Maybe Later We Can--

Maybe Later We Can-- Part 1 & 2

Part One
It was Saturday afternoon and I have my best friend since middle school Dong Shan Cai hanging out in my bedroom. We were in fact preparing for a birthday party. A posh birthday party. Recently, Shan Cai crossed paths with the famous F4 at their school in Ming De University. Long story short, she ended up receiving an invitation to Teng Tang Jing's birthday party. Teng Tang Jing is F4's childhood friend who had just returned from Paris. Jing allowed Shan Cai to invite her friends which happened to include myself, Chen Qing He and Li Zhen.
Since I don't attend MDU, it sure was an opportunity too hard to pass up. Especially when it will give me another encounter with one of the F4 who came to the tea shop a few days ago.
Shan Cai and I were discussing her recent skirmish with Dao Ming Si, the leader of F4. This Dao Ming Si seemed like a trouble maker to me. While we talked, I picked up my dress which was on top of my bed to start changing.
"By the way Shan Cai, will that handsome guy, Xi Men, be there?"
Shan Cai sighed. "Jiang Xiao You."
I made a silly face at her.
I understood why my best friend wasn't very pleased. She didn't really had the best of encounters with F4. Except maybe Hua Ze Lei whom she had developed a crush on. When I first saw him at the tea shop I knew right away it was him and why my tomboyish of a best friend has become smitten with him.
I, on the other hand, had set my eyes on another tall, handsome and dreamy guy - Xi Men Yan. The moment he talked to me at the tea shop he sent my heart fluttering. I'm in love!
Since F4 and Teng Tang Jing are close friends I knew I wouldn't say no when Shan Cai extended the invitation to me. Like I said, this was an opportunity too hard to pass up.
Chen Qing He came sometime before 5 PM to pick us up. Qing He was our schoolmate since middle school and for the longest time has had a crush on Shan Cai. Poor Qing He. My best friend is completely oblivious to his romantic feelings. All the more now that she's got her eyes set on Hua Ze Lei.
We went straight to the party venue which was at Venue D' Roman. Shan Cai informed us that we would meet Li Zhen there. She was also our schoolmate since middle school and now she goes to MDU and are classmates with Shan Cai and Qing He.
The party was well underway when we arrived. All I can say is that rich people are really something else. The banquet hall looked amazing. I've never been to this kind of party in my entire life. Their world is really so different from us average people.
I felt lucky to be able to attend Jing's 24th birthday party. I'd say this was truly a once in a lifetime experience. So I'm gonna have the best time of my life.
"Everyone looks so wonderful." Qing He exclaimed.
Looking around, indeed everyone looked so wonderful. "They're dressed so formally. Do you think we're dressed up enough?" I asked worriedly.
Qing He turned his head at me and gave me a head to toe glance over. "Why not? At least, I look good." He uttered smugly while adjusting his bow tie.
To be honest, I didn't feel quite confident after that. Shan Cai and I were surely under dressed. Even if we would have known what the appropriate dress code to a party such as this, we wouldn't be able to afford to buy a gown from our meager income at the tea shop. Nothing else we can do about our clothes. May as well have a good time.
My attention was drawn to a group of people a few distance in front of us. "Isn't that the actress, Zhuo Dongyu?" I grabbed Qing He's arm to get a better look. By the way, these pair of shiny pink heels are cute and sexy but they're killing my feet. "So pretty." I exclaimed.
I'm not usually one to get easily star struck but how often do you meet a popular actress in a party? Not very often for me. The three of us were definitely in awe.
"Calm down, Xiao You." Qing He reminded me. "My dad said at events like this, if you see someone famous, you should pretend you didn't see them."
I frowned in disappointment. Guess no autograph and selfie from Zhuo Dongyu then.
"We should get something to eat." Shan Cai said. "Come on."
I didn't realize how hungry I was until Shan Cai suggested we get something to eat. Thankfully, the table of food was just nearby.
"Whoa." My mouth watered at once. "There's so much food." I commented as my eyes scanned the food selection on the table. We all picked something and started eating. So delicious.
Suddenly, Qing He nudged me and pointed something from afar. Lo and behold it was Xi Men Yan stepping out into the banquet hall. Along with him on his either sides were two other tall guys who I'll assume are probably the other members of F4.
"It's Xi Men." I gushed. "He's so handsome."
And I am speaking out of bias here. He was even more handsome in his suit and without his eyeglasses he looked rather different. He was like a demi-god. Now I understood why he is known as the resident playboy in F4. Also, I kinda get why Shan Cai was displeased with my infatuation for him.
"Which one is Dao Ming Si?" I asked.
"Dao Ming Si...?"
Shan Cai suddenly turned around and hid behind a huge floral centerpiece.
"Do you see that pineapple head?" Qing He pointed the guy on Xi Men's right side. "That's Dao Ming Si."
So that's Dao Ming Si. Having finally seen him in person I can actually believe and understand why Shan Cai is annoyed and mad with him. He was arrogant looking in spite of his handsome looks.
