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There seemed to be something wrong with her friends, Xie Lian decided as she stepped into the flat she shared with two of her childhood friends (and one freeloading cousin). Said childhood friends were currently on top of the dining table... making out . Well that, or they were trying to murder each other because they kept forcefully flipping one another on who was going to be on top or bottom.

To be fair though, Feng Xin and Mu Qing have always toed that line from the moment they first met (“So you think that just because you have long eyelashes, you’re better than me?!” “We’re nine years old! Who cares about eyelashes?!”) and just yesterday (“You just have to flaunt those pretty lashes of yours like some peacock don’t you?” “Oh my god, Mu Qing shut up! It’s called blinking !”)

Seeing them make out wasn’t something new. And it was not because Xie Lian was a voyeur. It was more on the fact that ever since they discovered that making out with one another calmed the both of them down back in high school, it had become some sort of a natural recurrence.

Oh, but they claimed they’re not together. And who was Xie Lian to say otherwise (in front of them at least because everyone else in the streets were convinced they were either bitter exes or a married couple for the past decade).

Her eyes went to the other side of the room where Shi Qingxuan was arguing with Mu Qing’s favorite broom. The university student seemed to be very into this one-sided discourse and kept prattling something about her sister’s boobs. Xie Lian turned deaf because she just knows that any mention about her colleague’s breasts will lead her to an early grave and she’s admittedly scared of the inner machinations of Shi Qingxuan’s mind.

The other person who is actively avoiding the aforementioned mind is sitting ramrod straight on the only dining chair left beside the Feng Xin and Mu Qing pair who were aggressively making out. You’d think she was the only normal person at the moment with how still she was but the raised fork in her hand which she seemed to be squinting at gave her away. What in the world….

A sudden high pitched snore and whistle startled Xie Lian out of her focus on Ming Yi and she wildly looked around for the source of the sound. When she found where it came from, she rushed over to the couch where, for some reason she wasn’t sure she wanted to know, Quan Yizhen was squashed under its entire weight with only her curly hair and a part of her squished cheeks sticking out. She lifted the couch, set it aside, and checked the university freshman for injuries.

Basing from the numerous beer cans and two bottles of dubious origins scattered on the floor, the culprit for everything that was happening before her had been identified. Xie Lian sighed at the mess around her and considered calling her girlfriend to help her with the situation. She sat on the floor, reached to the sling bag she had with her and looked for her phone just to do that when it started ringing with her customized ringtone.

Xie Lian beamed and immediately swiped right to answer, “San Niang?”

“Jiejie, have you gotten back safely from your work?” came the smooth voice on the other line.

It had been roughly a year ever since they officially got together but something as simple as hearing the other through a phone call still made her feel like butterflies in her stomach, “I have. Everything went smoothly. What about you, are you home already?”

“No, no I’m not home yet.”

“Eh?” Xie Lian blinked in wonder, “We left at the same time didn’t we? Did you take a detour to anywhere?”

“My home is jiejie. As long as you’re not by my side then I’m not home,” came the reply.

Xie Lian felt her face heat up at the casual drop of the claim and she let out a small whine, hiding her face with her left hand, “San Niang is being unfair.”

Breathy chuckles left Hua Cheng’s mouth and Xie Lian can just imagine the confident smile on her pretty face.

“I miss you, jiejie.”

“We were just together a few minutes ago,” Xie Lian replied and subconsciously twirled the tips of her hair bashfully.

“Does that mean you don’t miss me?” asked Hua Cheng who obviously had a small pout on her face.

“Of course I miss you too, San Niang!” protested Xie Lian and then, she admitted softly, “You’re my home too, you know.”

A sharp intake of breath came from the other line.

“San Niang? Are you alright?”

Whether Hua Cheng was alright or not was something she didn’t get to hear when the phone was ripped from her hand by an angry Feng Xin (oh, they were done making out) who then started shouting, “Stop tainting our young mistress!”

“Ah,” Xie Lian hastily stood up and tried getting her phone back, “Feng Xin, don’t shout at San Niang. She’s tired from her own work and most probably had a long day as well.”

“Work?” tsked Mu Qing darkly, stepping in front of her, “That despicable woman doesn’t work. She just squeezes the blood out of her victims every night and convert that to whatever currency she needs.”

“Of course it isn’t like that,” argued Xie Lian.

Mu Qing kicked the legs of the chair that Ming Yi was sitting on, grabbed the fork between her fingers, and directed her question at the blank-faced graduating university student, “Oi, you’re the one who knows her more, right? Doesn’t Hua Cheng use her enemy’s blood and transform it to money?”

“You’re wrong,” replied Ming Yi, “she doesn’t just use her enemy’s blood - she uses anyone’s blood.”

With that said, she took the fork back and raised it between her eyes once more.

“As I said,” said a smug looking Mu Qing.

“-and never call again, you fucker!” shouted Feng Xin and pressed down on the ‘end call’ button violently. Multiple times. Just to be sure.

Xie Lian sidestepped Mu Qing and got her phone back from her fuming friend, “Honestly, I don’t understand why the both of you are so against her.”

In a rare show of solidarity, Feng Xin and Mu Qing looked at each other as if to say, ‘are you seeing this?’ ‘fuck yes, we raised her wrong somewhere along the way’.

“What’s wrong with Hua Cheng?” asked Xie Lian as she cradled her phone to her chest.

Mu Qing snorted, “Did you want the whole dissertation we have over that or do you want the abridged version? Mind you, even the abridged version will take at least three days to discuss. In bullet points.”

A low groan interrupted their discussion and all three froze. They slowly turned to their right where Quan Yizhen had started adorably scrunching up her sleepy face from the noise. Feng Xin immediately bent down and patted the freshman’s head like how you would calm down an aggrieved puppy.

“Is...is she asleep again?” asked Xie Lian.

Feng Xin was about to nod when a loud CRASH sounded. Mu Qing and Xie Lian whipped their head to the other end of the room and found Shi Qingxuan halfway up the lamp post decor with the potted plant beneath it broken to pieces when she apparently used it as some sort of stepping stone. Her right hand still held the broom she was arguing with earlier and her left hand finally grasped the top of the lamp post and she pulled herself up to perch on it.

The decor swayed for a few seconds under the added weight until it finally righted and the entrepreneur student grinned as she spread her arms widely, “I AM THE WIND MASTER HAHAHAHAHA!”

“Please be careful!” cried Xie Lian.

“Put my broom down!” yelled an annoyed Mu Qing who had marched on to try and get her broom back.

“All of you - shut your fucking mouths! Do you want to deal with this little monster when her sleep is disturbed?!” screamed a frustrated Feng Xin as she proceeded to gather the little monster in her arms and rocked her back and forth like some baby.

“Aren’t all of you being loud though?” said the only calm person in the room - who still had a fork up which was apparently directed at the maniacally laughing Shi Qingxuan.

“ALL OF YOU SHOULD BOW DOWN TO ME! HAHAHAHA I CALL FORTH THE WIND!”

“Stop swishing my broom like that!”

“Please get down from there!”

“PIPE YOUR DAMN VOICES DOWN!”

“Isn’t Feng Xin the loudest though?”

“WIND! WIND! WIND! THROUGH THE POWER OF JIE’S BOOBS! WATER COME WITH THE WIND! HAHAHAHAHA!”

“Aiya, please don’t disrespect Shi Wudu like that.”

“Hm. My mistake. That one is the loudest, after all.”

“WHY ARE ALL OF YOU SO FUCKING NOISY OUT THERE YOU SHITHEADS?!”

Xie Lian whipped her head to the hallway where the bedrooms were, “Is Qi Rong locked inside again?”

“She was already getting stuffed inside by Feng Xin and Mu Qing when we arrived,” replied Ming Yi.

“OI YOU FUCKTARDS! ANSWER ME!”

“She’s waking up! SHUT UP!” shouted Feng Xin.

“She’s awake already.”

Feng Xin looked down at the one on her arms and saw big, glassy, round eyes looking back at her unblinkingly.

“Ah.”

In a fit of panic she will later deny, Feng Xin yeeted Quan Yizhen to the nearest person - which happened to be Ming Yi. The marine biology student dropped her fork in surprise. She didn’t even spare a look at the freshman before she immediately threw her to Xie Lian who caught her with one arm.

Seeing Quan Yizhen’s scrunched up face slowly transform from “cute” to “holy shit alert”, Feng Xin grabbed her from Xie Lian and hurled her across the room to Mu Qing who, in turn, unhesitatingly used Quan Yizhen as an ammunition against her tutee who won’t let go of her broom.

“Mu Qing, no!” yelped a worried Xie Lian.

Feng Xin let out an appreciative whistle when Mu Qing’s throw of Quan Yizhen hit Shi Qingxuan head on, “Nice.”

“No! Not nice!” said a hurried looking Xie Lian who was currently trying to untangle the two university students. She took Quan Yizhen first and gently gave her to Feng Xin who started calming her down as she carried her to the bedroom. There was some scuffle heard and Qi Rong’s pained whine with Feng Xin’s curses finally died down with the slam of the bedroom door.

Xie Lian then righted a dizzy looking Shi Qingxuan, “What are you doing getting drunk the night before your internship interview in the early morning?”

“Ahhhhh young mistress~ Hello! Hello! Hello! Was jie with you? She was, wasn’t she ahhhh jie is the bessssst~”

The eldest in the room merely sighed before she lifted Shi Qingxuan with her right and picked up Ming Yi with her left along the way. It looks like she won’t be able to call San Niang back soon enough. Shi Qingxuan was still very excitable and she can’t, in good conscience, make her go back home to her sister like this. She would have to be the one to drop her off to her interview then. It was a good thing Shi Wudu seemed to trust her, Feng Xin, and Mu Qing on anything related to her sister.

“Make sure Ming Yi doesn’t sleep with that fork,” said Mu Qing whose beloved broom finally returned to her and has started fixing the mess in the room.

Xie Lian looked at Ming Yi and true enough, the fork remained tightly clutched in her hand, “Yeah, I’ll get it when they’ve settled down. And you can wait for me to help you clean that up. I suppose you’re also still a bit drunk?”

“I’m not drunk.”

“Huh? Then why were you making out with Feng Xin?”

In a flash, Mu Qing threw the beer can back to the floor, “I wasn’t ‘making out’ with that woman!”

“Uh…”

Mu Qing walked up to her with heavy footsteps and a snarl on her face, “I. Was. Not. Making. Out. With. That. Woman.”

Xie Lian let out an unsure chuckle at the fire in her friend’s eyes, “Haha of course, of course. My eyes must have been  playing tricks on me.”

“I wasn’t ‘making out’ with her. We were only angrily making out with each other.”

“What...so you were making out then.”

“Angrily! Don’t forget the most important word. We were angrily making out,” corrected Mu Qing.

Actually, Xie Lian thought that the most important words were “making out” . But seeing the determined and convinced look at her fellow tutor made her easily agree, “Of course. You both were angrily making out.”

Mu Qing gave her a satisfied nod and went back to grab her broom to sweep the area. On her right, Shi Qingxuan was still giggling something about her sister’s boobs (she sends a mental apology to her coworker); and on her left, Ming Yi looked like she was reaching out to stab the drunk entrepreneur student with her fork.

Xie Lian uses her knee to knock off the fork.

Honestly, where are these university students getting their energy and aggression?

-

“Why the fuck are we cramped in this small car?” complained Feng Xin as she tried finding a more comfortable position from the backseat .

“This small car isn’t interested in haters and you’re free to leave any time,” replied Ming Yi on the driver’s seat as she munched on her cookies.

“Can you stop kicking me with your dumb long legs,” said an annoyed Mu Qing who slapped the said legs.

“Hey, bitch! Don’t be fucking violent!”

And ironically, as if to prove her statement, Feng Xin hooked her right leg on Mu Qing’s left which in turn made the other angrily put her other leg on top of the one beside her. They ended up competing on whose leg was going to emerge on top as the victor, making the car shake from their movements.

“Stop, stop, stop. Don’t fight please,” pleaded Xie Lian who was getting squished on the side with Quan Yizhen who already had her head sticking out of the window, her eyes watching people pass by their illegally parked car.

“I’ll help you,” said Hua Cheng who was seated on the passenger’s seat and in a second, Xie Lian found herself maneuvered to the front and seated on the other’s lap, “Isn’t this much better, jiejie?”

Xie Lian blushed at their position, “San Niang, this is embarrassing.”

“Embarrassing?!” screeched a disbelieving Feng Xin, “Say that to your arms which are wrapped around that she-devil!”

It was only then that Xie Lian realized that on instinct, she had put her arms on Hua Cheng’s shoulders. Her face turned redder and made a move to reposition herself.

“Oh? Jiejie doesn’t like getting close with me?” asked Hua Cheng as she knocked their foreheads together with their lips only a breath away.

“I,” growled Feng Xin, “don’t like you getting close with her. So remove those fucking hands from her! Right now!”

