21. Let's Make a Deal !

                                    

                                          

" Love that we cannot have
   Is the one that last the   Longest,
     Hurts the Deepest,
And Feels the Strogest. "
-- (anonymous)


Chapter 18
Let's make a Deal

At Lan mansion.

He Peng is with Carmen and Lan Hang and they all appear worried. Carmen is just looking into the fireplace angrily. Just like Yibo does when he is angry or upset.

Mr. Lan ( pacing about )- Are you sure about this, Peng ?

Peng ( nods )- Yes, Sir. Yibo almost broke down in front of Zhan and ….i think he saw a vision. He was following somebody and almost tripped off the staircase before Zhan caught his hand.

Carmen ( eyes glowing with hatred )- Qui Su !! .... That is the only vision  that can take him to the end of this world. ….( turns towards the two men )….this is not good news. Qui Su's visions, Zhan's proximity and the connection between the two people. My son is going to go mad with all this pressure!

Peng ( thinking )- That is another thing madam. From what I have heard, Sam's five men have just disappeared and apparently they were trying to find out if Zhan has any remote connection with Qui Su ….

Mr. Lan (lighting his pipe)- Hmmm… we did that. Yibo doesn't want it and neither do we……(worried )… and why the hell have these visions of Qui Su started after all these years!

Peng –And what if there is a connection, Sir? Zhan sending Prince Yibo, Qui Su's favourite flowers is not a coincidence . Besides , if what I saw today is anything to go by , then, Prince Yibo is crumbling under pressure. On top of that, he has told Zhan that he wants him to hate him….and knowing Zhan , he has softened towards Yibo and will want to know why he is acting like this.


Mr. Lan and Carmen exchange glances and Lan Hang sits down in a huge armchair.


Mr. Lan ( closing his eyes )- Yibo has only one weakness. His vulnerability and if Zhan keeps tugging on that , he will lose all control over himself and I don't want his past repeating…..should we do something about Zhan ?


Carmen (shakes her head )- We cannot touch Zhan . Yibo won't let us do anything and it's we who know the future. Not Zhan . What are we going to tell Zhan , anyway? Don't fall in love with Yibo ? That would be too ridiculous. 

Peng ( sits down )- Ji Li …..She is Yibo's girlfriend. If he cozies up to her, Zhan will naturally stay away. But even for that , we need to talk to Prince Yibo.

Mr. Lan ( throwing up his hands )- Talk to Yibo ! He doesn't listen to us, Peng . You should know that by now.

Peng ( smiles )- But he listens to Xena . His sister is his emotional weakness , so let's play on that.

Carmen ( grins )- Aha, you are learning fast, Peng. The crafts of manipulation…. Hmm…. Xena. She can drill sense into Yibo's head and Zhan's head too.

Mr. Lan – Tomorrow is your engagement, Peng, Right?


Peng ( smirks )- Yeah, finally. Thank you for taking care of Yika .


Mr. Lan ( waves his hands dismissively )- Ah, she is just a stupid emotional witch. Don't mind her…..anyway, a lot can happen in your engagement. But before that , we need to speak to Xena …