With Tao, Shen, and Wenran at the restaurant that they always visit. They were talking about clues or anything about the mission.
"Has any of us found anything useful for Lei?" Tao asked as she thought that one of them had clues or anything useful.
Wenran shook her head no.
"I think I found a useful clue for Lei, but I'm not certain about it," Shen stated, hesitantly.
Tao and Wenran looked at Shen, waiting for her to go on.
"While I was talking with my father, he had told me that he overheard a female voice talking to an official. When he went to see who it was, they were gone," She stated as she tried to remember if she had missed something.
"A female voice talking to an official? How does your father know that it was an official that the female was talking to?" Wenran asked.
"He found an official pendent on the ground where they were at. Or maybe the female was the official and the other person wasn't. He isn't quite sure," Shen said.
"Did he hear what they were talking about?" Tao asked as she had a feeling that Shen's dad came across the leader.
"He did, but not very well."
"So, what are the parts he heard?" Wenran asked.
Shen told them what her father heard. Her father had heard something about Lei and a certain rose that the female voice needed for something. Her father didn't hear why she needed Lei and a certain rose.
"Why a certain rose? What can roses be used for?" Wenran asked as she thought. She tried to think if she had read anything about what roses are used for and what they can benefit from roses.
"Aren't roses used to treat sickness and/or illnesses?" Tao replied.
"Some are. Some aren't. I'm trying to figure out what rose would benefit the boss," Wenran stated.
"The rose could just be needed for their skin," Shen said as she remembered hearing it somewhere.
"Yeah, but why would they need a certain rose?" Wenran asked.
"Maybe the rose has different benefits from any other roses?" Tao replied, "but it wouldn't make sense for them to use that rose."
"It would if they were using it for another purpose then what we're thinking of," Wenran said.
"Unless the person isn't using it for themselves, but for someone else like a family member," Shen said.
They continued to talk about the rose. They completely ignored the fact that the person also needed Lei.
The boys, Lao Mao, He Zhihao, and Kang Fang, came to the restaurant to talk about the mission. They heard the girls talk in their room and went over to it. He Zhihao knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" Shen called out.
"It's just us," He Zhihao replied.
"Come in," Shen stated.
They walked in and sat down.
"Are you guys talking about Lei's mission?" Lao Mao asked.
"We are. Shen got a clue, or well her father got a clue," Wenran stated. She then went on to tell them the clue, which was a rose.
Kang Fang thought about what rose they were talking about and had a feeling he knew what rose they were talking about. "It's not a rose. It's a hibiscus. It's called the Chinese Rose."
"The Chinese Rose?" Wenran asked. She felt that she had read something about it. "The chinese rose doesn't have any studies done with it."
Tao's eyes widened as she realized why the leader needed Lei. "That's why they need Lei. They're going to test what the Chinese rose can do to a person before using it on the person that the leader is doing all of this for."
All of them looked at Tao with their eyes wide as well.
"That could also be why they tricked Lei. They already used the rose concoction on her," Lao Mao stated.
"There's no study on how to get rid of it if it's poisonous. Lei is slowly dying and we couldn't do anything about it if she was poisoned by it," Wenran stated as she remembered that there wasn't anything about the chinese rose.
"There's no study on it in general since it was found not too long ago," He Zhihao stated.
Everyone nodded.
"We should let Yu Min know about it, if he doesn't know about it already," Kang Fang stated.
"Agreed, but we have to be careful on how we word it," Tao stated.
"True. We would have to word it as a hypophora," Wenran replied.
Lao Mao looked at Wenran with a look of confusion.
Wenran saw and said, "which means we'll ask him a question, but also answer the question."
Lao Mao understood and nodded.
After a while, they got done talking and were about to leave. The boys asked the girls if they wanted one of them to walk them home. Shen and Tao agreed.
Shen and He Zhihao left first. Tao and Kang Fang left second. Leaving Wenran and Lao Mao last.
"I don't need to be escorted home. I'll be fine," Wenran stated as she started to walk home.
Lao Mao kept silent as he was going to follow behind her, making sure she made it safely.
After a while, Wenran was almost home when she was picked on by drunk men.
"What's a pretty young lady walking around alone at this time of night?" One of them asked.
"I'm not alone. My boyfriend went to get something from a stall that he saw," she replied as she knew that Lao Mao had been following her.
Lao Mao knew that was when he needed to intervene, but as soon as he was close to them, one of the drunks was about to put his hand on her. Lao Mao grabbed his hand and bent it back. "Don't you dare touch my girl," he said with a straight, serious face.
The one screams in pain. The others went to fight him.
Lao Mao threw the one he had at the other two, making them fall down. "Wenran, leave. I'll be ok," Lao Mao stated as he looked back at her.
"No-no. I can't leave you. I'll help," Wenran said as she got ready to help him fight.
"No, it's too dangerous, plus, I wouldn't know what I would do if you got hurt helping me protect you," Lao Mao said as he looked back at the three drunkards. He looked at them as they got up and went to fight Lao Mao.
Wenran stayed, not caring what Lao Mao said. She helped him fight.