Hua Cheng doesn’t remove her gaze from Xie Lian’s face and ignored Feng Xin, “Jiejie only needs to  say the word and I’ll separate our bodies. Just our bodies though. Because our souls have long since been intertwined.”

“San Niang,” gasped Xie Lian and it was as if there were flowers and butterflies surrounding the two.

Ming Yi tried moving as far away as possible from the couple, nestling her cookie jar closer to her as if trying to protect from the ants coming on their way. Quan Yizhen closed her eyes as a gust of wind ran through her face and sighed happily. Mu Qing was making gagging noises as she and Feng Xin continued their leg competition even when her rival has had enough and spouted more curses.

“We didn’t raise you like this! Is this your late teenage rebellion?! Oh my god, Mu Qing I told you she was being too tame and nice back then,” grieved Feng Xin who was now shaking her seat mate’s shoulders.

“First of all, don’t shake me,” snapped Mu Qing who pulled on Feng Xin’s hair as if to illustrate her point, “And second, oi you demon brat, hands where we can see them.”

Hua Cheng finally looked at the two in the backseat with a fake smile on her face and lifted her hands to show it to them. When she got their undivided attention to it, she cupped Xie Lian’s ass and squeezed it.

“$^AVDAKD%$#%”

-

Pei Ming woke up to the sounds of keyboard typing. She blinked multiple times to try and chase the sleepiness away and turned in her bed. Both of her best friends ended up staying over the night after they had their typical dinner dates every weekday night. Once she deemed herself awake enough, she addressed the two other people in her room. She was about to start with Ling Wen but the other’s eye bags and heavy typing on her laptop made her stop short and decided to leave her alone.

She looked at the other girl who was watering the row of plants on the windowsill. Shi Wudu had Pei Ming’s oversized hoodie on and was only partnered with her underwear that had tiny prints of the famous Japanese woodblock print The Wave. She had a mug on one hand (definitely black coffee to match her soul) and the small sprinkler on the other. Her hair was put up on a messy bun and this was the only time you’d get to see her “unkempt”.

And damn she was still pretty .

“Good morning,” greeted Shi Wudu.

“Good morning,” muttered Ling Wen as the clacking of her fingers on her laptop remained steady.

“Eugh, aren’t the both of you tired of using the same “good morning” tone every day? Spice it up a bit,” laughed Pei Ming.

Ling Wen typed harder, “What’s up, motherfucker.”

Not wanting to get involved with the tired and creepy aura around Ling Wen and her laptop, she directed her attention to the other.

“Heyy,” Pei Ming called out with a flirtatious tone and propped her chin on her fist, “I bet you’d look sexy grasping the sheets of my bed.”

Shi Wudu didn’t even bother shifting her attention from the plants, “I already told you I refuse to make your bed. You’re a grown woman already.”

“I was trying to get it on with you, you know,” facefaulted Pei Ming.

“I’m not horny enough right now,” replied Shi Wudu as she finally turned around to head for the room’s door, “Get up. I already made breakfast. And make sure you drag Ling Wen with you.”

Pei Ming gave a morose sigh at another thwarted attempt and screamed to the pillow beside her. Life was hard when you metaphorically get hard over someone who was too busy taking over the country’s economy.

“Woe is me. I really want her in my bed.”

Ling Wen doesn’t stop typing but gives her a look.

“Well okay fine, so maybe I want her to fix my bed too because she’s really good at household chores,” admitted Pei Ming, “But I also really want her.”

“Then why do you still flirt with other girls?” questioned Ling Wen as she vigorously pressed the backspace button continuously.

“I’m a normal and healthy young woman!” exclaimed Pei Ming, “I see girls. I like girls. I’m soft for girls. Girls soft. Me soft.”

“And we both know Shi Wudu doesn’t have the time for anything but exclusivity. She’s practical and she knows her worth. And there’s no way she’s staying with someone who doesn’t have her as their one and only.”

The star volleyball player of the national team sat up, “Well I mean, it’s not that I like like her. She’s simultaneously hot and got that cold beauty thing going on so of course I’d want that.”

“You already slept with her. What more do you want?”

“Yeah sure I did but I also want to see her face first thing in the morning and to be there for her anytime of the day and help her raise her sister who’s still out to get me by the way and be by her side as she takes over all the businesses in the city then the country then the world and I want to snuggle with her and make her smile and spend the rest of my living and dying days with her. But again, it’s not that I like like her in that commitment way-”

“Of course.”

“Of course!”

The door slammed open and Shi Wudu had a scowl on her face while holding a spatula, “Are you two going to eat or not?! I still haven’t heard from Qingxuan and I don’t have time for dilly dallying!”

“We’re eating! We’re eating!” Pei Ming replied and jumped down from the bed. Shi Wudu pointed her spatula to Ling Wen to make her drag their dying graduate student friend and swiftly turned around. And being still in only her underwear and the hoodie lifted up from her movements, there was a noticeable light bounce on her ass.

Pei Ming drooled. All those casual swimming the other does really pays off.

“Oh god, I want to marry her. ”

Ling Wen ignored the statement she has been hearing since they were in high school and just continued typing.

-

To say that the events following Hua Cheng’s shameless act were pandemonium was the understatement of the century. Feng Xin and Mu Qing had roared in fury and leaped to the front of the car in hopes of clawing her while Hua Cheng set Xie Lian safely aside on the dashboard. They lost Quan Yizhen who jumped out the window for some reason but no one had the time to chase after her. And Ming Yi only curled up on her cookie jar and started munching on it faster in case worst came to worst.

It took a policeman, who wanted them to park somewhere else, knocking on their windows to stop the chaos inside the cramped up car. Not interested in endangering her license, Ming Yi nodded in acquiescence and drove away as quickly as she can. Thus, they ended up leaving Quan Yizhen behind and unable to wait for Shi Qingxuan to exit the building where her interview is taking place.

When they were about five blocks away, Ming Yi parked on a residential side road. Once they were all settled down - Feng Xin and Mu Qing huffing under their breathes on the backseat, Xie Lian sitting on a smug Hua Cheng’s lap with the latter’s arms wrapped around her lover’s waist, and Ming Yi opening a new cookie jar - Xie Lian spoke up.

“First, we need to find Quan Yizhen and get her back.”

“No need,” replied Feng Xin as she typed on her phone, “I already made Pei Su to look for her since she doesn’t have class until after lunch.”

“Isn’t she busy?” asked Xie Lian as she too took out her phone, “I’ll ask Ban Yue to help her since she lives around the area and I think her guardian is already working in their flower shop.”

“Now that that’s out of the way,” said Mu Qing, “Why are we all here?”

“Oh yeah,” remembered Xie Lian, “I found Shi Qingxuan vomiting and crying on the bathroom floor this morning.”

“Idiot couldn’t handle a hangover,” tsked Feng Xin.

“Well, yes, in a way? But her hungover’s already cured with the meds I gave her.”

“What? You gave her our resources?” leaned in Mu Qing.

“She looked really bad,” argued a worried Xie Lian.

“She’s always looks bad in my eyes even on her supposed best days,” replied Mu Qing, “Tsk. But still that’s our stuff you’re giving for free. I’m reimbursing from her sister.”

“No, no, I’ll pay for it instead. We don’t have to bother Shi Wudu. We’re working in the same shop so I know she’s only making as much money as I am and she’s still technically funding everything for Shi Qingxuan.”

Hua Cheng, Mu Qing, and Feng Xin all coughed.

“What is it?” inquired Xie Lian.

“If you think Shi Wudu’s financial situation is the same as yours then I’m going to burst your bubble here, young mistress,” stated Feng Xin who has put one of her legs on top of Mu Qing’s once more but this time it seems more of an subconscious gesture.

“That woman’s been slowly working her way into acquiring all the businesses she’s interested here in our region even before we got to know her. She’s just learning the ins and outs of the cafe you’re both working in right now,” continued Mu Qing who absentmindedly leaned on to the one beside her.

Xie Lian tried not to stare too much on her childhood friend’s position that’s far too close and just snuggled to Hua Cheng. Oh. Her back was pressed against the other’s boobs. Xie Lian blushed and considered moving away. But it felt so soft …They were together already...so it must be fine if she enjoys this privilege, right? Deciding that it was okay, she relaxed on said privilege .

“So? What has Shi Qingxuan puking her guts out early in the morning got to do with all of us cramped in this small car?” asked Feng Xin.

Ming Yi sent her a glare through the rearview mirror to another blasphemous statement about her car.

“Today is her interview for that internship she’s been gunning for and she’s really nervous about it - especially since Shi Wudu knows about it as well. You know how much she wants to be the best for her sister. And well, I ended up promising her that we’ll be there for her all throughout her interview,” explained Xie Lian and opened her sling bag.

“Well obviously we can’t be there with her during her interview. It’s most probably going to end in around fifteen more minutes so we can drive back there again and pick her up,” considered Feng Xin.

“Pay for my gas,” said Ming Yi.

“Ask reimbursement from her sister,” replied Mu Qing, “Have you never done that through all your five years of college friendship with her knowing how much damage she causes?”

“I’ve never met her sister. And I’m not interested in another Shi Qingxuan.”

Feng Xin snorted, “The apple falls far from the tree in their case. Trust me.”

“Um…” The other occupants of the car directed their attention to the uncertain Xie Lian, “Um actually, Shi Qingxuan gave me this,” and she showed a small looking pin on her palm, “And it’s supposed to allow us to hear her when she’s in the interview.”

Silence reigned for a full minute as they all blankly stared at the dubious device.

“What the fuck?! Where did she even get that shit?! This isn’t some Mission Impossible or James Bond movie in the making!” cried Feng Xin.

“Interesting,” commented Hua Cheng as she rested her chin on Xie Lian’s shoulder, “It seems that Shi Wudu has managed to tap the IT industry already.”

Mu Qing tapped open the calculator on her phone, “I’m tripling the reimbursement costs.”

“I’ll switch it on now, okay?” Xie Lian checked her companions’ faces before pressing the ‘on’ button.

“-and so I had to find a new way on how to do it not because I wanted to but to cater to other interests ahhh but then again honestly I’m chill in any way hahaha so moving on-”

Ming Yi grabbed the device, opened the driver’s side window, and threw it away as hard as she could.

“Wha-”

“I don’t care how this event concludes but I’m not looking for that,” said Mu Qing.

Xie Lian’s outstretched hand landed on Ming Yi’s head, “Why did you do that?!”

“Sorry,” To be fair on her part, Ming Yi looked hesitant as well, “Whenever I hear her babble, my instinct is to separate myself from her as far as possible.”

Feng Xin looked outside and squinted, “Nice throw though.”

Xie Lian slumped down on Hua Cheng in defeat. Something really seems to be wrong with her circle of friends and - oh. Oh.

Her face ended up on San Niang’s boobs.

Hua Cheng hugged her closer.

Xie Lian felt herself loosen up and let out a tiny giggle.

Soft.

-

“Stop crying and get out already.”

Shi Qingxuan started crying louder, “Ming-jie is being so mean to meeeee~”

“Ah, Ming Yi, please don’t say that to her right now,” implored Xie Lian as she patted the back of Shi Qingxuan from the front seat.

“Yeah, okay that’s nice and all but hmm let’s see can you not fucking cry on me ?! My shirt’s all wet now,” said an aggrieved Feng Xin who had Shi Qingxuan sprawled on top of her at the backseat of the car.

“Feng Xin you too! I’m distraught here,” sobbed the entrepreneur student and pushed herself closer to her current lifeline. On a normal day, she would have been all over Xie Lian because she’s the nicest or Ming Yi because that was her responsibility as her best friend. But the passive aggressive smile of Hua Cheng scared her enough not to touch her usual comforter and well, Ming Yi was the one who drove to her back to her house.

“So you didn’t get accepted, why beat yourself up over it?

“It was the best opportunity and company for my ideas!”

“That’s just how life is,” Mu Qing remarked and she rolled her eyes.

“Don’t join my bullies! I’m not stealing Feng Xin from you because I have Ming-jie.”

Mu Qing raged, “Who cares if you “steal” her? And excuse you , as if you had any chance in the first place.”

“Correction - you don’t have me. Please don’t spread fake news,” stated Ming Yi matter-of-factly.

“Stop pushing onto me! You’re flattening my boobs!” complained Feng Xin as she  started shoving Shi Qingxuan’s face away.

“WAAAAHHHHHHHHH you’re all ganging up on me!!!”

“Okay, okay, settle down,” Xie Lian mediated, “Ming Yi, please be nice. Mu Qing, please let go of Shi Qingxuan’s hair. Feng Xin, please don’t be too aggressive on your showing. Shi Qingxuan, you said you wanted to get it over with immediately and tell your sister which is why we’re here. It’s going to be okay. We all believe in you.”

“Don’t include me in this positivity thing,” said an unforgiving Ming Yi, “And get out of the car already.”

