Teach Me How To Love [mxmxm]

III

[Qi Huang]

"Fuck," I muttered under my breath when I checked my watch for the time. "Xunan! Hurry up or we're going to be late!"

"Stop getting your panties in a twist and let me put myself together properly. I have a reputation to keep up with, I'll have you know," Xunan shouted back from the bathroom.

I rolled my eyes. "No one even looks at you. Just admit you only get dressed because you want to try and get Jae to like you based on how you look."

"I mean, there's that too!"

After another fifteen minutes, we were able to leave our room in search of that little gremlin. I could still recall the other night that ended in chaos after he twisted and dislocated Sheng's wrist. I could feel myself tensing up, not just at the fact that he attacked Sheng, but at the pure coldhearted malice that radiated from him for a split second before it seemed like a switch flipped inside him and he was all confused in the hallway like he didn't know what he was doing there.

"What are you thinking about so hard," Xunan poked at the wrinkles that were now forming between my brows. "Don't tell me you're still fretting over Sheng. He's a big boy now, Qi. He has Jiao to look after him. He'll be better in no time."

"That's not what I'm thinking about," I muttered.

"Then you must be thinking about our adorable little Jae!" Xunan proceeded to grin and jump into my side, nearly sending me flying. He tried to shake my shoulders in excitement. "Ah, I can't wait to see him! I wonder how he'll treat us today."

"Xu, do you have no memory of last night's events?"

"I remember them very clearly, Qi." His smile fell as he looked at me. "Do you remember it, Qi?"

"What does that mean?" I asked, a little offended considering I watched Sheng Ning get injured because he wanted to talk to Jae. "Of course, I can remember yesterday's events. Jae was the one that hurt Sheng, I don't know what you—"

"I sure as hell did not see Jae in his right mind that night," Xunan cut me off. "The boy didn't even respond as you yelled in his ear. Could you not see how scared and confused he was when he let go of Sheng's arm? He wasn't there, Qi. You and I, more than anyone else, should be able to spot that."

"Don't bring it up, Xunan," I growled lowly in warning.

"And why shouldn't I?" He threw his hands up in exasperation before glaring at me, poking at my chest harshly with every point he talked about. "I have every right to bring her up in this conversation. You turned a blind eye to Jae because you were too busy worrying about Sheng, ok, that's reasonable. But you want to brush off what I say just because Sheng got hurt and you don't want to admit you're wrong? You're a little butthurt because I'm not agreeing with you, is that it? It's not the first time he's gotten hurt and it sure as hell won't be the last. You can be an ignorant asshole all you want and let's see what happens, Qi. We can just go ahead and say goodbye again. Before we even start."

I stepped closer, fists clenching to the point my knuckles turned white and my nails engraved crescents into my palm. "Don't you dare hold her over me like that. I'm calling out Jae on his behavior. You don't get to pull that shit move out of your ass and dangle it above me. Sue me, Xunan! I'm sorry I was worried about Sheng. Damn, I should've just let him sit around without medical attention so I can ask for a nice little apology from Jae. I'm not going to sit around for shit like that! Don't paint me to be the bad guy because I give a shit about my family."

"Low blow, Qi," Xunan moved away from me. He looked three seconds from socking me in the face and at this point, I was considering it too. "Low fucking blow. Really? Pitting family against family? I thought we were over that."