・・・☆・Thirty・・・☆・

Yingyue had never been a fan of this whole, let's go and wish your friend well on their trip abroad. Mainly because the last couple times had resulted in a complete change in character in her friends that had left. And she couldn't deal with a sudden change in personality from Si of all people. But alas she found herself getting up that morning and getting ready to go and say goodbye once again to one of her friends at the airport.

She dragged herself out of the comfort of her own bed and made her way over to the wardrobe. Pushing through the collection of clothes that belonged to Ximen she managed to come across her own clothing items. She pulled out a black pair of trousers, a black t-shirt and what she thought was her own grey checked blazer. Though when she pulled it on she quickly learnt it was not her own, but she looked too good to not be wearing it. Quickly doing her makeup she pulled on a pair of black Chelsea boots and fluffed her hair a final time. 

She walked down the hallway of the east wing and out into the kitchen. There she found her fiancé sat drinking a mug of tea and reading a book. He seemed settled and rather at home in the kitchen. Yingyue shouldn't have been surprised after all, he had basically moved in now and paraded the place like he was the owner. She couldn't blame him though he did look good whilst he did it. Therefore, she'd happily let him do whatever pleased him. Her footsteps must have been loud enough to draw his attention from his book and over to her.

"Nearly ready?" He questioned his face remained neutral however, she could see in his eyes and the way he gripped the book more firm than normal that he too wasn't overly happy with the idea of another one of their friends leaving the country for an unknown period of time. After what had happened with Lei, she didn't blame him for being concerned, he didn't know what remains of a friend he was going to get when Si came back. Therefore, she continued her approach stopping so that she was just behind where he sat perched on a bar stool. Her hands going to his shoulder as she slowly massaged. Just enough that she could feel his muscle start to relax at her touch. 

"I'm ready whenever you are my love." She spoke her hands continuing to apply pressure to his shoulders she didn't want to halt her actions as she knew how stressed he'd been as of recent and wanted to do anything, no matter how minuscule to help. 

"Let me finish this drink." Ximen replied as he continued to respond to her actions.

"It's no rush Xi we have over an hour until their plane leaves still, it's a 20 minute drive." Yingyue explained her mind already settling on how she'd drive today to give him a break and to ensure that he could just focus on wishing his friend a safe journey before they could head back to the house. She might also take him out somewhere to eat on their way back spoil him like he had been doing to her for the last couple weeks. 

The pair remained in the kitchen for another ten minutes before they started to make their way towards the front door. Yingyue had yet to actually voice her intent to drive the pair and realised that probably she should do so. 

"Let me drive today Xi, we'll take my car." She suggested making it sound like he had an option to refuse but knowing he actually did not. 

"It's okay Yeye, I don't mind." Ximen attempted to argue though found himself stopped as he attempted to take a further step and was prompted to turn around and face Yingyue.

"I'm adamant, you look exhausted Ximen, let me drive and you can just relax, we'll go wish Si a safe journey to London and come back so you can have a much needed sleep." Yingyue moved her right hand up to cup his cheek and softly rubbed her thumb against it. He responded by leaning into her touch and it might have been the lighting but she could see just how little sleep he'd been getting all of a sudden. It was then that she also saw the tears well up in his eyes. And her chest ached at the sight, she cursed out the other boys he called friends for the state they had caused by all the animosity, the arguing and the pettiness. 

"Oh look at you babe, you're shattered, let me look after you today." She coaxed her left hand now gripping his right before she stepped into wrap her arm around him. He responded almost immediately wrapping his own around her and burying his head in her neck. His body didn't easily indicate that he had begun to cry but Yingyue didn't want to not assume he hadn't. she just knew she had to be there for him.

"Its okay Xi, you never have to be strong around me. We're in this for the long run." She soothed and tightened her grip upon him as a silent way of saying she was there and would always be there. 

They remained in the same position for another couple minutes before he started to pull away. Yingyue let Ximen pull away not going to push anything though taking one look at his face she knew that later that evening she would have to comfort him greatly. 

There was no chance she wasn't going to take him to somewhere for dinner just to take his mind off matters. Taking the car keys from his left hand she slowly led him outside the house their other hands entwined once again. No words were spoken as they reached the car, as she walked to the passenger side door opening it and waiting for him to get in. She was surprised to see him easily comply but chose not to comment on it. Rather closing the door before walking around to the drivers side and getting in herself. Just like the walk to the car the journey itself was quiet for the first 10 minutes. A parallel mirror to the situation only a couple months prior when they were sending Jing off. The similarities were haunting even if the roles were reversed. 

She also found herself mirroring what he had done during that drive, even if it felt like a millennium ago. Taking the hand she normally used to change gears off the wheel she used it to reach out and grab his hand. Their joined hands at first rested on the arm rest between the two seats. However, soon enough he moved them so that they instead rested on his lap as he began to play with her fingers. She supposed she was lucky she had set the car into cruise control at this point but she'd never ask him to stop. She found herself quickly glancing to check on him every 20 seconds or so trying to remain focused on the road but it was a difficult thing to maintain considering how much her heart was screaming at her to turn around and get him back into a place of comfort so she could make him feel better. 

