The room is filled with awkward silence as Xiali and Yangyang noticed how Ten and Lucas are staring at each other.
"Well, that's good," Xiali tries to break the awkward silence.
"Yeah," says Ten with an irritated look as he stares at Lucas, who is now turning his head as if he was trying to avoid any conflicts.
9:30 AM...
Kun and Jungwoo are waiting in their car as they wait for Xiaojun and Jungwoo to call them from their earphones. They are waiting near a small house which is quite far from the center of the city, which they assume to be the secret hideout after following Park Sang Woo.
"How's the situation there?" Kun ask through the earphones.
"Good," Xiaojun says while waiting near the house along with Shotaro.
"Then we're coming," Kun says, before taking off his seat belt, followed by Jungwoo.
Kun and Jungwoo walks silently to join Xiaojun and Shotaro. They took a peak a few times at the small window and spots Park Sang Woo talking with a mysterious man.
"Hyung wants to end this today," says Jungwoo. "He can't bear putting Yeri's life in danger."
"What's he doing in Shanghai anyway?" Shotaro ask.
"That man has a lot of connections throughout Korea, Japan, and China," Xiaojun says.
The four guys continue to wait, when they hear Park Sang Woo walking out of the house with the mysterious man, which they surprisingly happen to recgonize. The four guys starts circling the two men as all four of them point out their guns at the two men.
"Well, what do we have here," Park Sang Woo says as he eyes the four boys standing in front of him and the man next to him. "Did Taeyong send his group of losers to go after me again?" Sang Woo scoffs.
"Looks like they are after us," the man next to him says in a wicked tone.
Hsu Shao Guang....wasn't he suppose to be in Taipei? Xiaojun thought as he and Shotaro continue to aim their guns at the tall man standing next to Park Sang Woo, while Kun and Jungwoo has their guns point at Park Sang Woo.
"Listen, boys. You better tell your boss to give up on attacking me cause I won't stay silent," Park Sang Woo blurts out.
"Yeah right, Hyung will never let you get away," Jungwoo says.
Suddenly the sound of gun shots can be heard as Kun and Shotaro falls to the ground with blood coming out of their bodies. Xiaojun quickly turns around to shot back Park Sang Woo's men who had shot his team mates, while Jungwoo takes this chance to chase after Park Sang Woo and Hsu Shao Guang who are running away from the scene. Hsu Shao Guang manages to escape the scene earlier than anyone else and disappear. Meanwhile, Park Sang Woo is about to enter his car, only to get shot on the leg by Jungwoo.
"You're dead, Man!" Jungwoo says.
"You bastard!" Park Sang Woo screams in pain.
Jungwoo didn't answer but instead finish him off by shooting his head to end this once and for all. With one final look, Jungwoo turns around and heads back to the small house where he sees Xiaojun trying to get Kun and Shotaro inside the car after getting badly shot.
"We need to get them to the hospital now!" Xiaojun states.
"Let's go!" Jungwoo says.
Xiaojun starts the engene and drives off from the crime scene and heads to the hospital.
10 AM...
Xiali and Lucas walks out of the hospital as they head to the car. The two of them enters the car and puts on their seat belts.
"Let's go get brunch together." Lucas turns his head to see Xiali with a smile.
Xiali smiles at Lucas. "Sure."
Lucas starts the engene and drives off to take Xiali to his favorite spot for brunch, which is Empire Noodle Shop.
"Lucas.." Xiali turns her head to see the tall boy driving.
"Yes?" Lucas answers.
"Thanks for driving me here today. I kind of feel bad for having to wake you up so early just to drive me here," Xiali says.
"Ah, don't sweat. I'm glad to help you. Besides I also wanted to visit Ten," Lucas says. "He's a lucky guy to have you. Honestly it kind of makes me jealous," Lucas adds with a playful tone, trying to make it sound like a joke so Xiali wouldn't be too surprise.
Xiali raise her eyebroe and smiles shyly after hearing Lucas's words. "Why jealous?" she ask. "I'm also friends with you."
Maybe because I'm expecting more from you, Zhang Xia Li... Lucas thought.
"Well, maybe because I want to get to know you better. That's why I want to spend some time with you," Lucas says as he tries to hide his feelings with a smile.
His words made Xiali smiles shyly as her cheeks starts to blush. For a moment, Lucas's flirty words reminded her of Ten, whom she can't seem to stop thinking about.
Meanwhile, inside the hospital...
"What happened?" Yangyang ask through phone with a shock tone. Yangyang takes a deep breath after hearing what Jungwoo had to say through the phone. "Ok. Be careful. Bye!"
"What happened?" Ten ask as he watches Yangyang putting his phone down with a worried look. "Kun and Shotaro got shot by Sang Woo's men. Luckily they survived, and are heading to the hospital now," Yangyang says.
"That's terrible," says Ten with a frustrated tone.
"They did finished up Sang Woo and his men, but that's not it," Yangyang says before taking another deep breath and looking all worried. "He was found with Hsu Shao Guang."
"What? I thought he was in Taipei!" Ten almost jumps out of bed out of surprised.
"He's in Shanghai now, and is off on the run," Yangyang says.
