Fan Fiction |
by mei chin and shin mei
After a long and tiring day at the office, Mei Zhuo arrived at their mansion, greeted by the sight of Xiao Qiao and Li Wen playing in the living room. He immediately proceeded to them and kissed both on the forehead.
Mei Zhuo played with Li Wen, not minding the expensive clothes he was now crumpling as he was lying on his back with baby Li sitting on his belly.
At the end of the day, he always looked forward arriving at home now that they have an addition to the family. Every time he looks at him and Xiao Qiao, it seems all of the tiredness and stress he experiences at work is gone, even with their simplest smile at him.
A few moments more, their butler came to them and announced that dinner was ready. He first headed to the master’s bedroom to change before joining them once more at the dining room.
As they were eating Mei Zhuo remembered his conversation with Dao Ming Si earlier and opted to ask his wife’s opinion.
“Hmmm…Do you see anything different with Ximen and Xiao You?”
“What kind of different?”
“I mean, I can’t explain it. I don’t know, if they seem more sweet or something?”
“Well, they have always been sweet.”
“Why’d you ask?”
“I have a hunch that they are keeping something from us.”
“What could they possibly not tell us…”
“I suppose they’re not mad at each other or something…”
“MARRIAGE!” they both shouted as Li Wen stopped blabbing and looked at his parents quizzically.
As Xiao Qiao was taking a shower, Mei Zhuo took over on taking care of Li. He was now sitting on the rocking chair with Li sitting on his lap.
“What do you think buddy? Could Ximen have proposed to her already?”
Li Wen clapped his hands and giggled.
“Really, you think so?”
Li Wen held his face with both of his small hands and nodded at him, still giggling.
“You’re really smart, aren’t you? What has Xiao Qiao been feeding you?”
-----
Ximen Enterprises… Ximen’s office
“So what are you up to?” Ximen asked, facing his three friends who suddenly appeared in his office after lunch.
“Why would you think so?” AhSi rebutted looking innocent as he turned to Lei and Mei Zhuo who were seating beside him.
“Don’t try to fool me. When Mei Zhuo comes here, it’s normal because he bugs everyone around…”
“Ouch! I’m here, in front of you. You know.” Mei Zhuo interjected.
“What I mean is, when I see you three, here in my office during work hours. It sends an alarm.”
Unbeknownst to them, Ximen was already sending a text message to Xiao You underneath his desk while he was speaking to them.
-----
Xiao You’s office
“Hi girls, nice to see you!” Xiao You greeted while Xiao Qiao, Shan Cai and Jing were walking inside her office.
“It’s nice to see you too.” Jing exclaimed as they sat on the sofa located at one side of the room.
“We just went shopping for baby stuff and decided to pass by.” Shan Cai explained, the other girls nodded in agreement.
“How’s work?”
“Still demanding but I can handle it.” Xiao You replied with a smile. Just then she heard her message alert tone sound. She excused herself to them and attended to her mobile.
*The boys are here.
Something’s fishy.
Are the ladies there?
I think they already have a clue about our engagement.*
The message was from Ximen.
She replied to him then turned her attention once more to the girls.
-----
Ximen’s office
“Well we met at a restaurant because the ladies went shopping so we thought of dropping by.” Lei narrated to him.
“Aw…You miss me that much?” Ximen humorously replied to them as he got Xiao You’s message.
*Yeah, the girls are here.
What do we do?
They would want answers.
I think let’s prolong their agony a little more.*
“Miss you? Nah! We just wanted a breather, you know.”
“So how are you and Xiao You doing?”
-----
Xiao You’s office
*They just started the interrogation.
Definitely Mei Zhuo’s going to be at my neck.
But I agree, let’s give them a hard time first.*
“Anything new?”
“With what?” Xiao You answered trying to sound as if she didn’t get what they were pertaining to.
“With you.” Xiao Qiao added.
“Or with you and Ximen, perhaps.” Shan Cai told her, earning her a slap on the thigh courtesy of Jing.
Xiao You looked at them quizzically while the ladies smiled uneasily back at her.
-----
Ximen’s office
“Ximen, anything you want to share with us?”
“Nothing.”
“Really? Nothing at all.”
Ximen pretended to be thinking. “Hmm…as I remember nothing.”
Then Daoming Si spoke, “C’mon Ximen. You can’t hide anything from us now. We’ve been friends ever since. Remember the promise we’ve made then, that we must share everything to each another. Especially to the four of us, we’re brothers, have you forgotten that?” he explained.
