(ch.26)

As they were chilling on the couch, Jai Li noted "Hey, my parents wants me to be home within two hours," a quiet voice.

"Mine too," Mei Zhen added.

Chin sighed "I should be getting home too or my brother will worry," looking at the time.

Da-Chung voiced "Oh ok, you guys go pack and I'll see if my mom will wake from her nap," as they got off the couch. Once they were done packing, Da-Chung was on her way to wake up her mom with them behind, but then she saw Wang Li with his keys. She asked "Where are you going?"

Wang Li closed his door as he answered "Just going to hangout with my friends. Why?"

Da-chung looks at her friends then back at him, she requested "Can you send my friends home? If you do, I'll do anything you want. Please do this favor," in a pleasing tone.

"Ok, girls to get in my car," he noted as he looks at them, they're just standing there awkwardly. They nodded and head to his car, Chin told them that someone picking her up. Wang Li nodded as he went to his car since Mei Zhen and Jai Li were waiting at his car and soon they left. After an hour, Chin finally sees her brother pulling up, she shouted "Lai in here," as she collect her stuff.

"Oh ok, I'll send you off," she marked. When they went outside, Chin's brother came out his car with a big smile as he said "Let me help you." He took some bags from her and they put them in the trunk. "How is my second sister?" he asked Da-Chung as he came to hug her.

She answered "I'm fine, you?" as she hugs him back. Just then Wang Li close his car door, he asked "Who are you?" in a serious tone.

Lai looks at him and said "Oh hi, Wang Li, how are you?" in a lighthearted tone.

"Wait, are you the famous sculptor?" He asked in a shocked tone.

He nodded, he added "and you're Mr.Zheng's son, Zheng Wang Li," in a light tone. Just then Chin blurted "Brother, let's go home," as she came next to him.

Wang Li's eye grew big and he shouted "You're Chin's brother?" Chin and Lai looked at him in a clueless face and nodded. "No wonder why you guys look alike. Wait, what about the other guy?"

Lai raised his brow as he questioned "What guy?" in a confused tone.

Wang Li looked at Chin and back to Lai, continued "At the event, where you showed your sculpture, there was a guy, that was quite charming, Chin called him brother. He looked like he was in his early 20s."

Lai's confused face changed into a jolly face, noted "Oh, that's our other brother," in a cheerful voice. They heard someone shout "Is that Lai?"

When Lai looked, he excited walked her as he said "Auntie, I miss you."

"Oh, I missed you too. How are you? You look so grown since the last time I saw you. I also saw your sculpture, but I didn't get the chance to talk to you." she exclaimed as she hugged him.

Lai looked at her and answered "I'm well. I haven't changed much, but you have. Auntie, are you pregnant?"

Da-Chung's mom nodded, "I'm 8 months and it's a boy," with excitement.

"Congrats, sorry I didn't bring anything for you or the baby," Lai apologized

Auntie giggled and assured "Don't worry, you didn't need to. I'm to see you. Anyways, I'm sure Chin is waiting for you, so you better get going." Lai nodded and hugged her before leaving. On the drive home, Lai asked "Chin, did you know Da-Chung's mom was pregnant?"

Chin smiled and answered, "Yep, I knew for the past several months."

"Why didn't you tell me?" He questioned in a disbelief tone.

Chin calmly answered, "You didn't ask me so how was I supposed to know." Chin could feel Lai rolling his eyes. When in the apartment, her brother asked "Chin, where did you get the money to buy these things?" setting the bags down.

She answered, "Da-Chung bought them for me." After saying that, she took her bags and went to her room as Lai sat on the couch. A week passed, Chin just came from school and sat on a couch. She looked at her phone and saw that there was an article about Xaing ad his secret girlfriend. Chin jumped up and immediately clicked on the link, in a panic. After she read it, she ran to her brother and shouted "Brother, Xaing had someone send him off at the airport," in a worried tone.

