MG2018 - Compilation: One Shots

London Bridge

"London Bridge is falling down, falling down," Daoming Si sang, deliberately off-key. Maybe if he sang, he could ignore the pain in his chest and how it felt like his heart was literally shattering into pieces. "If you continue singing, London Bridge will really fall down," Shancai joked beside him, and judging from the way her voice shook, he could tell her heart was breaking too.

He stopped in his tracks then said, "Let's go our separate ways here." He couldn't bear to look at her; it was too painful. "Okay," she said simply, but he could feel her grip on his hand. "You go first," he said, but he could feel his grip on her tightening. He felt her take a deep breath before she said, "All right." Her hand began to relax around his, and that was when it hit him. If he let go of her hand now, it was all over. How could he let the love of his life go and walk away from him? Surely there was a way to save the Daoming Group without sacrificing him and Shancai. He was Daoming Si! He would find a way, make a way!

He gripped Shancai's hand and turned her to face him. He took in her tear-streaked cheeks and his own face felt wet. "I can't do it," his voice broke, "I love you too much. I can't ever let you go, Shancai. I can't and I won't. Not now, not ever." Relief flooded her face as she wrapped her arms around him. "Oh thank God," she said as she sobbed against his chest, "I love you, Daoming Si." They hugged each other tight as they both let out their tears of joy and relief, then he pulled away to look at her. Grabbing her hand again, they nodded at each other and began to run across the bridge.

"Daoming Si!" The voice he dreaded the most rang through the air, but it was quickly followed by a high-pitched scream. They turned around fast enough to see Daoming Feng falling off the bridge, and they heard a faint splash of water. Lei was standing on the opposite end of the bridge and he just shrugged at them. They rushed to the side of the bridge to look down at the river and saw the ripples from where she might have fallen, and then the waters went still. Shancai looked up at him with wide eyes, but Si just bowed his head. "It's a pity she never learned how to swim." He had never felt anything for this woman --as far as he was concerned, Mrs. Yu had raised him and was the mother he never had-- so how could he mourn a stranger's death?

Daoming Si looked back at Lei, who had a knowing smile on his face before he turned and walked in the opposite direction. He looked down at Shancai now and kissed her forehead. "Let's go," he said with a smile. "Where?" she replied, and he pinched her cheek. "Anywhere you want. We're free!" Shancai's eyes shone brightly at him as she realized that, finally, they were free to love one another without anyone or anything standing in their way. She hooked her arm into his and said, "Then let's go!" And arm in arm, they walked through the city of London and into their happily ever after.