A/N

chapter eight is here!

a side note - please, feel free to correct me on any cantonese or mistakes throughout this work. i welcome feedback especially since i'm not fluent in canto, so anything constructive is much appreciated :)

in the above gif, lisa (who plays mei) is on the right. 

happy reading and happy weekend ♡

take care,

krissy

❂

N I G H T    E I G H T

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DECEMBER 21, 2014

Wen and Mei are fourteen

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WEN HAS CHANGED.

Mei sees it as they walk side by side in Tai Koo, leaving a trail of crumbs from taro bread and bo luo bao as they follow the greenery-shrouded path towards Cityplaza Mall. It's a cool winter morning, the weather dipping into low fifties as the sun sheds fresh daylight over the horizon.

It's during this comforted silence that she can't help the warmth that pools in her stomach when she sees the way waking sunlight casts a golden glow across his skin, the way it highlights the well-defined shadows beneath his jaw and cheekbones and touches his hair with dark honey. His body is tall and lean from years of soccer practice alongside his brother, and he's had another growth spurt, too, so that the top of Mei's head barely reaches his chin.

Wen catches her looking and arches his brows curiously. "What?"

"Huh?" She blinks, then shakes her head. "Nothing."

There's that, too. The new air of confidence about him. As if he's finally found a home in his own skin.

The Cityplaza entrance yawns open before them, and Mei banishes the thoughts from her head. There's more important things to think about. Like the double date they're heading up to, courtesy of Wangmin's arrangement.

Mei's always been smooth with dates--she's gone on more than a few in the past years with more than attractive people. Long-term terrifies her, so it's in these short and shallow outings she finds her niche. Today, Wen should be the one who's more nervous--he's never been on a date his entire life. But he walks with this dismissive confidence, and Mei feels antsy because she can't think straight.

To be completely honest, she hasn't been able to think clearly lately. Her mother's been struggling with the effects of chemo—chemo brain, as they called it—losing her memory for periods of time, unable to decipher her next task. The list of errands Mei has undertaken has multiplied by tenfold, and Wen's eagerness in helping her—accompanying her on late night trips, taking over the most inconvenient shopping trips, teasing her over grocery failures to keep her awake—it's made everything much more confusing in her head.

Cityplaza Mall is a giant shopping complex that arches over the street. They pass beneath its giant shadow and board the escalator extending into its yawning entrance. Short moments later, they emerge into the mall itself.

With Christmas just around the corner, the mall is alive with flashy and cartoon-themed decoration. Sprawling layers of shopping floors encircle a towering Christmas tree soaked with glimmering light. A giant red Snoopy house with a snow-touched roof hangs from the ceiling alongside fat clouds and Christmas lights. Light displays of snowflakes and ice palaces line the ground floor. A mix footsteps, eager voices, and children's shrieks bounce off walls glowing with expensive storefronts.

They take the glass-walled elevator to the third floor. As they wait, Wen smiles, glancing out.

"Remember," he begins teasingly, "when you blew a thousand dollars (about 130 US dollars) online for Zhangwei and it arrived in bright purple?"

Mei's mouth falls open defensively. "It looked blue in the picture!"

He raises his brows challengingly. "Because you didn't notice Zhangwei's entire wardrobe is black?"

"No, he has that one blue sweater from your team's season last year—"

Wen makes a face. "I pulled that off much better than he did."

"Well, he looked good enough in it for me to ask him out."

"Because you have terrible taste in guys," he shoots back.

Mei narrows her eyes at him. "Tell that to Lijun when we see him in"—she glances at the rising elevator number—"ten seconds. I bet he could take you in any fight."

Wen laughs self-assuredly. To be fair, Wen has grown up doing karate. "Doubt it," he returns.

"I had great taste in guys. Just watch," says Mei, smacking his arm as the elevator doors slide open. A smile curls her lips as the M Star Cafe comes into view, washed in dark wood with inviting screen menus. Their dates are waiting—broad-shouldered Lijun with his dark, hooded features and corded muscles from wrestling; hazel-eyed Wangjing from primary school with her bright, sweet energy and pretty half-Brit, half-Canto features.

A chorus of excited hellos are passed—they've all known each other for years, after all. Lijun, flirtatious as ever, tosses Mei a heart-stopping grin and slides an arm around her waist as they step into line to order. She glances at Wen with excitement, but the latter only narrows his eyes at her to show he's unimpressed.

Minutes later, they seat themselves at a booth near the open café-front, buzzers in hand. Mei can't help the excited pound of her heart as she admires Lijun's smooth words, the way he slips a joke or two into a clever whisper. Wen turns his attention entirely on Wangjing, then guides her to help him bring over their trays of food when the buzzers go off.

Over bowls of steaming gong zai mein, foh tui, fried egg, and buttered toast, Wen steals a fry from the complimentary side dish on Wangjing's tray, smiling when she slaps his shoulder for it.

"How's international school?" he asks her.

"Mm"—she finishes her sip of ling cha, then grins. "So good. God, the classes, everything—the atmosphere is so different, and there's such a big selection of classes to take. I mean, I'm taking three languages—"

"Three?" says Mei with surprise. "Which ones?"

"I finished Chinese." Wangjing smiles a brilliant smile. "So that's English, Spanish, and Japanese. I'm thinking of studying abroad."

"Smart as always," murmurs Lijun, shooting Mei a look.

Still fixed on Wangjing, Wen's brows arch with interest. "Yeah? Did Wangmin tell you he's—"

"Thinking of the study abroad program in Japan?"

He smiles. "In Nara, right?"

"Yeah! I was going to meet up with him to ask for details, but he's so busy. It's got me so curious—"

Lijun laughs as he lifts noodles with his chopsticks. "You don't want to know what he's busy with. Or who, to be more specific—"

Mei rolls her eyes and shoves him. "Stop."

He looks to her with teasing surprise. "Don't act too jealous. We're on a date."

"Eugh, you ass—" Wangjing throws a fry at him. "They're like siblings, Wangmin and Mei."

Wen ignores this exchange and nudges Wangjing with his elbow. "If you want me to kick Wangmin's ass and get him to meet with you, I will."

She glances over in surprise, a cheek resting on her hand. "You sure? The deadline is soon."

"Come over tomorrow," he suggests. "He'll be free."

Lijun pulls in an admiring breath. "Already planning their next date, huh?" He pauses and turns to Mei, eyes roving across her face. "Should we do something?"

"Yeah?" A slow, curious smile pulls at her mouth. "Like what?"

Wen's jaw twitches. Unaware, Wangjing laughs and leans for another sip of iced tea.

"Oh, Mei," she says with a sigh. "You've always been so cute."

❂

C A N T O N E S E 

菠蘿包

bo luo bao

pineapple buns

公仔面

gong zai mein

soup noodles - the better version of instant noodles, served commonly in hong kong tea cafés

火腿

foh tui

ham, originated from china

檸茶

ling cha

lemon tea. a popular drink in tea cafés. best iced :)