WILD ABANDON

Shancai groaned as Dao Ming Si laid her down on the bed. Worriedly, her husband looked down at her. "You said it was just a mild headache," he said in reproach, noting her pale face.

She gave him a weak smile. "It is," she said. "Maybe I'm just tired."

He hesitated. "Maybe I should not go to the bar."

Her eyes widened at him. "Are you crazy? You invited the others and now you are not going to show up? I won't let you!"

"But you are sick!"

She tried to give him a teasing smile. "This is just a simple headache, and I am just tired. Nothing serious. You heard what the doctor said. Just drink some of the medicine, and go straight to sleep."

He looked down at her in hesitation then said, "Fine!" He strode over to where her purse was left and dug through it until he found the tablets the doctor had just prescribed. "But I would not leave until you have fallen asleep."

Shancai went on smiling at him teasingly as he poured a glass of water for her. "Oh...so sweet..." She giggled as Dao Ming Si threw her a dirty look.

After giving her the medicine, Dao Ming Si held true to his word and planted himself on the bed beside her, unwilling to go until she has fallen asleep.

Stroking her head, he said softly, "Tomorrow I want you to stay home and not go to the office for a couple of days. You have been stressing out lately."

She resisted. "But...the office!"

"They will handle it while you are gone. Your people are quite capable. You don't have to worry about anything. And about the purchase of the lot...leave it all to me, Shancai. I will have everything taken cared of."

She became silent at the mention of the main thing that had been worrying her lately. "Have you heard anything from Mr. Li?"

Dao Ming Si did not reply immediately. In truth, he had been worried as well. They have sent their offer to Mr. Li yesterday, but they have not heard from them yet. Li Fong told him to be patient, but when it is Dao Ming Feng on the other side of the fence, one cannot help but be afraid.

"Not yet," he said. "But I am sure we'll have something by tomorrow." If not, he thought silently, then he would just have to do something.

He remained with her until her breathing evened and sleep finally took her. Slowly so as not to wake her up he removed her shoes and her clothes, tucking the sheets snugly around her. Planting a soft whispery kiss on top of her forehead he left the room. After leaving a few messages to the maid, he drove to Meteors.

As usual the place was packed when he arrived, and when he looked around, he was not surprised to see Xi Men already at the bar, talking to a lady, one of the regulars of Meteors. Inwardly he shook his head. Anyone looking at Xi Men now would not even think he is having problems. He masks it pretty well.

Xi Men spotted him and excused himself from his present company to join his friend. When he got to where Dao Ming Si was seated, he leaned back on the leather seat, contentedly noting the jam-packed bar.

"It's a full house," he said to Dao Ming Si. "V6 went completely kaput."

Dao Ming Si merely shrugged and smiled wryly at Xi Men. "Out with the old, in with the new."

"Speaking of new, Hua Ze Lei is here. With Aisha."

Dao Ming Si's brows went up in astonishment. "Really?"

Nodding, Xi Men replied. "I was surprised myself. I thought the last thing she would want is to go back to the scene of the crime, so to speak. Looks like there is more to this Aisha than we think."

"Yeah," Dao Ming Si replied wryly. "Lei did make sure we knew that last time." He scanned the thick crowd. "I sure would like to talk with her for a moment. Where is she?"

"Lei's over there at the bar, getting some drinks. I don't know where she went. She was just there with him a while back."

Dao Ming Si got to his feet as he spotted Aisha walking towards the ladies' room. "I'll only be a second," he said and made his way to the direction of the ladies' room.

As he lounged by the doors of the restrooms waiting for her to come out, he wondered if he was actually doing this. Apologizing! He had never felt the urge to apologize to anyone before...well, except Shancai, of course. The times he made an apology to any of the F4 had been seldom. So seldom in fact that he could actually count them with his fingers.

Maybe he is really getting soft, he thought disparagingly, and at that moment the door opened and Aisha came out.

She looked particularly in good spirits tonight, although Dao Ming Si thought he saw hesitation in her eyes when she saw him standing there. He nodded at her and spoke in a friendly tone.