After a whole hour of cajoling the wailing Shi Qingxuan, she finally bid them all goodbye with a lot of noises and whining. When she saw the heartless way Ming Yi sped away, Feng Xin’s raised middle finger, Mu Qing’s eye rolling, and Hua Cheng’s undivided attention to the girl on her lap - she felt like screaming at how only Xie Lian really cared for her. She didn’t even get to see Quan Yizhen and pinch her cute cheeks as consolation.

With a sigh, she entered the building and dreaded the ride of the elevator as it headed for the penthouse. She clutched her portfolio close to her and sniffed in despair. She thought she could really land that internship and had even gone ahead and told her sister about it.

When she entered their place, she felt a bump on her foot and saw their oversized black puppy (“If it’s already more than a year old then it’s not a puppy anymore.” “Ming-jie, listen, Binghe can be 20 years old and he’s still a puppy! Even a-jie agrees!” “Well then you and your sister are wrong.” “Don’t badmouth a-jie!”) wagging his tail as their resident pure white cat, Shizun, was perched on the dog’s head. The typical sight of their pets brought a smile on her face and petted the two of them enthusiastically.

It had been five years and Binghe was still as sticky to Shizun as always. They adopted the relaxed cat from Cang Qiong Peak shelter and after a year, the usually calm cat went missing for three days. On the eve of the third day, he returned with a pitiful looking cup-sized puppy with him. At first, her sister had refused to take in the new animal because she claimed to not like dogs and until now, she still said she’s going to give Binghe to someone else. And well, it had been years and she had seen her sister cuddle with the puppy whenever she thought she was alone and had become protective as well (“You can tell that ‘Ming-jie’ of yours that everyone’s entitled to their wrong opinion.”).

Apparently having reached his petting quota for the day, Shizun tapped Binghe between his eyes to signify that he’s finished already. Shi Qingxuan watched as the big puppy happily trotted away and effortlessly balanced the grooming cat on his head. With that done, she looked around their penthouse and noticed that the lights to her sister’s room was lit.

“A-jie,” she knocked, “can we talk?”

A frustrated groan and a shuffle of papers sounded from inside the room, “Don’t you call me “a-jie” if you’re going to tell me you didn’t get that internship.”

Silence.

Well, if she can’t call her “jie” then -

“ Ge, can we talk?”

The door slammed open and a dishevelled looking Shi Wudu - skewed glasses perched on top of her head, an oversized shirt (ah, she can’t see the outline of her boobs with it - she still wondered where her sister got it) and booty shorts with the words ‘Water Master’ (now, this was her gift to her) - stepped out and gave her a once over.

“They rejected you?” she asked disbelievingly.

Shi Qingxuan shrunk at the tone but tried to play it off, “Hahaha they said I wasn’t talented enough for their company and -”

“They said what?! ” hissed the older Shi sibling, “ How dare they! ”

“A-Jie..?” Shi Qingxuan blinked confusedly.

Shi Wudu ran back to her room and emerged a few seconds later with her phone on her ear, “-right? Compile it in one folder and we’ll talk about it tomorrow...yeah...yep...huh? Pei Ming? Yeah we’re bringing her with us...of course she’s useless on this kind of stuff but I’m going to need someone to massage us as we go over the files...yep...okay. Bye. See you.”

After ending the call, Shi Wudu grabbed her sister and pushed her into the dining chair. She brought the food she cooked out and started setting up the table while expertly dodging the oversized puppy with the cat still on his head following every step she made. Shizun tapped the puppy on his head and Binghe quickly sat down properly. Honestly, he listened more to the cat than his humans.

“Here, I made your favorites. Eat properly.”

Shi Qingxuan stared at the mouthwatering dishes her sister obviously took the time to make for her on the table and felt her throat clog up, “A-jie...I’m really sorry.”

“Sorry for what?” replied the older one sternly, “For being too good on that lousy piece of shit of a company? Stop talking and hold your chopsticks properly! I have no patience tonight. Or any other nights. For heaven’s sake - Binghe stop tapping my leg! No, this isn’t your food. And what are you smiling at, you brat?!”

The younger Shi sibling smiled wider, “Nothing. I love you, a-jie~”

“Eat already!” responded the flushed looking Shi Wudu.

Forgetting the disaster of an interview, Shi Qingxuan started eating. She didn’t bother hiding her laugh when she saw her sister sneak in a piece of meat to Binghe. Shizun looked unimpressed as his royal stead gobbled up the food but seemed to have decided it wasn’t worth his time and proceeded to curl up and sleep.

-

Mu Qing raised an eyebrow at her beaming tutee. They were currently where this unfortunate ragtag random group hangs out - in the trio’s flat. Xie Lian and the she-demon were snuggled on the couch and were whispering sweet-nothings on each other’s ears. The low chuckles of Hua Cheng and the blushing Xie Lian were enough to give the other people in the area aneurysm. Ming Yi was going over her own notes on the corner as she was once more dragged by her supposed best friend over.

The loud screaming of Qi Rong (that fucking freeloader who had the guts to set fire to their place a year ago and was only stopped when Hua Cheng arrived just in time to slam her face first to the ground) was already settled down by a fuming Feng Xin when she entered the room where they keep said freeloader locked up.

Quan Yizhen had stayed with Pei Su after she got out of prison yesterday (they still have to figure out what exactly happened once they lost her) and both of them were on their way. Ban Yue was most probably with them as well if Ke Mo didn’t force her to man the cash register in their flower shop.

“Hm? What’s wrong?” asked the still grinning Shi Qingxuan who seemed to be letting out some sparkles.

“You’re what’s wrong,” responded Mu Qing, “But I’m not interested on anything about you except whether you understood what I just said.”

“If you must know-”

“I just said I didn’t.”

“-I have the best sister in the world. She’s super amazing! And regarding your question, sure I did!”

“Well somebody has got to have the good genes somewhere and it’s obviously not you. And if you did understand, then answer this equation,” said Mu Qing and slid a series of mathematical problems. She watched as Shi Qingxuan’s sparkles dimmed and a nervous chuckle escaped her. “Your class is literally called ‘Math Appreciation’ because it’s the easiest type of math out there.”

Shi Qingxuan banged her pen on the table, “If it were really as easy as it sounded then I should just be given all these math stuff then I’d look at them once and then appreciate them like some painting in a museum!”

Mu Qing slapped the pen off the table, “Even those paintings have precision on them! And don’t you raise your voice against your elder and tutor!”

The graduating student stood up, “I don’t like math!”

Her tutor stood up as well, “Well math doesn’t like you either!”

Noticing that the older girl was taller than her, Shi Qingxuan climbed up the table in order to look down on the other, “I’m an artist -”

“You’re getting a degree on entrepreneurship, not fine arts!”

“- and artists are free! I am free! Like the wind! I’m like a wind master!”

Ming Yi frowned at the noise and crawled behind the potted plant on the side (the new one that Shi Wudu sent over as a reimbursement for her sister’s damage). Xie Lian looked concerned with the raising of voices and was about to put a stop to it when Hua Cheng hugged her making her fall down to the girl in red. They ended up face to face with Hua Cheng’s back on the couch and Xie Lian on top of her, making the latter forget what she was about to do.

“You’re spouting nonsense again and get down from there!”

“I refuse! I’m an artist!”

“Hey! Why the fuck are you up there?!” shouted Feng Xin who looked like she had a scuffle against Qi Rong (she probably did), “Get the fuck down or you’re going to regret it!”

“Ohh, I see how it is,” Shi Qingxuan mock sneered, “You two girlfriends are ganging up on me, huh?!”

“WE’RE NOT TOGETHER!” screeched Feng Xin then grabbed the nearest item her and started attacking the younger girl on the table with it.

“That’s my broom! Don’t dirty it by letting it touch Shi Qingxuan!” Mu Qing pulled on Feng Xin’s hair and tried getting the broom from her.

“You and your broom kinks! Well you can’t make me do something I don’t want! I’m not scared of any of you!” yelled Shi Qingxuan as she used her textbook to defend herself from being hit with the broom.

“You’re really not scared of anyone?” asked Mu Qing who was sitting on the flattened Feng Xin on the floor and her broom victoriously back on her hand and aggressively pointed it to the towering Shi Qingxuan.

“I’m brave and powerful! No one can scare me!” came the shouting answer and she raised her book with two hands as if it can make her declaration more believable.

Mu Qing patted Feng Xin’s shorts’ pockets - conveniently ignoring the “Oi!” - in an effort to look for her phone and when she finally got it she looked back at her tutee, “I’m calling Shi Wudu.”

Shi Qingxuan hastily went down and kowtowed to her tutor with a sudden drop of pitch in her voice, “I’m sorry. I was wrong.”

The door to the apartment opened and in came Quan Yizhen being carried by Pei Su with Ban Yue beside them. The three university freshmen students stopped short at the sight of Mu Qing pinning Feng Xin to the floor, Shi Qingxuan bowing so low with her book still clutched on her hands, Ming Yi trying her best to blend in with the plant on the side, and Xie Lian and Hua Cheng sharing soft kisses with a world on their own on the couch.

“Oh, it’s another normal day,” observed Ban Yue and she bowed, “Good afternoon.”

“Ban Yue! You’re here!” greeted Xie Lian who finally snapped back to the same universe as the others, “Pei Su, thank you for taking care of Quan Yizhen.” Then she noticed what position the others were in and with quick adaptability skills honed throughout the years, she pulled Hua Cheng up with her and smiled, “Why don’t we all have some snacks, eh? Everyone go settle down and hm well if anyone wants to bring Qi Rong out, feel free. I’ll whip something out.”

“Xie Lian jie, I’ll help you,” volunteered Ban Yue and they both went to the adjacent area.

Upon hearing who the cooks were going to be, Ming Yi rushed to the refrigerator and started shuffling around for the already made snacks. She gave the fridge a dark look when she closed it, “Where’s the food? Why is there no old snacks left?”

Shi Qingxuan saunters to her with a supposedly seductive smile, “Ming-jie, the snack is right here”. And she gestured at herself.

Ming Yi’s face blanks out and takes a fork out of her pocket - “Why the fuck do you have such a hazardous thing with you always?! And get off me already, you bitch!” “Maybe I should copy Ming Yi and then I can stab you with it.” - and raises it between her eyes.

Sensing another round of chaos with Shi Qingxuan’s offended face at the reaction she received, Xie Lian hurriedly turned to Hua Cheng, “Please settle all of them down. Start with Ming Yi. She listens to you.”

Hua Cheng smiled brightly at her, “Yes, I’ll deal with all these garbage. Anything for you jie jie.”

“WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU CALLING AS GARBAGE HUA CHENG YOU BASTARD?!?!?! YOU AND THAT FAKE COUSIN OF MINE CAN YEET YOURSELVES OFF A CLIFF!!!!”

Hua Cheng’s smile twitched and she slowly started walking to the locked bedroom, “Excuse me, I have to deal with a pest first.”

No one stops her.

-

Dressed in nothing but her matching light blue underwear and bra, Shi Wudu opened her walk-in closet and paced back and forth. She needed intimidating clothes for where she’s about to go that’ll quickly send the message to that dumb company who rejected her sister. Dissatisfied with the rows of clothes she was seeing, she called out to Ling Wen who was lounging on her bed with her trusty laptop open.

“Hey, what should I change into?”

“Less of a bitch,” came Ling Wen’s quick and nonchalant reply.

“If ‘bitch’ is the term for ‘strong independent woman’ now then I’m more than happy to put that in my resume,” countered Shi Wudu who frowned at the dress she was holding up.

“You raising Shi Qingxuan is an example of a strong independent woman. You getting dirt on the company that rejected her and readying yourself to march over there to give them a piece of your mind is you being a bitch.”

Shi Wudu poked her head out of her closet, “And what term should be given to you as the one who collected those information for me?”

“A best friend,” Ling Wen responded from her comfortable position in the bed.

Shi Wudu took a second before shrugging, “True,” and went back to dive in her clothes.

“Does Shi Qingxuan know you’re off to war? And by the way, you do know that not everything has to lead to this, right?” asked the grad student as she texted Pei Ming to hurry up if she wanted to see Shi Wudu in just her undergarments.

“Everything is war and competition if you tried hard enough.”

Ling Wen sighed, “That’s not really how this works.”

“That’s the mentality I’ve been using as I acquire mismanaged organizations and businesses before making them flourish under my hands.”

“You literally took over the region’s best gymnasium five years ago just because you didn’t want to use the same swimming pool as your ex.”

“ She wasn’t my ex! There never was an “us” . And besides, I was swimming there before she arrived!”

“Woah woah woah, who are you mad at this sunny afternoon?” came the laughing voice of Pei Ming who just entered the room with three sets of takeouts in her paper bag, “And get out of that too big of a closet of yours so you can eat first before marching on to declare war. Oh yeah, and don’t forget about the small party in my place tonight in celebration of my Little Pei landing the top spot on their department.”

Ling Wen set her laptop aside to receive the food given to her, “Of course we’re going. And we were just talking about her ex.”

