Xiao niao[1]!
Li Nuan called out immediately she sighted her friends at the entrance of the almost deserted street bar.
This had been their usual meeting point since she became friends with Li Chengzi and Mo Chuan even back in the days when Mo Chuan was still an active member of the RYS. They preferred the spot because it does not attract too many customers.
They did not want a situation where old enemies will clash in a bar as they were bound to make enemies after each mission assigned.
Li Chengzi was never a member of the organization, though he knew his friends were a member of a mutual organization, he didn't know anything more than that.
Whenever the other two would want to talk about anything he shouldn't be concerned about and he was there with them , they'll get him drunk as he was bound to have amnesia after every drunken spree.
Li Chengzi snorted after he heard Li Nuan called him little bird again.
Li Nuan, I am now so sure you're a goat, you don't listen do you?
DO NOT F**KING CALL ME LITTLE BIRD AGAIN! he roared
Okay, Okay, Little bird. You don't need to scream, I can hear you well. Li Nuan waved him off.
Now, he was exasperated. At this juncture, I will like to tell you that I want to unfriend you both. I don't want an early death.
While Li Chengzi was mourning at the side, Mo Chuan walked up to the bar attendant to order a whole pack of beer for them. Specifically for Li Chengzi. That bird needs to give him some time with Li Nuan.
How is Xun'er?
Li Nuan asked Mo Chuan after he got back to his seat.
Mo Xun was Mo Chuan younger sister, she was 8 and had sickle cell anaemia. So, she was always doted on by Mo Chuan and his friends. She was like the little princess of two kings and a queen.
She has been fine lately and hardly had any crisis. Mo Chuan smiled as he talked about his little sister.
She has also been screaming for Sister Nuan and brother Chengdu. It's funny how Chengzi had always been the object of ridicule with everybody.
Who is the object of ridicule?
How is that ridiculous? My little princess just gave me a pet name. Li Chengzi would not sit and have someone say nonsense about his name.
Li Nuan was speechless. If 'Chengdu' is a pet name, then what is Little bird? He was always screaming his lungs out whenever we call him that.
Deciding to ignore the little bird, she said; Let's pick her up from school when we leave here.
Okay, but didn't you come with your bike? Mo Chuan asked.
By then their drinks had been served and Mo Chuan gave one to each of them and dropped the rest of the pack on the centre table, urging Li Chengzi to drink more.
Oh, dear! She forgot.
Hmm, no worries, I'll just leave my bike with the boss here. We'll pick her up with a cab after dropping Li Chengzi off.
Why do you need to drop me off? I want to go too, it's been long I saw my little princess. Li Chengzi asked looking at his two friends.
Li Nuan scoffed hearing him. It's not even been a week you saw her and by the time we leave here, you'd be dead beat.
What dead beat? I can handle my alcohol well, the whole of this - pointing to the pack on the table - is not even enough to get me drunk.
Li Chengzi will never admit to being a poor drinker, even when he's drunk, he'll always refuse to back down, saying he isn't drunk.
The banter continued until Li Chengzi head was drooping while he couldn't even hold a beer can properly.
Mo Chuan looked at him and shook his head. This is the definition of don't bite more than you can chew.
He turned to Li Nuan as his expression changed from the playful one he had carried to a serious one.
Nuan... He called out while looking deep into her eyes.
Why won't you leave?
Don't tell me you don't know this new mission issued to you is more like a death sentence. Are you insane? You're going to pretend to be Ji Fei secretary, Ji Fei? Nuan, don't you think it's high time you started fighting for your life? You've paid for every single thing this man did for you Nuan. I don't want to lose you .