Lai answered "Oh that's just me, just ignore it," in a calm tone. She was a relief, she realized Lai was doing his hair, so she asked "Brother, where are you going?"

"Oh, I found an apartment that has three-room, good condition, and big, so I'm going to check it out and if it's good then we're going to rent as our new home." He answered with a warm smile. "What to go?"

Chin nodded. "Let me change my clothes," and ran to her room. They drove to the Xuhui district, within a few minutes, they go to a building that had like 30 floors. A man came up to them and asked "Are you Mr.Qing coming to see the apartment on the 24th floor?" Lai nodded as the guy said "Follow me," as they entered the complex.

They looked around, the apartment has a modern interior design, it was spacious, washing and dryer machines, and a big balcony. The guy said to them, "This place had great air conditioning, floor heating, security, and underground parking. There's a 24-hour store, cafes, restaurants, and bars not so far. But the rent is expensive."

Lai asked, "How much is the rent?"

"It's about $2,700 per month," the salesman replied.

"Can you drop the rent to $2,500?" Lai asked.

The salesman was quiet for a moment, then he answered "Let's me call the landlord and see if he's willing to drop the rent." Lai smiled as the guy went out to make the call.

When the guy left, Chin asked "Brother, let's find another place," in a worried tone.

Lai gave her confused expression and asked "Why? Do you not like this place? Is too small?"

She shook her head and replied "No, it's not that. I like this place and there's a lot of space. It's just really expensive." with a worried expression.

A warm smile came on Lai's face as he assured "Don't worry, with Zhe's and my monthly payment, it will be ok." Chin was going to ask something but then he cut "Chin, it's going to be fine," patting her head.

Just then the salesman came back, he noted "I just talked to the landlord and he said he's willing to drop the rent to $2,500. The landlord saw your application and you were accepted, so within a week, you should come to sign the lease and pay the deposit. We can talk about more information when you come to sign the lease. Any questions?"

"Yeah, is ok if I sign the lease today and move in like next month?" Lai asked.

The salesman was kinda shocked but answered "I mean if you sign the lease and pay the deposit I think it would be fine. Would you like to?" with a calm tone. Lai nodded. The guy grabbed a paper from his binder and a QR code, said: "Sign this, it's the lease and please scan this to pay the deposit." Chin's brother did what he was told.

Once they got back to Xaing and Yu's apartment, Chin asked "Oh, brother, weren't we supposed go to the press last weekend?" in a confused face.

"Yeah, but then my boss postponed the press for some reason. So the press was rescheduled to this weekend."

"Oh ok, but anyway, I have to get done homework now so talk to you later," went into her room. She was talking to her brother about going out while unlocking the door. When Chin just came from school, she saw an exciting and funny incident. There she saw Wan Yu and Wen Ming on the couch, but they had horrible makeup looks. Suddenly, Yu asked "Excuse me, who are you and why are you in my apartment," in a nervous tone as she stood up, facing Chin.

She smiled, slightly bowed, and answered "Hello, my name is Qing Chin, Lai's little sister, I know who you are so no need to introduce yourself," in a calm tone.

Ming and Yu looked at each other, Yu said "Oh hello, sorry if I was rude, so telling me why you're in my apartment," in a confused tone.

"I'm here because Lai and Zhe live here temporarily, didn't anyone tell you," she replied in a calm tone as she sat on a chair.

Yu asked "Wait, what about your mom? Where is your mom," in a confused tone.

Chin's smile disappeared as she said "My mom passed away 3 months ago, that's why I'm living with Lai and Zhe," in a quiet voice as she was looking down. She sighed and added "But it's fine, it already happened so I have to move on," in a calm tone as she put a smile on.

"Oh, I'm sorry for bringing it up," Yu apologized.

Chin asked "Anyways what are you guys doing, if you guys don't mind me asking," in a curious tone as she snapped a picture of them.

A little voice was screaming, that's when she realized that she was still on a call with her brother. She quickly answered "Oh sorry, brother, I forgot about you... ok, see when you come home," then she hung up and her eyes went back to Ming and Yu.