The ride remained silent, with nothing other than the low tones of the radio which played the top 40 songs, until they had parked at the airport. It wasn't until Yingyue went to remove the keys from the ignition that Ximen spoke up to break the silence.

"Thank you" His voice was small and it frightened her slightly, for she knew he needed to be anywhere but here. Where he truly needed to be was in bed with his favourite film playing, Ximen had always been a sucker for Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix, and wrapped up in her arms. Yet here they were at the airport sending off one of three main perpitrators to his current state. Yingyue could only pray that Shancai didn't find it appropriate to be there as well, she couldn't promise that no harm would come to the younger girl if said younger girl was present. 

"I'd do anything for you" Yingyue replied after mulling over what she could say her tone was just as soothing as it had been before they had left her house. She then watched his attitude change suddenly, any turmoil he was currently suffering was suddenly hidden from the world his normally 'I'm better than all these others' face appearing. It was a clever mask and had she not been with him beforehand she might have even struggled to notice. Okay so maybe that was a lie, for how much she had admired him over the years she was pretty certain she would always be able to tell when something was wrong. 

Yingyue once again connected their hands and intwined their fingers this time using her left hand. Now it wasn't abnormal for her to initiate the acts of intimacy between the engaged couple, it was normally a good 50:50 split well maybe it could be argued it was actually 40:60 with Ximen initiating it more often. It wasn't like she didn't like to do it, it was rather more he did it before she could. But as long as he accepted it and didn't try to push her way she was quite happy to be initiating it more. The pair quickly found their friends already gathered together, it would appear that they were the last to arrive.

"Hey guys" Meizuo greeted the duo with a small wave and Yingyue allowed her eyes to quickly glance towards Ximen as discreetly as possible checking he was still okay before turning to reply.

"Hi all, sorry we're late the car park was packed." The duo weren't late in the slightest but they were unusually the last to arrive. They were usually the first to arrive if not second and therefore, it would appear odd to the others that they were the last. Yingyue didn't want to give  anything away that could indicate their journey here had been delayed slightly due to Ximen's small emotional display. Therefore, she'd happily come up with a little white lie. 

"No worries, we were just reminiscing." Zhuang Jie commented giving the younger girl a sweet smile. Yingyue was a little saddened she hadn't spent much time with the elder Dao Ming but she had to admit the older girl had given her some sound advice when they had spent time together. She had to give the older girl credit as well for how well she controlled the young men who called themselves the F4. 

The group of six then spent time going over certain memories and just chatting idly until they heard the announcement over the tannoy for the Dao Ming's flight. This was the part Yingyue hadn't been looking forward to. It would appear it would never get easier sending someone you cared for off. 

"Si don't miss us too much" Came the voice of Ximen who despite being upset maybe an hour ago was doing quite well to have his normal sense of humour presently.

"I've sent you photos of us so you can look at them when you miss me." Meizuo joked to which he received a hearty chuckle from many of the other members of the little group.

"Who wants to see your face? I'm not a girl." Si spat back obviously the only one not laughing at the jokester. 

"You guys are like little girls, he won't be gone forever." Zhuang Jie retributed the two young men with a roll of her eyes.

"It's not Si we're going to miss, it's you." Meizuo spoke again

"I'm pretty sure you're rushing away because you don't want to be roped into helping us move." Yingyue spoke up as she gave the older woman a grin her grip on Ximen's had relaxing slightly as she felt his fingers move so that they brushed over her engagement ring. It seemed to be some sort of nervous habit he had picked up as of recent to remind himself that she was his. 

"Hey" Si once again spat at his friends though he knew it was all done in light humour.

"With you gone no one will yell at us or kick us. We'll feel so lonely." Meizuo continued to wine at the older heir of the Dao Ming family.

"Really not even Little Yue?" The three remaining members of F3 nodded their heads in agreement to Zhuang Jie's statement. The older woman reached forwards to give the four well wishers a hug. When she hugged Yingyue she muttered in the younger woman's ear "I can see in your eyes that something is bothering you. Be careful and just make sure that whatever you do is best for both you and your fiancé."

After Zhuang jie hugged a very reluctant lei she turned her attention back onto her younger brother. And addressed the elephant in the room. The fact that the young and troublesome Shancai was not present to say goodbye. Yingyue had hoped and prayed that the younger girls name would not even be mentioned during this time. She watched the two siblings argue before the awkward love triangle was once again brought up. Yingyue's eyes automatically glanced towards Ximen to see if this being mentioned had affected him and she saw him take a rather deep intake of air. Luckily before any more could be said on the topic Zhuang jie had noticed the tension in the room and moved the two siblings onto boarding.

Moments later the remaining four split as it had turned out they had somehow managed to each park in different car parks. Yingyue turned herself back to look at Ximen.

"Let's get out of here."