Well, let's see how well Zhong and Shu get to know each other so well. Might have some cute moments between them.

Chapter 3: Meeting Shu Again

The next day comes and Zhong is just taking a walk across town to get some air for a little bit and not long after, he sees Shu coming out of the market with a bag full of groceries on hand. He was again hypnotized by her looks and he didn't notice her almost losing balance of holding the bags and he snapped back to reality and quickly jumps in and gives her a helping hand.

She looks up and she sees Zhong holding a few bags for her and he lets out a nervous chuckle and he said, "Thought you might use some help."

Shu sighed in relief when Zhong came in quickly as possible and she replied, "I need some. Thanks."

Zhong helped her carrying the bags for her and he tries to keep his balance as still as possible and he kept straining a little and he asked, "How much did you actually get?"

"Only a few items on the list." she replied.

Zhong groans in exasperation as he carried them and he said, "More like a few too many."

Shu lets out a laugh at that comment and he said, "You made a funny."

Shortly thereafter, they made it to her house and when they came in, Zhong was exhausted from carrying all these bags and sets it down on the table for her and Shu sets it down as well and Zhong started panting in exhaustion for helping Shu.

Shu looks at Zhong and she asked, "Exhausted?"

Zhong lets out an exhausted breath and he got to his knees and said, "Very. It's like early morning and already I wish it was night."

Shu chuckled softly and Zhong joined in too and they both looked at each other and she said, "Nice to meet you again, Zhong. And thanks for helping me out."

"You're welcome." Zhong replied.

Soon enough, Shu and Zhong were just walking around the valley just talking and things like that and Zhong could definitely feel like there might be a spark between the two, but not entirely.

Zhong then asked her, "So, you from around here?"

"Well, I just moved in a month ago after I left home and I just felt like I needed to find a peaceful place to live in and when I heard about this Valley of Peace, I was immediately drawn into what it meant. So I decided to make this my home after a visit two years ago because of it's so...beautiful up there." Shu explained.

"Nice."

"What about you? How long have you been here?" asked Shu.

Zhong knew that question was coming up about his past as a ferocious wolf leader back at Gongmen City and he didn't know what her reaction might be and he said, "I'm originally from Gongmen City."

Shu gasped in amazement and she asked, "Where they got the boats and the fireworks?"

"Yep. The very same place." he answered nervously.

"I heard that everything was peaceful after that Shen guy was dead. It's a good thing the Dragon Warrior defeated him when he did."

Zhong chuckled nervously and he said, "Yeah, that was really cool."

As they were walking, Zhong just knew that he had feelings for her even though it only happened in a 24-hour period and he wasn't sure how she would take it that if she found out he was one of Shen's comrades. He sighed heavily and he looked at her in the eyes and he just couldn't tell how beautiful she looked and he said, "You have beautiful eyes."

Shu giggled like a little girl and said, "Thank you."

She soon got attracted by Zhong's one eye and said, "What happened to your eye?"

Zhong sighed heavily and knew that there was gonna be no turning back and he said, "I guess you had to find out somehow."

As soon as they got back to Shu's house, the wolf explained everything to her about being a part of Shen's army and how he took place in that panda massacre and almost got killed by his peacock master and how he's living his new life in the Valley. Shu's reaction was one of shock and also surprise that he had a sordid past that was hidden.

Zhong scratched his back and completely felt like he was guilty of everything he did and Shu just looked at him and she asked, "You still have the scar?"

"Yeah."

Zhong rolls up his sleeve and sees the dried stab wound on his shoulder and to him, it's a reminder of how he stood up against his master for the safety of his pack, in which he loved so deeply. He sighed heavily and said, "Some royal subject I turned out to be. I feel like I might never forgive myself for this."

Shu could see how sad Zhong was and she held his hand and told him, "At least you were alive...otherwise I would've never met ya."

Zhong fell silent for a minute and he turned to her and said, "I didn't want to tell you about this because of what you would think of me."

"Zhong...you've made some bad decisions that Shen forced you to do, but you stood up for what you believed in and live to tell about it. But you made a change to yourself and leave what used to be behind and made up for something good. What I think of you...you're probably the most courageous person I know." Shu said.

Soon enough, Zhong felt like he finally found the holiday spirit inside of him and he then told her, "I've never celebrated the holidays in my entire life."

"Really?" asked Shu.

"Never. We're having this...Winter Feast at the Jade Palace in a few days and I was sorta wondering if you want to..."

Shu went over to him and hugged him tightly and she replied, "I'd love to go!"

Zhong was excited that she could get to go and that it would be the best thing to come over and celebrate. He chuckled softly and said, "Great. I can see you then."

"Sweet. And I'll help you find your holiday spirit." she said, happily.

Without warning, Shu gave Zhong a kiss on the cheek and he felt a little bit of warmth all over him and he just chuckled softly and said, "Awesome..."

"Thanks for helping me with my bags. You're a really sweet person."

"You're welcome." Zhong replied.

He walked out of the house and he just felt like he found his potential mate already and that he found his holiday romance. Would it be possible that there might be sparks flying? In his mind, he felt like it's already begun.

He sighed happily and he made his way back to the palace and he said, "I found love."

Awesome chemistry, huh? How did I do with this? There's more where that comes from, so stick around!