"I really need to go to the grocery or we won't be eating this week. Xiao Yi, you coming with me?"

Suho had checked his phone's time after lunch. As much as I sort of enjoyed my time with the dorks, I really wanted to escape somewhere and to unload all the awkwardness and stress that was slowly building up inside. I told him I would go. Suho paid for our bill, J and Namjoon pooled too. Taeyong had insisted he pay for all, but Suho did not accept it. He said that Taeyong was a sort of guest. Taeyong called his driver to pick him up. We all went out and started to get our bikes.

Taeyong then said he had to go as well and offered to take me and Suho to the grocery store. Suho had declined saying we'd just go home and get his car. Taeyong did not insist and just nodded. He called his driver to pick him up.

Suho waited until his driver came and picked him up before he told me to go on our way. As Taeyong's car sped off, I got on my bike and waved goodbye to my brothers. Tao patted my bike and told me to be careful.

Chen and Kyungsoo stayed behind and enjoy their time at the park. When we got home, I parked my bike in the garage after Suho. He went upstairs to get his car keys. Lay was in the living room watching TV and eating potato chips with sour cream and onion dip. He offered us some. I went to sit beside him and dipped a chip and took a bite.

Me: It's good.

Lay: I know. I made the dip.

Me: We're going to the grocery. Wanna come?

Lay: Sure. Lemme just finish this program on TV.

Me: What are you watching, anyway?

Lay: It's a documentary about the supposed gold found in Peru.

Me: El Dorado?

Lay: Yup.

Me: That was your homework the other Monday, right?

Lay: Yes, exactly. I am kinda disappointed this channel just showed this now when my homework's done.

Suho had come back down with his car keys in hand and wallet on the other. He had also changed his tee. Lay patted the other space next to him and asked Suho to sit down first.

Suho: No. We'll be running late if I sit down and watch with you. Xiao Yi, you wanted to come, right?

Me: Yep.

Lay: It's almost done. I'm going with you.

Suho: Then let's go.

Lay: Just five more minutes and this program's done.

Suho: I'm not waiting, Yixing.

And he walked towards the door. I got up and followed him. Lay grabbed the remote and turned the TV off. He called out to the househelp and told them that he was coming with us to do grocery. Then he followed us out the door. One of the househelp went to the gate to close it after us.

Suho got inside his car and told us to get in. I went to sit in the passenger side. Lay went to sit at the back. The househelp opened the gate for us and Suho drove through. He waited until the househelp had closed the gate before he drove off going to the grocery.

Suho: Do you think it's best if we do grocery at the mall?

Lay: I think so. Maybe there's something else we need to buy.

Suho: What if we drop by Lo's first then go to the mall for everything else?

Lay: Wouldn't that be useless? Let's just go directly to the mall.

Suho: I doubt the mall supermarket sells those little packs of ginseng root candies.

Lay: Oh? It's exclusive in Lo's?

Suho: Maybe. I tried checking in Care City one time, but they didn't have it.

Lay: Maybe the manufacturer give the exclusive distribution to Lo's.

Suho: Can be.

Lay: Ain't Lo's owned by Yukio's family?

Suho: They're Japanese?

Lay: Yeah.

Suho: So, it's not theirs.

Lay: I heard someone say that Yukio's papa bought it from the original owner.

Suho: Zhen de ma?

Lay: Shi-a...

Suho: Whoaa..

They kept that kind of conversation while Suho drove to the mall. At the intersection, five blocks away, a dark blue Subaru Forester came out of nowhere, almost colliding with a Toyota GTR 86, stopping right in front of us.

I knew the make and model of the cars, because of my brothers. Also, Lay and Suho had mentioned them when they saw the cars. Suho had to step on the break abruptly so we won't crash into the two cars.

The driver of the GTR got out and went walking towards the Subaru. He looked like he was really pissed. His get up was like that of an American mobster, dressed in an all white suit. He looked expensive.

Suho was not able to move forward, because the two cars were right in the middle of the road. He tried to honk once at the two cars, but the driver of the GTR glared at Suho and started walking towards our car. Suho gulped and gripped the steering wheel really hard. I wrapped my arms around his arm. I was scared. Lay had to lean forward and peek from between me and Suho.

