MY HOME...MY HEART...

Her eyes were like huge round plates, mimicking her mouth as her jaws dropped open in disbelief. She could not quite believe what she is seeing with her own two eyes. Beside her Dao Ming Si tried to hide a smug smile he shared with Xi Men.

Her home. Their home.

It is exactly as she had pictured it to be. Exactly as she had wanted it to look like. For someone like her who had lived in poverty all her life, this is, undeniably, a palace.

The paintjob is obviously fresh, and the stucco walls looked sturdy enough to weather whatever storm may come. The cobblestone path leading to the main doorway is lined with the most beautiful blooms she had ever seen, some of which she could not even name.

Clearly Xi Men took great pains in bringing these imported flowers for the house.

The structure has two floors, with a sweeping driveway that leads to a two-car garage. Two-car! Shancai wondered if now she would have to learn how to drive.

A soft nudge at the shoulder woke her up from her silent musing. She turned her head and met Dao Ming Si's smiling eyes. His smile was so contagious she found herself smiling back.

"Are you planning on staying in the car all day?" he kidded and Shancai looked around to find they were the only one who had not gotten off the car. Xi Men, Mei Zuo, Hua Ze Lei and Xiao Qiao were already lounging outside, waiting for her.

"Oh, sorry," she said ruefully and let Dao Ming Si help her out of the car. The house looked even more beautiful as she took a closer look. Round the right side a sprawling lawn was planted with fresh bermuda grass and more flowers. From where she stood she knew there's something more at the back.

Xi Men straightened. "There's a basketball court and a small pool at the back, if you care to know. The basketball court was a last-minute addition by A Si, by the way."

Dao Ming Si gave his friend a slap at the back. "Thanks, pal," he said.

Shancai was looking at Xi Men now with wonder in her eyes. "You did...all these? Wow!" she gushed.

Xi Men laughed. "As much as I'd like to take all the credit, I can't. I just gave the specifications to my staff and they worked on it. It's basically my staff's time and effort put into this. Besides," He slid a mischievous glance at Dao Ming Si, "nothing but the best for Master Dao Ming Si and his bride."

Dao Ming Si shrugged, conceding defeat. "I could not have pulled this off. Hands up to you, Xi Men!"

Mei Zuo clapped his palms together. "OK, now that we got that out of the way...I don't know about you, people, but I don't feel too comfortable standing outside. Why don't we go check the inside of the house?"

"Good idea," Hua Ze Lei piped in. "And, oh, Xi Men, did you have your staff stock the kitchen as well? I'm starving."

Xi Men snorted. "You're always hungry. If it isn't your stomach grumbling, it's sleep calling." He shook his head in amused irritation. "Don't worry, I told my dtaff to take care of EVERYTHING and I do mean everything. Even the finest wines, A Si."

Shancai couldn't help but laugh. "Xi Men, you are so good at this, you should take a wife and start building your own home."

At this remark, Mei Zuo guffawed in amusement while Hua Ze Lei bit back a smile. Xi Men merely gave them dirty looks.

"Mei Zuo!" he said. "Laugh all you want, but I would not do this for you! Pray Xiao Qiao has enoguh patience to actually put up with you when you are married!"

This didn't mar Mei Zuo's amusement. He just kept laughing as all six of them went into the house.

It was short notice; even Dao Ming Si and Shancai weren't fully prepared. But trust Xi Men to pull one of his master strokes again. That very same evening, they were joined by Shancai's parents, Shage, Qing He and Mimi for housewarming dinner.

It was a simple fare, but the couple did not really want anything flashy or incredibly extravagant.

As they all trooped arounud the table, Shancai could not kepp herself from smiling all the time as she noticed everyone in good spirits.

"Wait!" Mei Zuo said all of a sudden. "Something occurred to me while I was going through this place."

Everyone turned to him, expecting another one of his many wisecracks.

Mei Zuo went on. "There's a rose garden...a lawn...a two-car garage...a pool...a basketball court...let's see...hmmm..."

Xi Men was beginning to laugh.

Mei Zuo ticked off his fingers to prove his point. "Shancai will now have to learn how to drive...how to swim real good...how to play basketball - you suck at it." Louder laughter issued from Xi Men. "...And also grow flowers!"

The fits of laughter came harder for Xi Men as the others joined in. "Shancai...with flowers!"