"I thought you were never coming out," he said lightly.

Aisha warily looked at him. "Were you...waiting for me?"

He shrugged and looked at the crowd filling the dance floor. "I am quite surprised you came."

Aisha chose not to remark on this, and he did not seem to expect her to. He went on. "But that is not why I was waiting for you. I wanted to talk to you."

"About what?" she asked, wondering what is on his mind. After all, they were not actually on speaking terms.

All of a sudden he became quite uncomfortable as he slid his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "Listen...about those times...I know I wasn't exactly the most friendly person you met since you came here."

As he spoke Aisha realized what he was saying. She had the urge to smile, and maybe even laugh out loud. She should feel elated, happy that Dao Ming Si seemed to have finally changed his mind about her and decided to give her a chance.

Perfect timing, she thought. Just when she decided it would all be over, and this would happen. But will it change anything?

No, it won't, she decided firmly.

She gave him a reassuring smile. "Dao Ming Si, don't apologize. It is nothing, really. I am entirely OK with it."

He stared at her. "You are?"

Aisha gave a shrug. "I understand why you had to be like...that. Besides, I am used to people rejecting me."

That last sentence slipped out of nowhere, and she surprised even herself when she heard the come out. For a moment she just stared up at him as his eyes narrowed at her, wondering what she meant by that.

But before Dao Ming Si could probe further, Aisha excused herself and walked past him towards the dance floor.

Hua Ze Lei was waiting by the counter, a couple of tall glasses on the counter before him. But Aisha shifted directions and went directly in the thick of the dancers.

Oh, if she could only lose herself out here...

Shancai lay there in the dimness of the room, staring at the ceiling. Dao Ming Si had left almost an hour ago already, and she promised him she would go to sleep. But she could not seem to do it.

A lot of things were bothering her, and this headache is not helping her any.

Work at Skylark is occupying most of her time. When Xi Men and Dao Ming Si decided she is the best person to run it, she did not complain, mainly because it is something she had wanted to do: to work in a travel agency. She knew it would be tough work; after all working in a travel agency and actually MANAGING one, are two different things.

But she vowed she would make it work. And she did. So far she knew she is doing good.

Then came the news of Dao Ming Feng arriving in Taipei. That sent her reeling, but she had to pretend as though it did not really affect her.

But what else did she expect? Dao Ming Feng will never accept her for her son, that part she knew. I guess somewhere within her she hoped that the matriarch would just...leave her and Dao Ming Si alone.

But no…there was the square-off between mother and son over Alar. And now Dao Ming Feng is making sure Shancai feels her presence by turning on her parents. Even Shage was not spared.

Shancai closed her eyes. She is with Dao Ming Si now. She should not feel alone. And yet...

She does not want to cause any more dissension between him and his Mama.

She feels so alone...

Alone.

In the middle of this energetic crowd of strangers dancing with each other to the beat of the American music, she still felt incredibly alone.

But she kept up the front. She knew she would probably tire form having to smile like crazy for the rest of the night, but if that's what it would take for her to at least forget...even for a while...

Somebody shoved a glass in front of her and she took it gratefully, downing the contents in one gulp. For a moment she was jolted by the shock of drinking it. Man, it is strong!

But before she could throw it up she forced herself to swallow it, feeling the hot searing liquid burning down in her throat.

After a while, it passed, and she found herself smiling at the guy who gave it to her.

"Wanna dance?" he yelled above the din and she nodded, taking his hand.

With a detached eye Hua Ze Lei saw Aisha walk further into the middle of the dancing throng with the guy who invited her.

She sure is acting strange tonight.

He looked up as someone walked up beside him on the counter. Xi Men nodded at him, and he acknowledged him with another nod, then turned his gaze back to the dance floor, seeing only a glimpse of Aisha laughing.

Xi Men followed the direction of his gaze, and said, "Why do I have the feeling that I am not the only one puzzled by this sudden behavior from Aisha?"

Hua Ze Lei turned around and faced his drink. "Let's just leave her alone. She needs to unwind."

