・・・☆・Sixty Six・・・☆・

The following Wednesday, true to the words she had given the younger girl Yingyue was preparing to wear some pink to university. After all, if she gave the impression she had to follow through, either to make the girl feel guilty if she didn't go along with it. Or to make sure the girl didn't feel awkward had she actually followed it. Though it would be funny to do so, Yingyue was trying to start over with the younger girl, for Lei's sake. 

She only had one problem though, at about 20 weeks her small bump was not going along well with many items of her clothing. Curse the tiny waistline of skirts being in. Nothing she had tried on that morning made her feel pretty. Sure she knew she was attractive in the most society pleasing way. But every woman and girl loved to feel pretty, yet this morning she couldn't. She had tried on every dress in the colour palette and half of the skirts and yet she felt fat over everything else. 

Yingyue just had to work out what in her wardrobe would fit and still make her feel pretty, she had so many items of clothing which were pretty on their own but there was nothing making her. The frustration about being unable to find something was causing Yingyue to tear up a new recent development emotions wise. Her becoming frustrated at her self and having a little cry was becoming a frequent occurrence. 

"I just want to get dressed." She whined out going to drag her hands through the wardrobe once again. Her fingers brushing past the mixture of fabrics making contact with one she had forgotten she owned. 

The pink and white checked sweater vest had been something she had brought a couple years ago but barely worn. As considering she had an unhealthy hoarding habit with clothing items. Yingyue had never made the effort to get rid of it. Even if it had been a size too big when she brought it. But right now it was the item most likely to fit her best. 

As if struck with a 'eureka' moment yingyue was dressed the white turtleneck and skirt that were both covered by the sweater vest made her feel pretty enough. She would have to look into some slightly bigger clothing for certain. She blamed it on the fact that she was so tiny to begin with that the pregnancy shape, as it wasn't a nice bump quite yet and probably wouldn't be for another couple more weeks, was so obvious. It wasn't as if she didn't want people to know either. Well okay maybe it was, she didn't see the reason as to why everyone around them needed to know. It was something kept between her closest friends and something she didn't see the whole school knowing. Her family's little secret. 

At present she had taken to referring to her unborn baby as 'Bean'. A gender neutral term for the time being and considering she had found out when they were only the size of a bean. But Yingyue was excited her next scan was soon. But she chose not to dwell on that moment she needed to finish getting ready, finding that the longer she stood looking at her own reflection in the mirror the less she liked how she looked. 

The slamming of the bedroom door open snapped Yingyue's attention from the mirror to the doorframe. 

"I thought you were joking about the mean girls reference." Ximen's words came bounding across the room his body actions mirroring as he made his way over. 

"I was at first but then I panicked thinking she might have taken me seriously. And I'm not a cruel person. Do you like it?" For some reason, Yingyue knew would he say he did not like what she was wearing she'd change immediately. 

"You look stunning as always, jumpers a little big though."

"Nothing else fits, I'm getting so fat." Yingyue whined pulling at the sides of the sweater vest to show the outline of the additional weight. 

"Yan Yingyue, you're not fat. That little bit of weight is Bean and even if you had put on weight you would still be the most beautiful person I have ever laid my eyes on." Yingyue knew he was being serious the moment he had mixed their names together as a permanent claim. Or perhaps it was the way he had stepped closer and held gently onto the sides of her face so they made eye contact. 

"I love you." His previous words had brought tears back into Yingyue's eyes and she let out a little giggle at how ridiculously wild her emotions were at present as she informed him of those three words which meant everything when shared. 

"I love you more. Are you ready to go, the others want to talk about where we're going tonight." 

"Yeah I'm ready. God forbid the boys night isn't preplanned to perfection."

・・・☆・

It had gone past midnight when Yingyue heard voices outside her house. Despite Ximen having gone out with the other members of F4 she had enjoyed a rather nice evening, had a bath, done a little bit of university work and then headed to bed rather early. Therefore, the voices immediately woke her from her slumber. At first she was ready to become very annoyed having being woken until she recognised all four voices outside. 

"This is why we always drop you off first, why are you the most drunk every single time." It was Lei's voice which was the most obvious by the time Yingyue had moved her way down the stairs. She had chucked on one of Ximen's jumpers before getting prepared to open the door. It had become a familiar thing at every boys night out. 

"Where did you put your keys Xi?"

"Dude I am not going in that pocket."

"One of us is."

"I won't."

"Well I'm not going to."

"Neither am I."

Fed up to listening to the other three argue Yingyue thought she might as well ease their struggling and open the door from the inside. She wasn't sure how the other three had planned to bring her obviously very drunk husband inside without waking her up to do so anyways. 

"Morning boys." Yingyue greeted as she swung the door open. Only to be met with three guilty looking faces and an absolutely gone Ximen who was currently being supported by Meizuo. She rubbed at her eyes as she waited for any of them to speak. 

"Oh, shit Yingyue sorry we didn't mean to wake you. Your husband is just as useless as always." Lei had been the one to talk for the group as he gave a sheepish smile. 

