Should I give a second chance to Senior Brother Ruo Bai? Looks like Senior Ting Hao is giving a second chance to Guo Guo? Should I too? Thought Bai Cao.

On the other side, Guo Guo took a few steps away from Ting Hao and said, "Ting Hao, I know that I have hurt you really badly and it is really hard for you to trust me again but I hope that you would give me a second. I hope that you would trust me once again and I promise that I will never break your trust this time."

Ting Hao smiled and gave a bowl of ice cream to Guo Guo.

Seeing that, Guo Guo smiled too and said, "I hope it is a yes."

"What else do you think it can be?" asked Ting Hao.

Guo Guo said nothing. She smiled and took the bowl from Ting Hao's hand then they both ate the ice cream while looking at the sky.

Bai Cao was looking at Ting Hao and Guo Guo all this while.

"Bai Cao, I hope you are ready to give me a second chance," said Ruo Bai.

Bai Cao turned her face towards Ruo Bai and then she nodded to say yes. Both of them smiled and continued eating the ice cream.

Chang An and Ting Yi were seeing all this.

"I will be honest, Ting Yi. I really feel like beating this Ruo Bai to death. I know that no one can love Bai Cao like Ting Hao. They are perfect for each other," said Chang An.

"Yeah, they are. But I hope that they will be with someone right for them," said Ting Yi.

"What do you mean, Ting Yi?"

"See, Chang An. I know that no one else can love Bai Cao more than my brother and if someday Bai Cao also loves my brother, there will be no one else who can love him more than her. But... to be honest, that is not what matters."

"Then what does?"

"What matters is that they are with the person who is right for them. I know that you are confused, Chang An. So let me put my life as an example. All my life, I wanted Brother Chu Yuan to be my life partner because I desired a life partner like him. But what happened in the end? I ended up with you... I fell in love with you not because I desired a life partner like you but because you were the right person for me. We always desire a particular type of person. We always pray to get the perfect person but we should not. We should pray to get a person who is right for us... a person who can complete us and we can never know who can do that because who doesn't know what is incomplete in us. I went with the flow after getting rejected. In the same way, Chang An, I want them to go with the flow and if they are the right person for each other... no matter who comes they will be together. If they are destined to be together... then no matter who's ex comes... they will end up together. We don't have to do anything. Now you understand what I am saying?"

"Yeah," said Chang An. There was a sort of guilt on his face.

At night everyone went toward their respective rooms. Xiao Ying and Guo Guo were sharing a room. Ruo Bai and Chu Yuan were sharing a room. While everyone else had their rooms.

Chang An went towards the cupboard in his room and took the same hospital file he got when he was putting stuff back inside Ruo Bai's bag.

Should I give it back to him or should I keep it? I know that I can't hide this truth for long but if hiding it means seeing Ting Hao and Bai Cao together then... should I hide it? No, Chang An! Remember what Ting Yi said. If they are the right person for each other, then they will be together. I should give this file back to Ruo Bai.

Thinking that Chang An came out of his room and then went towards Ruo Bai and Chu Yuan's room.

He was about to knock when suddenly he heard Chu Yuan yelling, "Ruo Bai, you are dying... Do you even realize that?"

"Chu Yuan, why are you yelling? What if someone hears you?" yelled Ruo Bai.

Chang An tried hard to hear what they were talking about but was not able to because they were talking in very low sounds.

Chang An sighed and decided to knock at the door. As he knocks on the door, Ruo Bai opened it.

"Can I come inside?" asked Chang An.

"Sure. You can," said Ruo Bai and let Chang An inside.

"I guess, this is yours," said Chang An while handing over the hospital file to Ruo Bai.

As Ruo Bai saw the hospital file, he shuts the door and takes the file from Chang An's hand.

"So, you know everything. Don't you?" said Ruo Bai.

"I daresay, I do," said Chang An.

"Chang An, it is not at all that serious."

"Ruo Bai, I know how serious it is. I even heard Chu Yuan yelling that you are dying. See, Ruo Bai, I really have no personal enmity towards you. It's just that I have seen my sister heartbroken because of you. She kept waiting for you no matter how much I told her that you are dead."

Chang An opens the door to go back to his room when suddenly he turned back and said, "I don't hate you, Ruo Bai. It is just that you have hurt my sister really badly and I don't want her to be hurt like that again. Well, if you want you can tell her about your condition. I am okay with it."

"Actually, I am not planning to tell her this right now. I think you won't too," said Ruo Bai.

Chang An nodded. There was a little bit of astonishment on his face because what Ruo Bai said was not what he expected.

"Well, whomever Bai Cao chooses, I hope you will be happy for her... even if she does not chooses you."