One of the drunkards had a hidden dagger in his sleeve and went to cut Wenran as she was the one who had "started" it.
Lao Mao saw and went in front of Wenran and got cut in the arm. Lao Mao kicked the dagger out of his hand and kicked him as well. He had defeated the other two.
Wenran's eyes widened as she saw that Lao Mao had got cut. "Lao Mao! You're bleeding!"
Lao Mao had a bloody lip. "I'm fine. I mean I'll be fine after I bandaged it up," he stated as he looked at her, "why didn't you listen to me?"
Wenran ignored him and said, "we're almost to my house. I can bandage you up there and get your other injuries taken care of."
"Wenran, I'm fine. I'll have my servants do that. I couldn't have you bandage me up. Plus, I did what I did to protect you, because I care for you."
"But you got hurt because of me and I didn't listen to you when you told me to leave," she said as she looked at him. She had heard why he did what he did. "You care for me?" she asked.
Lao Mao realized what he had said and turned red. "I-I do care for you. That day when I was dared to make you mad, I didn't want to do it, but I was blackmailed," he said as he told her the truth.
"You only did that because you were blackmailed? How did they blackmail you?"
"They threatened that they were going to tell my crush, you, that I liked you. I wasn't ready to tell you my feelings yet, and yet alone have someone else tell you," Lao Mao stated as he looked at her.
Wenran's eyes widened. She couldn't believe that someone liked her.
"You don't believe me, do you?"
"No-No, I-I do-do, it's just that why do you like me?"
"You are different in a good way, intelligent, beautiful, nice, caring, and supportive," he said. Lao Mao could say more about why he likes her, but he couldn't find the right words.
Wenran kissed him. She had also started to have feelings for him.
Lao Mao kissed back.
"Now, you're coming to my house so that way, I can patch you up," Wenran said as she grabbed his arm that wasn't hurt as much and started to drag him to her house.
After a while, they got to her house and Wenran got Lao Mao bandaged up and took care of his other injuries.
The next day. Lao Mao was smiling and couldn't stop smiling. He was heading to college when he bumped into the other boys. "Morning," he said with a smile on his face.
"He sure is cheery this morning," Yu Min stated as he still didn't know about their little meeting.
He Zhihao and Kang Fang chuckled. They had a feeling they knew why.
Yu Min looked at them, confused. "What? Did something happen while I was with Lei?"
"No. Nothing major," Kang Fang said.
"I feel like Lao Mao being cheery on his way to college is major," Yu Min stated as he knew something major happened.
"He walked Wenran home yesterday after the girls and us talked," He Zhihao chimed in.
"Oh?" Yu Min questioned.
They were almost to the college gate.
"Yeah. I'm guessing that he confessed and it went well," He Zhihao said.
"That's good?" Yu Min was still a little confused on what was going on, but he didn't question it as he knew it would probably confuse him even more.
He Zhihao and Kang Fang nodded.
"He Zhihao, why did you take Shen home? I mean I thought you hated her," Kang Fang asked.
Yu Min knew why.
"Because I know that you have a crush on Tao," he answered.
"I feel like you have a crush on Shen, He Zhihao," Kang Fang stated.
"So what if I do?"
"You hate bandits, don't you?"
"I do, but it's certain bandit gangs."
They talked all the way to their classroom.
Later in the day. The girls were in their classroom, studying for the practice exam. Wenran was distracted by her thoughts from last night and she was blushing.
"Shen, do you think that Wenran is acting strange today?" Tao whispered to Shen.
"Yeah I do. I mean look at her, she's blushing and she wasn't really paying attention in class. She didn't even know what her dad had said, asked," Shen whispered back.
"Do you think something happened to her last night?" Tao whispered back.
"Maybe. Maybe, Lao Mao confessed to her?"
"That could be it, but Lao Mao hates Wenran, or so I thought. Maybe he saved her?"
"Maybe, but from what? Who?"
Tao face palmed. "Shen, what do you think? It was late at night that we left the restaurant."
Shen realized after her mind came back from being somewhere else. "Drunkards."
"Shen, I swear sometimes you're slow," she said, "anyway, how was it being escorted home by He Zhihao?"
"It was alright," Shen said as she tried not to give it away that she and him are dating, "how was it for you, being escorted by Kang Fang?"
"It was interesting. I mean he kept asking me questions. We got to know each other a little bit more," Tao said as she had a hint of pink hue to her face.
Shen saw and smiled. "You like him, don't you?"
Tao stayed quiet as she got even more pink.
"I've heard he also has a crush on you," Shen stated.
"Heard? From who?"
"From He Zhihao."
"When?"
"Last night." Shen chuckled.
Tao pouted. "Is that why whenever we have to go on a trip, Kang Fang is my partner?"
Shen nodded. "Yeah, but also because he didn't want to get stuck with Lao Mao."
"Ok. I understand that, but doesn't he, Lao Mao, always go with Wenran?"
"He does."
"Then why do you go with He Zhihao?"
Shen's eyes widened. She had to make up an excuse.
"You two are lovers, aren't you?" Tao asked as she put two and two together.
