Fan Fiction |
by manggang_hilaw
Lei didn’t give any indication that he’d heard. He just continued staring at the sky silently.
The owner of the voice walked to stand beside him and stared up at the sky too, not speaking. After several moments, Lei spoke softly without looking at the person beside him, “Why aren’t you inside mingling?”
His companion just shrugged. “Why did you come?”
“Because my friend asked me to.”
“I see.” The person gave a light laugh. “She must be pretty special.”
“She is.”
“Is she the one…?”
Lei pretended not to understand. “She’s a friend.”
“Lei! I’ve been looking all over for you.” Xiao You came through the balcony doors in a hurry and stopped when she realized he was not alone. “Oh…I’m sorry…I didn’t see you had company…”
Lei didn’t move.
The person beside Lei turned and smiled at her. “It’s ok…I was just leaving anyway.”
“I didn’t mean to intrude…” Xiao You explained awkwardly as she recognized the stranger’s face.
“It doesn’t matter. We really weren’t talking anyway. Just two strangers enjoying the night sky.”
Xiao You’s friendly nature took over and she quickly walked over to the two figures. “Well, if we introduce ourselves, then we won’t be strangers anymore, right? His name’s Lei.” she pointed to Lei. “And I’m Xiao You.”
The stranger shook her hand. “Nice to meet you Xiao You. I’m Lin. I played the violin at the concert.”
Lin? Violin? And like lightning, it hit Xiao You. “Oh my God! Is this Lin? Lei’s Lin?” she almost groaned aloud at her poor timing. She would have left them alone if she’d realized earlier. Stupid Xiao You!
“Hey…you don’t have to go…” Xiao You said when Lin started walking towards the door. “You can stay and keep Lei company…I actually I need to go back to talk to a friend of mine…she’s waiting for me back inside…”
Lin stopped and stared at Xiao You curiously. Why was the girl looking at her like she knew her.
“There’s no need to ask her to keep me company…I’m going inside with you.” Lei finally spoke as he turned and took Xiao You by the elbow.
“But…” Xiao You stared at Lin helplessly as Lei started walking, taking her along with him. “It was nice meeting you…” she called out to Lin just before Lei dragged her inside.
Lin was left there, staring at them silently.
***
“What’s wrong with you?” Lei was uncharacteristically stern with her as he let go of her elbow.
“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with you?” Xiao You asked. “You were so rude to her.”
Lei didn’t answer. “Where are you going?” he asked when she started walking away from him.
“I’m going back to her to apologize…” she threw back at him without turning.
Lei wanted to go stop her but he was detained by a business acquaintance who wanted to discuss future dealings with his company. He gave Xiao You’s retreating back one last look before he turned his attention to the other man.
***
Xiao You hurried back to the balcony but when she stepped out, Lin was already gone. She sighed, wishing she hadn’t allowed Lei to drag her like that. She really didn’t know what they would have talked about but she wanted to get to know Lin. She thought Lin must be a pretty special person for Lei to have fallen for her in such a short time.
She walked further into the balcony and stood by the railings and stared at the night sky. Since she was here, she might as well just enjoy the view. She really wasn’t in the mood to party anyway. She hadn’t seen Ximen at the concert and she found out from Lei that he had a late meeting and wasn’t really sure if he’d be able to join the group at the after-concert party. She sighed in disappointment. She had worn the dress specifically to see Ximen’s reaction and he wasn’t even going to be here. She could still remember Lei’s expression when he saw how revealing the dress was under the shawl and had ordered her to change. She just laughed at him and promised to keep the shawl on at all times. He’d been too worried to allow her out by herself in the get-up that he’d reluctantly agreed to become her date even though he had told her he wasn’t going to the concert. She really couldn’t see what the fuss was about. It was a perfectly decent dress. So what if it had no back? The swathe of fabric that criss-crossed on her torso covered the essentials well enough. And so what if it was cut up to the thigh? Lots of women in the party were wearing dresses that were even shorter than hers. It was just Lei being an over-protective brother that was what.
