The diner she took them to was indeed the most expensive in their city.
" What do you want to eat? I'll pay for all the food" she assured.
" No, Ah Wei and I, knows of a very cheap place to eat" Xing Li rejected knowing fully well that the diner they're in, is really the diner for the rich and wealthy.
" You don't want to eat here?" She asked surprised that someone could reject her favor for something petty like, Going to eat at the cheapest place.
" Don't tell me, Street food?" She asked.
The both nodded excitedly. She, having wanting to tease the girl faced guy, swallowed hard.
" Hmmmph!!! Okay, let's go there. What shall it take me to taste street food?" She asked standing up after clearing her thoughts.
" Let's go..." Seeing her surprised face and his questioning look, " what? Or, have you suddenly changed your mind?"
" Ah Wei" she called patting his head.
" Jie" he tends to behave like a baby whenever she does that, which made her wonder how old the boy she slept with is.
" Go, get us something thing to drink, I'm quite thirsty "
"Alone?"
" Yes. You can also ask well, look for trouble. I won't whine either..."
" Are you sure?" He asked before she could finish her words.
" Remember, don't do anything thing out of the option" she scolded.. Ji Wei grinned his face.
" At least it's better than acting to those who doesn't deserve it." He said to their hearing and walked out.
" Ahah! Ah Wei" she called smiling at him. When he was out of sight, the both smiled and then, looked at each other. Xing Li looked quite serious, while she looked normal. But she could tell what the latter's brother was thinking about.
" Are you curious about me?" She asked without minding words.
" I mean why else, would you send him out, on top of that, look for trouble?"
" I know you followed us here, because of him. But I couldn't help permitting him go look for trouble cause, you would find a way to cover him up. You're a police officer afterall "
" Was that your assumption or you read my mind?"
" I just presumed. I would really accept what ah Wei calls me if what I said was true " she said , true to her words.
The officer laughed consciously at her. "Can't believe you really guessed that right"
She said again, smiling.
" Who are you?" She finally asked.
" I'm quite famous in Shanghai... It's simple to know me, with the look on my face. In Shanghai..."
" I didn't ask for your fame or your popularity, I just asked who you are?"
She looked at her and found out, maybe she wasn't famous here. Her name was mentioned earlier, just by the surname, they would have recognized who the hell she was.
" Is this place North Korea or what? How come news doesn't fly here?" She thought.
" I'm Wang Ziyi I'm an..." She paused again" no no no. They can't find out about me. It will be quite uncomfortable even to me, if I were their shoes" she thought again.
" I'm an officer. I was transferred here to serve. I... I bet you don't want to learn about military training and that "she asked not wanting to continue, fearing for the amused face.
" Okay, Wang Ziyi,but I have another question "
" Ask right away " she waved at her.
" Why are you following my brother?"
" Mm- mmh"
" Ms..." She pointed as in inquiring for her name.
" Xing Li " she replied.
The look on Ziyi's face was dissatisfying.
" Ji Wei and Xing Li. We don't value the family name " she said reading the expression. The look was really popular.
" Why's that?" She asked concerned.
" Because.." she looked at her" Don't just change the topic. I'm Xing Li. You can continue "
" Well Xing Li, shouldn't you be asking how I met him?"
" That should be my brother answering it. I believe he would tell me, when he's ready "
" Wow!!! " She clapped.
" What's funny?"
" Mmmh-mmnh" she shook her head, raising her head to illustrate a "what".
" You..."
" Jie here's the drink you wanted" her words was interrupted by a smiling fish.
" Ah Wei, you're back so soon"
"Yeah. Strange, trouble couldn't come no matter how hard I waited "
"Shouldn't you be glad?"
"How can I be? You ysaid you wouldn't whine. And now no trouble, you I'll whine later... " He pouted miserably.
" Ah Wei..." Patting his hair again.
" How old is he again?" Ziyi asked not believing the babyish behavior of a grown up man.
" Are you going to call me childish if you find out?"
"No" she shook her head.
Ziyi staring at the guy and the young belle in Front of her, snatching the leather he was holding. Amused the a drink could be stored inside a leather bag. She quickly hid her amusement and silently searched within her memory to know if in any of her works, if she has seen people drinking this kind of thing.
Sighing silently, still a little bit confused, used her teeth to tore open the tip of the leather for a cute little sucking.
"What about me acting childish? She's my sister afterall"
"Ji Wei... You should listen to yourself. You really sound funny"Ziyi said still sucking onto the tip. Enjoying every single taste of it.
" Ah Wei, you mustn't show anyone that you're eighteen...."
Ziyi coughed.
"Are you alright?" Xing Li asked while Ji Wei stared.
"He's eighteen?" The shock in her eyes was much bigger than the amusement she felt earlier. Thinking to herself... Did I... No, I didn't... Gosh!!! Wang Ziyi Wang Ziyi... You're really like what they think you're... I can't believe... I...Slept...
"Are you sure you're alright?"