“Remind me to bring Pei Su’s gift before we get in the car. Also, she’s not my ex!”

Pei Ming scooted close to Ling Wen and opened her own food box, “Oh, the one she unapologetically tossed away like some dead fish?”

Shi Wudu’s frustrated, “We were never in a relationship!” coincided with Ling Wen’s “Yep.”

The two girls on the bed shared a look and Ling Wen commented, “Our friend’s grade A bitch. If she were a man, she’d be hunted down and lose her head.”

The athlete swallowed a spoonful of rice before responding, “And yet here we are loving and staying with this unapologetic bitch.”

“Well, this bitch has to manage one grad student’s dysfunctional ass who can’t take care of herself properly and one national athlete who keeps on losing her one brain cell,” said the owner of the penthouse, “Anyhow, I need to go over some of my lines.”

“Lines? This isn’t some soap opera,” guffawed Pei Ming.

Finally dressed up in an ensemble passing her standards, Shi Wudu exited her walk in closet and practiced the first lines she was going to say the moment she enters the company’s building lounge, “My name is Shi Wudu. And you are?”

Pei Ming looked up from her food and her amusement died down when she caught sight of the classic navy blue suit that the other was wearing that hugged her figure in all the right places.

“And you are?” prompted Shi Wudu again to get her practice going.

Pei Ming felt like crying at the sight she was blessed with, “Horny.”

Shi Wudu’s expression didn’t even change as she turned her attention to Ling Wen, “And here we have said athlete lose her one (1) brain cell again.”

“It’ll come back soon,” reassured Ling Wen and stretched the remaining box of food to the one currently dressed-up, “Food?”

Ignoring Pei Ming’s keening gaze at her, Shi Wudu walked over to them and let Ling Wen feed her. She started putting on her heels as Ling Wen alternated her chopsticks between the both of them.

“Pei Ming, are you driving us?” asked the grad student.

Upon finishing to clasp her heels, Shi Wudu stood at full height and did a turn in front of the full body mirror.

Pei Ming sobbed.

“Looks like I’m the one driving,” Ling Wen concluded.

-

Ban Yue bent down to the oven where the cookies were being done and smiled at her mentor who also bent down, “I didn’t really know how to make this but I think we did great.”

Xie Lian patted her head, “That’s the spirit!”

Ming Yi squinted her eyes to see the cookies being baked and balked at the sight before looking forlornly at the window, “And there goes my spirit.”

Hua Cheng kicked the legs of the chair Ming Yi was sitting on as the fake smile on her face never faltered, “What was that, hm? You wanted me to raise the interest of the money you owe me?”

“I didn’t even want to be here,” protested the marine biologist student.

“Okay, we’re done!” beamed Xie Lian as she and Ban Yue got their mittens to take out the fresh batch of cookies, “It’s been kind of stressful at work lately so we might have ended up stress baking a lot. But I think there’s a lot of us and we can go bring some over to the party at Pei Ming’s house.”

“I get stressed when you ‘stress bake’,” mumbled Ming Yi and deftly avoided the knife that Hua Cheng threw at her direction.

“AH! Hua Cheng! Don’t bully Ming-jie!” shouted Shi Qingxuan who then stood in front of Ming Yi with a determined expression on her face.

“No, no, no. Please don’t fight,” interjected Xie Lian and tugged at Hua Cheng’s sleeves. The latter immediately calmed down and smiled at the shorter girl. She then proceeded to cup the other’s cheeks with both her hands and knocked their foreheads together.

“Anything for jie jie.”

“San Niang…”

The two looked at each other as if their partner hung the sun, moon, and the stars. They both leaned closer to kiss and -

“REALLY?! IN FRONT OF MY SALAD?!” screeched Feng Xin.

Hua Cheng ducked just in time as the bread knife embedded itself on the wall where her head was near a while ago.

“My hands seemed to have slipped,” drawled Mu Qing.

“Yes, it did. You couldn’t even hit the target,” mocked Hua Cheng.

“Why you -”

“The cookies are ready!” interrupted a frightened-looking Ban Yue who braved to go in between the opposing forces to slam down the tray in the table.

Xie Lian felt like hugging the young freshman, “Good, good. Now, c’mon everyone stay calm. Let’s all eat,” and she ushered everyone to settle down around the cramped up dining area.

Tension increased when they all peered down at the “cookies”. Nobody moved nor looked at each other as they waited on who will take the bait. Unsurprisingly, it was Hua Cheng (one of her only two good points in Feng Xin and Mu Qing’s exhaustive list of pros and cons of the she-devil) who ate first and happily munched on it like it wasn’t poison.

Shi Qingxuan and Ming Yi refused to be fooled again (their first time had them rushed to the ER while everyone tried their best to keep the news from Shi Wudu). Pei Su looked at the tray contemplatively as only someone who has complete trust in one of the bakers would be even after her past experiences with Ban Yue’s “magical” hands.

And Quan Yizhen, true to her straightforward personality, grabbed one without a care. Mu Qing reached over to her and took the cookie away from her before she can bite on it. Before the youngest in the room can complain, Feng Xin got a lollipop and shoved it in her mouth.

“Jie jie, this is amazing,” Hua Cheng genuinely smiled.

Xie Lian’s face lit up as bright as three thousand lanterns.

Ming Yi coughed which sounded like “liar” and avoided the glare that Hua Cheng sent her way.

“Anyway,” said Feng Xin and looked at Pei Su, “What happened to Quan Yizhen yesterday?”

The sensible niece of Pei Ming straightened up at the attention, “I picked her up inside a dumpster.”

“You mean near a dumpster,” corrected Shi Qingxuan.

“No. I meant I fished her out of dumpster because she was inside it,” clarified Pei Su.

Heavy exhales resounded in the room and Feng Xin turned to the dumpster diver, “What the fuck were you doing inside a fucking dumpster?!”

Quan Yizhen paused from her lollipop, “I was chasing someone I thought I knew and then I slipped.”

“How do you even slip inside a dumpster? That’s on a different level than the ground?!” cried Shi Qingxuan.

“We were running on the rooftops then I slid between buildings,” came the detached reply.

Xie Lian massaged her head in an attempt to make sense of the story but eventually gave up and decided to tackle another issue instead, “Who were you chasing?”

“My shijie from my old martial arts school.”

“And why were you chasing after this shijie of yours?”

“Because she was running.”

Mu Qing rolled her eyes and sarcastically said, “Of course.”

“Okay, go back,” said Xie Lian, “Did you manage to talk to her?”

The curly haired girl pouted, “No. I don’t even know her new number or any other details about her after we accidentally parted ways in the past.”

“Basing from the rooftop chasing and the dumpster ending, it looks like it wasn’t accidental parting,” sneered Mu Qing.

Xie Lian ignored her childhood friend and nodded her head to the troubled freshman, “Well, maybe we can help you look for her so you can reconnect. What does she look like? What’s her height? Any identifiable physical feature?”

Quan Yizhen shrugged, “I don’t know. I was too focused on her eyes when I saw her across the street.”

“Okay then, what color were her eyes?”

The shortest girl beamed, “It’s like the color of the earth rebirthed.”

“Uh-huh,” Mu Qing joined in, “And what color is that?”

“ Beautiful ,” replied a smitten Quan Yizhen.

Silence. And as if everyone simultaneously silently agreed that she was a lost cause, they shifted in their seats and looked at one another in an effort to act like everything’s fine and their youngest still has 0.5 of her brain cell somewhere.

“I think,” started Pei Su, “We should just go auntie’s house now and hope to have some fun.”

Shi Qingxuan jumped up the table in excitement, “You’re right! And you know what I always say when parties are involved?”

Ming Yi raised a fork in the entrepreneur student’s direction, “No. And we’re not interested.”

“I say that we should go wild, die with a bang, and have a smashing funeral for my pretty corpse!”

“You should say something else,” remarked Ming Yi, “Or fast forward to the last part of your statement so I can finally achieve peace.”

“Ah! Ming-jie!!! Stop being a meanie!!!” Shi Qingxuan stomped her foot on the table.

Feng Xin finally had enough, violently grabbed her ankle, and pulled hard, “GET THE FUCK OFF THE TABLE!”

Shi Qingxuan started her noisy crocodile tears as she held onto her supposed best friend’s neck as said best friend tried freeing herself from her sticky hands. Mu Qing rolled her eyes again at the ongoing chaos across the table and slapped Quan Yizhen’s hand when she tried getting a cookie again. Ban Yue held Pei Su’s hand under the table as they looked on worriedly. Hua Cheng’s gaze never left her jie jie while Xie Lian remained the only one panicking enough at the welfare of her friends.

“WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU FUCKERS SO GOD DAMN NOISY OUT THERE AGAIN?! CAN’T I FUCKING REST IN PEACE HERE?!?!?!?!”

Hua Cheng’s smile slipped from her face and she stood up.

“Jie jie, let me help someone know the real meaning of resting in peace. ”

“Eh? San Niang? Where are you taking that knife?”

“Here, have this too.”

“Ah. Mu Qing what are you handing San Niang...are those the set of knives we’ve been looking for…”

-

The small party was in full swing by 9 in the evening (“Aren’t we starting this party too early?” “We’re all either tired of life and, or are grandmas here already.” “It’s 6PM.” “Being tired and a grandma is a perpetual state of life.”). Xie Lian has seen almost everyone except for Pei Ming and Shi Wudu who seemed to have disappeared somewhere even before they arrived while Ling Wen was sitting on the kitchen sink inhumanely typing so fast on her laptop.

As usual, Ming Yi had been lurking in the corners of the place in an attempt to become one with the shadows and escape the drunk Shi Qingxuan who was a hundred times happier and truly living by her words of going wild, dying with a bang, and have a smashing funeral for her pretty corpse. Unfortunately for Ming Yi, this was only the first part of her best friend’s statement right now. Maybe she really should talk to her sister and ask for reimbursement. She was certain she’ll have enough to last through her retirement phase if she lives long enough to survive the annoyance that calls herself her “best friend”.

Said annoyance was intently talking with Xie Lian who was wrapped around the arms of Hua Cheng as the latter two claimed the couch near the door.

“I need to know how to go out on a date! I’m confessing tonight and I plan to have our first official couple date tomorrow,” declared an eager Shi Qingxuan.

“You’re acting like your confession’s going to get accepted,” chuckled Hua Cheng.

“Well, duh, why wouldn’t it?” asked a genuinely confused Shi Qingxuan.

Hua Cheng thought that Shi Wudu’s ability to raise such a confident person says a lot about her character and sends a meaningful glance - which could also be interpreted as pitying depending on who you ask - at He Xuan on the buffet table having the time of her life. The graduating university student gave her a confused frown and Hua Cheng grinned evilly knowing more shit about the people in this house right now.

At least Feng Xin and Mu Qing were busy groping each other on the pool table (well, after they started using the pool cue stick in an attempt to murder each other when their game became too intense). Ban Yue and Pei Su were having a soft intimate moment on the balcony with just a small distance between them as they shyly talked to each other. And who knows where Quan Yizhen was.

“So how do you and Hua Cheng go on dates?” inquired a drunk Shi Qingxuan again.

Xie Lian lit up and rested her head on Hua Cheng’s boobs, “San Niang always let me have my simple indulgences like going on park dates, eating her cooking, watching the latest action movie, planning on how to overthrow capitalism and redistribute their wealth to the working class, and checking out cute cafes in the corner.”

Shi Qingxuan squinted her eyes, “Uh-huh...one of those is not like the other.”

“We’re really very chill.”

“Sure.”

“Why the fuck are you standing on top of a table again?!” cried Feng Xin as she and Mu Qing have sauntered to them. There were already visible hickeys on their necks and the way they were gripping each other’s arms as they headed for the stairs were enough for anyone to know what they were planning to do.

Shi Qingxuan jumped to the ground, ran to the buffet table to grab Ming Yi, and returned in front of the two older girls.

“Ming-jie! I want us to be like that!” she yelled as she pointed to the dishevelled looks of Mu Qing and Feng Xin.

“No,” came the swift callous response of Ming Yi.

“What?!” screeched Shi Qingxuan and started shaking the other aggressively, “Nooooo! Ming-jieeeee! You were supposed to say yes and then we would have our date tomorrow then we’ll get a-jie’s blessing the next day and then get married next week! You can’t move away from the fate!”

“For fuck’s sake, have your tantrum somewhere else. Move out of the way,” tsked Feng Xin.

Shi Qingxuan stomped her foot, “I am the way.”

“Cool it, Jesus.” Mu Qing rolled her eyes, “We just want to go up so normal human beings like you who can’t get laid should make way.”

An offended gasp escaped the entrepreneur student’s mouth, “I will ascend up that stairs too!” then she looked at the girl beside her, “With Ming-jie!”

“I’d rather descend,” responded Ming Yi and tried tugging away from the hands wrapped around her waist.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the infamous Shi. Poised. Regal. Sophisticated,” Feng Xin suddenly commented.