"What? No. We hate each other," Shen stated as she was obviously lying.
"I won't tell anyone," Tao said.
Shen just gave her a death stare.
Hours later. The college day has passed and the group decided to go to get something from the restaurant to bring to Lei. Yu Min had told the other six that Lei had been missing her friends. Tao had mentioned that they should bring her her favorite snacks from the restaurant. Everyone agreed and had pitched in with the money.
They headed to Lei's mansion.
While the group was heading to Lei's mansion, Lei, Xiao, was thinking how she would leave her book. "I could just end it here, but I feel like I would be stuck here until it actually ends. Why did I have to get hit by a car? I feel like someone in the universe is against me. I mean I can't complain since it wasn't anyone else, since they might've actually died. But then again, I could be dead and not even know it."
As she was talking to herself, Pan Shi came in. "Young Mistress?"
Lei was still in her thoughts.
"Lei?"
That time, Lei zoned back in. "Huh? Yes?"
"You have guests," she said.
"Guests? Who?"
"Your friends."
"Let them in," Lei said.
"I don't think all seven of them will fit in your room, Lei. I sent them to the dining hall," Pan Shi said as she smiled.
"Ok. Can you tell them that I'll be right there after I get changed?"
"Yeah, I'll go do that," Pan Shi said as she bowed and left.
Dining Hall. The seven put the snacks out on the table.
Pan Shi walked in and told them that Lei will be right here after she changes.
"Ok. We'll be here," Tao replied as she smiled.
Pan Shi nodded and left.
A few minutes went by and Lei had gone to the dining hall.
As soon as she entered, all three of the girls came running up to her and hugged her. Lei hugged back.
"You guys act as if you haven't seen me in days," Lei said with a chuckle.
"We haven't, Lei. We've been busy studying for the exam and then you got tricked," Tao stated.
"Right. To be fair, I thought one of you guys needed help. But as soon as I got there, it felt off. I had to see if one of you was actually in need of help, but as soon as I entered, it set off a trap," Lei stated.
All three of them face palms. "Really, Lei, really?"
Lei nodded as she looked down. "I know. I know. I should've left as soon as I felt off about it…Can you forgive me?" Lei looked back up at them with sad eyes.
They looked at each other before they told Lei that they forgave her.
Lei smiles big. She smells her favorite snacks. "Food?"
The girls moved out of her way.
Lei saw her favorite snacks and also the boys. "Why did you bring me my favorite snacks?"
"Lei, you deserve your favorite snacks," He Zhihao stated.
"Do I really, though? Bai Chun told me that I can't eat anything sweet or too salty or I'll get sick," Lei replied.
"You do. You've literally been through so much in the past week," Kang Fang chimed in.
"He is right, Lei," Lao Mao siad.
Lei looked at Yu Min.
Yu Min nodded.
"We won't tell Bai Chun about this, right?"
All of them nodded.
"Ok, but I'll only have a little bit of it," Lei said.
Few minutes later. Lei had eaten almost all of it. The others had some of it, too, but Lei had the most of it.
Lei put down her chopsticks and leaned back.
Yu Min looked at her, smiling. "I thought someone said that she was only going to have a little bit of the food."
"I was, but then I realized I didn't eat a lot today," Lei mumbled.
Yu Min looked at her with 'really?' written on his face.
Lei looked down and mumbled, "I know. I wasn't hungry."
Yu Min let out a sigh.
Shen noticed the atmosphere and said, "Anyway, things happened in the group while you were."
Lei looked at Shen. "Like what?"
"Couples." Tao chimed in.
"Huh? Couples? Who?"
"Me and He Zhizao," Shen stated.
"Wenran and I," Lao Mao chimed in.
Lei's eyes widened when Lao Mao spoke. "Huh? What? You two couldn't get along at all."
Yu Min looked at Lei as if he was seeing if Lei would tell them about her and him, even though he had already told them.
"I didn't like him, but he saved me last night," Wenran stated, quietly.
Lei put her hands up to her heart and awed. "That's cute." Lei said as she looked at Yu Min as she felt his eyes on her. She knew why he was looking at her. "Me and Yu Min are together."
Everyone pretended to be surprised.
"Did you guys already know about us?" Lei asked as she felt like they had known about them.
They nodded.
"We knew a week after you two got together," Kang Fang chimed in.
"Was it obvious that we were together?" Lei asked. She wanted to know just in case they were and her parents knew as well.
"Yeah, kind of," Kang Fang said.
"So that means that my parents might know…" she said, quietly. Lei then realized that Kang Fang and Tao aren't dating. "Kang Fang and Tao, you two are the only ones who aren't dating."
Tao went red. "We're taking things slow before we start dating, Lei."
Kang Fang had spit out his drink and had turned a shade of red.
"That's a good move," Lei said, "is there anything else I need to know?"
Everyone looked at each other, seeing if they wanted to tell Lei what Shen's father found. They all shook their heads no.
Lei had a feeling that they were keeping something from her, but she let it slide this time. "Ok."
They were also kind of shocked that she didn't bring anything dealing with the mission up. They felt as if Lei wasn't Lei.