62 THE VOW OF LOYALTY (2/2)
\”En,\” Xiao Maiguo said. \”I have to go do something. Take care of yourself.\”
\”Okay, bye.\”
***
\”Yes, I found them. I'll text you their address and pictures.\” Su Yang spoke into the phone.
\”Okay. Thank you.\” Hua Zhendan said.
\”You have a younger sister,\” Su Yang added.
\”Oh!\” Hua Zhendan mumbled. \”Okay.\”
Su Yang disconnected the call and sent the address and pictures as promised. Just then Xuan Tianmei walked into the living room, dressed in a white vest and pink shorts.
Su Yang have her the once-over, then said, \”I'm sorry, Xuan Tianmei, but you'll have to stay in the room, okay?\”
\”Why?\” Xuan Tianmei asked with a puzzled expression on her face.
\”My friends are coming over.\” Su Yang held up a flash drive. \”I got you some movies to watch so you don't get bored.\”
\”Wait. I'm not allowed to meet your friends?\”
\”It's not that. It's just... You're not supposed to be here.\”
\”Why not?\”
\”Because this is a secret hideout and it belongs to the gang, not me alone, and I'm supposed to keep it a secret.\”
\”Then, why did you bring me here?\”
\”To impress you.\”
Xuan Tianmei opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
\”You were impressed, weren't you?\”
\”So, you want me to stay indoors until your friends leave?\”
\”Please, just do it for me, okay?\” Su Yang flashed the flash drive at Xuan Tianmei.
\”Okay.\” Xuan Tianmei said and accepted the drive.
Xuan Tianmei started to walk out of the living room but Su Yang stopped her. \”Wait. You didn't tell me if you sent Xuan Tianyi that recording yet.\”
\”I did.\”
\”Then, what did he say?\”
\”'Thanks for sending this. But it doesn't really matter.'\” Xuan Tianmei mimicked Xuan Tianyi's voice.
\”Your brother is a moron.\”
\”Don't abuse him.\” Xuan Tianmei pointed.
\”Why not? Someone broke his back to get him that recording. And all he had to say was, 'It doesn't really matter?'\”
Xuan Tianmei shrugged.
\”If I'm Qiu Dawei, I would be very pissed. So pissed, I would seduce Hua Zhendan to get back at Xuan Tianyi.\” Su Yang said pointedly.
\”All three of them can do what they want with their relationship. It's so messed up, it wears me out.\” Xuan Tianmei lamented. \”First, President Hua and Xuan Tianyi were brothers, then they weren't. Then they quarrelled over you and now this.\”
\”Relationships aren't easy.\”
\”I get that.\” Xuan Tianmei threw Su Yang a wistful glance. Although Su Yang knew what it meant, she decided to ignore it.
Just then, she heard footsteps that told her people were approaching the living room through the front door instead of the fireplace. She turned to Xuan Tianmei and made a pleading gesture at her. \”Now. Leave now, please.\”
Xuan Tianmei nodded and hurried away from the living room.
Soon, Yun Peng, Zhu Daniya and Lu Qihao entered the apartment. While Yun Peng and Lu Qihao immediately took their seats, Zhu Daniya stared straight at Su Yang and said. \”I can smell someone else here. Did you bring someone here?\”
Su Yang stared daggers at Zhu Daniya. She had totally forgotten that the lady had the sense of smell of a bloodhound.
Soon, three pair of eyes were fixated on Su Yang and she couldn't help feeling uneasy.
\”Su Yang, did you bring someone here?\” Yun Peng asked sternly.
\”No?\” Su Yang muttered in reply.
\”Are you asking or answering?\”
Su Yang sighed. Nodding slowly, she mumbled, \”My girlfriend.\”
\”You have a girlfriend?\” Lu Qihao asked, his eyes sparkling from excitement.
\”Why would you bring your girlfriend here?\” Yun Peng asked.
\”To stay... With me.\”
\”Su Yang, that's very careless.\”
\”I know. But I can vouch for her innocence and loyalty.\”
\”What are you saying? Do the words, 'Trust no-one but yourself' mean nothing to you?\”
\”I am crazy about this girl, Yun Peng.\”
\”Su Yang.\” Yun Peng called, stunned. Those were the last words he expected to hear from her.
\”I am in love with her. And I just wanted her to know me. And she does. She even accepts me exactly the way I am. She doesn't ask for anything more. I didn't even know I could find someone like that, but I did. Isn't that amazing?\”
Yun Peng stared at her in silence.
She continued, \”I trust her, okay?\”
\”...\”
\”I'm... I'm even willing to take the vow of loyalty on her behalf.\”
\”The vow of loyalty?\” Lu Qihao spoke for the second time. \”You can't be serious.\”
Firmly, Su Yang said, \”I am.\”