Lay: Is he coming here?

Suho: Yes. Shhh...

Lay: Why is he coming here? We didn't do anything?

Suho: Shhh...

Me: I'm scared.

Suho: Me too. But don't panic. We'll just tell him we need to get going.

Lay: He doesn't look polite at all.

Suho: I know. But...shh...

The driver of the Subaru had opened his window and was getting out of the car as well. I suddenly had an image of both the drivers being kidnappers. I tried to relax as hard as I could and tried to focus. I memorized their faces and tried getting the details of the person's face and the cars. The man approached Suho's side. He leaned an arm on the top of the car and knocked on the window. Suho rolled his window down and the man addressed him.

Man: You got a problem?

Suho: Sir, we just need to get going. If you could just move your car, so we could pass.

Man: Can't you see there's an who tried to hit my car?

Suho: Yes, sir. But we have nothing to do with it. Can we please pass?

Man: I'm just gonna settle this with that guy first.

Suho: O..okay.

Man: You stay put.

The way he said it made me think like he was not done with us. Like after he settled his issue with the other driver, he'd come back to us, and who knew what he would do to us. Suho rolled up his window again.

Suho: Maybe I should just make a u-turn.

Lay: What if that man has a gun and starts shooting at us?

Suho: I hope not.

The man who came to us was now talking to the driver of the Subaru. Both of them looked really expensive. The other guy was tall. He was wearing sunglasses, so we couldn't see his eyes. It felt as if he was looking at us instead of at the other guy. We couldn't hear what they were talking about, but every now and then, the shorter guy would shout curses. We thought we saw him put his hand in his pocket at least three times. It was like he was about to pull out a gun.

Suho got really nervous and slowly started the car and making a u-turn. I didn't take my eyes off the two men who were now shouting at each other. Lay had to take out his phone and took pictures of the incident. The taller guy looked pissed as he saw us driving away. The shorter guy turned his head to see us go and he started to walk towards his car.

What if he was going to follow us?

Chase us?

Lay suddenly sent the pictures to Luhan and the other oldies. But as we turned into another street, I didn't see the man follow us. I kept my eyes in alert, because what if he went to pass on another street and intercepted us? I held my breath. I didn't wanna die yet. Luckily though, that didn't happen. I was able to breathe easy. Suho had not loosened his grip on the steering wheel until we arrived at the mall. Lay had sat unmoving and not speaking.

Suho parked at the basement and didn't get out of the car right away. He looked in the rearview mirror first and closed his eyes as he placed a hand on his chest.

Suho: Okay. We're safe. Let's go.

Lay: Safe...safe...safe...okay...okay...

Suho: Yes, we are safe.

I didn't say anything, but I hurriedly got out of the car and went to Suho's side. Lay stumbled on the way out and he hit the car door with his knee.

Lay: I hate being kidnapped.

Suho: We haven't been kidnapped.

Lay: It felt like it, though.

Me: I think those men didn't know the proper traffic rules.

Suho: Why would they pick a fight in the middle of the road, tsk, tsk...

Lay: If you asked me, I think they were arrogant bastards who think they own the road or something.

Suho: Watch your mouth, Yixing.

Lay: Why is it that when you or papa gets mad, you use my Chinese name?

Suho: Well, it runs in the blood...

Me: Nobody ever calls me by my full name.

Suho: Okay, Yinzi.

Me: It's weird.

Suho: Hahah. You complain both ways.

Lay: Yinzi this, Yinzi that.

Me: Aish...don't call me that.

Lay: I thought you want us to call you by your full name.

Me: No.

Lay: Hahahaha. Okay.

With that, the previous incident was forgotten temporarily. We directly went to the supermarket. Suho got a big cart and asked Lay to push it as he went through aisles to get the stuff we needed for the house. I helped get the items and Lay pointed at everything he thought we needed that wasn't in Suho's list.

Sunday. Family day for most of the people in Beijing. Mom's and their kids were in the supermarket, too. There were several dads who were there to do their grocery. I kind of missed the feeling when we went as a whole family. I also sort of envied some girls who were with their sisters. I had no sister.

But I had twelve brothers. It should count as something.