Shancai bit back laughter while trying to glare at Xi Men and Mei Zuo. "Hey!"

Mei Zuo held his hands up. "I'm sorry, I just could not imagine you among...flowers!" He laughed harder.

"I admit I am not much good at raising them, but I will learn!"

"Of course she will!" Her mother came to her rescue and Shancai gave her a look of gratitude, only to be wiped away by her mother's next statement. "It will take a really long time, but my Shancai will certainly do that, right Papa?"

Papa, his mouth full of the enchilada Shage had made earlier, simply nodded.

Dao Ming Si said, "Shancai can do anything. Hasn't she proved that many times over?"

In spite of herself, Shancai beamed at her husband.

Hua Ze Lei cleared his throat while Xi Men coughed. "Uh-oh, here we go..."

Dao Ming Si and Shancai openly ignored the others, revelling in their happiness at finally being in their home.

After dinner, the others trooped to the living room for a game of chess while Dao Ming Si, Mei Zuo and Xi Men engaged in a game of pool at the den.

Shancai sauntered into the balcony overlooking the small pool at the backyard and was not surprised to find Hua Ze Lei standing there.

He smiled as she approached his side.

"This is a beautiful house."

"Yeah," she said, leaning on the rail beside him. "Xi Men has outdone himself again."

"But he said the whole thing was your idea..."

"Some of it, yes." After a pause, she looked closer at her friend. "You look good.'

"Thanks," he said. "You're not so bad yourself."

Her smile widened. "People in love look THAT good."

His only answer was a small laugh and he stared out into the pool. Beside him, Shancai noted the serene look that came over him, finally feeling happy that Hua Ze Lei seems to be doing good.

He deserves it. And whoever SHE is that occupies his mind...and probably his heart.

"It's your money," Xi Men said, watching as the fourth ball went straight into the pocket. "How many times has your father told you that?"

Dao Ming Si straightened and checked out the angle of the fifth. "Countless times."

"So...?" Xi Men asked. "I don't see why you should feel uncomfortable touching it."

"Yeah," Mei Zuo agreed from his seat in the corner of the den. "At least it's not the Queen's money. And it wasn't her who handed it to you."

"I'm not sure which is worse," Dao Ming Si said, posing to hit on the cue ball.

As the fifth ball slid cleanly into one of the pockets again, Xi Men said, "Worse?"

"Between my mother and father. One could never really tell with Papa...at least with my mother, it's all transparent."

Xi Men thought on this for a moment. "I guess you're right." He straightened. "Still...you should make use of that money. There really is no other way, is there?"

Xi Men and Mei Zuo had the same answer: a simple shake of the head. Dao Ming Si sighed.

"I guess there's no stopping it." He looked at Xi Men. "I can count on you, can I?"

"Of course." Xi Men smiled. "As we speak, the final touches on Meteors are underway. In less than a week, it'll be ready for opening."

Dao Ming Si nodded. "Thanks." SIlently he wondered if he could really do it. But he squashed all doubts, knowing he can't go wrong. He has F4, he has the resources...

...and more importantly, he has SHANCAI.

Mei Zuo kissed Xiao Qiao good night and watched as she entered the gates of her home, but not after blowing her another kiss.

He smiled and did the same. In another time and place he would have felt too mushy blowing someone a kiss, but heck, Xiao Qiao is his girlfriend, soon-to-be fiancee...soon-to-be wife...

The engagement party is coming up, and both their mothers are hard at work at it. Really, there is nothing the two of them can do anymore. Their mothers took everything out of their hands.

As he got into his car, his mobile phone rang.

It's William. His private investigator friend.

"Hey," he said, finally relieved that William was available. "I tried calling you earlier."

"Yeah," the PI replied on the other end. He is American, and had met Mei Zuo since the first time he came to Taipei. "Something came up on a case, but now it's solved. What is it you wanted to talk about?"

Mei Zuo wondered if he was doing the right thing. After all, what did he expect to get from doing this?

But he wanted to know, damn it!

He cleared his throat. "I was wondering if you could do something for me..."

"Sure thing," William replied. "I have nothing lined up for the next couple of weeks so I could give it all my attention. What is it?"

On the other end the American wondered what Mei Zuo would have him do. The last favor Mei Zuo called in was about some old woman who he tracked but turned out to have died.

"I want you to look for someone. And William," Mei Zuo breathed, "I think you might need to go to Japan for this..."