Mei Zhuo and Lei was laughing silently, though they knew that what Daoming Si said was a part of the plan on how they can let Ximen spill his ‘secret’. Then Lei received a slap on his left arm from Daoming Si signaling him that it was his turn to speak.
“Yes. What about the things that we’ve been through together Ximen? Will you just forget them and just because of this secret of yours that you do not want to tell us you’re being like this?”
“Lei, AhSi… If Ximen doesn’t want to tell us, then I think it would be better if we leave him with his decision. Let his conscience do the job for us. Well that is if he still has…” Mei Zhuo said, crossing his arms across his chest.
Inside the heads of the three men seated. “3…2…1…go!” The three simultaneously stood up and began striding across the room to the door.
Mei Zhuo opened the door and was about to come out with Daoming Si and Lei following his gesture when…
“Fine.” Ximen blurted out with a hint of exasperation as the men, whose backs were still turned to Ximen, smiled wickedly but then quickly erased it as they faced Ximen.
“So what’s the news?” Mei Zhuo said, trying so hard to stifle the wide smile that is threatening to escape his lips.
Ximen sighed, “We’re engaged.”
“Woohoo!” Mei Zhuo shouted with a bright smile, Lei just smiled at him with sincere happiness for his brother while Dao Ming Si walked towards him and gave him a brotherly hug.
-----
Xiao You’s office
“That’s really a nice bracelet you have Xiao You.” Xiao Qiao commented.
“Yeah, is it new? I only saw you wearing that today.” Shan Cai remarked, they went closer to have a good look.
“Oh, I just don’t use it often.” Xiao You said as she drew her hand away from them uneasily.
“Really? Did Ximen give it to you?”
“It seems to be precious to you. Probably that’s why you don’t wear it often.”
Xiao You was about to answer their query but then four men stormed into her office with the first 3 wearing huge smiles.
“See, I told you. We’re better. Now where’s our prize?” Daoming Si triumphantly said to Shan Cai.
“What did you say?” Xiao You asked.
“BOINK!” Shan Cai slapped Ahsi’s head. “You and your big mouth. I thought only Mei Zhuo had those.”
“Yeah, what’s that AhSi?” Ximen added then went beside Xiao You looking at the couples in front of them curiously.
The group had no choice but to explain themselves and the bet they had agreed on.
“WHAT?” Both Ximen and Xiao You exclaimed after hearing their story.
“And I thought you were my friends. So much for your speech earlier.” Ximen continued as his temper rose.
“But we just really wanted to know.” Shan Cai faced Xiao You.
“And you wouldn’t tell us.” Mei Zhuo told them.
“Well we’re just waiting for the time to tell you. And besides we haven’t even told our parents yet.” Xiao You answered to the group.
“So you guys better not tell your parents yet.” Ximen told them.
“When do you plan to tell them then?”
“I’ll let Xiao You decide on that.”
“What do you think Xiao You?”
“We’ll talk about that later.” She replied.
Ximen asked them to stay a little longer since they’ve got nothing to do that day. The men’s discussion was about their own businesses while the ladies gave their own comments on anything they wanted to talk about, they just decided to celebrate the engagement of Ximen and Xiao You when their parents know already the news.
-----
“Daoming Si! Come here! NOW!!!!” Shan Cai shouted, clutching the newspaper that was just delivered to them while she was preparing their breakfast.
LINE 1
“Jing, Shan Cai here. Have you and Lei seen the newspaper.”
“Nope. Why?”
“Read the headline!”
“What is it?”
“TAIWAN’S PLAYBOY TYING THE KNOT.” Shan Cai exclaimed. “Get your newspaper quick!”
Jing immediately called on the butler to ask for the newspaper.
“I think we have different newspapers. Mines got a different headline. Same story.” Jing informed Shan Cai as she scans the contents of the spread.
“What’s yours?”
“PLAYBOY NO MORE!”
“Ximen’s gonna throw a fit when he sees these.”
“Wait, let’s call Xiao Qiao.”
LINE 2
“Xiao Qiao, its Jing and Shan Cai.”
“Oh hi ladies!”
“Have you seen the headline on the newspaper?”
“Not yet.”
“Get it, quick!” Shan Cai ordered.
“Wait…oh my” Xiao Qiao uttered softly as she saw today’s headline.
“XIMEN-CHEN: LIFETIME PARTNERS?”
“Have you read it?”
“Yeah,” Xiao Qiao gave a sigh. “Media…”
“I think we should call Xiao You.”
