I AM

Chapter 37

"Zhao Yunlan told me how you told off Zhu Jiu at the restaurant. I wish I was there to see that," Shen Wei said.

"You were there, and now you will know and feel it, as well as my other experiences," Zhu Hong smiled as she walked towards him and put her arms around him. "I'm sorry I caused some embarrassment to you now and then, but I had fun."

"Thank YOU for saying and doing things that I was not able to," Shen Wei hugged her back.

"And now you will be able to as well," Zhu Hong added as she faded away.

Integration - Day 4

His stomach growled with hunger; Uncle was in a bad mood and did not give him dinner last night. He heard the car drive off, so he quietly went into the kitchen to see if he could eat anything. The refrigerator did not have any prepared foods, but there was a carton of milk. Yuck! The milk did not pour out but rather came out in globs into his mug, and a slightly sour smell filled the air. He saw some fruits in the refrigerator, and a bottle of honey on the counter. Hmm, yogurt is made from fermented milk, right? He cut up the fruits and added it to the goopy milk, then squeezed some honey over it. It looked edible.

But before he could take a bite, Zhu Jiu came into the room and snatched it away from him.

"Perfect timing for a snack. I wish it was cake or something, but yogurt will have to do, I suppose. You don't mind, do you, Shen Wei? I'm sure you'd want something more substantial since you haven't eaten since yesterday," Zhu Jiu smirked as he took a large mouthful. He made a face, then added more honey, and finished it up.

An hour later, a miserable Zhu Jiu was in the restroom, moaning each time his stomach twisted and heaved, and the house staff took turns trying to comfort him while holding their noses. No one noticed the grin on Shen Wei's face.

"It was so easy to fool a fool." The voice was gruff, yet, amused.

"Chu Shu Zhi?" Shen Wei asked the huge man dressed in black who stood in front of him.

"You were so hungry that you were ready to try that spoiled milk, right? I heard Zhu Jiu outside and got an idea to make HIM eat it instead," Chu Shu Zhi grinned. "I knew I could count on his greed, so I tried to make it as appetizing as possible."

"You protected me from...food poisoning!" Shen Wei gave a little chuckle.

"You finally laughed at Zhu Jiu. You were always walking on eggshells around him and Uncle," Chu Shu Zhi smirked.

The room around them disappeared, and they were now standing in his father's office. His father had a huge frown on his face as he examined a large bruise on Shen Wei's arm.

"Father, it's nothing. It doesn't even hurt much anymore," Chu Shu Zhi said in a small voice.

"I'll ask you again, Shen Wei. How did you get this? Tell me the truth!" His father said through gritted teeth.

"I-I fell down some stairs," he whispered, as he cast a quick glance at his uncle.

"And where were YOU when this happened?" his father growled at his brother.

"R-Right there, with him. I helped picked him off the ground," his brother quickly answered.

"I'll bet you also 'helped' him DOWN the stairs, too, didn't you?" His father's hands curled into fists.

"He and Zhu Jiu were rough housing. You know how boys can be," his brother answered.

"And if you saw them 'rough housing,' as you put it, why didn't you stop them?" His father lifted one fist, as if to hit his brother, but turned and slammed in on his desk instead.