Although it was nippy outside, it still wasn’t as cold as the weather in Canada, so she took off her shawl and draped it on the railing. She then leaned forward and supported her body by resting her forearms on the railing too. Her legs ached a bit from wearing her strappy three-inch heels, which Lei had also objected to, referring to them as killer shoes. She would have died rather than admit to Lei that he was right. They were killer shoes because it was killing all the feeling in her legs. They were so high. She giggled at the thought and tried to forget everything. The air felt wonderful on her bare back and arms and she was glad she’d put her hair up in a French twist.
She looked at the stars again and wondered where Ximen was at that moment. What he was doing and who he was with.
***
“Hey Ximen!” Mei Zhou greeted his friend who had been standing alone by the corner craning his neck as though searching for someone. “Glad you could join us. Meeting go alright?”
Ximen just nodded and continued scanning the room.
“Who are you looking for?” Mei Zhou asked curiously.
“What makes you think I’m looking for someone?” Ximen asked nonchalantly although his eyes continued roving.
“Lei’s over there…” Mei Zhou pointed to their friend who was in discussion with an older man at the other side of the room.
“Was I asking where he was?” Ximen asked him pointedly.
“No, but you were wondering if she was with him.” Mei Zhou replied cheekily.
“Go bug Xiaoqiao.” Ximen said succinctly, ignoring his nosy friend’s statement.
Mei Zhou didn’t answer, he too was scanning the crowd looking for Ximen’s object of affection. And he was pretty sure that Xiao You had his friend’s affection however much Ximen might deny it. He was just fighting it like a stubborn git he was. “Hey check out that chick by the balcony…” he whistled.
Ximen’s eyes were unwillingly drawn to the balcony at Mei Zhou’s statement and froze as they both saw the said girl remove her shawl and drape it on the railing.
“She feels familiar…” was Ximen’s unconscious reply as his brows knit in concentration. He hadn’t thought any of his former mei meis had been invited. His interest was further piqued when she leaned on the railing which caused the curves of her body to be sharply delineated. Ximen’s breath hitched at the way the simple move had affected him physically. Who was she?
Mei Zhou looked at his friend in surprise. ‘Felt’ was such an unusual term to use to refer to familiarity. Why not say ‘look’ or ‘seem’? He looked at the girl again and finally realized who she was. He was about to tease Ximen about it but then a look at his friend’s expression told him that Ximen had no idea who she was. Mei Zhou smiled at himself in mischief and decied to prod his friend “Look at all that skin…boy if I didn’t love Xiaoqiao to distraction, I’d go ask her out.”
“She’s mine.” Ximen declared without inflection and without looking at his friend. She was the first woman who’d managed to draw a physical and mental reaction from him since Xiao You got back and he aimed to get to know her better. Anyone who could make him forget Xiao You was worth getting to know because God knows she was all he could think about these days. The playboy of Ying De was back with a vengeance.
Mei Zhou just kept quiet. Let Ximen find out whom it was he was actually setting his sights on. He’ll just stay right here and enjoy the show from afar. “Why don’t you go over and introduce yourself then…”
But Ximen had already started to walk towards the balcony.
***
“Hey Mei Zhou, what are you doing standing there by yourself.” Ah Si joined him, along with Shan Cai.
Mei Zhou didn’t acknowledge them, his eyes trained on Ximen’s retreating back.
Shan Cai frowned at Mei Zhou’s preoccupation and followed his stare. “Where’s Ximen going?”
Mei Zhou finally answered. “To go meet his destiny.” he smiled as he transferred his attention to the couple.
“Whose destiny?” Lei asked as he joined the three of them by the corner.
“Ximen’s” Ah Si answered as Mei Zhou pursed his lips in a gesture meant to point to them where Ximen went.
They all stared at the direction Mei Zhou indicated and the three realized whom it was Ximen was walking purposefully towards.
“Isn’t…” Shan Cai began.
“...that…” Ah Si continued.
“Xiao You.” Lei finished in confirmation.
“Hey what are you four looking at?” Xiaoqiao joined them and stood in front of Mei Zhou. She had been searching for her fiancé for quite a while. She was about to ask why they had such arrested expressions on their faces when she was unceremoniously yanked towards Mei Zhou’s side. What was wrong with these people? She turned and followed their collective gaze and finally realized what had gotten them so excited.
***
A/N: There. I finally got this one finished. Whew! I know it’s not very long but I promise to have something longer tomorrow. Stay tuned…
p.s. I do not own MG and its characters.