Shi Qingxuan paused in her wailing against Ming Yi to blush at Feng Xin’s words, “Aww, thank y-”

“But enough about your older sister. When the fuck are you moving out of the way?”

“What the hell is happening here?” came the annoyed voice of Shi Wudu who has finally appeared and descended from the stairs with Pei Ming.

“A-jie!” greeted Shi Qingxuan brightly and tugged at Ming Yi again, “Look, look! You finally get to meet my sister, Ming-jie!”

Ming Yi looked up the stairs.

Hua Cheng grinned anticipatingly.

Xie Lian continued burying herself on her girlfriend’s breasts unmindful of what was happening.

Shi Wudu looked down to the “Ming-jie” her sister’s been going on about for years whom she was obviously having a highkey crush on ever since they first met in freshman year. Her eyes widened as recognition flitted on both her and this “Ming-jie” . That fucking liar isn’t even using her real name?!

The older Shi slammed her fist on the stairs’ railing and through gritted teeth called out to her sister, “Qingxuan, a word. ”

Bewildered why her sister suddenly looked murderous, Shi Qingxuan panickingly shouted the first word on her mind, “Marshmallows!”

Ling Wen exited from the kitchen with dead eyes and looked at the ones gathered on the stairs before commenting, “Oh. Shi Wudu, it’s your ex. He Xuan, wasn’t it?”

“EX?!”

“She’s not my ex!”

“You’re her sister?!”

“Ohhh, this is the swimmer ex!”

“Can you fuckers move out of the way already?!”

“San Niang, why are you laughing?”

-

Hua Cheng gave an annoyed sigh as she drove herself and her friend back to the latter’s place. She wanted to stay longer with Xie Lian but apparently this whole “friendship” thing extends to being empathetic or something. She felt like rolling He Xuan out of the car and going back. The only thing stopping her is that it was Xie Lian who asked her this favor.

“I’m going to die alone,” came the despairing statement of the person passed out on the back seat.

Trying to remember all the things she’s read about empathy (she’s bored okay, so sometimes she’d pull up the weirdest articles), this seems to be the part where she has to say something comforting. And since the statement was negative, she somehow has to make it positive by denying it? Oh well, it’s worth a shot.

“You’re not,” Hua Cheng replies, “You...well you have your fishes so no, you’re not going to die alone.”

“Is this you comforting me?” He Xuan incredulously asked.

“Yes.”

“Oh…” He Xuan put her arms over her face again, “Okay. Thanks. I guess.”

“Hmm,” Hua Cheng sped up despite the red light, “So what even is the issue here?”

He Xuan groaned, “I didn’t know that my ex and best friend were siblings! And not just any ex - this is the same person who broke up with me without so much of an explanation and just gave me a dispassionate glance as I died inside years ago. Then, there’s Shi Qingxuan who I might like but not so much I mean just a bit but really not that much and well yeah so I kinda started liking her but now Shi Wudu definitely won’t let me get near her sister any time soon. For some reason, me not using my real name is an issue.”

“Huh. Imagine that.”

“I mean, so what if I don’t use my birth name? My family migrated from where I was born and I got a new name that’s legally accepted anyway so what’s the issue? I remember Shi Wudu losing it back then when, in good conscience, I dropped my real name to her.”

“Maybe your birth star’s incompatible with hers and she doesn’t want to take the risk,” Hua Cheng turned right.

“She’s not that petty, I mean she -” and then He Xuan paused. She met Hua Cheng’s eyes on the rearview mirror, “Fuck. She was the one who had me banned in the best pool in the region, wasn’t she?”

Hua Cheng smirked, “She’s a good business partner. Cold. Ruthless. Unapologetic.”

He Xuan sat up abruptly, “You knew?!”

“That she was Shi Qingxuan’s sister? Yeah,” shrugged Hua Cheng.

“How could you not have told me?!”

“I didn’t feel like it.”

Knowing how the older girl truly only cared for her goddess, He Xuan slumped back to the seat, “I hate this. It wasn’t even as if our crash and burn was that intense so why am I so affected.”

“He Xuan, you literally had a photo of her giving you the middle finger inside your refrigerator and for you that’s synonymous to an altar.”

Ignoring the sounds of protest from her companion, Hua Cheng mentally cheered when she noticed that they neared their destination. She was going back to pick up Xie Lian. Well, fine, so Xie Lian said she should stay with He Xuan until the university student was finally over the reveal crisis and slept. Hm, but she can just knock her out and be done with it.

“You have to learn how to love yourself,” Hua Cheng apathetically said.

He Xuan glared at her, “That’s coming from you? Don’t you fucking hate yourself? You were having that eye and jumping break down for years.”

“Yeah, sure,” admitted Hua Cheng as she parked, “But this isn’t about me. It’s about you. Stay focused. Get out of the car.”

He Xuan righted herself and was about to alight when she felt her phone vibrate, “I just got a message from an unknown number saying I’m the smelliest fish in the world.”

Hua Cheng turned off her engine, “Tell Shi Wudu I said hi and that I’m going back to pick up jiejie. Now, get your ass moving.”

He Xuan threw her phone at the back of her friend’s head in frustration. A second passed by until she realized what she did and slowly looked at Hua Cheng with a dark aura gathering around her like some supreme she-devil. Hah. But there’s no way He Xuan was going to back out from this.

Above, the full moon brightly shined.

-

At seven in the morning, Mu Qing found herself relaxed on the couch of their apartment waiting for the popcorn and Feng Xin. Her tutee had arrived an hour ago with a panicked look and only Xie Lian took pity on her so the both of them were talking it out in the other room. On the other hand, she and Feng Xin have absolutely no interest with that dumb drama and decided to watch a movie on the sofa instead.

“What’s taking you so long?” she called out.

Feng Xin finally appeared with the bowl in a dishevelled state, “Fucking microwave refused to cooperate.”

“So what, you decided to masturbate in the kitchen instead?” Mu Qing deadpanned.

“Must be because you aren’t satisfying me enough,” Feng Xin quickly shot back.

“Fuck you!” shouted Mu Qing as she stood up from her relaxed position.

Feng Xin slammed the bowl on the sofa table, “No, fuck you!”

“FUCK THE BOTH OF YOU OUTSIDE!!! I’M LIVE STREAMING TO MY FANS RIGHT NOW SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTHS YOU WHORES!!!!!”

The two considered going over to Qi Rong and give her a piece of their mind but since it was way too early in the morning and Xie Lian was busy with Shi Qingxuan, they just scoffed and left their previous argument. Mu Qing sat back down and reached for the remote while Feng Xin lightly kicked her legs to make room for herself in the couch.

“What are we watching?” Feng Xin asked and fed the other girl some of the popcorn.

Mu Qing chewed a bit before replying, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.”

“Cool. It’s the one with the jedis, right?”

“...”

“Oh, look there’s the small weird thing...and ah, I didn’t know Yoda died on the beach?”

Mu Qing looked at the screen with a dead look where Dobby breathed his last words (which was also the same as his first words in the series apparently), then to her own long nails, and finally to the uncultured swine beside her who unconcernedly put more popcorn on her mouth.

Looks like she’s not cutting her fingernails any time soon.

-

“So what if Ming-jie and a-jie were together in the past? Do you think I'm that insecure?” asked a hysterical Shi Qingxuan who kept on pacing back and forth the room. Xie Lian’s kind of worried she’s going to start a fire with the way she’s dragging her feet on the rug and she really can’t afford a new one to replace it.

Shi Qingxuan took her companion’s silence as confirmation and started pacing even faster with bloodshot eyes from her obviously sleepless night, “Okay but I need you to say something. Hahahaha How insecure do you think I am? Maybe not that much right hahaha I mean how can I be??? Hahahaha But can you please answer my question? I need to know if you think I'm insecure. And if yes, by how much? Also -”

Xie Lian finally snapped out of her rug worries at the increased frenzy on the younger girl, “Stop, stop, stop. Relax. Okay, there you go. That’s good. Inhale. Exhale. Why do you think you're insecure? Only you can answer that question so why don’t you sit down for a moment, breathe in, and examine yourself.”

The entrepreneur student nodded and sat on the back of her foot as she started…”meditating”. Xie Lian hopes she’s calm enough to do so and that - she sneaks a glance at the wall clock - she can help her before her shift on the cafe. And oh god, that means she has to see the other person involved in this drama.

Shi Qingxuan suddenly snapped her eyes open and exclaimed in a shell-shocked manner, “Oh my god.”

“What is it? Have you finally identified the roots of your insecurity? Don’t worry, we’ll calmly go through it together,” reassured Xie Lian.

The other girl wildly looked around and when she saw that there was no table in sight, she climbed up the bed instead and stood at full height before screaming her discovery.

“MING-JIE GOT TO SEE A-JIE NAKED AND THE LAST TIME I SAW A-JIE NAKED WAS BACK WHEN I WAS STILL TEN YEARS OLD!!!!!”

“...what..?”

Shi Qingxuan started hitting the air in her own version of a tantrum and screeched louder, “I WANT TO SEE A-JIE'S BOOBS AS WELL! HOW DARE MING-JIE SEE THE MOST DEVELOPED VERSION OF IT BEFORE ME?!”

“...”

“I WANT TO SEE A-JIE'S BOOBS!!!!!!!! I WANT! I WANT! I WANT! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

Amidst the cries and declarations all about her sister’s breasts, Xie Lian rechecked the time on the clock and decided she has seen everything and it was time for her to leave. She silently creeped out of the room as Shi Qingxuan had her reveal breakdown and was about to call for Feng Xin and Mu Qing to take care of her instead when she finds the two on the couch making out and groping each other.

“SHUT THE HELL UP YOU BITCH!!! NOBODY WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR SISTER’S DUMBASS BOOBS!!!” Ah, it looks like Qi Rong has started to compete with Shi Qingxuan’s shouts from her own locked room.

“A-JIE’S BOOBS ARE NOT DUMB!!!! YOU TAKE THAT BACK!!!!”

Xie Lian let out a tiny cough to the unbothered two on the couch who then finally paused. Which is, you know, good because it was as if even she was feeling the heat from them.

“I have to go to work. Please make sure Shi Qingxuan doesn’t leave the apartment without calming down.”

Just as she said that, a loud crash was heard. The three rushed to the hallway and saw said girl break into Qi Rong’s room and the sound of something repeatedly hitting another thing (most probably Qi Rong) echoed in the place. Feng Xin growled in annoyance and ran inside as well to put a stop to them.

Mu Qing had her phone’s calculator app opened as she assessed the damage. As if remembering something, she then ceased her computations and gazed at Xie Lian with a dark look on her face.

“Before you say anything else - no, we are not going out.”

“You were making out.”

“You’re wrong.”

“Well then what was that...you were fighting with your lips?”

“We were angrily making out.”

“So you were making out,” sighed Xie Lian at the familiar conversation.

“Hey!” Mu Qing raised her voice, “Don’t just conveniently forget the “angry” part!”

Xie Lian headed out with her old sling bag and before she left, she quipped, “Maybe you shouldn’t forget the “making out” part too.”

Then she closed the door with a closed-eye smile.

-

Xie Lian arrived at her work in time to see Shi Wudu toss a groaning man outside the cafe. The imposing figure of the cold beauty then turned to the meek woman at her back.

“How many times must I tell you that the moment any man starts any shit, you’re more than welcome to beat them up? I’m training you under the request of your employer and I need you to be firmer because I know you can.”

Yin Yu bit her bottom lip, “I’m just really awkward at confrontations. It’s how it’s always been.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You control your own life. If I see you getting harassed again and you’re not doing anything then I’m giving that curly haired uni student your number.”

“Ah! Please don’t! Please don’t! I understand already,” pleaded Yin Yu.

As soon as she said that, she got called by a customer and she went over to take their order. Said customer held her hand and started saying something and based on Yin Yu’s face, it wasn’t his order.

Shi Wudu stared at Xie Lian, “When I die, let Yin Yu lower my coffin so she can let me down one last time. Go help her and then meet me at the back office when that pest is out of this place,” and with that, her maid skirt whished as she turned around to proceed to the inner area. Xie Lian trotted to where Yin Yu was and mentally congratulated herself for not staring at Shi Wudu’s breasts despite the conditioning that Shi Qingxuan has done to her.

Once she was done with the task asked of her, Xie Lian found herself sitting face to face with Shi Wudu in the back office. And she’s never seen anyone look so intimidating and regal in a maid outfit.

“I suppose my sister is in your place?”

“Yeah. She came by around six. Feng Xin and Mu Qing are home though so even if I’m not there, they’ll definitely take care of her,” replied Xie Lian.

Shi Wudu massaged her temples in exasperation, “I apologize that you had to get dragged to this. I didn’t really expect that her ‘Ming-jie’ would actually be some fish trash. And now, she’s trying to taint my little sister, huh.”

Xie Lian sweatdropped, “I’ve known Ming Yi for four, maybe five years now and she’s actually pretty nice. Despite complaining, she’d actually accompany Shi Qingxuan and join her in whatever idea pops in her head. She has her own version of sweetness.”

