School finally ended and Yong Soo was able to stay happy. Kimchi was on his mind during most of the classes. The whole play incident was kept between the Chinese teens and the Koreans. The others didn't really need to know about it...
"Kimchi~ Kimchi~" Yong Soo sang. He was in front of the group, swinging his arms by his side. They were about to cross the street when a familiar fancy car that was driving the opposite direction, stopped next to them and rolled the window down.
"May we help you ana?" Binh nicely asked. Lien smacked his arm with the back of her hand, giving Binh a look. He should know by now not to stop and talk to people in cars!
"I'm here to speak to someone by the name of Wang Yao." Yao was about to walk up, but Jun held his arm back. "Master Yao, its Walter!" The man said louder.
"Guys it's okay. He's just the butler of the boy I'm tutoring aru." Yao reassured, walking towards the car.
"Nanna Georgia wishes for you to assist Young Master Peter in his studies."
"Um, well we don't really tutor today aru." Yao turned to his friends seeing them look at him back with slightly disappointed looks.
"Yao-Ge! It's Friday! That's when we all hang out!" Mei whined. "Even Toto was looking forward to today!" Binh nodded, agreeing with Mei. Yao sighed.
"Master Yao," The said Chinese teen turned to the butler, "the Young Master's exams are coming up and he must prepare."
"What about the kimchi da ze?" Yao turned to his friends again, seeing Yong Soo stare back with puppy-dog eyes. The Asians huddled into a small group, leaving Yao out.
"What're we going to do? Yao is clearly waiting for us for an answer." Jun said.
"Well he is getting paid a lot to tutor the kid." Lien added.
"But this is the only day of the week we get a break!" Mei complained.
"Yao-San also hasn't been getting much of a break lately." The Asians looked up from there group, seeing Yao still watching them. Kiku was right, Yao looked exhausted. Yao blinked and his friends were back huddling into small group.
"He's been doing most of the chores, field work, and has been helping us all out when we need it." Hong reminded them all. "Not to mention he has to tutor and do his own homework. Yao-Ge hasn't been sleeping that well either."
"He also has to deal with the worst of the rumors ana..." Everyone turned to Binh with gaping eyes. How'd he know that?
"Master Yao, I do not mean to be rude, but I need an answer. I'm running late on picking up Young Master Arthur." The Asians heard this and concluded on an answer. Now they played a quick round of rock-paper-scissors to decide who's telling him. Kiku lost.
"Nii-San," Kiku said, walking up to Yao and the driver, "We think you should just decide yourself." Yes, that was so helpful...
"Nanna Georgia just called. She and the Master and Mistress are willing to pay double until Young Master Peter takes his exams." At that, all the Asians' eyes bulged. Double? Yao was already being payed a lot in their opinion. But actually, the Kirlands were paying less than what they paid the previous tutors. Double still didn't even match what they paid pervious tutors...
Now his friends were telling him to do so. Yao smiled nervously, then turned to the driver/butler, telling him he'd do so. "I'll try to get home a bit early aru!" Yao shouted to his friends before taking off to the Kirkland manor.
"Master Yao! I could just drive you along with Young Master Arthur!" Walter shouted from the window.
"Don't bother. None of us has been talking to anyone of the other students and that includes your 'Young Master'." Hong explained to Walter as the others waved goodbye to Yao. "If he doesn't talk them, then he wouldn't want to ride in the same car." After that, the Asians started walking towards their bus.
"Yao-San really has been doing a lot, huh?" Kiku said aloud as they continued walking. They all turned to him, then back forward.
"Yeah, we should all start doing more for a while. Yao really needs a break." Jun suggested.
"But Yao-Ge kicks us out when he does the chores." Mei said, making her thinking face. She was up for helping out, but her comment was true. She hardly thought that it'd work.
"Might as well just do it when he's gone then..." Everyone stopped in their tracks while Hyung Soo continued walking. Well duh! Why didn't they just do that in the beginning? While Yao's out of the house either tutoring or in the fields, everyone else could just do the indoor house work.
"Hyung Soo-Hyeong! You're a genius da ze!" Yong Soo shouted. "Let's start when we get home! Right da ze?" The younger Korean put his arm out and waited for the others. Next was Binh to put his on top, then Jun and Lien, followed by Kiku, Mei, and Hong. Hyung Soo refused to do so, but still agreed with the plan. "ALRIGHT!" The eight of them got on the bus, ready for their plan.
Yao knocked on the door to the Kirkland household. He expected a servant to open the door, but instead, he saw young Peter.
"Yao? Not to be rude, but what are you doing here?" The little Brit asked. Yao guessed that the nanny didn't tell him that he was tutoring today.