We were at the meat section and Suho was checking some freshly cut meat when Luhan called Lay. That meant Luhan already got Lay's message with the photos. I could hear Luhan's panicky voice faintly.

Lay: We're okay now, Lu ge. I sent the photos to you, just in case something bad happened to us...yes. I know. Oh, okay. I'll tell him. Yes, okay.

Then he hung up the phone. He then poked Suho's arm. Suho was instructing an attendant to get him some of the chicken wings.

Lay: Lu ge called. He said to wait for him. He's coming here.

Suho: Huh? Why?

Lay: I sent him photos of the incident earlier and he sounded panicky.

Suho: Did you tell him we're okay?

Lay: Yes, I did. But he insisted on coming here. Kris and Xiumin are coming too.

Suho: Huh? Alright then. Did they say where to wait?

Lay: Nope. Just said to wait for them here.

Suho: Supermarket? Okay. Xiao Yi, stay close.

I was about to go check out the pastry shelf just a few meters away. I halted and walked back to them. Then Suho took the pack of chicken wings from the girl who weighed them first and stuck the pricetag.

Suho: Anything else we need?

Lay: Why don't we buy peking duck?

Suho: You gonna cook?

Lay: We'll ask mama Wu how to?

Suho: Maybe we could have peking duck when papa returns from Korea.

Lay: Right.

Suho: Anything else?

Me: How about laundry and bathroom stuff?

Suho: Oh yeah...

And we went to get them. Lay received another call from Luhan a few minutes later. Luhan and the two other oldies were on their way to the mall and we were supposed to wait for them in the supermarket waiting area. There were food stalls just outside the supermarket and Suho decided that we wait there. We had a little difficulty getting an empty seat because there were many people that afternoon.

After about fifteen minutes, the three oldies arrived. They had changed from their sports stuff to plain tees and shorts. Well, Kris ge was wearing ripped jeans... They usually just bought change of clothes when they had practice. Luhan mostly brings two sets of clothes when he goes to practice.

There were just two empty chairs left on our table. Suho had gone to buy bubbletea for us while we waited and we were drinking them when the three oldies arrived. Kris sat on one of the free chairs. Xiumin sat on the other one. Luhan went to pull me from my chair. I gripped the table as he tried to pull me off the chair.

Luhan: Let me sit.

Me: Sit on the floor.

Luhan: No. Get up, you...

And he pulled hard. I got up and pinched his sides. He dodged it and sat on the chair. He then patted his lap and told me to sit there. I walked around and went to stand behind Xiumin.

Luhan: Xiao Yi, meimei. Come to Lu ge.

Me: You kicked me out.

Luhan: I'm tired orz.

Me: Why pick my chair?

Luhan: I don't want Suho to sit on my lap...or Lay...

Me: Pfffftt...

Luhan: Anyway, about that incident earlier, did you hear anything that those men said?

Suho: No. They were a good few meters away from us. I was able to stop the car before we even got near.

Luhan: It's good you were able to take a picture of them...and their cars.

Lay: I was kinda having thoughts about them just pretending to cause traffic issues, like a kidnapping front.

Luhan: We can never be too lax these days.

Kris: Have you seen these people before?

Xiumin: They look like Hong Kong triad to me.

Kris: Hmmm...yeah...

Lay: What are they doing in Fengtai?

Kris: Maybe checking out the rich families for kidnapping prospects?

Xiumin: Next time you see something like that, better get away as fast as you can. Don't wait until they have a chance to get or chase you.

Luhan: Go to a place where there are many people.

Xiumin: Or as you make your exit, call the cops.

Suho: Do we even have 911 in our area?

Luhan: You know it's 110.

Kris: Traffic issues are 122 orz.

Luhan: But 110 is the general emergency number.

Suho: I thought it's 999?

Kris: It's Hong Kong.

Lay and I just watched and listened as the four talked about the incident. Even if Lay was considered as one of the oldies now, he was not yet accustomed to joining the discussions. Because it was always the four who discussed stuff like this.

After about another 30 minutes discussion from the oldies, Luhan decided to check out some shops before we went home. All of the boys carried our grocery shopping bags as we went to the shops. I walked between Luhan and Kris this time. My strongest safe havens.

