37 Housewarming party 1 (2/2)

They hadn't spoken long enough to be bringing up politics and they'd been glaring at each other too.

Even though Qi Zhou knew her lie was probably obvious she didn't put down her facade.

\”Ah okay.\” Frank Wang said slowly. The rest of the group exchanging doubtful looks between each other.

\”Do they know each other or something?\” Frank Wang wondered because the hostile atmosphere between the two didn't seem to be from people that had just met. It seemed like they didn't like each other.

Frank didn't need to understand the language to hear the dark and icy tones in their voices when they spoke to each other.

Everyone else also sensed it and wondered what the real relationship was between Qi Zhou and Chàng Bo.

Just as Tanaka, who hated not knowing things, was about to ask about their relationship. The wooden doors of the main house slid open.

And there was Mao Lu, standing in the doorway. He was wearing a suit.

....

Three minutes ago

Mao Lu had been dropped into the courtyard by Gates. He'd then hurried to his room, looking for a suit to wear that would be appropriate for a meeting.

Since Mao Lu had been at work right? At a meeting right?

He then heard voices coming from the main house and could see everyone chatting inside. He steeled himself before he opened the sliding doors, and then said with fake surprise.

\”What are you guys doing here?\”

\”Mao Lu!!!\” they all said in unison, except for Chàng Bo who had sensed Mao Lu the moment he'd dropped in from the sky.

Mao Lu tried to look very stunned and speechless. \”You guys, why are you all here?\”

\”Surprise!!!\” They all chanted.

\”We decided to throw you a Housewarming party. Which you would have known about if you checked your phone.\” Fei Bing Bing explained.

\”Yh, don't you know that phones are for communication, you need to check messages Lu.\” Zhao Detong tutted as he passed Mao Lu his phone.

When Mao Lu saw the multitude of messages he made a sheepish expression.

\”Omg, thank you so very much guys. I can't believe you did this. I would have come back earlier if I'd realised.

I was feeling a bit ill this week and was resting and I ended up not checking my phone. And then I had to go to a meeting and a colleague picked me up to take me there and it was all so rushed.\” Mao Lu babbled a bit, regurgitating the same lies Chàng Bo had told them.

\”We know, we know all that already. Your friend told us.\” Tanaka replied, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively as he pointed towards Chàng Bo.

As Mao Lu turned and made eye contact with Chàng Bo he felt his cheeks flush slightly and his heart race.

The feelings of attraction he had towards Chàng Bo appeared to have intensified.

Mao Lu coughed and cupped his hands to his face to hide his blushing, as he turned towards his friends who were all giving him smug little looks and knowing grins.

\”I see you all have met Chàng Bo,\” he said to them as he attempted to control his breathing.

At the same time, he was feeling very awkward. How could he tell Chàng Bo about the decision that was made at the meeting? About their fate Companionship.

Mao Lu realised he didn't know anything about Chàng Bo. He didn't know whether Chàng Bo liked men, or whether that type of thing even mattered in his Realm.

\”What if Chàng Bo already had some girlfriend or a female lover somewhere and by making him my fate companion I've ruined his love life and he'll hate me forever.

But this was the best option, better than him being caged somewhere and tortured, right?\”

Mao Lu's brain was in chaos. Ever since they'd left the Flame Star Fortress, Mao Lu had been panicking.

Gates sighed, \”What has been done, you can't go back on it. Regardless of whether he has a lover somewhere or isn't into you, he'll still end up your fate companion.\”

\”Oh wow, thanks for the pep talk Gates you're always so helpful\” Mao Lu replied sarcastically.

\”You don't have to be thankful, it is my duty to guide and help you.\” Gates said seriously.

Mao Lu wanted to shake Gates, and he resisted the urge to physically roll his eyes. Or else his friends would be confused, and if they asked why he was rolling his eyes he couldn't tell them \”I'm having a mental conversation with Gates, my magical book slash keychain\”. Yeah for some reason Mao Lu didn't think that would go well.

\”How did the meeting go?\” Chàng Bo asked in his own native tongue, the language of stars, used specifically in Star Realm.

This was the language he had always used when speaking to Mao Lu.

He didn't use URT since Qi Zhou was here and he didn't want her eavesdropping. What Chàng Bo didn't know was that Qi Zhou had been to the star Realm before and could understand the Star language.

\”Some things did happen, you were able to avoid getting any horrible punishment but there has been a complication which I will discuss with you later, right now isn't exactly appropriate.\” Mao Lu replied a bit nervously. As he spoke his words were converted into the star language.

\”Meeting, punishment… Complication? What was this about?\” Qi Zhou wondered.

\”Then we'll talk about it later.\” Chàng Bo replied, feeling rather relieved. There wasn't going to be any punishment, but Chàng Bo was curious. What kind of complication could have occurred that made Mao Lu appear so nervous?

Chàng Bo pondered about this but didn't ask. There was no need to be impatient.

Instead, he looked towards Qi Zhou, his eyes sparkling maliciously as he said, \”Oh, by the way, Mao Lu, this little Witch here is using your friend Frank. I believe she's bewitched him so that she could meet you. Don't you think she's going too far?\”

Qi Zhou frowned and her mind raced in horror as she saw Mao Lu glance towards her.

Everyone else looked back and forth, confused. They had no idea what was being said, all they knew was that the atmosphere suddenly felt pretty tense.