"Don't worry about it, lets just get him inside so you can get home. I have no clue how you all intend to be in class tomorrow." Yingyue just shrugged as she stepped aside enough to let the group of three intoxicated men and their sober friend Lei inside. The bundle of four men managed to somehow make it through the door together at practically the same time. Si became focused on helping Ximen take his jacket and shoes off and Meizuo was still acting as a prop for the most obviously drunk member of their little boy group. 

"I'll grab you each some water for the remaining trip home." Yingyue dashed to the kitchen and to the cupboard before returning with three water bottles clutched in her hand. She didn't know why they had a collection on them but in times like this they were finally useful. 

"Thanks Ye. We should probably get going, are you okay from here?" Lei questioned and Yingyue wanted to awe at the man for always being so considerate. 

"Of course I am you guys need to get some sleep. I do expect a list of everything good I missed though. Anything embarrassing." Yingyue began to usher the group out of her house promising to Meizuo that if she couldn't get Ximen upstairs that she would just leave him to sleep on the sofa before he would finally leave the house.

"Night Mr and Mrs Yan." Were Meizou's parting words before Yingyue had to turn to look at and absorb her very drunk husband. He was red in the face from the alcohol consumption and his glasses currently sat at an angle on his face. One side of his collar was unturned and he physically smelt as though he had spilt a drink down him, which was a completely logical concept. 

Sure she would never find her husband insanely unattractive but in that moment he was definitely not the polished man she had come to see almost everyday. But he was almost adorable in this current state. That was until he lurched forward with an over happy shout of "Wifey."

Yeah he wasn't adorable he was going to be a rather difficult case for the rest of the night. Ximen had wrapped his arms around Yingyue neck and buried his head into her shoulder. All she could hear at the moment was his little giggles. Her hand just moved to pet at his head as she wondered how that was comfortable wearing his glasses. 

"Did you have a good night baby?" Yingyue started to run her fingers through his hair as she spoke. 

"Best night, even better now." His voice was muffled and his words slurred but she could easily make out what he was saying. 

"Don't you want to head up to bed?" Task one started get Ximen up the stairs. 

"But if we go to bed we can't cuddle." It was a slurred whine and Yingyue couldn't stop the sound of awe she let out. 

"We can cuddle in bed it'll be better and softer."

"I'm comfy here." Tactic change

"Just a little longer then." Or maybe not.

It took her a whole 45 minutes to finally get them both upstairs and into the master bedroom. Yingyue watched on as Ximen attempted to get changed before finally giving in and helping him after watching the man try to undo a button for over two minutes. 

Finally they were both ready to go to bed. But when Ximen had stated he wanted to cuddle, he had wanted to cuddle. And therefore his head was currently on her chest one hand rubbing small patterns on her bump. The atmosphere had nearly completely settled to the point where Yingyue was starting to feel herself drift off. 

"Oh no!" Ximen's shout snapped her out of the state she was in though. 

"What is it babe?" Yingyue could hear her own sleepiness as she spoke. 

"I haven't told you I love you since I got home." Ximen spoke as though he had broken some special law. 

"It's okay Xi, I love you too. Get some sleep." 

Author's note:

I have two things I would like to request from you all.

Firstly, if any of you have some name suggestions for our new addition ;P that would be appreciated. 

Also if you dont mind having a little read of the down below, Meteor garden is so long but I have this urge to write another book for the series. Here's a little example and the 'working' summary. 

Si wanted to curse at himself. How could he do this? How could his body betray him like this?

The deep sharp breathes rattled him to the core as their chests were pushed together. They were stood close, way too close for friends. Her arms were draped around his shoulders and one hand played with the base of his hair. Electricity jolted through him as his heart began to race and his senses were overwhelmed with just her. She was just so beautiful, she smelt like heaven and he felt so sinful. But she was here all willing for him. And she was coming closer. 

Her head was moving closer and closer to him. Her breath ghosting the apples of his cheek and he could no longer leave his arms hanging by his sides. They moved to encase her waist and drag them impossibly closer. 

"Kiss me."

"Huh?"

She moved so he could feel her breath on the top of his ears. The blush that coated them was impossible to stop but he found himself unable to. 

"Fake it like you love me. Come on baby, touch me." 

It didn't take him being told twice before he smashed their lips together.

He didn't even notice Shancai walking past them. 

Daoming Si was distraught. Once again, he put his faith in Dong Shancai, yet like beforehand he was torn to shreds. The young girl could only fall in love with the man she wanted him to become. Never him. Why could she not love him? 

Was he always destined to be alone?

Until the daughter of his mother's best friend finally feels like it's her time to step in. She offers him something he knew he should refuse. But how could he, Si was at the end of his wits and he couldn't return to the social world in the same state he had the last time they had broken up.  It would be the end of his social life. 

They always say fake dating was doomed. But it only had to last until graduation. 

Four months. He could do four months.