Luhan saw an apparel shop and he went in to check out a shirt that was on display. The rest of the boys went to follow him and checked the shop's display, too. Luhan looked behind him to make sure I was following. I sat on one of the stools as I watched them pick out clothes. The grocery shopping bags lay at my feet.

I wish you'd let me go check out girls' shops, too.

Luhan bought a shirt. Xiumin bought a shirt as well. Kris and Suho decided to go to another shop and Lay remembered he wanted to buy press-on patches for his hoodie pullover. After the boys got their stuff, I tried to tell them I wanted to go window shopping as well.

Kris: Are we gonna go to the girl's swimsuit department?

Me: Why would I go there?

Kris: I don't know. Maybe you just want to check out some stuff...you know.

Me: Gege orz. I wanted to look at hair accessories and other girl stuff.

I stressed on the hair accessories words. So yeah, we went to one shop and I got busy looking at new arrivals. The idiot oldies went to try out hairclips and went to stand in front of the vanity mirror in the middle of the shop. They were giggling like hell as Kris put a big flowert headband on his head.

Kris: Do I look pretty? Hahahaha.

Suho: You should wear it to school.

Kris: The hell. Hahahaha.

Luhan: Here, try this one.

Kris: No, you try it Mulan. It'll look good on you.

Lay: How do I look? It's a teddy bear clip. See? Hahahahaha.

Luhan: It's cute. Awwww...let's buy it...what the fudge.

Kris: Where's fairy godmother?

Luhan: Over there, makeup shelves.

Kris: What is he doing there?

Luhan: I think he needs some pressed powder? Hahahaha

Lay: I need mascara too?

Suho: Me too.

Kris: And then let's wear it when papa arrives.

Luhan: And get blown up to smitherens.

Kris: Hahahahahahaha. Do you think papa will kill us if we wear makeup and do girl hairclips?

Suho: Try calling him now and ask him.

Luhan: He'll appear right through your phone.

Xiumin: Hey girls....girls...I found a really nice lipbalm color. Wanna try it? Hahahaha.

Kris: Send it to papa as a gift.

Xiumin: You try it first.

Kris: Over my dead bodeeeehhh.

Xiumin: You know you want to, Li Shang. Just say you wish it and I will grant it.

Lay: Okay, so we need lipbalm, mascara, pressed powder...and hairclips? Then send them to papa.

Kris: Shut up. Hahahaha.

The female sales attendants giggled on the sides. They knew perfectly well that my brothers were just playing. I went to get a new set of colored rubber bands, lip balm and transparent clips. I didn't bring any money with me, so I poked Luhan and asked him to pay for my stuff. He took out his card and gave it to me. He needed to sign the receipt, so I pulled him to the cashier with me.

Luhan: Hi. My sister said I need to sign the receipt.

Cashier: Yes, sir *giggles*

Luhan: Sorry, I forgot. Hahaha. Your shop's cool.

Cashier: Thank you sir.

Luhan: Don't I get a discount for a nice compliment?

Cashier: Uhm...

Luhan: Please?

Cashier: Hmm...let me ask my supervisor.

Luhan: Xiexie ni.

He leaned on the counter and drummed his fingers while he waited. I stood next to him humming a song. The other boys went crowding around us and asked what was taking so long. Luhan then told them he was asking for a discount because of his nice compliment to the store. The other idiots then went to line up along the counter and said nice stuff about the store and that my items should be free because there are many compliments already. The store attendants laughed and giggled.

The cashier came back with the supervisor. When the supervisor looked up, and saw Luhan, she smiled. It looked like she knew my brother.

Supervisor: Wu Luhan?

Luhan: Yes?

Supervisor: Wu Zun's son, right?

Luhan: Yup.

Supervisor: Ni papa shi wo de laoban de hao pengyou.

Luhan: Zhen de ma? Papa is in Korea. I should tell him that we came here to his friend's shop.

Supervisor: Feichang ganxie.

Luhan: Ah, buyong xie.

Supervisor: I can give you a discount.

Luhan: Perfect!

And as the cashier went to punch in my items, someone came in the shop and slapped Lay's back. He was startled and turned around. It was Min Yoongi.

Yoongi: Hahaha. I was walking outside and I saw you guys in here. Girl's stuff?