"I was told to come and tutor you today. Something about a big exam coming up aru?" Peter gaped, face-palming then groaning.
"Nanna!" Peter shouted, leaving the door open for Yao to come in. The Chinese teen did so, following behind Peter.
Hearing her name being called, Nanna Georgia came to the young master. Her eyes sparkled with happiness when she saw Yao. "Thank heavens, you're here!" Nanna Georgia shouted, running over to hug Yao. For an elderly lady she was pretty strong, picking up Yao whilst hugging him much to his discomfort. Then again, he was pretty light... "Please help our Young Master!" She cried.
"Nanna Georgia, I'm doing fine! It's Friday!" Peter whined. His nanny released Yao and turned to Peter, patting his head.
"Young Master, your parents are quite worried about your grades."
"Nanna, I'm doing fine. My grades have been getting better." Yao watched as the two went back in forth, Peter complaining and Nanna Georgia politely telling him to study.
"They are not positive that you will do has hoped during your exams." Peter pouted again, crossing his arms. Yao chuckled a bit, recovering from it by faking a cough. He didn't want to seem rude, but Peter was acting adorable.
Yao's fake cough reminded the young Brit that he was there. Peter blushed a bit and gave in. "Fine, I'll give in just this once." He said, marching towards the study. Nanna Georgia smiled sweetly and turned to Yao.
"I'm terribly sorry for making you tutor today, Master Yao." Yao raised this hands reassuringly, giving the nanny a matching smile.
"N-no, it's fine aru! I'm glad to help Peter with his studies aru!" Georgia continued smiling sweetly. She pinched Yao's cheeks, making him bend down a bit since she was a small old lady.
"Such a beautiful and kind young man." She said, unaware that Yao was in pain. He was smiling, but still in pain. Nanna Georgia released Yao, humming a tune as she walked away. Yao rubbed his cheek, walking over towards the study. Wait... 'Beautiful'...?
Back at the Asian household, the Asians were cleaning and doing chores. Even Lin pitched in! Some were doing the laundry, some doing the dishes, others dusting, sweeping the floors, etc.
Lien walked out of Jun and Binh's room after sweeping in there. Binh's elephant collection never ceased to amaze her. The last room she had to sweep was the one Yao, Kiku, and Hong shared. The Vietnamese teen entered the room and started sweeping it up. She noticed it start getting a lot dirtier near Yao's bed. Lien sighed with annoyance, sweeping the Chinese teen's mess. Why were there bamboo leaves on the floor?
Bamboo?
Lien bent down on the floor next to Yao's bed, warily glaring at it. Now that she was quiet and next to it, Lien could hear soft munching. Slowly she reached for the dangling covers, nervous as to what was under there. Lien grabbed the covers, readying herself. Finally,
Whoosh!
Kiku entered the house after hanging the laundry outside to dry. He greeted Binh who was just finishing up the dishes. The Japanese teen walked back to the laundry room with the laundry basket in his arms. He was just going to return it there. As he placed the basket on the ground and stood back straight up, Kiku heard a high pitch squeal and a scream coming right after.
"HONG! KIKU! GET IN HERE!" Kiku heard Lien angrily screamed. It was coming from their room. Kiku hastily ran towards his room. He saw Hong already standing at the doorway.
"Lien-San, what's wro-" Kiku stood gaping at what was sitting on the floor next to Lien.
"What's this...?" She asked, her arms crossed.
"A panda." Hong deadpanned.
"Okay, and what is it doing inside?"
"..." The two teenage boys were silent, walking into their room.
"Konnichiwa ((Hello)), Panda-Chan." Kiku said, bending down towards the panda. Lien sighed, not noticing Hong walk past her. "Seems like Yao-San was hiding this panda right underneath our noses..."
"Did you guys really not notice anything? The panda was right in your room?" Kiku gulped and sweat-dropped. He did expect something, but every time he asked what was going on, Yao just stuttered an excuse. The Japanese teen never really thought of it, even though he was curious what Yao was hiding.
"No, I saw him a couple times." Hong said, looking at a very old and worn out notebook. "I didn't say anything because then Yao-Ge would get in trouble. He just loves pandas..." Lien walked over to see what Hong was looking at.
"What's that?" She finally asked.
"It's Yao-Ge's panda log. According to this, it's his 418th panda and its name is Zhen. A girl panda actually..." Lien and Kiku's eyes both bulge like fishes.
"What's with all the scre-" Mei and the others just arrived at the door, but the Taiwanese girl's question was cut off.
"HE HAD 417 PANDAS?" Lien shouted, grabbing the notebook and flipping through it. "I only saw like 15 of them throughout the years!"
"Yao-Ge's good at hiding his pandas. I only saw like 60 of them..." Hong turned to the door, seeing the others also gaping at the panda. Slowly the all walked in, surround the cute mammal.