Xi Men just nodded his head and also turned his back on the dance floor. "How are things with the two of you?" he inquired.

"How else?" Hua Ze Lei asked back, not really in the mood to talk about it. "It is you I should be asking about."

Xi Men sighed and gave a slight laugh. "Here you go again, avoiding the real question."

"Who is avoiding?" Hua Ze Lei asked pointedly and, after a while, both of them laughed. "Cheers!" he said and their glasses clinked.

Suddenly the music changed to techno music, its tempo wilder, faster, seemingly encouraging more frenetic movements.

Xi Men sighed. "This American disc jockey A Si hired for this gig is really making sure this would be one wild night. Too bad Mei Zuo is not here. He would love this! Do you remember how he would take the dance floor by storm?"

The sudden sound of the crowd's cheers getting louder drew their attention and both men turned to see what the racket was all about.

There, on top of one of the tables, Aisha was dancing wildly with the music, her hips gyrating, moving to the beat. Her hair was flying with every movement and her hands waved in the air, her eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to everyone else.

"What the..." Xi Men could only say.

But Hua Ze Lei did not hear him. He was staring at Aisha, who kept dancing with wild abandon. His heart was breaking, seeing through her. She felt...lost. He knew that.

Across the room Dao Ming Si was watching the display with his jaws dropping open. He stole a glance at Hua Ze Lei, but it was Xi Men who nodded at him.

At that moment one of the men around the table stepped up on it and began dancing with her. Aisha seemed not to notice it and just kept on.

That was enough. Hua Ze Lei moved forward and fought his way through the throng, ignoring XI Men calling out his name, until he was looking straight up at her.

"Aisha!" he called out loudly at her. "Aisha, come on, let's go!"

Aisha looked down at him, but she kept on dancing. "A little later, Lei, please?"

Hua Ze Lei looked around helplessly and tried again. "Aisha, it is getting late."

But she did not seem to hear him. Left with no choice, Hua Ze Lei reached up and caught her by the waist, pulling her down from the table.

Groans of complaint and indignation came from all around them as he steadied Aisha. The guy who was dancing on the table with her jumped down and faced Hua Ze Lei.

"Hey, man! What are you, a spoilsport?"

Hua Ze Lei glared at the other guy, obviously inebriated from too much wine. "I'm her boyfriend, that's what I am. Now get out of my way."

The guy, who was slightly bigger but of the same height, moved forward. "Make me."

He didn't know how it happened. It was totally out of character, but in the next minute he sent the guy backwards with a strong punch on the jaw.

The music stopped and Hua Ze Lei found himself staring at the outraged guy who got back to his feet, getting his bearings back.

"You...!"

Dao Ming Si and XI Men came between them. "That's enough," Dao Ming Si said, restraining the other guy while Xi Men stood in Hua Ze Lei's path.

The guy looked at Dao Ming Si and said, "Who the hell are you?"

"I own this place," Dao Ming Si said calmly. "Break it up, guys," he added.

The guy pointed at Hua Ze Lei. "That jerk! He's ruining our fun! He won't even let us enjoy his babe!"

This angered Hua Ze Lei even more and he made a move to rush at the other guy but Xi Men restrained him. "Lei, don't!"

The other guy smiled at him in a challenge. "Wanna take this outside?"

Hua Ze Lei took one look at his grin and said, "Let's go."

Aisha's voice stopped Hua Ze Lei. "Stop it!" All eyes turned to look at her and she was spitting mad, but at the same time, troubled.

"Aisha..." he began.

With a sob, Aisha rushed past him and ran out of the bar. Hua Ze Lei met Dao Ming Si's eyes, conveying a silent apology. Dao Ming Si nodded almost imperceptibly and Xi Men let go of Hua Ze Lei. Without so much as a glance at the others, Hua Ze Lei rushed off after Aisha.

Xi Men sighed in relief. Dao Ming Si turned to the others and clapped his hands. "Show's over, guys. Let's get on with it."

With a wink from Xi Men, the American DJ played again.

And the party went on.