Lay: Don't scare me like that orz. I thought it was that pissed off driver earlier.

Yoongi: Why? What happened?

Lay: Long story, bro. Anyway, Xiao Yi dragged us all in here.

Yoongi: Oh. I thought you were buying makeup for yourself.

Lay: I need mascara, though. Yeah?

Yoongi: Hmmm...a little color on your cheeks too. What do you call those things?

Lay: How should I know? PMSL.

And Yoongi joined in the fun.

More girls had come in this time. Probably because they saw good-looking guys were inside the store. The oldies went into idiot mode once again as we stepped out the shop. Kris went to the door first and greeted everyone who came in. Luhan bowed at the girls who giggled and the others smiled sweetly at the customers. Yoongi served as the shop's live mannequin. He laughed as he stood in the middle of the store by the vanity mirror.

But we had to leave the shop, because it was getting crowded. Yoongi was with his friends when he saw us and they were about to go home, he had bade goodbye to his friends. He didn't bring his car that time, so we gave him a ride home.

When we got home, the boys who went to the park were already home. Two bikes were hastily parked outside the front lawn, skateboards were scattered on the floor of the living room and the boys were knocked down. Some were lying on the carpet and some on the couch. Sehun's length was squeezed on the armchair and he was snoring. Tao and Baek were squished on one couch. Chanyeol was stretched on one couch and Kai was on the floor with Chen and Kyungsoo.

Luhan raised his head and closed his eyes. Probably stressed. He walked over to the kitchen and dumped a grocery shopping bag on the kitchen counter. The others who had grocery shopping bags wen to follow suit. Luhan then went to poke each of the sleeping boys and told them to go to their rooms if they wanted to sleep. Baek just curled up more beside Tao. Kai didn't even squirm. Kyungsoo got up from the floor though, but he looked lost. For a while there, I thought he looked like he was thinking why he ended up on the floor. Then he shook his head and went upstairs.

Luhan nudged the other two on the floor with his foot and Kai just rolled to his side. Chen edged farther away from Luhan's reach, but continued to sleep. Chanyeol was snoring loudly. He was sporting a scrape on his knee.

Tsk, tsk.

Suho: Just leave them be, Lu ge.

Luhan: Hmmm...

Suho: Just let them sleep. It's better than the chaos earlier today.

Luhan: Why? What chaos?

Suho: It was like a rock concert in here.

Lay: I was glad when they went to skateboard practice.

Suho: Let's enjoy the peace and quiet for a couple of hours, shall we?

Luhan: Haoba.

Ironically, Kai let out a loud snore. It was a contest between him and Chanyeol now.

Yeah. Peace and quiet.

And Lay had to take out his phone to record the two.

Lay: I'm gonna edit this and do a remix.

Peace and quiet once they wake up and knew that Lay recorded a video of them? I doubt it.

Fast forward Friday.

Papa was not scheduled to arrive until the next week. He was supposed to be in Korea for two weeks. But that afternoon, we had one of the biggest surprises that ever happened since papa announced our month-long vacation in the US last summer.

Luhan had come to pick us up from school. He had an early off as well from his internship in papa's office. Kris and Xiumin were in another department and they still had work to do. The three of them were given at least two hours break to do their school work. They were doing a sort of correspondence studies for the whole month of December. They only ever went to school for their homeroom meetings and sports practices.

That afternoon, Luhan was first to get time off work. He had waited for us at the school parking lot. Chen, Kyungsoo and I had found him listening to music in his car when we went to the parking. The other boys still had practice, because before the Christmas holidays, they had another elimination round to finish for them to be able to enter into the championship.

Luhan parked his car outside the house when we arrived. He had practice and he was just going to change into his soccer stuff. I went straight to the kitchen to drink. It was sort of a hot afternoon and I needed to rehydrate. Chen had turned the TV on, in the kitchen, as he followed me to get himself an iced cold water from the fridge. The TV was tuned in to a news channel that Mama was watching that morning. Kyungsoo had ran upstairs to dump his school stuff and probably change from his school uniform.