“Ugh, please.”

“Really,” Xie Lian said imploringly so they can fix the issue, “She’s a good match for Shi Qingxuan and -”

Shi Wudu slammed her palm down on the manager’s desk (which, speaking of which, she hasn’t seen their manager for a week), “Normally, my stand is no one is good enough for my sister. But in this case, it’s still like that only six hundred and sixty six times worst.”

Because experience taught her to stop opening a can of worms, she decides not to ask about the choice of number, “Was your break up really that bad?”

“We were never together,” was the quick reply, “And well, it was a chill parting of ways. I ended it and she was agreeable.”

“Then what’s wrong?” asked Xie Lian.

“I only said that the ending was agreeable but not the time before it. That He Xuan is an overall disagreeable person. One time, we were at her place and she tried to decapitate my head,” Shi Wudu recounted with a dark expression on her face.

Xie Lian choked on air, “What?”

“She yanked my necklace recklessly when we were about to go to bed,” she then touched her neck as if the phantom after effects of it was still there, “and it’s only because I forgot her name before that.”

Again, Xie Lian wasn’t interested in opening another can of worms by asking how exactly she forgot the other’s name, “Couldn’t it have been an accident?”

Shi Wudu gave her an unimpressed look, “Why do you and Ling Wen ask the same dumb question?”

“Because it might have been what had happened?” Xie Lian inquired and felt some kinship with Ling Wen.

Shi Wudu sneered, “Of course it wasn’t an accident! She’s just really a spiteful person. And yes, I’m sure.”

“And yet you call your ending as ‘agreeable’ still?” Xie Lian inquired doubtfully.

A beat.

“Okay, fine, it was an intense crash and burn for us. Whatever. What’s done is done.”

Seeing that their past wasn’t going to be the way to cross the bridge, Xie Lian decided on another approach knowing that her colleague was soft for her sister, “Ming Yi makes Shi Qingxuan smile, you know.”

“So does Binghe when he used to eat his poop when we first got him. So does Shizun when he jumps away from cucumbers in fright. So does Peppa Pig, Patrick Star, Mojo Jojo, and so many more. She’s not that special.”

Okay, hmm... that wasn’t the best argument. “Maybe it’s just that the two of you will end up clashing because of your personalities. On the other hand, Shi Qingxuan and Ming Yi had managed to be friends first and have been able to maintain that relationship throughout their college years.”

“It’s He Xuan!” hissed an aghast Shi Wudu as if that was the pinnacle of her rebuttal. It probably was.

“How about this,” suggested Xie Lian in a haste, “We all go for a quick day trip somewhere and you can see how she’s going to act around your sister. She’s not the type to hide something so -”

“Please,” Shi Wudu rolled her eyes, “She used to be the star actress of her drama club when she was in high school as she recounted to me during one of our after-sex talks.”

They talk about personal things like that but they weren’t “together”, huh. This kind of denial is giving her Feng Xin and Mu Qing war flashbacks. Ah, but that’s another can of worms. So, no thank you.

“C’mon why don’t you just try?” Seeing a firm rejection from the other, Xie Lian immediately added, “For Shi Qingxuan? Please?”

There was a few moments of silence and Xie Lian tugged at her own maid skirt in suspense.

“Fine.”

Xie Lian grinned.

“Oh, and Owner found those two rabbits you were keeping.”

Xie Lian’s grin dropped, “What? How?”

“The black one suddenly jumped up to him last week and then the white one followed. He asked what those were doing in the shop and so I told him.”

“You said you wouldn’t tell!”

“And I remember you once said that you only saw Hua Cheng as your ‘little sister’. Welcome to the real world, young mistress.”

Recalling that she did have that discussion with the one in front of her two years ago, Xie Lian felt her face heat up and helplessly tried to defend herself, “San Niang’s courting was really nice and sweet and overwhelming.”

“Oh, you call it ‘courting’ ? Well, fine, she’s good looking so you might as well call it that. Because had she not been who she was, that’d be called ‘stalking’ . To each of our own, I guess,” concluded Shi Wudu with a pitying glance.

Which, if Xie Lian might say, quite ironic coming from someone who declared she’s not going to be with a dumb person but has chosen to be with one. Oh, but it’s not as if she means Pei Ming “dumb” - more like her intelligence does not lie in the intellectual side of someone like her friend in front of her.

“But where is Wifi and Bluetooth now? They come as a set. You can’t separate them or else they’re going to get sad,” Xie Lian remembered. She found those two rabbits on top of the wall of some house in the area with Wifi struggling to stay up (or was it to get up) as Bluetooth tried helping him. On instinct, she took the two of them and made them a tiny house at the back of the cafe.

“Your apartment doesn’t allow pets, right? I sent them off to Pei Ming instead because she seems to have the same energy as that black one. That, and Ling Wen would be a useless caretaker when she can’t even take care of herself”.

Xie Lian breathed in relief. At least they were together. And well, as chaotic as Pei Ming sounded, she was and is able to take care of her niece. Okay, fine, so maybe Xie Lian’s relieved not really because of Pei Ming but that Pei Su, the responsible one, is going to be there.

“Anyhow,” Shi Wudu continues, “Mu Qing informed me that you’ve been tight on funds the past month. Maybe if you stop being too nice to the beggars coming in then the owner will raise your salary.”

“Does he give you money for sticking very close to the rules?” Xie Lian asked curiously as she tried to ignore the fact that everyone seems to be aware of her financial status.

“I've been doing the cafe’s books for months now, I take what I need.”

…

“I...Shi Wudu...I don’t think that’s how this works.”

-

No, really, thirty minutes later, Xie Lian wants to reiterate to Shi Wudu that this wasn’t how things worked.

“Theme park? Right now?”

“Yes, I thought about what you said about getting to see for myself this thing between that girl and my sister and what better way to do it than through a little get together with everyone so I can observe how she is with others as well,” confirmed Shi Wudu, “So I already booked us tickets. We just have to pick up said sister of mine and the trash with her.”

Xie Lian couldn’t even utter anything else as she was ushered outside and Shi Wudu casually flipped the ‘OPEN’ sign to ‘CLOSE’ in the middle of the day while jaw slacked customers were left outside. The moment she got inside the car, she noticed Yin Yu at the back looking as concerned as her. They shared a suffering look but also knew there wasn’t anything they could do.

After a few minutes, when they turned around the curb of the university, they found the two people they were supposed to pick up beside the gates. Shi Qingxuan was animatedly saying something to Ming Yi while flapping her hands around as the blank faced girl had a fork (honestly, where was she keeping that) raised on the other and was squinting at it.

Xie Lian opened the window and was about to call out for them when she noticed that their car wasn’t slowing down at all.

And it was headed directly at Ming Yi.

“Wait!”

Ming Yi managed to avoid the car that swerved on her side by the last second. She glared at said car and the window of the driver’s side unceremoniously opened with Shi Wudu looking down at her with her Gucci shades on.

“Get in loser. We’re going to the theme park.”

“Jie!” Shi Qingxuan excitedly greeted, “Hahaha you almost accidentally hit Ming-jie there but let’s go in, let’s go in~”

“Oh yes,” Shi Wudu indifferently agreed, “I almost accidentally did, didn’t I.”

With more quick salutations with both Xie Lian and Yin Yu, the two students settled down at the back.

“It’s a good thing we arrived in the entrance just in time,” said Shi Qingxuan, “We had to rush from the faculty area because Ming-jie was missing and I had to look for her! Hey, hey, Ming-jie, we were supposed to meet outside your last class’ room, why did you disappear?”

“I didn’t want to come.”

Seeing the response to her sister, Shi Wudu quipped back, “More like you couldn’t make me come.”

Yin Yu looked like she wanted to be one with the seatbelt and Xie Lian coughed awkwardly.

He Xuan opened her mouth in surprise and looked like she wanted to say something back but Shi Wudu beat her once more.

“Put back your tongue. My pussy isn’t interested with that anymore.”

“Ahhhh!!! That reminds me! Ming-jie! You saw a-jie’s developed boobs before I ever did!!!!”

“???”

Yin Yu whimpered.

Xie Lian wants to hurl herself out of this car.

-

“So we have Xie Lian here and obviously Hua Cheng will be guaranteed lurking as well-” Xie Lian was once again wrapped around the taller girl who looked unrepentant, “Feng Xin and Mu Qing - hopefully, you’ll get to keep your hands off each other in public both in the violent way and the sexual way-” The two’s protests went unheard. “Yin Yu and Quan Yizhen - yes, Yin Yu, I saw you not kicking out that man in yellow with some peony design on his clothes so deal with this-” Ahhh, apparently Yin Yu was “shijie” and she looked ready to cry. “Pei Su and Ban Yue - pure children who deserve the world-” The two got affectionate pats on their heads. “Some smelly fish and my wonderful sister,” Ming Yi ignored the laugh of Shi Qingxuan, “and of course, the three of us,” Shi Wudu finished with a small gesture to Pei Ming and Ling Wen beside her.

“I have communicated with the park staff and they have already finished setting up all the challenge points we’re going to go through. Yes, this is going to be like some amazing race.”

“How did you maneuver the staff to do this in such a quick notice?” asked Xie Lian curiously.

“This isn’t anything new. I already had this operation prepared for Plan M version twenty-four in case someone kidnaps Qingxuan.”

A can of worms. Xie Lian decides.

But Feng Xin is uninformed. “How the fuck will an amazing race in a theme park help you find her?!”

Shi Wudu gives her a dispassionate glance, “Can’t tell you. It’s top military secret and I signed a confidentiality agreement with them after we discussed this.”

Feng Xin looked ready to ask more but someone spoke before she could.

“I’m not interested,” muttered Mu Qing as she looked about ready to leave.

“Since this is a competition, there is going to be a winner. And one of the prizes is XXX yuan.”

Mu Qing sat back down, “Go on.”

Feng Xin gave her a sneer and Mu Qing tugged her hair to whisper something to her. The two then glared at the red clad she-devil.

“Naturally, you can choose not to participate,” a few hopeful looks, “But do know that I will take down who did not,” the hopeful faces disappeared.

Not many would want to be on the other end of Shi Wudu’s attitude, after all. Hua Cheng wasn’t even listening as she was too focused blowing some air on Xie Lian’s ear who kept quietly giggling. Ming Yi had her fork (honestly, really, they need to address this soon) up on Shi Qingxuan who had a tight grip on her arm ensuring she can’t leave.

“With that said,” Shi Wudu clapped her hands once, “We’re going to break off into pairs. Pei Ming, Ling Wen, and I are considered one pair because I said so. Now, how many pairs are we going to have?”

Ming Yi swept her gaze on the group once more and replied, “Six groups then.”

“Incorrect,” Shi Wudu replied at the same time that Ming Yi opened her mouth, “Qingxuan, how many?”

Shi Qingxuan scratched her head and gave a sheepish smile, “Hahaha a-jie, I computed six as well actually.”

“Correct,” nodded Shi Wudu, “Now, check the envelopes given to you. It should show you where your starting point is. Good luck.”

-

Of course, everything lead to chaos.

-

“Jie, you don’t have your envelope?”

“No need. I know exactly where we’re going.”

“And that is?”

“Exactly where you both are going.”

-

“Shijie! The view in this ferris wheel is magnificent!”

“Please don’t sit too close next to me.”

“Why? We haven’t seen each other in so long after we accidentally parted ways years ago.”

“I’m uh...I’m claustrophobic.”

“That’s fine! I’m here!”

“That’s not - woah! Why are you so close?!”

“Shijie, you have really pretty eyes.”

“You can’t have them!”

-

“San Niang, I think we went in the wrong direction? Ah, I’m sorry, we shouldn’t have followed my thoughts.”

“Any direction jiejie goes is the right direction.”

“But still, look, we ended up having to fight and beat up these men.”

“Jiejie is really strong.”

“I was called violent before but Shi Wudu says that since I’m pretty, it’s called ‘strong independent woman’.”

“No, you’re a goddess.”

“San Niang…”

“I’d make a thousand statues of you, light up three thousand lanterns, and wait for even more than eight hundred years if it meant having you in my life.”

“San Niang…that’s too much.”

“Is it? This is only what my incompetent self can give.”

“For San Niang too!”

“Huh?”

“I’d do the same thing for San Niang too! And San Niang isn’t incompetent or anything like that. The main point is ‘you’ and not ‘what kind of you’!”

“...”

“Eh? San Niang, why are you on the ground?”

-

“Do you think the others are going to be fine?”

“We just have to trust auntie and the rest. By the way, does Ke Mo know you’re here?”

“I’m spending the rest of the weekend with auntie Yushi Huang.”

“I see.”

“Mn.”

“...”

“...”

“Can I hold your hand?”

“Mn!”

-

“Mommy, what are those two jies doing?”

“Don’t look!”

-

“We can try and play that flute here?? Ohhh, give me, give meee~”

“Do you even know how?”

