Chapter 33

Arriving at my brother's door, we find Jongsu and Kinta heading our way along with Hyun-Ki.

"What are you two doing without your guard? I am perfectly capable of handling myself," Jongsu clears his throat while Kinta laughs directly. Hyun-Ki glares at them before continuing, "You two need protection more than I do." Khelani and I look at one another before suspiciously returning our eyes to the group.

"So what happened?" Khelani's blunt attitude goes straight to the point.

"Nothing. Can we just go inside if you want to talk about something?" Hyun-Ki moves past us and opens the door inviting us in. Khelani marches in, and I follow.

"Who is Wen YunChi to you?" Khelani has no tact. None at all. Sitting at the nearby table, I begin pouring tea for everyone.

"Khelani, please sit down." My attempt at trying to play the mediator.

Khelani and Hyun-Ki are very alike, but when she comes to him like this, he tends to pull the elder card, they fight, and we waste time. Surprisingly, Hyun-Ki doesn't react in his usual superior way. Instead, he calmly sits in the chair where I placed a cup of tea and begins drinking it. Khelani looks at me perplexed but sits down next to him.

"Are you ok?" She asks, setting her hand on his.

"I don't know what to do. Lee told me to end things properly. When I tried, YunChi refused to let it go. He's even married now. There's no reason for all this." Hyun-Ki sighs and leans back in the chair to stare at the ceiling.

"So… then you two are together?" I ask. His brow creases, and he seems incensed.

"We were never together, to begin with. It was just a casual thing. YunChi just kept clinging on. I was relieved when Chief Kwan came and told me to marry Ji-Ho. I could finally get out of his grip. I would be back in Korea and rarely see this man if I see him at all."

"Hmm… casual…? Why is this a thing? I don't get you, Danielle, or even Khelani. See the mess you guys start. Danielle gets attacked by her last fling. You cannot get rid of your last fling, and Khelani…." Khelani's firm kick into my shin leaves me trailing off. Hyun-Ki looks between the two of us.

"Hang on, Khelani, what are you doing? I heard you haven't been doing anything here. Did I hear wrong?" His pointed gaze even makes me uncomfortable.

"I haven't done anything. It's not like you can really say anything anyway. Besides, we were talking about you. How long were you casual with Wen YunChi? Does Prince Lee know? How about Danielle or Kurtis?"

"I wouldn't doubt that Kurtis knows. Lee knows some. That's why I went to officially end it. Lee told me he doesn't want me around until I end it properly. YunChi is the type to make Lee misunderstand. Lee is the type to not say anything. Fortunately, Yunchi isn't aware of Lee at the moment."

"How did you try to break it off with Wen YunChi without telling him about Lee? Of course, he isn't going to take you seriously." Questioning him with apparent disgust.

"What can I tell him about Lee? Lee isn't my boyfriend. We aren't in any type of relationship. I'm his guard, and that's all there is to it. Also, if I tell them about Lee, they will know who Lee is. That doesn't seem wise at the moment. Like I said, I don't know what to do."

Hyun-Ki begins spinning the saucer his cup was in like a top before stopping it and turning it again. He's been a nervous type since I can remember. Anytime the man gets angry or frustrated, he will fidget with whatever is closeby. Usually, he carries a pen or a pair of dice with him. That was in Korea, though. I am not sure if he still has those things.

"Then… what will you do?" the question gingerly asked.

"Hang on, you said that Wen YunChi is married? He never told me he was married." Khelani's indignant tones alerts Hyun-Ki.

"What do you mean he never told you? Why would he tell you anything? Actually, how did you even find out about Yunchi and myself?" Hyun-Ki stops the plate.

"Hey, calm down. YunChi only found her because.." I can tell he is on the verge of leaving the room and harassing YunChi for approaching Khelani in the first place.

"I was in the medic ward, remember. I told everyone I had to go there and that Prince Xaoi-He was needed. I helped with Lord Xin's bandages. While there, Lord Shi and Lord YunChi showed up." Khelani interrupts. Hyun-Ki looks between the two of us, clearly not buying it.

"Stay away from the Wens, Khelani. They are a wild bunch, and you will only get hurt. Look at YunChi. He's married, pursuing me, and leaving out that he married two weeks ago." Hyun-Ki seriously advises her.

"But if he's married, Lord Shi can now get married." I cannot help but pick at Khelani.

"I'm going to find Danielle. You keep teasing me." Khelani stands, but before she can go anywhere, Lord Shi and Kurtis enter the room. Khelani slowly sits back down and sips her tea, suddenly quiet. Everyone present cannot help but curiously watch her reaction before searching Lord Shi for an answer.

"Seems you're everywhere I want to go, Lady Bu." Lord Shi remarks.

If I wasn't already with Kurtis, it would even be challenging for me to leave this man alone. His eyes are dark brown, hard to read, and are slightly covered by his long bangs. Lord Shi's wearing the typical Yaotián attire: a suit and a dress shirt. His clothing is plain black, with the jacket unbuttoned. His dress shirt isn't fully buttoned up either, and I can see hints of tattoos on his defined pecs. His left ear has piercings, and both hands sport thick rings.