LINE 3
“Hey Xiao You.” The ladies greeted warmly.
“Hi everyone!”
“Xiao You, brace yourself.” Jing warned.
“What? Why?”
“Read today’s spread.” Shan Cai requested.
“LAST F4: ENGAGED.” Xiao You read the headline. “Where could they’ve gotten wind of this?” She asked the girls.
“I’m just going to call Ximen. I’ll catch up with you later.”
-----
Ximens’ Residence
RING! RING!
Ximen just got out of the shower and was now clothing himself when he heard his mobile ringing incessantly, he looked at the LCD and found that it was Xiao You.
He quickly answered the call, knowing that it was Xiao You.
“Ximen,”
“Sorry I just got out of the shower that’s why it took a while for me to answer.”
“It’s alright. That means you haven’t seen it?”
“Seen what?”
“Today’s newspapers.” Xiao You explained.
“What’s in it?”
“Read on…” Xiao You told him, wanting for Ximen to see the headline before she reacts.
Ximen went down, brought his mobile with him and looked for the newspaper Xiao You was pertaining to.
“WHAT?” Ximen expressed rather loudly that made their butler jerk and look at his direction.
“So I gather you’ve seen it already?” Xiao You asked.
“Yeah, just now. How could the media know about this?”
“I don’t have a clue either. What do we do know?”
“Tell our parents first.” Ximen suggested.
“Right. I’ll call them now. And you call uncle and auntie. Should we invite them for dinner later?”
“Yes. That would be better.”
“Okay, call me after you’ve finished talking to them, alright?”
“Yes, call you later. Bye.”
-----
Ximen opted to have the dinner meeting over to their mansion. Earlier, he had sent the chauffer to Xiao You’s place to fetch her and her mother. Her father was still in New York but would be coming to Taipei soon after being informed about Xiao You’s plan on getting married.
Although nervous and tensed, both Ximen and Xiao You were still overwhelmed that their engagement would be official that day since they’d be informing their parents about it.
As they were eating their meals, Ximen started and spoke. “We’re sorry for not telling you about this sooner.” He said.
Silence enveloped the whole dining room. Ximen’s parents and Xiao You’s mother were all focused on him. This made Xiao You more uncomfortable since his parents and her mother weren’t speaking to them after the greeting they had given to each other a while ago.
“That is not a problem to us Ximen. We understand.” His mother replied with a smile.
Both sighed in relied after hearing his mother’s reply.
“So when do you both plan to get married?”
“Next month. We’re going to start with the preparation soon.” He said.
“Is that so? Then Xiao You’s mom here and I would be more than glad to help you with the preparations, right Mrs. Chen?”
“Of course. Xiao You’s my only daughter so I’d be really glad to help her with the wedding preparations.”
“Then let’s make a toast for Ximen and his future wife, may they have a marriage full of happiness and love.” Ximen’s father raised his glass while the others followed, raising their glasses for a toast.
“HELLO EVERYONE!!!”
“Wait, I know who owns that voice.” Ximen thought.
Just then, F3 entered the room with huge smiles on their faces. “HI!!!”
“Hey, you three nosey men, what are you doing here? This is supposed to be a family gathering.”
“Ei, aren’t we a part of the family? Besides Uncle asked us to be here.” Mei Zhuo said and gave the older Ximen a wink.
“Yes, I asked them to be here. But where are you wives?” Ximen’s father asked them.
“We left them in the house. Would that be alright to you Xiao You?”
“No problem with me. Ma, Auntie and I will have a discussion later. So I’ll be fine.”
“Wow food!” Lei exclaimed.
“Come join us. The food is more than enough for all of us.” Mrs. Ximen invited them.
Ximen turned to look at Xiao You who was silently observing their friends. He held her hand under the table that caught her attention. He smiled sincerely to her and moved closer to her side. “I love you.” Ximen whispered to her ear.
“I love you too. I’m so happy Ximen, really.” She replied and gave his hand a soft squeeze.
“We heard that!!!” Mei Zhuo shouted.
“You three!!! Stop being so nosey will you?” Ximen stood up and was about to attack Mei Zhuo.
“Uncle, please stop Ximen.” Lei calmly said.
“Children, stop playing and eat your food. Continue playing later instead.”
Xiao You’s mother, Xiao You and Ximen’s mother who were seated at the living room across the dining area couldn’t help but laugh at the silly men before them. They have grown up indeed and had their family already but when they come together they still seem to be the 10 year olds often reprimanded for their mischievousness.
***
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It's nice to be back..=)