They looked at each other, Yu hesitated "Um, nothing," in a nervous tone as she looked away.

Chin hummed with a smirk and said "You guys can keep doing "nothing", I'm going to my room," in a playful tone as she grabbed her backpack and went to her room. As soon as she enter her room, she burst out laughing, but after a few minutes, she stopped and got ready to go out with her friends. "Can you go ask if Chin is hungry?" Chin heard Yu asked.

Then she heard Ming answer "No, you go, she probably more comfortable if you asked," she answered in an assured tone, they went back and forth to go ask Chin. After a few times, Chin interrupted "Don't worry about me, I'm going out to eat with my friends and yes, my brother already approve so stop," in an assured tone as they looked back.

Yu asked "Oh ok, what time will you be back and aren't you going to warm in that," curious tone as she looks at her sweatshirt and pants up and down.

"Um, I should be back in an hour or 2, and yes but I don't really care, ok bye see you guys later," she answered in a cheerful tone as she went to get her shoes on.

"Ok, be careful, bye," Yu replied, Chin hummed, then left. Chin friends and her went to get drinks before they went to the park, Jai Li asked "Chin, why are you were a sweater and sweatpants? It's a warm day, you know," in a confused tone before she took a sip of her cold, refreshing, sweet, strawberry juice.

Chin drank freezing, energizing, sour but sweet, mango lemonade before she said "Oh, the only reason I'm dressed up like this is that I didn't want my brother tell to change my outfit if he saw my outfit. Here, hold my drink," as she handed her drink to one of her friends. when she took off her sweater and sweatpants, it revealed that she was wearing a long-sleeve, white crop top paired up with black denim shorts.

"Woa~ Chin you look so good," Mei Zhen exclaimed as she handed back Chin's drink to her.

Chin shyly smiled and said "Thanks." Just then someone bumped into Da-Chung, but they didn't say anything and kept walking away. She decided to ignore it, she asked "What should we do for the next 2 hours?" in a curious tone as she took a sip of her sweet flavor banana, creamy, ice coffee.

"Um, let's just walk and see there's anything to do," Mei Zhen noted before she consume her coconut milk tea with tapioca pearls. They nodded. Some guys around their age came to that and asked "You guys want to go have fun with us," in a flirting voice.

Da-Chung gare at them and answered "No thanks, we'll pass," in a serious voice.

"Come on, it'll be fun," one of them said. Chin's group tried to walk passed them, but then the guy yank Da-Chung's arm and said "Girl, stop acting like you're hard to get. I know you want it," in a teasing tone.

Da-Chung started to get annoyed and know these guys are Wang Li's planning. She tried to make the dude let her go but his grip got tighter. They looked around if anyone is going to help Da-Chung, but then Wang Li made the guy let go of her. He growled "Why are you touching my girlfriend? Get your disgusting hand off of her before I do something to you," in a bitter tone.

The guy chuckled and asked "What are you going to do," in a confident voice.

"Don't you know who I am? I am Zheng Wang Li, the son of one of the most famous companies. I'm not scared of putting you into jail for the next several years and when you come out jail, no business will hire you." in a serious voice. The guy got scared and ran away. Wang Li smiled and noted "No need to thank me, I know I just saved you guys," in a proud voice.

Da-Chung mumbled "I wasn't any way," in a serious tone as they walk passed Wang Li's group.

Wang Li asked "Wait."

"What?" she mumbled in annoyed.

"Does girls always thank the guy when the guy save them from a bad guy and then the girl falls in love with the guy?" Wang Li asked in a confused and curious tone.

Chin mentally slacked her forehead as his friends kinda giggled. Da-Chung when up to him and answered "Wang Li, I think you've been watching too many dramas. That's only in the movie and will probably never happen in real life, so keep dreaming. If you want me to thank you for your bravery, then just say it," in heartless way. Jai Li already started to film the hilarious scene. Just then she heard someone behind her.