A Fateful Encounter

***LEI***

I was taking a break from practice and was watching Kai and Xander teach Seven, Calvin and Coby the dance routines. The three were the worst dancers in our group but they were improving with the help of the dance line, namely; me, Xander, Kai and Seth.

It had been three weeks since we released our comeback and next month we would be starting our concert kick-off. I was very excited about it of course. Guardians first concert!

As I watched and enjoyed Blake's antiques (which included a lot of noise) to the struggling trio, my phone suddenly buzzed. I looked at the caller ID and saw my brother's name on it. I accepted the call and turned it to video call.

"Yeah? What do you want?" I asked right off the bat.

"Rude. I was just checking if you're still breathing or something. You've been really busy lately you haven't been replying to my mails or answering my calls, you know." he replied and I could see him roll his eyes.

"Wow. It's good to know you still care for me little brother. I'm fine Chen. How about you? How about dad?"

"I'm doing good as well. Business is the usual and I'm also getting better at using my powers. Liu Fen pops up once in a while and coaches me."

"Pops up? Oh, then that's good."

"Dad's fine too. He's still strong and kicking. He also handles most of the important projects of our business."

I couldn't help but scoff at his answer. After the incident with Fa Xiao Min, my father and I had started seeing things eye-to-eye again. He would check up on me once in a while and invite me to dinners and stuff. He was also a little okay with my chosen career. Well, not like he could actually do anything about it. In summary, he's nice to me again to the point where we can be civil when in each other's presence.

"So, why did you call?" I asked, curious at his sudden call.

"XIAO[1] LEI!" yelled a very familiar and energetic voice.

"Xiao Bai?"

From Chen's side, a fair skinned young man emerged. He was Zhang Bai Wu, our closest cousin. He had glossy but spiky black hair, a pair of light brown eyes, a dimple on his left cheek (like Chen and I), and his most attractive feature (according to him anyway) was the teardrop mole at the right side of his right eye.

"What are you doing in our house?" I asked, my eyes still wide in surprise.

"Hey! It's the annual Zhang Clan gathering you know. Have you forgotten?"

"Oh. That was today?"

The Zhang Family, no, the Zhang Clan to be particular holds a yearly gathering. Every member of the clan, from the main family to the branch families, are invited to the banquet which is usually held at the Zhang Clan Manor in Xi'an City.

"Yes! And you're not here! Chen and I were lonely!" he pouted.

"For the record, I was busy entertaining the guests. I had no time to be lonely. You on the other hand stayed rooted at the sides eating sticky rice cakes." inserted Chen.

"You're a grown man Bai, pouting doesn't suit you." I added. "And besides you know I've been really busy lately as well, so I can't really go anywhere I please."

"I told him that, but the guy wouldn't listen!" Chen exclaimed.

"Xiao Lei! Let's start planning your birthday!"

"HA?"

"Yours and Chen's birthday is in less than two weeks! You have to celebrate it in the Zhang Family Residence!"

"Bai, I am very busy. We'll be having our concert kick-off next month. We're in a tight schedule." I tried to reason.

"Dude! You and your friends have never had proper rest since you debuted right?"

"What are you-"

"Two weeks. Celebrate your birthday and have a rest for two weeks here in Xi'an, then I'll be out of your hair." Bai said in a playful manner, but I knew my cousin too well to think he was only joking.

"Is that a threat?"

"Not yet. Try to talk to your friends. I'm sure one or most of them will agree with me. Especially that doctor girlfriend of yours." he said with a smug smile.

"How do you – Zhang Chen! You told him?"

"What? NO! I don't even remember him asking me anything about that?"

"Then how-"

"Have you forgotten what I can do?"

I racked my mind for a clue or memory of what he was talking about, and then one scene from my childhood resurfaced.

"I can see the future! Well glimpses of them." child Bai said. "Chen will lead the Zhang Family to prosperity!"

"That's absurd! Lei-gege[2] will inherit the Clan Leader title!" child Chen retorted.

"I don't care either way." was the response of my child version. I was too preoccupied with learning the grave-robbing business at that age.

"Lei will become famous but he'll be in so much trouble! Plus he will be involved in something very dangerous too!"

I was brought back to reality by Chen who was calling my attention. I have always thought that Bai was talking nonsense about his 'I-can-see-the-future' thing but considering I have healing powers, my friends and brother have powers too, and my girlfriend is a witch? I was starting to have second thoughts.

"Chen, have you told him about the… you know?"

He seemed to have understood what I was trying to ask because he shook his head. I then took a deep breath…

"Okay, so I have a girlfriend but-"

"She'll agree. Just tell the company you and your friends will be out somewhere for two weeks. I'll handle everything. It'll only be just us anyway. Just send me the names of who you'll want to invite so I can send them an invitation card plus reserve a plane ticket. Just send me an email!" a very hyper Bai left the screen.

"Bai! Bai! You don't have to – Zhang Bai Wu! I'm still talking!"

"He'll never listen. You know that." Chen said. "He's as willful as you. I think it runs in the family."

"He will really go through with it. That guy has a lot of connections. Even more than me." I sighed. "Hey Chen, do you think… he can really see the future?"

"Lei, I can pass through walls and turn invisible, Bai having the ability to see the future is not an absurd idea at all."

"I know that, but he's insisting on the… birthday party. I wonder what he saw for him to act that way."

"We'll just have to see."

Three days later, the invitations arrived and I never even sent a list. And well… as usual, CEO Kim was a bit furious.

We gathered in the conference room; CEO Kim, two of our managers, Artemis and the members of Guardians.

"So, a birthday party?" CEO Kim asked with gritted teeth.

"Is there something wrong with it?" retorted Artemis. "Can we just have this meeting immediately? I have a surgery in about three hours."

"Boys, Doctor Hunter, the concert kick-off is next month and you guys want a two week break?!"

"Err…"

"Lei Zhang! This is your birthday! What is this?"

"Uhm… It was my cousin's idea CEO Kim. He never really listens."

"Good god! My high blood pressure gets worse with your shenanigans! You guys are too willful!"

"We're very sorry sir!" Seven exclaimed.

"But you're gonna go with it any way."

"CEO Kim, Guardians has brought MME a big profit ever since they debuted." Artemis interrupted. "I think they deserve the break. Besides, even if they take a two-week break before their concert kick-off, it wouldn't change a thing."

"GAH! Then there's you!"

CEO Kim was really losing it but I know he had a soft spot for us.

"Fine! You can go! But expect more hardship once you're back."

"""Yes sir!"""

***

Artemis and I were walking down the street somewhere in Seoul. I was wearing a cap and a mask to hide my identity while Artemis was on her regular clothes.

Good for her.

We were on our way to Liu Fen's store. He relocated six months ago in Seoul from the Philippines. He said something along the lines of living closer to Calvin and Artemis.

I mean come on, he could teleport! Anyway, he was one of the people invited.

"Why do we need to go there personally again? He could just teleport to the dorm you know?" I asked. I was woken up very early just to head to where he was staying.

"Are you serious? He has been bugging us to visit his store ever since he opened it, but we never really had the time. Why don't we use this opportunity then?" she answered.

"Well, if you say so."

We turned to a less crowded street. The stores looked several years old but I liked it. The street looked retro, warm and welcoming.

"We should try the café here later." Artemis commented.

"Yeah."

I was too busy looking around that I didn't notice the two people come out from one of the stores. I promptly collided with the girl and fell to the ground.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" I immediately said and helped her up. "It was my fault. I wasn't looking on where I was going."

Notes:

[1] xiao - small

[2] gege - older brother