Ruo Bai smiled and said, "I will be happy, Chang An. Trust me or not but even I want her happiness."

Chang An nodded and said, "Good night!"

Then Chang An went to his room.

The next day, elder Chen and Chang An were training Ting Hao and Bai Cao. Everyone else was there seeing them getting trained.

Bai Cao was training non-stop day and night. She was kicking the sandbag as if she was taking out all her frustration.

Ting Hao wanted to go to stop her but before he could reach her, Ruo Bai was there to ask her to take a break. Whenever Ting Hao would want to go near Bai Cao to give her some water, he would see Ruo Bai next her giving water to her.

Whenever Ting Hao would want to go near Bai Cao, he would see Ruo Bai next to her. Even when Bai Cao was taking a break, Ruo Bai was next to her. They would laugh and talk to each other. Even if Ting Hao wanted to go there to listen to what they are talking about, he would stop because he didn't want to intrude. Even if his heart was hurt, he would go from there leaving Ruo Bai and Bai Cao alone.

While on the other side, whenever Bai Cao wanted to go near Ting Hao, she would see Guo Guo next to him... she would see them laughing and talking. She would go from there leaving them alone because she did not want to intrude.

Bai Cao and Ting Hao's distance started growing and like that two weeks passed.

During these two weeks, Bai Cao and Ting Hao would not say anything to each other except Good Morning and Good night.

Even though they were living under one roof, they were living as if they don't know each other.

They would not face each other thinking that it was too late.

Bai Cao was becoming ruthless and heartless towards herself. She was practising day and night without any rest. Even though Ting Hao wanted to go to her, he would stop, thinking that Ruo Bai might be there with her.

When one night at all most three in the morning. Ting Hao was still awake thinking about Bai Cao. He would turn left and right on his bed worrying about Bai Cao when suddenly, he heard some noises.

He came out of his room and realised that those noises were coming from the training room. He went towards the room and through the window, he saw Bai Cao kicking the sandbag.

He did not go inside because he thought that Ruo Bai would be there.

He was about to go from there when suddenly, he saw that Bai Cao stopped. She was stumbling and was about to fall but Ting Hao ran inside and held her by her waist.

"Bai Cao, are you okay?" asked Ting Hao.

"Yeah, I am okay, Senior Ting Hao," replied Bai Cao while standing up.

"Then why we're you stumbling? We're you feeling dizzy?"

"Yeah, a little."

"We should go to the hospital right now. You must be sick."

"No, Senior Ting Hao. There is no need of going to the hospital because I am not sick."

"Then why were you feeling dizzy?"

"It must be because of lack of sleep. Nothing else. I am not sick."

"Lack of sleep!! So, that means you train till three in the morning every day?!"

"Yeah, sort of. Sometimes late."

"And you wake up at five in the morning every day."

"I guess, I do."

"Bai Cao, why are you doing this to yourself? Two hours of sleep is not enough."

"It's enough, Senior Ting Hao. At least because of practising, I am getting stronger."

"Being strong physically is not enough, Bai Cao. You have to be strong mentally as well if you want to win. And these two hours of sleep are only making you weak."

Bai Cao stepped towards the sandbag and said, "Senior Ting Hao, I am fine. I think you should go and sleep now. Let me practice a little longer. There are still fifteen minutes left for it to be three o'clock."

She was going to practice kicking again but before she could, Ting Hao held her by her wrist and as he did that Bai Cao groans in pain.

Ting Hao leaves her hand immediately after hearing her groaning and Bai Cao hides her hand behind her.

"Bai Cao, show me your hand," said Ting Hao.

"Senior Ting Hao, I think you were right. Two hours of sleep is not enough," said Bai Cao trying to change the topic.

"I know that, Bai Cao. Now show me your hand," said Ting Hao while trying to grab Bai Cao's hand and successfully did grab her hand.

He pushed up her sleeves and saw a dark red mark on her hand. It was also swollen a little.

"How did this happen and when?" asked Ting Hao.

"It's nothing, Senior Ting Hao," said Bai Cao.

"Answer my question, Bai Cao."

"Actually, it happened I guess yesterday or maybe the day before yesterday. I kicked the sandbag really hard because of which the sandbag stand started to stumble and it was about to fall. I thought that I will be able to prevent it from falling but I couldn't and it fell on my hand. That's it. Nothing else."

"And you didn't even bother to tell us about it."

"I did not tell you anything because it was nothing."

"It is swollen, Bai Cao."

"I am okay with it, Senior Ting Hao."

"Well, I am not. Now come with me."

Ting Hao took Bai Cao to the drawing-room and made her sit on the couch. Then he went to find the first aid box.

