MAFIA BOY and MASK MAN: Live to Love

CHAPTER #12

Due to the previous abuse and then the stabbing, it took a while for Jiayi to be released from the hospital. The day she was discharged, Qihe took her back to his place, where Lu He and Zan were waiting to celebrate her recovery. Mindful of his brother's rose allergy, when a bunch of students from the high school had pitched in to buy her flowers Qihe removed the roses. The students also signed a huge get well card and included restaurant coupons. In his apartment, there were mixed bouquets too.

"Awe you guys, thank you so much!" Jiayi said to the twins and her brother.

"Our father sent this for you too," Lu He gave her a heavy gift box.

She opened it and saw a pair of knuckle punchers.  Lifting it out of the box she said, "damn these are heavy!"

"It's made out of real gold, that's why."

"WHAT?!" She exclaimed in shock. "That must cost a fortune. I can't accept this."

"You can and will, unless you want to insult him. It's as thanks for saving our lives," Qihe explained. "He also sent over this, it's a personal taser. It can take out a man bigger than your dad."

"Now that's cool!" Zan said with awe.

"Speaking of my father, any update yet?"

"Not from the police or dad," Lu He answered.

"That's good too I guess. Let's eat, the hospital food was so bland!" Jiayi exclaimed.

They sat down together and feasted.  While eating, they also chatted about school. Jiayi got full fast and then yawned. Qihe helped her to his room, so she could take a nap. Quietly closing the door, he returned to the dining room.

"Is she going back to class on Monday?" Lu He asked.

"Probably. The doctor said it was up to her. The school is being very understanding, considering they could be sued for not protecting her, while she was on campus. I've been taking notes for her and she's been doing homework this past week."

Zan added, "she's probably still stressed out about dad not being caught yet."

Qihe explained, "our father did tell me they found him. But for our safety and legal reasons, he hasn't told us anything else. Dad wants to meet your sister again on Sunday evening. I think he plans to update her then."

"Okay, I won't say anything."

Lu He asked, "when you go to see dad with Jiayi, let me know, I'll come too."

"Sure, I'll message you the place and time, once he tells me."

"We should go now Zan."

"Do you think my sister is going to make me go home? I don't want to live there."

"We'll discuss it all together. But I think you both are better off continuing to say with us. Even if she gets a better job than teaching Karate, you two can't afford living there alone."

"Good. I never want to go back." Zan said truthfully and then helped clean up the empty food containers.

Lu He and Zan left shortly after. If he thought about it, Qihe didn't want Jiayi to move out either. He went to check on her and decided to lay down too. He propped his head up on a hand, while lying on his side, so that he could watch her sleep. Qihe realized he was in love with Jiayi. When she had been in surgery and he thought she might die, his heart had constricted. Then when she regained consciousness and called out his name first, his heart had soared. No one, other than Lu He, had ever risked their life to save his. In the past everyone had betrayed him, even the girls his father had arranged for him to date. Sure he was loyal to Jiayi, but what he felt for her now went even deeper. When Zan had said he was her fiancé, Qihe really felt like he was. Before her surgery the nurses took off her rings and jewelry. In the hospital, when he'd given her the rings back, Jiayi had put the black and white onyx one on her ring finger, instead of the necklace. It made him wonder if she thought the same as him.  If she did, would his father accept her as his bride?