51 Chapter 51- Even the Dead have Ears (2/2)
”I didn't think that was possible.”
”Yeah... but if anyone can do it, Ma can. And after my serious caseof 'foot in mouth' syndrome, she'll be planning some sort of intervention.” Mei sighed. ”It's harder to hang up on her than it is when Pa rings. Someone finally told him I majored in Business and he's taken that as his cue to try and push the company angle. I have a responsibility to the family name, the family business, the company employees.... you name it, I apparently have a responsibility for it.”
”You should let me answer for you.”
”No... I can't do that to you.”
”Let me take care of you.”
Mei chuckled. ”You already do. Who has been making me congee for breakfast every morning and not even letting me put the aloe on by myself?”
”It's the least I can do. It's my... responsibility....”
”Oooh... he jokes. Be still by beating heart.” The pair smiled at each other, unaware that the sleeping beauty in the back seat had woken up. Wang Wei cushioned his head with his arm and kept his eyes closed. To begin with, he'd been too stunned at hearing KO speak in full sentences, to let them know he was awake. Then the conversation turned personal and as educational as it was, he knew Mei wouldn't want him knowing he was having family trouble. Hearing KO make a joke, albeit a very cold joke, almost made him blow his cover. He swallowed his laugh, covering it with a sleepy snort.
Folding his arms over his chest, Mei pouted at his partner.
”I thought we agreed it was more my fault than yours?”
”I never agreed.”
”You stopped arguing though.”
”You were happier thinking you'd won.”
”Arrogant...” when KO ruffled his hair, Mei pushed his hand away. ”I can blame you if you want. Especially if this trip goes poorly. Argh. I can't believe we're staying at such a high class resort and I can't enjoy all of it.”
”What? Why not?”
”It has a huge pool with a glass roof: I wanted to go swimming with you at night so we could see the stars... seeing as you ruined my romantic gesture with the keys.”
”We can still do that.”
”No. We can't.”
”Why not?”
”Have you forgotten about these?” Mei lifted his shirt up, the bruising around his torso still visible in a dark purple that was only just starting to mottle into greens and yellows. In the back seat, peering through slotted eyes, Wang Wei was only able to see Mei lifting his shirt. Curiosity itched at his brain. Tucking his phone down the side, near the door, he quietly sent off a group text to all other members Zhi Yo Technologies who were on the trip... all others except for Xiao Nai and Bei Wei Wei. He knew them well enough to know that neither would cooperate with the plan starting to emerge from that itch.
”Ah...” After a few days of tending to his lover, and Mei's physical reassurance that a bit of bondage hadn't traumatised him, KO was starting to feel a deep satisfaction whenever he saw the bruising. Even more than the possessive love bites he'd previously marked Mei with, these bruises were a demonstration of his lover's surrender to him... and he was finding he quite liked that.
”We can go swimming when everyone else has gone to bed.”
”But what will I say for why I'm not swimming through the day?”
”Say you can't swim.”
Mei scoffed. ”Yeah right. I grew up next to the ocean with a lap pool in the backyard. And I can't swim.”
”You're a Young Master... isn't the pool for lounging next to, not swimming in?”
”Ay, this man....” movement from the backseat reminded Mei that they had company. Thanking the gods that Wang Wei had slept through their conversation, Mei nevertheless guided their subject matter into calmer waters. The discussion about aspects of the game led, somehow, to which paint colours would suit the apartment best. That topic kept them occupied until they pulled into a scenic lookout behind the other cars.
With an elaborate stretch and a yawn loud enough to unblock his eardrums from the drive up the mountain, Wang Wei 'woke up'. His performance was unappreciated however, as both KO and Mei had got out to check on the whereabouts of Xiao Nai and Wei Wei.
Unbeknown to the HoK couple, the phones of their peers were overheating with secret plans. It wasn't going to be the relaxing weekend Hao Mei was looking forward to....