Soon Ting Hao found the first-aid box and went toward Bai Cao. He held her hand and starts applying the ointment.

"Why are you doing this to yourself, Bai Cao?" asked Ting Hao.

"What do you mean, Senior Ting Hao?" asked Bai Cao.

"Why are you so desperate to win?"

Bai Cao removes Ting Hao's hand from her hand and said, "Why should I not be desperate, Senior Ting Hao?"

There were tears in her eyes.

Seeing that, Ting Hao said, "Bai Cao, I understand..."

Before Ting Hao could even finish, Bai Cao stood up and said, "No, you don't, Senior Ting Hao... You don't understand. Senior Ting Hao, I know that you are the only person who understands my pain the best... but you can't understand what I went through and what I am going through because you didn't go through all of that. I literally lost everything. My parents, my childhood, the time I could have spent with my brother, my master and now... Guang Ya. I have finally got a chance to punish those who snatched everything from me and you are asking me why am I desperate... why should I not be."

Tears rolled down Bai Cao's cheeks.

Ting Hao gently holds Bai Cao's hand and made her sit on the couch. He said nothing and wiped off her tears.

Then he continued applying the ointment to her hand while saying, "Bai Cao, I know that I can't understand what you went through and what you are going through... I can understand." Ting Hao raised his face and looked straight into Bai Cao's eyes while saying, "But why don't you understand that I can't see you see you hurt... I can't see you in pain. I know that you have lost literally everyone you loved... but why can't you think about the people who love you right now?"

Bai Cao lowered her face and said, "I am sorry, Senior Ting Hao."

Ting Hao said nothing and continues to apply the ointment on Bai Cao's hand.

After a few minutes, both Bai Cao and Ting Hao were sitting outside in the garden while looking toward the sky.

"Well, Senior Ting Hao, were you not asleep at this hour? I thought you would have slept," said Bai Cao.

Ting Hao was about to tell Bai Cao that he did not sleep when suddenly he thought, Should I tell her that I was awake till worrying about her? No. I don't think I should.

"Actually, I was sleeping when suddenly I started feeling thirsty and when I got up to drink water, I heard some noises. So, I came here following the noise and saw you kicking the sandbag," said Ting Hao.

"Oh! But some way, it was good that you came. Because you came, we are sitting like this together after a long time."

"Yeah. Well, seems like something is going on between you and Ruo Bai, right?" said Ting Hao with a smile but he was not looking into Bai Cao's eyes as he didn't want Bai Cao to his pain through his eyes as it was evident that he was in pain thinking about Bai Cai being someone else's.

Bai Cao turned her face towards Ting Hao in shock and said, "No, Senior Ting Hao! Nothing is going on between me and Senior Brother Ruo Bai. Why would you think so?"

"Bai Cao, you don't have to lie to me. You both spend a lot of time together. Whenever I see you, you are with Ruo Bai. It's obvious that something is going on between you two."

Please say that nothing is going on between you two. Said Ting Hao in his heart.

"If that's the case then there must be going on something between you and Guo Guo as well."

"What do you mean, Bai Cao?"

"What do I mean?! I even saw you two hugging each other. Don't you two spend a lot of time together?"

"We do but.."

Before Ting Hao could finish, Bai Cao said with an irritated tone but her fear of losing Ting Hao was evident on her face., "So there must be something going on between you two. Right?"

"Bai Cao, nothing is going on between us. We indeed spend time with each other but we only see each other as friends. And about that hug, I was not the one who hugged her, she was the one who approached and if you would have noticed, I was surprised when she hugged me."

"But you hugged her back too."

"Yes, I did because I thought it's normal for friends to hug each other. Didn't we hug each other, Bai Cao? We were even about to kiss..."

Both of them turned their faces away from each other as Ting Hao said that. They both remembered the day when this happened. Both of them were embarrassed.

No one said anything for a couple of minutes. Then Bai Cao sighed and said, "Nothing is going on between me and Senior Brother Ruo Bai. We are just friends."

"Really!! Nothing is going on between you two!!" said Ting Hao with a great smile on his face. Even though he wanted to hide it, he could not.

Seeing him smiling like this, Bai Cao started smiling too and said, "Yes, Senior Ting Hao."

"Well, nothing is going on between me and Guo Guo as well. We are only friends too."

"Is it so, Senior Ting Hao?"

"Yes, it is, Bai Cao. Don't take anything in a wrong way."

"Why would I?" said Bai Cao while trying to control herself to not smile.

"Why are you smiling like that, Bai Cao?"

"Am I smiling?! No, I am not smiling at all."

"Bai Cao, did you ask me that question just to make fun of me?"

"No! Not at all, Senior Ting Hao. I ask you that question just to prove my point... and maybe also for making fun of you."