“Ming-jie, please. Everyone starts as a beginner.”

“Which means you don’t.”

“It’s just some wood, right? How hard can it be? Hahahaha”

“I think you should stop your sister.”

“Hush, Ling Wen.”

“Oh god, I’m with Ling Wen here. Make her stop already.”

“Hey, do you take requests?”

“I’m not that good yet but I definitely will try my best to cater to your request, Ming-jie! So what is it?”

“Stop.”

“I can search up the notes for that. Who composed it?”

“No - my request is for you to stop. Stop that awful playing.”

“Request, seconded.”

“Add me on that request.”

“Ah! You guys are so mean to me! A-jieeeeee, help!”

“Shut up all of you. Qingxuan plays just fine for a beginner.”

Three pairs of unimpressed eyes meet, “Love isn’t just blind. It’s also deaf.”

-

“Oh. Someone got sent to the hospital.”

“Does that mean we have to leave the ferris wheel?”

“Is the hospital in this ferris wheel?”

“No?”

“Are you asking me or are you telling me?”

-

“Ah, San Niang, Shi Qingxuan just messaged me. Let’s go to the hospital.”

“What did that He Xuan eat now that she got set to the ER.”

“San Niang isn’t going?”

“I’ll go wherever jiejie goes - may it be anywhere in this city, the heavens, or hell.”

“That’s fine San Niang, we’re just going to the hospital on the corner.”

-

“Ming Yi got food poisoned.”

“Auntie says she saw Shi Wudu give their food.”

A sigh.

-

“Mommy, look, it’s those jies again! What are they -”

“I said, don’t look! These indecent girls! Honestly! ”

-

The next day of the theme park incident was hopefully going to be better after yesterday’s flurry of activities and ensuring that Ming Yi wasn’t in any real danger (“Anywhere Shi Wudu is, is a real danger to my life.” “Don’t be too exaggerated Ming-jie. You were the one who ate the food.” “She shoved the hotdog down my throat.” “I plead the fifth.” “And she did it with a straight face!” “Heresays. This court demands evidence.” “Court?! Who’s the judge? You?” “Yes.”).

Given that Ming Yi was required to stay overnight at the hospital, Shi Qingxuan had cajoled Xie Lian, Feng Xin, and Mu Qing to come with her to the hospital to visit. Once the four of them arrived at the designated room, they found a pale looking Ming Yi who was glaring at the door they just entered.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” asked Feng Xin.

“Oohhh! Someone already visited before us? And you even have a 'get better soon' card. Who was it?” snooped Shi Qingxuan as she went all over the room.

“Your sister arrived this morning and tried to strangle me with her fishnets.”

Xie Lian thought back to Shi Wudu’s story on how she believes that Ming Yi tried to decapitate her once and mentally wept at the recurring issue between the two, “Maybe it was just a mistake?”

Ming Yi’s dark look turned to Xie Lian, “I’m pretty sure that the sight of her taking off the murder weapon masqueraded as clothes is most definitely not a mistake on my end.”

“All I’m saying,” Mu Qing commented as she adjusted her scarf which didn’t really help in hiding the large hickeys she had on her neck, “-is that if Shi Wudu wanted to kill you then you’d really be dead.”

“I’ve been working with her for some time already and she’s not really homicidal,” Xie Lian tried to placate.

“Sure,” scoffed Feng Xin who had a slight limp on her walk and nope, Xie Lian wasn’t going to ask, “She’s not the type to dirty her own hands when she can just manipulate events around her to do it for her.”

“WAIT!” Shi Qingxuan butted in with a red face, “Jie was wearing fishnets?! Was it her stockings? Her top? Her skirt? Her pants? Do you have a photo? How did she look?!”

“Do I have a photo? I don’t know, it’s kind of hard to take one when you’re gasping for air. How did she look? Fucking murderous, that’s what,” Ming Yi replied monotonously.

“Yes okay, but which part of her ensemble was the fishnet?! Please tell me it’s the top! Oh god, did you get to see her boobs again?!” asked a hurried Shi Qingxuan as she started shaking the patient on the bed. Xie Lian wanted to go over and stop the violence but her phone started ringing and she had to excuse herself.

“Is your sister’s boobs all you ever think about?!” cried Feng Xin who was trying to separate the university students.

“But but but...but FISHNETS!” exclaimed Shi Qingxuan as if that explain everything.

“Which, just in case you’re forgetting, is what she tried to strangle me with,” Ming Yi reminded.

Sounds of a helicopter landing most probably on the hospital’s rooftop was heard and yet the people in the room kept exchanging heated words (complains from Shi Qingxuan, one-word statements from Ming Yi together with her damn fork again, and a boat load of curses from Feng Xin who was acting like some referee).

“This is getting tiresome,” Mu Qing stepped forward, “You’re fine now, right? We’ll pick you up later when you’re discharged since Yushi Huang just arrived a few days ago and she’s inviting us to dinner so we can go together. We still need to do grocery shopping anyway. And yes, Shi Qingxuan, you’re required to come as well after dragging us here.”

And with a crying Shi Qingxuan who kept on whining she wanted to stay with her Ming-jie (“Oh god, please take her away. I don’t want to deal with that one.” “Don’t worry, we will. We need someone to bring the grocery bags.”), the three finally left the room and waited near the entrance of the hospital where the stairs were for Xie Lian.

“Did you see who called her?” asked Feng Xin.

“Based from that ringtone, it’s that she-devil,” replied Mu Qing.

“You guys are so mean! Xie Lian and Hua Cheng looks so cute together!” piped in Shi Qingxuan whose collars were held by Feng Xin to make sure she didn’t run away.

Mu Qing rolled her eyes, “What, so you like that she-devil too?”

Shi Qingxuan paled, “Hua Cheng’s scary.”

Before the other two can give their two cents, they heard a person tumbling down the stairs. They watched with horrified eyes when they finally identified who was rolling from top to bottom. Feng Xin snapped out of it first and caught Xie Lian’s head before it can reach the ground floor.

“Xie Lian!”

Xie Lian immediately righted herself and despite the fall, her eyes seemed to be shining bright and held on to Feng Xin’s hands as she blurted out, “I want to marry San Niang!”

Feng Xin seemed to have short circuited, “You…”

Shi Qingxuan got Feng Xin from Xie Lian and passed her to Mu Qing, “Hey young mistress, you just fell down, I don’t know around 800 steps. Are you alright?”

“You’re right. Let’s have her checked up,” Feng Xin immediately agreed.

“I’m fine, I’m fine. Did you hear what I just said about -”

“Yes! Yes, I did but I’m trying to act like I didn’t so you need to cooperate here.”

“I think,” Mu Qing started in a low voice, “that the claim she just said is a result of brain damage from falling.”

“No, no, really! I really, really want to marry San Niang!” insisted Xie Lian as her two childhood friends assisted her to the admissions while Feng Xin still hadn’t let go of Shi Qingxuan’s collar.

“Where is that blasphemous statement fucking coming from?” growled Feng Xin, “And stop struggling, you brat!”

Xie Lian’s face beamed up, “I just had this realization when I saw San Niang a few minutes ago as she gave me a quick kiss from the helicopter she was on. I do want to spend the rest of my life with her. I believe we’re ready!”

“Well shit, we are not ,” tsked Mu Qing and she refused to ask what the hell that stalker was doing here, “And wipe your mouth, that disgusting essence from that dirt should be removed!”

“I love San Niang! I’m going to propose to her on our anniversary!” declared a determined Xie Lian.

Feng Xin and Mu Qing stopped walking, looked at each other, and then swiftly headed for the psychiatric ward.

-

“It's amazing how you're trying to bridge the gap between you and your ex for Shi Qingxuan! You even gave her a 'get better soon' card,” Pei Ming praised as she conveniently forgot she had to physically pry away the one on the driver’s seat (“Keys.” “Ha? This is my car though?” “Keys.” “I can drive us?” “I will drive. I control my own life.” “I...I don’t think that’s how it works…” “Pei Ming, if I say ‘keys’ one more time, I swear.”) from the patient they visited.

“That card was meant for her entire persona. She sucks as in individual so I was hoping she'd get better as a human being soon,” responded Shi Wudu, ignoring the traffic enforcer trying to flag them down for beating the red light.

“Is Ling Wen done with her research already?” asked Pei Ming as she looked at the enforcer on motorcycle chasing after them from the side view mirror.

“Which one? You know she simultaneously has a lot.”

“The legal one. The one she’s doing for her grad studies. Oh, that’s another red light.”

“Yeah, she’s done with that one. And let it be.”

“Should we pick her up?” inquired Pei Ming and winced as they were caught up in traffic, making the enforcer finally get to them.

“She’s at Yushi Huang’s place. And well, we’re all invited for dinner over there later anyway so we might as well go,” replied Shi Wudu as Pei Ming double winced at the dropped name until the latter saw the enforcer making his way to them..

“Shit, Shi Wudu, the officer looks mad as fuck.”

Unconcernedly, Shi Wudu clicked the windows down, took out one of her many ID’s, and flashed it to the fuming traffic enforcer. In a split second, Pei Ming witnessed said enforcer gulp down and salute at them before leaving and her companion remained unbothered at the turn of events and just shifted the stick again in time for the green light.

Fuck. She really liked her. And in the commitment type, it seemed.

“Hey,” Pei Ming called out carefully as she moved around in her seat, “Do you uh...well of course you’re not required to but like, well, you know...do you hmm...how do I say this…”

“Spit it out,” remarked Shi Wudu whose attention hadn’t left the road.

Pei Ming scratched her cheek, “Well...uh...doyoumaybewannagooutwithmeinthatway?”

“We’ve been going out for years, you idiot.”

Pei Ming blinked.

“Hah?”

“What the hell do you think have we been ever since we started sleeping together?” frowned Shi Wudu.

“Well I don’t know! One of your best friends?!” responded Pei Ming who was close to panicking with this discovery slapped at her face without any build-up.

“Do Ling Wen and I fuck?” asked an unimpressed Shi Wudu.

Pei Ming did a lot of vague motions with her hand hoping it can convey her whirlpool of emotions, “Wait! So you mean to tell me that I’ve been agonizing over you thinking I was pining like an idiot when we were already a couple for,” she paused as she recalled when they first slept with one another, “for like five years now?!”

“Yes, you’re an idiot. Are you over your crisis now?” questioned the unmoved Shi Wudu.

“Crisis?! My cri -?! Hey wait! We need to talk about this properly!” protested Pei Ming as she couldn’t believe that all the panic has possessed her while her compa- girlfriend remained dispassionate and unimpressed with the whole thing.

“Why? Do you want to break up?” Shi Wudu asked in the same tone. And yet the barely noticeable harder grip she has on the wheels gave away her own emotions.

Pei Ming’s eyes softened, “Of course not. I really, really, reallyyyy like you, you know,” she said in a calmer manner yet earnest tone.

Shi Wudu shifted her attention from the road for a moment to look at her and gave her a small smile, “I really like you too.”

The smile on the usually cold face sent Pei Ming’s senses into overdrive.

(Later, when they meet with Ling Wen, the grad student will pat the athlete and say, “Well, looks like you finally realized you’ve been going out with your all time crush for years now. Also, do something about that creepy grin on your face.”)

-

The dinner at Yushi Huang made the theme park crew meet up in one place at the same time again. Xie Lian patted the ox that greeted them on the door because apparently Yushi Huang didn’t believe in dogs or cats that much and instead brought over the ox she rescued. She sneaked a glance at the other girl holding her hand and Hua Cheng didn’t bat an eye on the appearance of a supposedly not  domestic animal.

When they got to the dining area, Shi Qingxuan was flitting around with both Ban Yue and Yin Yu on the kitchen as they finished preparing the food. Though it’s more like Yin Yu was the only one properly cooking while the other two had some different concoctions on their end. Then again, Xie Lian had no room to critic anyone’s cooking style and results with the standard of her own skills, even if San Niang says it’s tasty. (“So what if others don’t like your cooking?” “But I did try my best to put all my love and skills in preparing it.” “Jiejie should only cook for me so the others’ taste don’t matter.”)

Seated on one of the dining chairs was Ming Yi who once again had a fork raised and was squinting at Shi Qingxuan through it. Yep, they need to address that thing before Shi Wudu sees it and interprets it as a murder attempt (knowing Ming Yi, hopefully it really isn’t one). Pei Su was on the other end of the table who seemed to be trying her best to contain Quan Yizhen who had her own laser focus on the only competent cook on the kitchen.

Usually it was Feng Xin who’d calm down Quan Yizhen by carrying her like she was her baby but it seems that she and Mu Qing weren’t here yet. Now that she managed to see everyone in the dining area, she realized that the owner of the house, Ling Wen, Pei Ming and Shi Wudu were nowhere to be found.  

“Hi,” greeted Xie Lian brightly, “Do you know where the others are?”

