Blades of Secrets: The Endless Night

CHAPTER 30

Cheng Xing was sitting next to Li Ming in the lounge when there was a knock on the door. Cheng Xing's head instantly snapped towards it. Li Ming went over and opened the door. Wen Zhang stood at the door lifting his handcuffed hand.

"I need some help."

Li Ming unlocked Fen Yuhang's hand first then Wen Zhang's. They both rub their wrists in relief.

"How long was that on for?" Li Ming asked.

Fen Yuhang spoke without thinking "All night."

Cheng Xing and Li Ming stopped. Cheng Xing smiles "Fen Yuhang, you were together for the whole night?"

Wen Zhang and Fen Yuhang look at each other.

"Wait, you two 'know' each other?" Wen Zhang said butting in.

Cheng Xing and Fen Yuhang looked at each other again.

Sorry, completely forgot we were supposed to be 'strangers' Cheng Xing thought avoiding Fen Yuhang's eye contact. Li Ming looked between all three of them

"Um......Yeah he's my-"

Fen Yuhang looks at Cheng Xing

Don't say something stupid. Make it believable. Fen Yuhang wished.

"-My friend," Cheng Xing finished. Li Ming looks at Fen Yuhang closely. "Isn't he the waiter from-"

"-the restaurant, yes."

Fen Yuhang sighs. There was an awkward silence. Cheng Xing claps his hands. "Ok......so we've all met.... apparently......um-"

There was still complete silence.

"Hungry?"

"We just ate," Wen Zhang said.

Cheng Xing nods. "Noted. I'm going to make some tea. Do you want some?"

Wen Zhang nods.

I'll go do that now. Cheng Xing thought passing them. Cheng Xing boiled the water; Li Ming sits in the lounge looking at Fen Yuhang.

"Got the tea."

Cheng Xing places the hot tea on the table.

"Care to explain how that happened?"

"We met on the street-"

"I was tucking Yulong into bed when I saw a figure near the window. I was suspicious so I followed them."

Cheng Xing snickers. "That's because it's easier, less security."

Fen Yuhang gave a stern glance at him. Li Ming raised his eyebrow.

"Hey, it looked like they were going for Yulong, okay?!" Wen Zhang defended

Cheng Xing looks at Fen Yuhang. Fen Yuhang could see the silent question in his eyes. 'Was it one of ours?'. Mindful of the other people in the room, he subtly nodded.

Li Ming just looked between Cheng Xing and Fen Yuhang.

"Are you guys alright it's like you're having a sudden staring contest."

Fen Yuhang and Cheng Xing quickly broke from the stare.

"Yep, all good," Fen Yuhang said sounding slightly tense.

Cheng Xing turns back to Wen Zhang, "Anyway continue."

"Well, I was running after him when Fen Yuhang came out and fought him-"

Fen Yuhang clears his throat.

"Then somehow" Wen Zhang seemed incredulous at this, "he mistook my hand for his and handcuffed us together." Cheng Xing quickly uses his hand to cover the beginnings of a smile and made it look like he was thinking.

"Yeah, and then we went to your apartment only to find out you didn't have the key."

Cheng Xing clears his throat, "But apparently you guys ate."

"Yes, we had some noodles and spring rolls why?"

Cheng Xing looks at Fen Yuhang

"Li Ming isn't Wen Zhang right-handed?"

Li Ming stopped to think, "Yes?"

Cheng Xing looks at Wen Zhang's hands. "Wen Zhang's right hand was handcuffed. So, you had to have had-"

"-moving on. Anyway, it was lovely meeting your friends Cheng Xing-"

'WHO ARE ALL POLICEMAN!' Fen Yuhang shouted in his head

"-but I must be going."

"Me as well."

Wen Zhang turns to Fen Yuhang, "Need a ride?"

"Um....no I'm fine."

They stood outside. Wen Zhang hops into the car and drove off going out the driveway and down the road. Li Ming headed back inside leaving the door still slightly open for Cheng Xing. He grabs Fen Yuhang's arm, his grip tight and tense.

"Who was it? Did you see?"

"I think it was Da Qiang, but I don't understand what he would want with Yulong."

Cheng Xing lets go of Fen Yuhang's arm. Cheng Xing chuckles, "You panicked when I was living with a policeman and then you went and handcuffed yourself to one."

"Firstly, I didn't know he was a policeman, and these are totally different scenarios."

Cheng Xing smiles. "Be careful."

"You too."

Fen Yuhang walked down the road. Cheng Xing slowly closes the door behind him. Cheng Xing walked back to the lounge to see Li Ming standing there.

Cheng Xing pulled Li Ming to the sofa.

"Wait here."

Cheng Xing disappeared as he went up the stairs and came back down holding something behind his back.

"I have something for you," he said as he sat next to Li Ming. Li Ming puts out his hand and Cheng Xing places a chained bracelet in Li Ming hands.

"This is for you," Cheng Xing said.

Cheng Xing shows his wrist. "Mines black.....yours is white....like Ying and Yang. Opposites but are perfect together."

Li Ming smiles as he looks down at it. Cheng Xing picked it up from his hand and clipped it on his wrist.

"Do you think we have some alone time now?" Li Ming said in a quiet voice.

Li Ming and Cheng Xing smiled.

"You tell me."

Li Ming walks up to kiss Cheng Xing but stops.

"Before we do anything I think you need a shower," Li Ming said, sniffing the air. Cheng Xing smells himself, "Good idea."