"I'm fine. The drink just gave me an awkward feeling"
A better lie for a mischievous misconduct. Even the siblings also thought it was because of the drink. They already guessed that she must be from a rich family, but they can't believe she will be all richy.
"You should've said so, I only thought about ourselves again. I'm sorry" Xing Li apologized.
"No problem. You don't really need to feel sorry. It's just a shock. What else?" Ziyi managed to utter.
"Ah Wei, let's go home. Ms. Wang needs to rest. Let's go and prepare"
"Mmmh" he hummed I'll go first. I don't want anyone to see your face. Most especially, that obsessed son of the town bully.
Xing Li smiled. "i'll get mad if you talk behind people. Just go and get a few things. I still need to thank our helper."
"Jie, don't tell her much. Don't say much to her either" he whispered.
"Okay! Go get ready. Remember to run if you see trouble"
"I'll try" he walked and waved at her , without turning back. He knows how to deal with such people, especially, those who are planning on a marriage with his one and only elder sister.
It would have been difficult if she comes along.
After a moment of observation, " are you really alright?"
"No need. Where is he?" She could only ask immediately her senses was back.
"Home"
"Ahh!!!..."
"Ahah!.." exclaiming again as though she remembered something. " Why does your brother look so much like a girl?"
"...."
"Why does he have girly features?
"?"
"You statement is confusing. Why...?"
" Hah!!!" She scoffed with her teeth as if trying so hard to keep her breath but couldn't.
"?"
" Ms. Ziyi, does my brother really look like a girl to you?"
"In some way, yeah" beneath her words "why then would I let the night, go like that..."
"Ziyi, you're the only person that has looked at my brother in such a way. I'm sure you're not aiming..." She couldn't complete it, as it was too difficult to snuggle it out of her mouth.
"?" "Huh? What are you talking about? Your thoughts are so wild..." She stopped midway
"How old are you?*Xing Li couldn't help but ask.
"I'm much older than you, I'm sure"
"Mpt, why did I even ask?" She mumbled to her hearing.
After that, no body dared talking to each other, as if they're some insect.
Two hours later, Ji Wei came back with nothing. Except for her new dress brought not too long ago by him.
" Why did you come back with only this?"
"Just when I was leaving, I thought I should take you along to at least to bid them goodbye. But I'm glad.
I didn't even want inside, they were chattering like goats who just won an expensive lottery"
Xing Li humphed inwardly patting his shoulder as if avoiding such a wild thinker from thinking again.
" You should've just gone to see them. They're still our parents afterall " she smiled.
" Stop smiling. You're making me regret it."
Xing Li couldn't help but pat his shoulder a few more times.
Ziyi on the other hand, tried as much as possible to hold her laughter.
"..." The morning train hunked for quite a long time, and the both found it difficult to leave from their position.
" What are you doing? The train doesn't wait for anyone. Hurry up... Or are you afraid of leaving your parents?..."
That was really the case. They don't care about what will happen to them after the failed marriage, but they don't really want to leave their heartless parents alone in this cramped city.
" Do you want us to stay?" Xing Li asked noticing the uneasy behavior.
"And have you get married to that glutonic bastard? Never"
" Ah Wei..." She shook her head in disagreement. " Not as if we wouldn't come back. Let's just go. At least, those people won't look down on you when you return"
Ji Wei seeming to have found strength in his legs, nodded. They both hugged each other as if feeling their parents presence from the hug. Then, turning to her.
" Thank you so much. I and my brother, really appreciate the things you've done for us even now, and for my brother. Thanks" Xing Li bowed in respect and full of gratitude to the lady that seemed like a God sent to them. Ji Wei also did what his sister did paying his honest gratitude to the lady he had a night stand with, and for taking care of the arrogant seller at the ticket stand. A lot to say thank you for.
" No need. I just did what I had to." Ziyi replied not making out the feeling in her statement.
After the third hunk, they seen to have noticed. They both thought it was the third but to Ziyi, who knows that the hunk was sounded more than enough for just notification. Both mastered up the courage to leave for the train.
They seem to be worried. The town bully was really a pain in the neck, he would pester and maltreat their parents for all he cares. But Ji Wei really wanted to leave the city not for greener pastures but for liberation from the toxic family home where parents really took children as nothing using them as pawn games for their own satisfactory purposes.
On the other hand, Xing Li agreed in the first place because she wanted those who mocked her brother really eat their words, including the the town bully and her supposed husband. Whom have consciously called her brother a loser right to her face.
For the first time, the both of them really wanted to stay back. Looking at the train station and the city for the last time, before they could see them no longer.
Ziyi was puzzled. She never felt this way when she left Shanghai to this place.
What was the feeling all about? Why couldn't she at least have have a lingering feet in the airport the day she was leaving? This was just a shabby train station but the siblings felt such hindrance in their steps but she was... She didn't know what to make out of it. She really felt the siblings departure and she think the parents will be filled with loathes and hatred... Gosh!! This feeling... She thought as she sniffed hard.