S.I.D.

Chapter 21

"Good." Zhao Yunlan paused, and everyone also held their breath. "Starting today, you will continue to keep the office clean. You will continue to cook for me and keep me healthy. You must promise to NEVER act on your own again. We are a team. AND the most important condition...you will continue to be my friend."

"Thank you," Shen Wei softly said to the closed door.

"You're welcome," Zhao Yunlan softly replied on the other side of the door.

Up until this morning, everyone had been on edge, first with Shen Wei's disappearance, then his bomb-dropping confession that put Zhao Yunlan into a confused and angry state of mind. No one knew what to expect when he showed up, or if he would even come to the office at all. Maybe the S.I.D. would no longer be if he could not accept the past and Shen Wei.

Although Shen Wei was still difficult to get close to, anyone could see how kind and thoughtful he really was. After hearing his story last night, they realized that he had also been suffering for all these years, and his aloofness was a shield to protect his own broken soul. He was the one who brought all of them to the S.I.D. and for that they would be grateful to him forever.

They also understood why Zhao Yunlan was so angry; the two had become good friends, comrades, forming a special bond, and so the lies hurt him badly. Add his father to the mix and that confused him even more. He was a person of strong emotions, and Shen Wei often served as cushion to temper those emotions before they got out of hand.

So it was with mixed feelings that they watched Zhao Yunlan berate Shen Wei the night before and walk out, as well as when the two had their standoff this morning. Fortunately, it seemed like Shen Wei would be allowed to stay, and although things would be awkward for a while, they knew Zhao Yunlan would eventually come around and start joking around with Shen Wei again, for he could not hold a grudge against those he kept close to him.

The mood for the rest of the day was too buoyant to get any real work done, so they decided to close up early, especially after not having much sleep for the past two nights. Zhao Yunlan was on his way out when he saw Shen Wei trying to call someone but was not getting through.

"What's the matter?"

"I'm trying to call your father." Shen Wei replied as he tapped "redial."

"Why?" Zhao Yunlan was suddenly suspicious and defensive. "Are you going to report what happened today to him?

"No," he answered absentmindedly, as he tapped "redial" again.

"Let me try." Zhao Yunlan swallowed his childishness and called from his phone, but the call went directly to voice mail. "No luck. He must be in some secret meeting or maybe his battery died."

"Looks like it." Shen Wei looked troubled.

"Um, can I help instead?" Zhao Yunlan asked in a small voice.

"I'm afraid not." Shen Wei answered, and Zhao Yunlan felt his heart twinge. Shen Wei could ask his father for help but not him. It had always been that way from the start. He was a fool to let him get so close to his lonely heart.

"I sent your father my apartment key with the letter he gave you, asking him to clear it out if I didn't return. I don't have a spare so I'm locked out. I need to call a locksmith..."

Zhao Yunlan laughed, relieved.

"Well, my homeless friend, I have a proposition for you. You cook dinner for me, and you can stay over tonight."