"...very unexpected because it has been a while since there was news of him with another woman other than his wife. We caught a glimpse of the woman in question as they got out from customs. Wu Zun Xiansheng's staff had shielded the woman, barely eighteen by the looks of it, from the paparazzi who were surprised as well.

Papa was in the news.

With a woman?

Who?

"LUHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNN!"

I couldn't contain myself and shouted at the top of my lungs. Luhan rushed downstairs to see what made me shout that loud. He was just putting on his t-shirt and he was still barefoot as he got down. Instead of talking to tell him what I needed him to see, I just pointed at the TV. Chen had frozen in front of the fridge, leaving it open. Luhan also froze on the spot.

"As of press time, Wu Zun Xiansheng had got in the same car with the said woman and had just left the airport. He or his staff didn't give any comment as to who the woman was. Wu's popularity in the business world has since shot up with his recent acquisition of a beach resort in Phuket, Thailand. We have yet to get confirmation from him and his staff regarding the opening of the resort.

"The whole Beijing business community will again be buzzing with this new scoop. We'll get back with you when we get more information. This is Chang May reporting, thank you for watching. Back to studio."

As the newsflash ended, a video clip of a woman covering her face hurriedly walked to a car. Papa was seen following her and the staff that was helping the woman cover her face and he got in the same car as she was.

Luhan tilted his head and raised a hand and pointed at the TV.

Luhan: What did I just see?

I didn't wanna answer him. I didn't wanna assume anything, but the video clip didn't hide the fact that papa's staff was doing their best to hide the woman's identity by covering her face before she got in the car.

Luhan: Where is the TV remote? I'm sure there will be other news stations who'd have captured the same footage from a different angle.

Chen picked up the remote control and gave it to Luhan who pressed the channel button to find another news channel with the same news. And he found one.

The video playback on this channel was taken just moments after papa and the woman stepped out of customs. She looked no more than seventeen or eighteen. When Luhan saw her, he sat on the floor and grinned.

What was that reaction?

I and Chen looked at each other and then at Luhan.

Luhan seemed to understand the looks of confusion on our faces. Kyungsoo had appeared at the foot of the stairs. He had changed to plain clothes and went over to us. He looked lost and had to ask.

Kyungsoo: What is happening here?

Luhan: That was not just some woman.

Kyungsoo: What?

Me: Huh?

Chen: What? Not some woman what?

Luhan: She's Ahn Sohee. Xiumin's girlfriend. It means she's in China. Beijing, to be exact.

Oh. My. God.

Sohee eonni!

Kyungsoo: You mean...uh..what?

He was indeed lost.

Luhan: Newsflash that papa had returned to Beijing. And he was with a woman. The media thinks she's another of her...flings...err....but she's not.

Kyungsoo: Hold on. I don't get it.

Luhan: To make a long story short, papa is back in Beijing. And he's brought Xiumin's girlfriend back here.

Kyungsoo: Sohee nuna? In Beijing?

Luhan: Yes.

So, we knew the truth, but the media didn't. Will the news reach mama before papa reached her first? Does Xiumin even know that his girlfriend is in Beijing? I hoped papa will give an official statement as to who the woman was. Would that mean exposing her as Xiumin oppa's girl?

Luhan's phone received an alert.

Facebook alert.

He checked it and went through the notifications. He muttered it was about the news that papa was back with a mysterious woman. He scrolled through his timeline to check for other posts about the news. Then he came into something that made him look like the hulk getting angry. He dialled a number on his phone and waited for the other party to answer.

He paced back and forth. Then...

"Wu Shi Xun. What the hell were you thinking?!? You have added that WITCH on your SNS!"

So, Luhan found out.

Kyungsoo: Good luck, Setan.

Goodl luck, indeed.

Sohee is in Beijing. Heheh. Just one day, neowa naega hamkkehal su itdamyeon... ♫♪♫♪ You probably know the music I had in the background. Hahah. But that's not the song when I wrote about those two men. I chose Cypher 3 for that. They were scary. >.< And I also had Growl at one point. Anyway, it's almost Jungkookie's birthday. IDK what to do. Maybe I'll write a whole chapter focused on him again. Hmmm... I'm kinda sad because they still haven't gotten their first win. They deserve to win!  → 사랑해요! ♥♥♥ 我愛你們！吴愛你們！