Touched by an Angel

Chapter 10- The Mistake

The morning sun shone over Ying De, and revealed a small girl sitting on the rooftop. The sky glinted gold, and rays of light bounced around. Shan Cai's hand moved carelessly over her folder, as she sketched down the glory of the sunrise.

Upon hearing the sound of footsteps, she glanced backwards, expecting Lei.

But Teng Tang Jing smiled pleasantly at her.

"Morning Shan Cai," greeted Jing, "Were you expecting someone else?"

Shan Cai hurriedly shook her head.

Jing moved over and glanced over her shoulders at the drawing. "That's so beautiful!" she exclaimed in awe. "You have real talent, Shan Cai!"

Shan Cai blushed. "It's just a stupid rough sketch, that's all," she replied modestly.

Jing smiled. "Well if this is just a rough sketch, then I'd like to see one of your serious works!" she said amusedly. "No seriously, you could go far with your art. I have some connections in the industry. I'll see if I can find something for you. Maybe even your own art exhibition!"

Shan Cai looked up in surprise. "Really!" she exclaimed excitedly. "You'd do that for me?"

"Of course," answered Jing, laughing. "I think you have talent! I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks so. I have a friend who deals in this area. I'll give him a call today and he can have a look at your works!"

Shan Cai was ecstatic. "Oh thank you so much Jing xuejie!" she cried, hugging the older girl. "Having my own exhibition has always been a dream of mine."

Jing grinned. "Now, I'm not giving out any guarantees. I can get him to come and have a look, but the rest is up to you. You are the one who has to convince him that you are worthy, okay?"

Shan Cai nodded eagerly. "Of course. I'll present him with my best work. I won't let you down, Jing xuejie! Oh I can't thank you enough!"

Jing smiled at Shan Cai's excitement. There was a silence between the two of them. It wasn't particularly awkward, but it certainly wasn't very comfortable.

Finally, Jing spoke up. "So tell me Shan Cai," she said, "How did you and Lei meet?"

Something in Shan Cai suddenly felt very cautious. Her conscience scolded her. Jing xuejie is being nice to you, and she's just trying to make conversation. What on earth are you scared about? But the feeling remained there, no matter how hard Shan Cai tried to push it down. Choosing her words carefully, she recounted the long tale, sometimes evading a few parts.

Finally, Jing nodded, and smiled. But there was something not quite right about the smile, though Shan Cai could not pick up on what. She ignored it, and continued to talk with Jing.


Lei walked back from double physics in a not very good mood. His mind was swarming with complicated formulas, definitions of forces and weird symbols he forgot the meanings of. He shut his locker, and to his surprise, Jing's face popped up.

She smiled at him brightly. "Had fun at your last lesson?" she asked merrily.

"Nope," replied Lei, making a face at Jing, causing her to laugh. "It was completely mind-boggling. I think I'll drop physics next year. It's not as if I really need it. The only reason I still kept it this year was because Mei Zuo dared me to."

Jing grinned. "Well, care to join me for lunch? Maybe it will help refresh you. I find that a cup of coffee can always help awake those who have just returned from double physics."

"Thanks," accepted a grateful Lei, "I think I need it. I'm seriously caffeine deprived."

Jing smiled. "Then it's on me. Come on, we'd better go now before all the seats are taken. But then again, if you're there, then it probably doesn't matter. You'd just scare away all the other students."

Lei made a face.


Jing suddenly cracked up at a comment Lei made. The two of them had bought cups of take-away coffee from the cafeteria, and were sitting at the rooftop of Ying De, talking and laughing, just like the good old times.

Lei grinned, and asked her why she was all of a sudden acting so strangely. She stopped laughing abruptly, and the two sat in silence for a while, before Jing answered.

"I guess… I guess I just miss this. All of this. I miss Ying De, I miss high school, my friends, you," she added, giving him a wink. "It' s just good to be back."

Lei did not say anything. He wasn't quite sure what to make of Jing's sudden change of attitude towards him. Was she just being nice, as a friend, or did she have intentions of them getting back together? Was he reading too much between the lines?

Jing suddenly softened, and leaned on Lei's shoulders. "You know," she whispered, "I get so lonely out there. Everyone admires me, Teng Tang Jing, the girl who has everything- looks, money, and fame. But really, sometimes, at the end of the day, I feel as if I have nothing that is worthwhile. My looks will fade over the long years, my money cannot buy me happiness, and fame, well let's say that it does more bad than good. Sometimes I look into myself and ask, what have I done in this lifetime that is really worthwhile?"

Lei glanced down at her, and saw her with a sad regretful expression.

Jing continued. "And then one day, I suddenly realized what..." she trailed off. She looked into his eyes. "I've found you, Lei. That's worth more than anything else."

Lei did not know what to say. Memories of him and Jing emerged in his mind, and driven by an unknown source of desire within him, he leaned down, and his lips met Jing's. He held her tightly, unwilling to let her go, unwilling for the kiss to end. She responded with the same urgency.

Wham.

Lei broke the kiss off abruptly at the sound of doors slamming. He spun around, heart beating fast. And he saw what was unmistakably the backside of Shan Cai flying down the stairs.

Lei suddenly turned cold.

Shan Cai had seen everything.

"Lei…" whispered Jing, tugging his arm.

He turned back to his ex-girlfriend. "I'm sorry Jing," he said, before sprinting off after Shan Cai.


A/N: sorry for slow updates... please review!!!