Jing can make me feel this way, thought Lei.

When he ran into Jing this morning, Lei feared that things would be extremely awkward between them. He even somewhat wished that Jing never came back. But now he was completely proved wrong. And he was glad for that, glad that they have returned to the old Jing and Lei. And what was even more stupid of him was that he had been worried that Jing wouldn't treat Shan Cai nicely.

Oh God, thought Lei suddenly, sitting up, alert.

Shan Cai.

He had been wrong when he had thought that only Jing could make him feel happy. He was happy with Shan Cai too. In the time he had spent with Shan Cai, he had forgotten Jing. He felt something that he had never felt before with Shan Cai.

Lei groaned and slumped back down.

Everything was so complicated.

Too complicated.


A/N: Thank you to those who reviewed... please keep supporting me!!!

Have a great day,

Amyranth