・・・☆・Seventeen・・・☆・

It was perhaps a day or two later when Shancai approached the older girl as she sat at lunch. YingYue had her head bent over her business book as she tried to make sense of the chapter before the lecture began that afternoon. 

"YingYue?" Shancai spoke watching as the older girl slowly looked up and locked eyes.

"Is everything okay Shancai?" YingYue asked in response not really knowing what the younger girl would want from her. 

"Two girls asked if Li Zhen and I would go out on a 'ladies night' with them and said I could invite someone else if I wanted to. Would you come along with us?" Shancai proposed. YingYue pondered on the question for a little while as she made up the decision in her head. 

She really did need to get to know the girl a little more if she was going to be joining their group as Ah Si's girlfriend in the near future. Simply due to how 'well' the date had gone coming from the man himself. Plus she was hoping to get the younger girl's side of the story as well. 

"Yeah that sounds okay to me, I don't think I have any plans, do we?" Yingyue responded with her question being aimed at Ximen who sat opposite her.

"No we have nothing planned, go enjoy yourself." He replied small smile as he saw her own form on her face. 

Later that evening she found herself sat with the four girls in a club of some description. And if she was being honest she was not enjoying it. The two other girls were not very nice, rather they were rather invasive in their questions and she was sure they were trying to quickly get the two younger girls seriously drunk. 

"So YingYue what are you doing with the likes of these two younger girls?" Spoke the girl on the left YingYue tried to pick her brain for either of their names but she drew up a blank.

"I'm allowed to pick who are my friends and who I spend time around. Just because I am older than you all does not mean I should not be here. Unless you don't want me here." YingYue spoke in response a fake smile plastered on her face.

Knowing this night was not going to go well she pulled out her phone looking for some kind of way out. Opening her messages up she searched for the name she required. 

LOML

Messages:

Today 10:17pm

Me:

Xi, this was a bad idea 

Me:

These other girls are horrible, this place is overcrowded, even Shancai's friend is giving me the stink eye. 

Me:

And they haven't played any One Direction since we've been in here.

LOML:

I'm coming to get you, okay baby? I'll be there in 10.

LOML:

I love you

Me:

I love you more

Exiting her messages she turned towards Shancai trying to come up with a good idea as to how she was going to leave. Her best bet was to not act very well and then just bunk tomorrow, she only had one lecture in the afternoon and she'd just call in sick. Keep the little white lie going.

"Shancai, I'm not feeling too well, Ximen's coming to take me home. Do you want to go as well?" She spoke adding the question at the end hoping to prevent the girl from going past the level of tipsy she was at currently. 

"I think we're going to stay, thanks anyways" came the response and YingYue just had to wait out a couple minutes trying to look like she was feeling under the weather. But if she was being honest the decorations of the bar/club whatever they were in were making her feel a little funny with the bright lights and obscene colours. She closed her eyes to take a few moments to herself when she felt a hand on her shoulder. 

"Hey beautiful lets get you home." Came the voice of her knight in shining armour as she opened her eyes and made eye contact a smile lighting up her features. Taking out his outstretched hand she stood from the booth chair and turned back to face the four girls. 

"Have a good rest of your evening, text me to say you got home safe Shancai" she spoke before she was pulled towards the door. 

Upon exiting the, what could be considered a bar, YingYue was hit with the sudden cold air of the evening. However, she didn't get the chance to feel the cold rake through her body as she was coaxed to put on Ximen's jacket. 

"I'm so sorry for making you come and get me, I just didn't feel comfortable around the other girls and I didn't know who else to call. It's kinda late and I know you're normally in bed reading before you go to sleep right now." YingYue spoke lowering her head slightly the guilt of making him come and get her was eating her up on the inside. Ximen gently lifted her head back up so that they were making eye contact once again.

"Don't apologise for ever asking me to come and collect you when the situation is making you uncomfortable. I was barely in there a minute and I could tell the atmosphere was bad. Jiang YingYue you are the love of my life, my entire world and I would drop everything to be there for you." Came his response as he tugged her towards his chest enveloping her in his arms. 

YingYue wrapped her arms around his midsection and placed her head on his chest. As she listened to his heartbeat she felt any negative emotions she felt slowly slip away. The smell of his aftershave made her feel as though she was at home. 

As they've always said, home is where the heart is.