(ch.16)

Lai smirk pulled out his phone to record and told her "Chin, say that again," in a calm tone, she repeats what she said. He asked "Do you like the smell of his cologne? What do you think of the smell," in a curious tone as he has his hand in a fist, using it as a mic.

"I really like the fruity fragrance, which I think smells like apple and pineapple, I just can't get enough of- wait a minute," she answered in a calm tone to a confused tone as she snaps back into reality. She looked at Lai, that's when she realized he was filming her, "Lai, why are you filming me? Wait, what did I say," in a confused tone.

"Nothing," he answered with a sarcastic tone as a grin appeared on his face.

She told him "I know you're lying, let me see," in a cheerful tone with a smile on her face as she tries to take his phone but before she could, he ran away, many people were just looking at them.

Soon Chin gave up on knowing why Lai was filming her, as she was walking next to him, she asked him "When and how will you make up with Zhe," in a curious tone.

"I don't know how or when we'll make up because he accused me of cheating when I was busy staying all night working on a sculpture with a short timeline, just to get extra money to help Zhe with a house or apartment," he said in a downhearted tone with a gloom face.

Chin told him "I understand you but he probably really misses you plus you were gone for 3 weeks that probably made him overthink. If you were in his shoe, I know you would think the same. I don't know if you'll believe it or not, this morning when I went to the bathroom, I heard him crying for 2 hours, then he finally went to sleep. While you were gone, the first 2 weeks, he would stay up all night waiting for you to come home with little sleep, after 2 weeks he gave up but he only slept for 4-6 hours, and most of the time he would overwork just to keep himself busy from thinking of you," in an assuring tone as she pats him on his back.

Lai was quiet with a gloomy and guilty face for a few minutes, then he stated "It's my fault, huh? I feel so guilty, I should have told him that I had to do a sculpture and that I will be gone for a few weeks but I didn't which led him to overthink," with a guilty voice.

She pats his back and reassured him "It's okay as long as you guys find a way to apologize to each other," in a calm voice, he just nodded. When they got home, they saw that Xaing and Zhe weren't home, since it was dinner time, Lai start to cook dinner, they ended eating by themselves. Around 10 pm, Lai commented "I'll sleep in my room tonight," in a drowsy, quiet tone as he was walking to his room, Chin just nodded. An hour later as Chin was studying, she saw a question that she didn't get, she went to Lai and Zhe's room to ask Lai but when she peeks she saw that he was already asleep so she went back to her room.

She just skipped the question and continues with the rest, after an hour, she was done with studying, she started to put away her stuff. As she was doing that, Bojing texted her, she replied "What do you want?"

"Oh nothing, I just wanna text you." he texted back.

Chin thought it was a good opportunity to ask him if he could help her, she texted back "I'll talk to you if you help me with something." He answered "Okay." So she took a picture of the question that she couldn't solve, sent it to him, and told him if he could solve it. A few minutes, he sent a picture of how he solved it and she just copied it, she texted him "Ok, we can text now. What do you want to talk about?" they started to text.

Around 2 am, Zhe came home, he knew that the rest were probably asleep so he quietly ate his dinner, while he was eating his dinner, he was thinking of Lai and he knew that Lai was sleeping in his sister's room again cause he's probably still mad. Zhe was blaming himself for bringing up the topic and overthinking things but he wasn't sure how to apologize to Lai. He was so tired thinking of other things that when he went into his room, he didn't see Lai, he just grabbed clothes, a towel and just went to the bathroom.

After a nice, hot shower, he feels more relaxed that now he wasn't stressing over things, all he knew was that he was super tired and just wanna sleep. When he went into his room, he saw a lump on a side of the bed, he just thought it was pillows under the blanket but as he look closer it was moving. Zhe went to knock on Chin's door, when she opened it, he asked "Is Lai sleeping with you again?"

Chin shook her head and said "Lai is sleeping in your guys' room," in a soft tone as she looked at him, he just said okay and went back to his room. Zhe was a little confused if he was still mad at him or forgive him but he was happy that he finally gets to sleep next to him after 3 weeks, he was a little nervous as he slowly and quietly climbs into bed. As Zhe was lying next to him, he didn't know what he would do. He didn't know if he should face the other way, just stay as he is, or cuddle him from behind.

He just decided to be brave and cuddle him from behind, as he was hugging him, Zhe whispers "I'm sorry that I was overreacting, I was just worried to lose you. I just want you to know that I love you with all my heart and I miss you very much," in a calm, quiet tone, then he kisses him on the cheeks.

Lai turns around, hugging him back, and whispers "Don't be sorry, I should be sorry, I'm the one that didn't tell you about my work and I don't want to lose you too. I love you very much too and I miss you like crazy too," in a sweet tone as his eyes were still closed. Zhe didn't know what to say, he just got more nervous that he can feel his heartbeat going crazy as he looked at Lai, Lai smiled and said "Why is your heart going so fast? This is not our first time doing this," in a cheerful tone.

Zhe uttered "While it's been a while since we have done this, okay," in a nervous tone. Lai just giggled a bit and told him "okay okay." They just stayed that until they fell asleep.

Chin was on her bed, bored out of her mind since it was 4 am and no one was awake yet so she just watched random videos on Youku Tudou and Douyin. After a few minutes, Chin decided that she could make a video on Douyin, she got out of her pajama into black, long sleeves, t-shirt dress with a black belt. She put her phone on the phone stand that is connected to her ring light, she put a black mask and cap on, so nobody can see her face before she started filming. After she filmed it, she edited it a bit, then she posted it.

She went on Moments to see if her friends posted anything since she hasn't checked in a few days, they just posted pictures of themselves or places. Chin went on Weibo to see if there's anything news, she saw people, idols, and other things but a video caught her eye, it was a fight between a girl and two guys. After watching the 18-minute video, Chin was so impressed by the girl but too bad she was covered by a mask and a cap, she went to see the comments and they praised her.

At 9 am, the guys were getting ready, Chin asked "Where are you guys going," in a curious tone as she was sitting on the couch, watching them running around.

Xaing said "I have a little work to finish," in a calm tone as he puts his shoes on, she nods as he left.

Zhe answered "There is an emergency at the company, I have to go see," in a casual voice as he put on his shoes and quickly left.

"I just have to finish up my sculpture before we have to send it to the client tomorrow. If you need anything just call or text me," in a rushed tone as he quickly left before she could say goodbye. Chin realizes that she's home alone, she just watches TV to keep herself busy. An hour later she got a text from her friend "Chin, do you want to hang out with the others?"

She answered "Let me asked my brother." and her friend replied with an ok. Chin texted "Brother Lai, can I go out with my friends and can I have some money to spend?"

He answered "Fine and I'll send you $148 and make sure you stick with your friends. Just be careful and have fun if anything happens call me."

She messages back "Ok, thank you." with smiley emojis, then she receives his money so she messages her friend that her brother agreed.

Her friend texted "Ok, let's meet at Xujiahui park to have a picnic so please bring something." with smiley emojis, then she went to get ready. Chin was wearing a black, loose, t-shirt that has "Bad Girl" in the front, that is tucked in the front, with blue, ripped, jeans shorts, along with a small, black purse. In the purse, she put keys, lip balm, and earbuds with her phone in her hand, and before she left, she put a bit of makeup on and directions to the park.