MAFIA BOY and MASK MAN: Live to Love

CHAPTER #27

Things at Lu He's school settled down, as people got use to seeing him in his mask.  Now that he had a car, it made spending time with Chyou easier. They drove to and from school together, found privacy at lunch by sitting in the car or going off campus to eat. When he wasn't busy, but she had a modelling gig, he would drive her to and from it too.

Through a connection from a photographer, Chyou was offered a small role in a drama.  Lu He was impressed with her ability to memorize the script.  He stuck around to help her remain calm before filming.  The producer and director were impressed with her and decided that the script writer would give Chyou a bigger part.

"I don't know if I should do this," Chyou told her boyfriend.

"It's just acting and it's not like you have to actually get naked.  If it really makes you that uncomfortable, when I pick you up today, I'll talk to your manager."

"Okay."

"I'm only five minutes away."

"See you soon."

Lu He parked his car and then went into Seven Cranes Entertainment building.  On the floor where her manager was, he happened to glance inside a room and saw the male lead of the drama Chyou was in, yelling at her and the two managers.

"I said I don't want to be screen lovers!"

His manager replied, "you have to be a screen couple."

"Is it because Chyou is new talent?"  Her manager asked.

"No, I don't care if she is old or new, my fans will hate it." The actor turned to Chyou, "I can't believe you are willing to take a role like this!  Don't you have any dignity?"

Lu He saw Chyou get super upset and came into the room. "No one talks to my girlfriend like that.  You and your manager should take care of your issues, it has nothing to do with Chyou." He leaned closer to the actor and in his ear added, "watch yourself, she's not one you should mess with."

The actor returned, "why?  Are you going to have your brother or father put a hit on me?"

"They don't need to, because I can kick your ass all on my own."

"Whatever," the actor backed down, trying to act cool.

"Apologize to Chyou," Lu He demanded.

"Sorry.... It's not your fault."

To her manager Lu He said, "you and I need to have a word." He lead Chyou out of the room. "Here's my car key, go wait, I'll take you home shortly." Once he made sure she'd left, he waited for her manager in the hall.

"What did you want Lu He?"

"How dare you let that actor bully Chyou.  Do I need to have a discussion with your boss?"

"No... you're right, I didn't handle that situation very well."

"Don't let that happen again or you won't be employed by Seven Cranes Entertainment any more."

"Yes sir."

** ~ ~ ~ ~ ~**~ ~ ~ ~ ~ **

After Lu He left Chyou at her house, he returned to S.C.E. in the evening with the intent to talk to his own manager.  As he was coming from the parking lot to the front door, there was one voice that stopped him.

"I swear everyone is so scared of the Crane Twins, but I could kick their ass.  You should've heard Lu He flexing in front of his girlfriend.  I'll make her life hell if she thinks, that just because he's her boyfriend, she can act!"

Lu He's eyes glinted dangerously, as he slowly came up behind the actor that had hassled Chyou earlier.  The guy had his back to the parking lot, leaning against the wall, smoking a cigarette and talking on his cell phone.  As soon as he ended the call, Lu He made his presence known.

"So you think you can kick a Crane's ass? Then let's have a go at it," Lu He challenged.

The male actor took a swing at him, missed the face and hit Lu He in the shoulder.  Lu He countered with a right hook, then threw his left elbow at the actor's face.  A big gash opened on the guy's eyebrow and as the blood ran into his eye, Lu He kicked him in the stomach.  The actor was rolling around in pain on the ground.

Lu He used his cell, "I beat up an actor from Seven Cranes, how should I handle things from here?"

"I'll come.  Make sure he doesn't leave or call the cops." Qihe didn't question his brother or tease him about fighting.

** ~ ~ ~ ~ ~**~ ~ ~ ~ ~ **

Lu He took the guy's cell phone away and saw that the security camera would've picked up the fight.  He didn't wait long for his twin to arrive. "The camera will show that he swung first."

"Get a copy and send it to my phone." Qihe lead Lu He away, so that the actor on the ground couldn't hear them. "Does he know it's you he fought and not me?  Do you want this guy to be dismissed from Seven Cranes?" Qihe asked.

"He doesn't know which one of us fought him.  And Yes.  I was actually going in tonight to get that done.  He was saying he'd harass Chyou and that he could take us on.  As you can see, he couldn't even deal with me."

"Did you hurt your hand?"

"Nothing an ice bath won't fix.  The gash is from my elbow."

"Good thing we have the same hair now, everyone will think it's Mafia Boy taking care of things for Mask Man's girl.  Let's exchange hoodies, just to be sure.  I won't involve Dad, unless he asks me about this guy.  Who knows how many eyes he has on us here."

"Okay. Thanks."  Lu He traded sweatshirts with his twin.

"It takes a lot to piss you off enough to fight, but I'm proud of you Lu He, for handling your own business and for knowing when to let me step in."

Lu He smiled at his brother. "I'll go to the security office now.  See you later."

Qihe picked the guy up off the ground by the back of his shirt and dragged him to his car. "Your first mistake was drawing attention from a Crane.  The second mistake was going against someone we care about and your third mistake was trying to fight me."

"Screw you."

Qihe choked the actor unconscious and dumped the body into the trunk.  Getting into his car, Qihe wasn't surprised when Boss Crane suddenly called him. "Hi Dad."

"Security at Seven Cranes said that either you or Lu He had a run in with an actor.  Where is that actor now?"

"In my trunk."

"Bring him here, I'll handle it."

"I was about to do that myself," Qihe protested.

"No.  Even with the security video showing he attacked first, no one comes at any of my sons and walks away.  Bring him to my office."

"Fine." Qihe ended the call.  He was glad that Lu He had contacted him first. The less he had to deal with their father and this situation, the better.

On arrival at his Dad's office, the two enforcers came out and got the actor out of Qihe's trunk. "We have it from here, you can go."

"Thanks guys," Qihe said and then got in his car and drove towards home.  He knew that actor would be out of work for a while and probably due to a prolonged hospital stay.  When he got home, Lu He was waiting.

"I caught the security guy calling Dad.  Sorry."

"Yeah, Dad had me bring the actor to him.  The enforcers dismissed me after they took him out of my trunk."

"Having a car is handy," Lu He grinned.

Qihe snorted and then checked his brother's hand.  "Doesn't look like it's swollen, but your knuckles are bruised."

"It was so worth it."