The other tall guy turned out to be Feng Mei Zuo, Qing He told me. Along with Hua Ze Lei, this is the famous F4. These are Xi Men's closest friends. The people who knows him best. If given a chance, I'd like to be counted among his friends. And maybe even more. Nothing is impossible tonight.
I noticed Shan Cai had left my side and was staring at Dao Ming Si who was caught up in a conversation with one of the female guests. I brought back Shan Cai to our side by the food table.
Some time later, Qing He became busy mingling with other MDU guests present at the party. Shan Cai was worried that Li Zhen hasn't arrived yet and was trying to contact her. I was left on my own inside the banquet hall.
Roaming around, my eyes scanning for Xi Men's whereabouts that I didn't notice the person coming my way that I accidentally bumped into that person. My glass of champagne spilled on his suit. I apologized profusely.
"I didn't do it on purpose."
The guest I bumped into was a middle aged man. "What have you done? This is an expensive suit," he said angrily.
I felt embarrassed and scared.
"What are you going to do now?"
"It was an accident." I replied in a low voice.
He must have sensed I was trembling in fear. "Don't worry." His voice suddenly changed. His right hand touched my left arm. "It's fine." He said softly.
I glanced at him and I didn't like the look in his eyes.
"How about you wipe it clean for me?" He pulled out a handkerchief from his pants' pocket. "Is that okay?"
Now I felt sick. This man is a pervert! Him being mad was better than right now. My fear turned into panic right away. How do I get away from this, from him?
Then my hero appeared and rescued me.
That hero turned out to be Xi Men Yan. He came out of nowhere. He grabbed the man's arm while pushing me safely away to the side.
"I'll wipe it for you." He said taking the handkerchief and wiping the part of the suit where it was wet with my spilled drink. "But your suit is flimsy." I heard Xi Men spoke as he continued to wipe. "The texture is terrible. You should just toss it."
I don't know how he can just say those words without flinching.
"What a rude boy. It's none of your business." Mumbled the old man before leaving us alone.
I felt so relieved to see him gone.
"Are you okay, Miss Milk Tea?" Xi Men inquired as he faced me. He patted me on my left shoulder which sent shivers to my spine.
Fear. Panic. Relief. Now I'm tingling. All in less than five minutes. Calm down, my beating heart, calm down.
"Thank you." I said after reassuring him that I was okay. "You remember me?" I asked shyly.
"You're cute. Of course I remember you." Xi Men replied as he look at me with such intensity. "Are you free later?"
That took me by total surprise. "What?"
"I'm a tea expert. Maybe later we can-"
"What do you want?" Shan Cai had appeared interrupting Xi Men to whatever he was going to say next. She glared at Xi Men. For someone so small, Shan Cai sure has lots of guts to stand up against him and any one for that matter.
Xi Men sighed. "We're in public. What can I do?"
He had a point.
"Don't talk to him." Shan Cai warned me. "If you talk to him, you'll get pregnant." That sounded ridiculous to my ears.
"Hey." Xi Men reacted. "I'm very careful, okay?"
What did he just say? And what does he mean he's very careful? Is Shan Cai speaking the truth then? Xi Men's reputation sure does precedes him.
"Ignore him." Shan Cai rolled her eyes as she dragged me away from him.
"But he is handsome." I said once we were out of earshot. "His voice is mesmerizing." I gushed once again.
Shan Cai raised her eyebrows.
"He seems more composed than Dao Ming Si." I added glancing over to Xi Men who was now surrounded by a group of female guests.
Shan Cai poked me on the head with her finger. "Xiao You, get yourself together."
I made a face at her.
She asked to borrow my phone so she could contact Li Zhen again since her phone died out on her.
The rest of the night passed by in a haze especially after Jing's shocking announcement. We were all dumbfounded by it. Shan Cai went missing soon after that. Qing He and I looked for her everywhere to no avail.
We were just about to leave the venue when I heard my name being called.
"Oh it's you." I turned around to see Xi Men walking casually towards us.
"Xiao You, are you leaving already?"
"Yes."
"Xi Men, have you, by any chance, seen Shan Cai?" Qing He asked him.
"Shan Cai?" He thought for a moment. "I think Ah Si told us he brought her home. Something about her throwing up a while ago."
"Oh no." He said worriedly. "Did your friend Dao Ming Si did something to her again?" Qing He asked rather accusingly.
Xi Men shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. It's none of my business anyway."
Qing He gritted his teeth.
"Why don't you check on Shan Cai yourself?"
It brightened Qing He's mood. "Right. Are you coming with me Xiao You?"
Xi Men was quick to give Qing He an answer. "It's okay. I can give Xiao You a ride home."
"Oh great. Well then I'm going now." Qing He bade us goodbye.
"Xi Men?"
"Now you are free and apparently we have no Shan Cai to interrupt us again." He said, grinning.
"What are you up to Xi Men?" I asked nervously.
"Don't you trust me?"
There was a momentary silence. "I want to."
He scoffed."Whatever Shan Cai told you about me they're not all true."
I nodded.
"Come with me then." He offered his hand to me.
"Where?"
"That's for you to find out." He replied. "Let's go." He took my hand and we walked side by side, exiting the venue. We waited by the lobby as his car was brought up by valet service.