Ten lies his head down on the pillow with a frustrated look. Just by hearing Hsu Shao Guang's name already made him feel worried. That man is dangerous enough that he decided to escape to Taipei for years, never showing his face back in China again. He was a murder, con artist, and is involved in the human trafficing business. The thought of him being in Shanghai makes Ten worried that he'll go after Xiali. In other words, he could even be another suspect (besides the Wong brothers) to be involved with the stalkers.
"This is dangerous. We have to protect Xiali at all cost," Ten says.
Yangyang stares at his friend on the bed with deep thoughts of Xiali's life being on the line. He knew right now her life is in more danger than before, and he is willing to do anything to protect her.
Zhang Xia Li...I won't let anyone hurt you.. Yangyang thought.
10:30 AM...
Winwin stops his car in front of Yiren's house. The girl had told him that her parents are out and he is welcome to join her inside.
"You wanna come in?" Yiren ask in a slightly sleepy tone.
"No, thanks. I gotta go back home and rest," Winwin says.
"Ok. Stay safe," Yiren says before giving a kiss on Winwin's cheek. "Bye!"
Yiren walks out of the car and watches as Winwin drives off leaving her neighborhood.
A few days later....
Xiali's POV...
After a few days, Ten finally came out of the hospital and is going to college again with me. I couldn't be happier now that he's by my side again. We grew even closer than before as we spend more time together, not wanting to leave each others side. He even told me that he wanted to take things to the next level and asked me to stay at the boys' place with him, which I agreed. I want to spend every moment with him.
At Ming University....
I grab my notebook from my locker and close it. I turn back and see Ten who is waiting for me with a smile.
"Ready for class?" Ten ask with his sweet smile which never fail to melt my heart.
"Sure," I say as the two of us walk to class hand in hand. As we walk through the hallway, we could see people staring at us and whispering to each other, like usual.
"Looks like you're getting more popular," Ten says as he gives me a sassy wink.
"WE are getting more popular, Ten," I let out my statement, in which he giggles.
As we almost reach our class, I hear a familiar male voice calling my name from behind. Ten and I turn back to see who it was, only to see Lucas running towards me.
"Xiali!"
"Hey, Lucas!" I say as I smile at the tall guy with big eyes.
"Hi! I was wondering if I could talk to you for a second?" Lucas ask as he stares at me with hopeful eyes.
I glance at Ten who has a straight expression on his face as Lucas keeps staring at me.
"I'll be back in a second," I say to Ten, before walking away with Lucas to a corner which is not too crowded.
"So, what's up?" I ask Lucas as the two of us stands close to each other face to face.
"Well, I wanted to ask how you were doing? I haven't heard about you these past few days," Lucas says as he stares at me with a concern look.
I stare back into his big brown eyes. Since Ten got back to college, I've been spending a lot of time with Ten, that I didn't have time to hang out with Lucas anymore. Not to mention that I've turned down his offers to hang out a few times because I wanted to spend some time with Ten.
"I'm good. How about you?" I ask him.
"I'm ok. I was just wondering if maybe you have time to hang out after your shift?" Lucas ask.
I stare into his eyes as I feel guilt starting to fill my heart. When Ten was in the hospital, Lucas was the one who cheered me up and supported me. He even drove me to the hospital a few times just so I could visit Ten. At this point, it made me feel bad that I have to turn him down.
Looking at Lucas now made me feel a bit guilty as a friend. I didn't want him to think that I forgot about him. But again, I missed Ten so badly that I want to spend so much time with him. Not to mention we are now getting closer than before, and he did told me that he wanted to take things to the next level.
"Ten asked me out for dinner together after my shift," I say with a rather guilty feeling towards Lucas. "Sorry, Lucas..."
Lucas lets out a sigh as he turns his head to look away with disappointment on his face. "You've been so busy these past few days," Lucas says with a disappointed tone. "Actually, there's something I've been trying to tell you."
"What is it?" I ask him with a look of curiousity written all over my face.
"I...I like you...Zhang Xia Li," says Lucas as he slowly forms a shy smile.
My jaws almost drop as I became surprised to hear that coming from him. I didn't know how to react to this, since it's all so sudden. I didn't expect Lucas to view this friendship as anything more. All I wanted was a normal friend who could cheer me up when I was stressing over Ten, but I never meant to make him fall in love with me. No, the feelings are too different. I like Lucas as a friend, nothing more.
I stood in silence as I became lost in words. I didn't know how to reply to this, since I am too afraid that my answer would hurt him. Lucas keeps staring into my eyes with deep eye contact, wondering when will I answer his question.
"I want us to be more than friends. What do you say?" Lucas ask with hopeful eyes.
I let out a sigh. "I think it's better for us to remain friends, Lucas," I say. "You're really nice, and I do care about you."
Lucas's hopeful eyes soon turns into disappointment though he tries to cover it with a smile. It is obvious enough that he isn't satisfy with the answer I gave him. He is trying to hide his disappointment. I start to feel bad for him, but I thought it is for the best. I like Ten and we are now going deeper, and I can't possibly see Lucas more than a friend. Besides, the feelings are different.
"Ok. I understand. Let's be friends, for now," Lucas says. "But if you ever change your mind, well you know where to go."
With that final word, Lucas rubs my head suddenly before walking away, disappearing from my sight and leaving me speechless.
To be continue....