[CONTENTID1]Chapter 53[/CONTENTID1]

[CONTENTID2]Wink[/CONTENTID2]

[CONTENTID3]

"Noona...noona wake up," a voice whispered while shaking her gently.

"Huh?" Mei Li grumbled, rubbing her eyes.

Once she opened them, the sunlight coming from the window blinded her, causing her to block it with her hand. After getting used to it, she opened her eyes again and came face to face with Tao.

"What are you doing here, Tao?" she mumbled.

"All of us stayed here last night...you know...just in case..." he trailed off, looking away.

She nodded in understanding and got out of bed. "What time is it now?"

"11am," he answered.

"WHAT?" she exclaimed, "I'm late for work then!"

"Don't worry, your mom called in sick for you. Anne's also excused from going to school today," he explained.

"But—"

He interrupted her, "Just come downstairs, noona. Everything's fine!" He shot his signature grin.

She sighed, "Alright."

She put on an oversized knit cardigan and followed the maknae downstairs. She walked into the kitchen to see Chen and Luhan cooking. Tao went into the living room. She watched as he took a seat beside Anne. Aww, haha, they would be cute together.

"Morning, Mei Li! We're making breakfast so just go sit down in the living room with the others," Chen smiled while frying some eggs.

Mei Li smelled the classic aroma of bacon and eggs, causing her stomach to growl. Luhan chuckled while cutting fruits, "Well, more like brunch. But yea, go on in to the living room. Anne's in there as well."

She liked how both of them acted perfectly normal. It made it easier for her.

"Okay, but do you guys need any he—"

"AHHCK!" Luhan winced, accidentally cutting himself.

Mei Li instantly sprang over to him. "Are you okay?"

He pulled his hand away from her so she wouldn't be able to see it. "It's okay, I'm fine."

"Let me see," she commanded.

He shook his head.

She narrowed her eyes at him and after a few seconds, he gave in. "Okay..."

He gave her his hand, and she saw that his left hand's index finger had a small cut that was bleeding. She took the first-aid kit out of the drawer and opened it. After cleaning all the blood, she gently blew air on it. He stared at her while she did this, so she felt slightly uncomfortable. After wrapping a bandage around it, she smiled in satisfaction. "All done."

"Th-thank you," he replied, a tinge of pink apparent on his cheeks.

She placed the first-aid kit back in the drawer. Seeing his pink cheeks made her face heat up as well. She bit her lip and looked away. "No problem,” she replied and walked away.

She went into the living room and Anne stood up at the mere sight of her. "Mei Li!"

"Morning Anne,” Mei Li smiled.

Annee bit her lip nervously, "Had a good sleep?"

"Actually yea, I did."

"I'm sorry," Anne pouted.

Mei Li raised an eyebrow. "You're sorry that I slept well?"

"I'm sorry about last night," Anne looked down at her feet.

"Anne, it's not your fault at all. Why are you feeling guilty?"

She sighed. "I don't know, just 'cause."

"Well everything's okay now. EXO was here to help," Mei Li squeezed her shoulders reassuringly.

"But w-what if he comes b-back and I can't do anything to s-stop him again?" Anne looked up, eyes filled with fear.

Anne was even more shaken up about it than Mei Li was. I mean, it wasn't the first time that something like that happened to Mei Li; she had just been surprised that out of all people, it was Dongjun, someone who she thought she could trust.

However, this was Anne's first time of witnessing it. She was still young and innocent after all.

"We won't let him do that" Tao stated bluntly.

Mei Li smiled. "See, they've got our backs."

"You bet we do!" Lay grinned.

"Breakfast is served!" Chen said as he and Luhan came in with trays of food.

They set them down on the small coffee table and Chen took a seat. "Be right back, I'll go get the plates for everyone now," Luhan said.

He went back to the kitchen so Mei Li followed him. She saw him reaching up with his left hand to take a plate from the cupboard, but he winced and pulled his hand back. She went over to him.

"I'll get it," she said. She tiptoed to reach the plates that thankfully weren't in the highest cupboards. She closed the cupboard door and turned around. Her eyes widened upon realizing how dangerously close she was to Luhan, trapped right between the sink and him.

He stared at her with intense eyes. "Mei Li, I—"

"Need any help, guys?" Anne and Tao came in.

They quickly separated and Luhan scratche