“Ah! Xie Lian!” Shi Qingxuan exclaimed happily as she waved the spatula, “Jie, Pei Ming, Ling Wen and Yushi Huang left to pick up some drinks and other pre-ordered food. I haven’t seen Feng Xin or Mu Qing yet though.”

“I see,” nodded Xie Lian and she started walking to the kitchen, “Do you need any help?”

“I think they need all the help but not yours,” replied Ming Yi as she looked fearful of Xie Lian’s approach to the kitchen counter. Given that their first encounter had given Ming Yi diarrhea from Xie Lian’s cooking, she didn’t feel offended.

The sound of a car arriving and parking in front of the house plus the happy tapping of the ox’s feet signalled the arrival of the missing crew. Ming Yi jumped from her seat and with a quick, “I’ll go help bring up stuff,” she ran to the entrance. Which, actually, was a smart split decision as Shi Qingxuan had brought the pot of her cooking to the dining table and looked like she was ready to shove it into Ming Yi’s mouth to let her taste test.

Mu Qing was the first one to enter the house again and her hair was still a bit messy from the pressing down of the helmet so it meant she and Feng Xin rode her motorcycle on the way here. She was panting a bit which confused Xie Lian because she was usually a smooth driver.

“Sorry we’re late,” Mu Qing said. “I was doing things.”

Feng Xin slammed the door open wider and not only did her hair have the  signature disarrayed look from the helmet, her clothes were also scrunched up in odd places, “This bitch fucking pushed me off the bike! So what if  the first directions I gave were wrong?! We still got here!”

“You wasted my gas.”

Pei Ming marched in with a smirk on her face, “Yeah sure, I saw the two of you making out.”

Feng Xin rounded up to her angrily, “And then she pushed me!”

The door slammed open once more and both Shi Wudu and Ming Yi entered - with the former having an air of satisfaction while Ming Yi had a scowl on and a dishevelled look too.

Ling Wen walked between them and dragged her friend with her, “Shi Wudu, please refrain from being violent in public.”

Pei Ming laughed loudly at the budding chaos until the ox huffed at her and she immediately shut her mouth. Yushi Huang entered with all her quiet grace and hugged her ox before stating that dinner was about to officially start. That got everyone moving and soon enough they were all seated around the lengthy dining table.

“Looks like the last supper,” commented Hua Cheng.

“Yeah, and you’re the demon stalking the holy ones,” mocked back Feng Xin (who roared next when Hua Cheng kissed Xie Lian in plain sight to declare that her goddess was the only holy one in the table).

“And there’s Judas the betrayer,” continued Shi Wudu as her gaze landed on Ming Yi.

Shi Qingxuan gave a gasp, “But Ming-jie isn’t a traitor! She isn’t going to be acting like she’s a comrade and then later reveal herself to be one of the opposition masterminds that’s been masquerading the whole time as our friends.”

Shi Wudu opened her mouth to give a rebuttal when Ling Wen put some chicken wing in her mouth to stop the incoming argument. Huh. Looks like it was effective. And so, dinner went on with drops of multiple conversations from those around peacefully.

-

Or well, as peacefully as it could be the moment they found out that Yin Yu was actually allergic with shrimp and had to be laid down on the sofa as they waited for the medicine to kick in.

“Ugh, today is such a bad day,” Yin Yu sighed.

“Why?” asked Quan Yizhen curiously who was hovering above her, “Because you got allergies?”

“No, because I chipped my nail - what do you think?!” Yin Yu snapped sarcastically as she desperately tried not to scratch at her face and body.

There was silence for a moment, making her feel bad for shouting at the cute curly haired girl who was really just like someone missing a few brain cells. She was about to apologize when Quan Yizhen held her hand and looked her straight in the eye as she brought their faces close to each other.

“Don’t worry. Your nails still look nice.”

Yin Yu groaned and twisted her body so she can fall down face first on the couch.

-

Feng Xin ran outside and stopped short at the sight of Yushi Huang and Ling Wen sitting on the ox as they drunk some wine underneath the moonlight, “What the hell are you two doing?”

Ling Wen looked at her flushed look and asked her own question, “What are you doing?”

Feng Xin was about to tell her to mind her own business when she remembered why she ran like a coward outside. She stared at the two girls who were so chill and calm and ended up blurting out, “I was arguing with Mu Qing and then for some dumb reason, I noticed her lashes and all I could think of was how pretty she was in the kind of bitchy way but still!”

“And?” prompted Ling Wen as Yushi Huang just ran her hands through the ox’s head.

“And,” cried a frustrated Feng Xin, “I’m the one who’s supposed to have the pretty lashes! But now my brain just thinks she has better ones!”

“Are we still talking about eyelashes?” inquired Yu Shi Huang.

“I LIKE MU QING!” shouted Feng Xin, “As in that kind of like!”

“So what’s the issue?” leaned in Ling Wen.

“It’s Mu Qing!” hissed Feng Xin

“And you’re Feng Xin.”

“We’re supposed to hate each other!”

“You’re both women.”

Feng Xin knitted her brows in confusion, “So?”

Ling Wen and Yushi Huang shared a look and the former continued, “As long as there’s no man involved then there’s no issue.”

“What’s wrong with men?”

“A lot,” replied Yu Shi Huang.

Ling Wen added, “For one, they’re trash. Second, they always lie.”

“How do you know they always lie?”

“According to the bible, Adam said Eve ate the apple and it’s not that I’m saying the bible is a liar but there has got to be a reason why it’s the men who have “adam’s apples”, don’t they?”

Feng Xin frowned, “You read the bible? I didn’t peg you as religious.”

“Shi Wudu, Pei Ming, and I all came from a private all-girls school,” shrugged Ling Wen.

“OI!”

The three looked up and found a fuming Mu Qing on the ledge of the window at the second floor.

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” shouted Feng Xin as she watched the dangerous position that the other was on. She could fall any time! And she was a fragile little piece of shit!

“Many things! You running off in the middle of an argument! You breathing too loudly! You flashing your stupid long legs! You showing off your pretty lashes! Basically, my problems mostly consist of you!” yelled Mu Qing who now had half of her body dangling from the window as if she wanted to launch against Feng Xin from there.

Unable to handle the heart palpitations she was having, Feng Xin screamed back from directly under the window, “Oh yeah?! Well same! Because I’m in love with you, you piece of shit!”

“Well fuck you too! Because I’m also in love with you, you fucker!”

The both of them were panting heavily as they glared at each other.

“Aw, it’s like some Rapunzel story,” squealed Shi Qingxuan who had her head stuck out from the kitchen window, “But instead of Rapunzel and Eugene, it’s like the horse Maximus and the chameleon Pascal’s love story!”

“Keep quiet,” murmured Ming Yi who also had her head out the same window but had the fork between her eyes as she directed it at the exuberant girl beside her.

“What in the world is that?” asked an exasperated Feng Xin, “Why the fuck do you always have that fork and why do you always put it out?!”

Ming Yi glanced at her, “Whenever this noisy one starts talking, whining, blinking, or whatever, it just pisses me off. So I start looking at her through this fork and pretend she’s in jail and it just eases my soul.”

Shi Qingxuan gaped.

“That,” Ming Yi carried on, “And I always have to be ready to eat.”

With a screech of “Ming-jie!”, the two disappeared from the window as Shi Qingxuan tackled the marine biology student. Ling Wen and Yushi Huang have long detached themselves from the happenings and were now leaning against the ox who was snoozing down on the grass with the wine bottle hoarders.

This left Feng Xin and Mu Qing in their own devices who then looked back at each other.

And then their confession caught up with their brains.

-

Three sets of screams resounded in the neighborhood and Pei Su sighed as the two sets that came from the outside started shouting at each other again. One couldn’t even wash the dishes in peace here with such a rowdy bunch. Her aunt had already carried a tipsy Shi Wudu to one of the rooms upstairs (“I am not tipsy. I can walk fine.” “You’re swaying.” “No. I refuse to be drunk! I control my own life!” “Honestly, that really isn’t how this works.”) and the others were having their own issues.

“Are you okay?” asked Ban Yue who was wiping the dishes she was done with.

Pei Su looked at the gentle girl with her and shifted closer to the other.

“Never better.”

-

The third screaming was from Shi Qingxuan who kept on childishly hitting on Ming Yi with the both of them stuffed on the corner right beside the window they were just peeping on a while ago.

“Ming-jie is mean! Ming-jie is mean! Ming-jie is mean!” Shi Qingxuan whined.

“Shi Qingxuan is noisy. Shi Qingxuan is noisy. Shi Qingxuan is noisy.” Ming Yi apathetically responded.

The younger Shi gave an offended gasp and started to whine louder as tears gathered at the corner of her eyes, “Waaahhhhhh! Is this how our friendship is in your eyes?! Was I really just an annoyance? Did my friendship really just piss you off that you’d rather see me in prison? What did I do wrong? Do you want to part ways with me? Is it really my fault? Why -”

Ming Yi suddenly dropped on one knee in front of the entrepreneur student.

“What,” sniffed Shi Qingxuan, “Are you going to beg me to shut up and be quiet now? Hah! Well -”

“No. I’m here to ask you if you’d like to go out with me.”

“- guess what? I can -” Shi Qingxuan stopped and looked down dumbfoundedly at the girl who was still on her knee, “What..?”

“Shi Qingxuan, I like you. Do you want to go out with me?”

A megawatt smile plastered on Shi Qingxuan’s face when she processed the question, “So...so Ming-jie actually likes me, right?!”

Ming Yi sighed, “I’m literally on my knees proposing to you right now.”

Then she fell on her back as Shi Qingxuan jumped down to her with all the variations of “yes”s. She let out a breath, dropped her fork on the side, and let her right hand lightly hug the happy girl on top of her.

(And then, Shi Qingxuan remembered once more that Ming Yi saw her sister’s developed breasts before she did and started wailing again at the unfairness of the universe.)

-

“What is that unholy banshee of a scream?” Shi Wudu frowned.

Pei Ming tugged her back to their makeout session, “Forget it.”

“What if it’s Qingxuan? Oh god, what if that smelly fish is trying to murder her right now?!”

The older sister stood up, only to be dragged back to the bed with Pei Ming’s weight on top of her.

“Do you really think He Xuan is going to hurt your sister? No, no, don’t give me your usual spiel. Tell me the truth,” Pei Ming let their noses touch casually, “Tell your lover the truth.”

Shi Wudu gulped and turned her eyes away before muttering, “No. But it’s my baby sister.”

Pei Ming grinned and kissed her.

“She’s old enough to know what she wants. And if He Xuan ends up hurting her, then you can now have an excuse to execute Plan S version sixty six to get back at her.”

The other girl considered, “What about Plan K version nine?”

“The accidental drowning? Yeah, sure. That too.”

“Good.”

“Yep.”

-

“San Niang, there you are! I’ve been looking for you,” smiled Xie Lian as she found Hua Cheng sitting at the attic with the window open. Around her were some left-over cut outs of red paper, an opened bottle of glue, an opened case of fairy lights, and a crafts scissor she just set down.

“Ah, Jiejie. Come, I have something to show you.”

Xie Lian went over to her and without prompt, decided to sit between her legs with her back on the taller girl’s chest, “What is that?”

Hua Cheng kissed the top of her head and nuzzled her face there for a few seconds before replying, “I tried making more but there’s only limited resources so I can only do one.”

Then, she showed what was on her hand and put it on the windowsill.

“A lantern?” inquired Xie Lian and lightly touched the handmade lantern craft.

“Yes,” She touched something inside of it and the fairy lights turned on, lighting up the inside of the lantern. Xie Lian’s eyes widened at the cut out design on it which read, “ to my love”. If anyone else were to see it, they most probably wouldn’t even be able to read it given that it was Hua Cheng’s infamous handwriting. But to Xie Lian, each stroke was as distinct and clear as the rays of the sun.

“San Niang...I…”

“Does jie like it? I’m sorry my writing isn’t very good but -”

Reminded of the feeling she had earlier and emboldened by the gift she’s received, Xie Lian turned around, kneeled in front of the other girl, and cupped both her cheeks with her hands.

“San Niang, let’s get married?”

Hua Cheng’s eyes widened. She looked straight into Xie Lian’s eyes and found nothing but her own love echoed back. She felt her throat clog up and covered the other’s hands on her cheeks with her own.

“Jiejie, let’s get married.”

And the two slowly leaned closer to share a kiss, a promise, and a future.

Underneath the dark sky, the one lantern on the windowsill shone bright.

-

But then again, of course, the next day- when Feng Xin and Mu Qing found out about the pending wedding, the roof was almost blown off; when Shi Wudu got told by her sister about her date plans with her “Ming-jie”, Pei Ming and Ling Wen had to carry her off; and when Yushi Huang finally gave a passive aggressive smile at the danger they posed to her home, everybody settled down.

Until they got hold of the news that Qi Rong managed to burn the trio’s apartment.

There seems to be something wrong with her friends, Xie Lian decides as she laughed at the varying reactions of everyone. But hey, she wouldn’t trade this for anything.