"You..." said Ting Hao while approaching Bai Cao, but before he could hold her, Bai Cao ran from there.

Ting Hao ran behind her to catch her while Bai Cao was running fast while saying, "I am sorry, Senior Ting Hao!!"

After some time, both of them were tired of running. Now Ting Hao was not trying to catch Bai Cao but was trying to catch a breath and Bai Cao was not running away from Ting Hao but was running out of breath. They were sitting together.

"Well, Bai Cao, I need a promise from you," said Ting Hao after he could breathe properly and saw Bai Cao could breathe too.

"What is it, Senior Ting Hao?"

"Promise me that you won't practice again at this hour. Promise me that you will take enough sleep. Promise me, Bai Cao."

"I promise, Senior Ting Hao," said Bai Cao while looking straight into Ting Hao's eyes.

They kept looking into each other's eyes for a minute then Ting Hao said, "No, I don't believe you. I am sure that you will do this again."

"I won't, Senior Ting Hao. Trust me."

"No, I can't trust you in this matter," said Ting Hao while standing up. "You are very careless when it comes to you. That's why... from today... we will sleep together."

"What!!" said Bai Cao and stood up in shock.

"Yes,"

"No, Senior Ting Hao."

"Yes, Bai Cao and this is my final decision," saying that, Ting Hao ran from there towards Bai Cao's room and Bai Cao ran behind him.

As Ting Hao went inside Bai Cao's room, he went towards the bed and took a pillow from the bed. Then he went towards the couch and lays on it.

Seeing him sleeping on the couch, Bai Cao went toward him and said, "Senior Ting Hao, please go to your room."

"No, I won't."

"Fine. But at least sleep on the bed. I will sleep on the couch."

"Bai Cao, I am already lying here and I am too tired. I don't want to do anything right now and I will be sleeping on the couch every day because I get a good sleep here."

"Ok, fine. Not yours nor mine. We will sleep on the sofa on alternative days. You sleep on the bed today and then I will sleep on the bed tomorrow"

"How about you sleep on the bed today and I will sleep on the bed tomorrow."

"Fine!!" yelled Bai Cao. Then she went toward the bed and lays on it.

Bai Cao was looking at Ting Hao thinking, The more you care about me like this, the more I feel loved. Before you, I never knew love felt like this. I never knew that love can be so divine... so heavenly. I could never dream of a love like this. Thank you so much, Senior Ting Hao, for still loving me and very soon, I'll confess my feelings to you... after that, we will be together forever... we'll live happily.

Then both of them slept peacefully.

The next day, after training for a long time, they got tired but still, they ran inside in different directions and when they came out, both had a bottle of water in their hand. They did not bring it for themselves but for each other.

Seeing a bottle of water in each other's hands, they started walking slowly toward each other.

"This is for you," said both Bai Cao and Ting Hao at the same time.

"Is it for me!!" exclaimed both of them at the same time.

Both of them smiled shyly and took the bottle of water from each other.

The rest of the two weeks of their training month passed like this.

With the help of Elder Chen and Chang An's training, Ting Hao and Bai Cao became incredibly strong. So strong that no one could defeat them.

On the other hand, because of Chen Zhou's training Guang Ya became very strong but the most unfortunate thing was now, Guang Ya has become heartless just like Chen Zhou.

In her eyes, there was a fire... the fire of victory. There we no other feelings in her eyes. It was evident that in order to win, she would do anything even if it means to hurt someone badly or even kill someone, it doesn't matter to her.

Now, only a night was left for the big day... for the big fight.

Ting Hao, Bai Cao, and Guang Ya were thinking about what will happen tomorrow while Chen Zhou was pretty calm as if he had a plan in his mind.

The next day, everyone woke up early in the morning. No one went to anyone's room to wake anyone. But only one person was not there in the drawing-room. And it was Ting Hao who was not there. Bai Cao was not there too. She went to bring Ting Hao while everyone was waiting for them for breakfast.

"Senior Ting Hao is missing," Bai Cao exclaimed while running down the stairs. She came straight near Elder Chen and said, "I just found this letter, Elder Chen."

Elder Chen took the letter and started reading it. After reading the letter, elder Chen sat on the chair in shook and said, "This can't happen. I never thought that Ting Hao would do this with us."

Bai Cao sat on her knees crying in front of elder Chen. She holds his hand and said, "No, Elder Chen. Senior Ting Hao can never do anything like that."

"But this is what he wrote."

"What is going on? What is written in the letter?" yelled Chang An.

"In the letter, Ting Hao wrote that he was never at our side. He was always at Chen Zhou's side. He betrayed us, Chang An," yelled elder Chen.

TO BE CONTINUED