"Well, this is my brother's room. Of course, I would be here." She mumbles. He then smiles at her apparent disgruntled behavior. Kurtis looks like he figured out a missing puzzle piece, and Hyun-Ki is uneasy.

"Why don't we all sit?" I offer the seat next to me. Kurtis hesitates before proceeding to the chair beside mine. Hyun-Ki's eyes never leave Lord Shi as he takes the only available seat next to Khelani.

"Hey. What is your relationship with my sister?"

"There isn't one." Lord Shi doesn't hesitate and dismisses Khelani as if she's unimportant.

"Did you tell her about YunChi?"

"Why would I? That's your business." He pours himself some tea. "You don't have snacks? First Xaoi, now you. I'm hungry."

"Go to your own room if you want snacks. Why bother someone else for food?" Khelani snaps.

"As opposed to…?" He raises a brow suggestively at her. She blanches, and I smother a giggle. Kurtis shakes his head.

"Then, why didn't you clear it up? Or at least mention that YunChi was already married?" Hyun-Ki demands an answer from Lord Shi.

"Ah…" Lord Shi is visibly uncomfortable with Khelani's expectant gaze on him. He slowly pours some milk into his tea and stirs before finally stating. "It was just inconvenient for me at the time."

"Inconvenient?" Khelani counters. She rests her hand in her palm, refusing to look away from the man. The rest of us take in the situation and opt for silence.

"It's not as though you want to get married anyway. Why are you upset?" He leans back in the chair and begins drinking while watching her reactions. Now I understand what she means now about indulging a child.

"Who said I'm upset? I'm wonderful. Excellent, even. I just don't like people lying to me."

"Who lied to you? You asked if I had a wife. There was not a question of whether Chi had one."

"Omitting information is still a lie!"

"Is that so…?" His bored drawl seems to infuriate her more.

It's obvious Khelani has had enough as she rises to her feet and turns to leave. Lord Shi grabs her arm before she gets too far. Even with her back to us, I can see Khelani's ears reddening from his touch.

"Wait. Will you go to the Auction with me tomorrow? I have to help with security and would like you to be my plus one."

"What?!" Stunned, Khelani faces Lord Shi

"Please, will you join me at the auction?" He repeats.

"Mm." She nods and quickly leaves the room while Lord Shi chuckles.

"Ki, why didn't you tell me your sister was so cute?" The man addresses my brother.

"Maybe because I didn't want you to approach her. Why are you approaching her?"

"I have good intentions. I am not my brother. Neither is Xin. I hadn't planned to really approach her yet. It's just Xin seems to like her, so I had to. In my defense, she approached me first, and her intentions were not nearly as pure." Hyun-Ki jumps up, "Hey, hey, hey. Calm down. I actually turned her down. I won't sleep with a Lady unless she's my wife. You know this."

"Your sister is a bit wild, Hyun-Ki. You should not be mad at him even if he did take her up on that offer. Anyway, that's why I came, are you going to the Auction? Lee will probably be there with Danielle." Kurtis interjects before they start arguing.

"Kurtis, you negelct to mention that Chi will also be there." Lord Shi adds.

"Tell me his wife will be there." Hyun-Ki pleads.

"Even if she does come, you think he won't leave her to see you? You know him better than anyone else. However, in the same instance, you will be all alone if you stay here, and he will come to find you anyway."

"What can he do? Nothing. I just worry about Lee."

"Lee?" Lord Shi sets his cup down. "Who is Lee? The man that was sitting next to you in the meeting? Who is he to you?"

"Lee is my brother. Leave him out of your drama." Kurtis warns Lord Shi before addressing Hyun-Ki, "Should you decide to come, you can come with me. I wouldn't recommend you go with Danielle since Myom-Li will be bringing her. That's all. Come Astari, let's head back."

"Hyun-Ki, please don't kill Lord Shi. Lord Shi, please don't provoke my brother. His situation with your brother has him on a shorter fuse than normal." I address the two of them. Hyun-Ki doesn't respond.

"Of course. Ki and I are actually good friends. Just worry about your fiancé. By the way, You can call me YunShi. Lord Shi is too formal, while Shi may be too informal for your fiancé to accept." YunShi offers. Nodding in agreement, I follow Kurtis out.

"Are they really friends?" I query once we get to our suite a few doors down.

"I guess I didn't really look into YunShi. Or YunXin." Kurtis affirms. He takes his jacket off, as is his habit, and lays it on the chair. Taking my hand, he drags me to the bedroom.

"Wait? Again?" I cannot help but blush.

"Mm… Another reason I came to get you was to inform you that we will be getting our marriage license tomorrow morning." Tugging me onto the bed, Kurtis began taking my hair down from the bun. "Your signature is also required for the certificate. Myo and Danielle will be doing the same."

"She actually agreed?"

"Who knows. Myo said something about it earlier, and we agreed to go together." after he's finished releasing my locks from captivity, his foucs turns to my shirt. Nervously, my hands impede his efforts. Silently Kurtis tilts his head in thought before reaching for the cuffs. I immediately let go and try to relax. His smile is devilish and makes my stomach flip.

"You know, I'm way behind my peers. You're also gorgeous. There's no way I will ever get enough of you. Just get used to it." He whispers in my ear before kissing my neck while his hands glide over my body, tugging my clothes off in their travels.