"Master Shin's not going to be happy about this..." Lin said, petting the soft panda. "Good thing he's not home at the moment..."
"How long has he had this one da ze?" Yong Soo curiously asked.
"He had it since the first day of school." Lien said, not looking up from the notebook. "At least, that's what it says here..."
"So, number 418, huh?" Hyung Soo asked, wondering if he had heard correctly from the previous shouting. Kiku nodded.
"What do we do now ana?"
"Well the chores are done." Mei answered. "And we can't let it go. Yao-Ge will know and be upset."
"Chi!~" Little Zhen squeaked. The Asians all turned to the little panda having it stare back up at them.
"Yao-San really loves pandas..."
"x=6 and b=9" Peter answered, smiling up at Yao.
"Then what is y if m=8 aru?" Yao asked smiling back at Peter. The said Brit crossed his arms and closed his eyes, making his thinking face. It didn't take him long to answer.
"57!" Peter shouted confidently. Yao nodded, signalling that he was correct.
"Okay, that should be enough today. I need to get home aru." The Chinese teen said, standing up. He didn't catch the disappointed look on Peter's face. "Just remember y=m(x) +b."
"Yeah, I remember. Won't you stay for dinner, Yao?" Peter pleaded a bit. Yao gave the younger boy a soft smile, playfully messing up his hair.
"I'm sorry. I have to start dinner for my own family aru. It's getting late and I have to catch the bus." Peter nodded obediently. He followed the Chinese teen towards the front door, seeing him out.
"I-if you want, I could have Walter drive you home!" Peter offered as Yao opened the door.
"No, it's fine. I don't want to be a bother aru. See you tomorrow, Peter." With that, Yao left. Peter ran towards the window, seeing Yao outside. He was looking at his watch then looked panicked. Peter guessed that the bus was coming soon because Yao took off running pretty fast. It made the Brit feel guilty for making him late.
"What're you looking at?" Peter turned and saw Arthur walking down stairs.
"Just seeing my tutor out." Peter said highly, walking towards the kitchen with his nose in the air.
"Well I hope she doesn't think you're a little stalker." The younger Brit turned and shot Arthur an unamused look. The said Brit only smirked at his younger brother. "Actually, I never recall ever meeting her." Arthur thought allowed. And the fact that Peter said she was Chinese still bugged him.
"Well it doesn't matter 'cuz I already called her! Beh!" Peter stuck his tongue out while pulling down his cheek under of one of his eyes. Arthur stuck his tongue back at him playfully, chuckling at his younger brother's immaturity. Peter has been doing a lot better, especially in math. Maybe he should meet this tutor of his.
"I'm home!" Yao shouted, making his way towards the kitchen. He did promise Yong Soo kimchi. What made the Chinese teen stop in his tracks was a quiet 'Chi!'. Crap! The teen thought, quickly walking towards his room. Quickly he opened the door, not prepared for what was inside.
"Okaeri ((Welcome home)), Yao-San." Kiku was first to greet, but Yao wasn't really listening. Instead, he was watching the little panda play with all his friends.
"We found panda number 418, Yao." Lien said, standing and thumping Yao in the head with his panda log.
"418? Oh! No, this is Qiang! He's a boy and number 419 aru! I haven't written him down yet." Yao swiped the notebook from Lien, walking over to his desk to log Qiang down. "Thanks for snooping through my stuff aru..." Yao sarcastically said. Lien chuckled nervously, scratching the back of her head.
"Wait, then what happened to Zhen?" Mei asked, her head shooting towards Yao.
"Well, Zhen grew kinda big so I had to let her go. She came back though with Qiang on her back aru! Zhen found him and well," Yao started chucking a bit, "Wǒ de yéye ((I'm a grandpa))." He joked. The room became quiet except for Yao chuckling with Qiang on his lap and the little panda 'Chi!'-ing.
First off THANKS FOR 100 REVIEWS! Review #100 was from Hong-Gok~ you guys make me so happy TTwTT hehe, panda chapter~ and two chapters in a day! yays! haven't done that in a while... ku ku ku ku~ poor Yao, having to do so much. yeah, this is more about the other Asians cuz haven't been writing them all in a while or so. once again, I'd like to thank everyone for the reviews and hits! ((4811)). Reviews are loved, please forgive spelling, grammar, and/or language. LOVE YOU GUYS!
Thanks for last chapter reviewers: MeiMeiaru8, FullOfAwesomeness44, Hatsu Yukiya, Ladirette, Asianmadnesslove, Dorayaki-chan, roseofsharon, and Hong-Gok ((not really sure about pairings, but as you can read, for sure IggyChu~ ku ku ku~))!