Chapter Forty-Three

We went to bed around midnight and as I laid down in the bed I knew that sleep wasn't going to find me easily. I sighed and rolled over and looked at the ceiling. Usually when I can't sleep I get on my phone but because I didn't have a charger it currently was sitting at low battery. Just great.

"What am I supposed to do," I sighed out?

I laid there in the silence in the dark just listening to every little sound. It was relatively quiet in the room but I could hear movements in the hallway. I raised an eyebrow and turned on my side so I could see the door.

I watched carefully as the once dark hallway lit up, and slowly a shadow passed by the door. Was it Ba Wei? If it was, why did he get back up after he said he was tired.

"Xiao Wei."

My eyes widened as an unfamiliar voice hit my ears. I wanted to get up and open the door but it would be rude to do so in someone else's house. It could be his father. He does live downstairs even though I haven't seen him.

Not even a minute passed before I heard a door open and that familiar voice answer.

"Dad? What are you doing here?"

His voice was cold but somehow I could hear surprise in it. His father must not visit often. I wonder what they're relationship is like? Was it better than mine...

"You have company don't you," Ba Wei's father asked?

"Yes. Can you talk more soft. I don't want to wake them."

"En."

That was the last clear spoken thing I heard before the speaking turned into whispering. I smacked my teeth and turned back on my back. Back to being boring.

I wonder why he came here this late? Was it because he heard his son had company or was it for business ? Either of those things could be the reason, but if it was for business I wonder what type. Ba Wei had mentioned before that he is in a gang. I wonder if his father knows. I wonder if he approves.

All these thoughts ran through my head as I stared at the blank ceiling. Although I had been around Ba Wei for a while, and I would say that we are becoming close friends. It really was a lot that I didn't know about him. I can't complain because he doesn't know a lot about me either. How can I ask who his father is when I don't think I'll be able to answer the question if directed at me.

What am I supposed to tell him? I'm the next in line to become CEO of Ji Pyramid. A company worth millions? How can I ever say that to someone without automatically getting judged to be a high class privileged brat?

Even though Ba Wei is wealthy, I still don't want to tell him that. I still don't want to tell him about that part of me. I'd rather keep it a secret. I don't want to become how I was before I came here. I don't want to be out of control again. I don't want to be surrounded by fake people with fake emotions.

I sighed and pulled the duvet over my face and closed my eyes. My breathing began to even out and soon I started to drift off to sleep; and I knew the past would plague my dreams.

———

When I woke up the next day it was quiet a little too quiet. When I woke up yesterday it was silent but it wasn't dead silent. I could even hear the AC running. I sat up in bed and checked the time. It was only seven in the morning. I rubbed my eyes and slid off the bed. I wonder if Ba Wei's awake?

I walked into the bathroom and did all the things that one does when first waking up. Washed my face, brushed my teeth, and tried my best to make my hair presentable.

I exited the bathroom and pulled the shirt down as far as it could go and walked out the room. The hallway was quiet and dim, but even through the dimness I saw that Ba Wei's bedroom door was open. I cocked an eyebrow and slowly walked over to it. I peaked inside to find that the bed was neatly made. Was he already awake?

I turned around and made my way to the living room and when I entered I immediately noticed Ba Wei. He was asleep with his head laying on his arms on the coffee table. Looking at how he was laying, it didn't look comfortable. I made my way over to him but as I came to stand beside him I raised an eyebrow.

"What are you sleeping on," I whispered?

I squatted down and looked closely at the booklet that was under him and a smirk appeared on my face. It was the physics homework.

"Why would you try to do it by yourself," I whispered as I reached out and poked his nose?

Even though I wanted to not smile I couldn't help but smile. I honestly didn't think that he would try to study on his own. It's not like he ever showed an interest in the school work. It was refreshing to see that he actually did want to learn something before midterms came up.

I was about to praise him again quietly when I noticed that his knuckles were slightly bruised. Where did these come from? They weren't there last night when I saw him. What did he do to get these?

I was about to reach out to touch them, but Ba Wei shifted in his sleep right before I could. I sighed and stood back up. I doubt he'd even tell me how he got it if I asked. It's not my business anyway.

I turned and made my way into the kitchen. I opened the fridge and looked around to see the same ingredients from before. What did you expect? It's been a day.

"It doesn't feel like it's just been a day," I said quietly aloud.

I closed the fridge and walked back over to the couch and sat down. I glanced at Ba Wei and then turned my eyes to the floor. I let yesterday's events replay in my head. Everything that crossed my mind was embarrassing. I put my head in my hands and sighed.

Out of all the events of yesterday I still can't believe I cried in front of him. It was frustrating to think about. I haven't cried in front of anyone since I was child, and I barley even cried in general. I sighed and pulled my knees to my chest. I wish I could just erase those memories. I wish I could erase her. I closed my eyes and was about to doze off when that familiar voice rang in my ears.

"When did you get up?" I opened my eyes and was met by his.

"Not too long ago." He ran a hand through his hair and yawned.

"Why didn't you wake me?"

I put my feet on the floor and leaned forward, "seemed like you needed the rest."

He looked down at the workbook in front of him them back at me. He grabbed it and shoved it in my direction. I raised an eyebrow but still took the book.

"Want me to check it?"

"En," he said as he got up. I didn't watch where he was going instead I started to check the problems he had completed. As I looked over them I couldn't help but notice the different handwriting that would appear sometimes. It wasn't mine, was it perhaps his fathers? Interesting.

I looked over the last question just as Ba Wei walked back in the living room.

"Are they correct?"

"Yeah. I'm surprised. Did someone help you with it." I asked handing him the book back? He put it back in the coffee table and stretched.

"Yeah. My dad helped me a bit," he said as he flopped down on the couch beside me.

"When did you get up?"

He glanced over at me, "I didn't sleep." Somehow hearing that made me instantly upset.

"Why?" I'm pretty sure he could hear the anger in my voice.

"Calm down. My father asked me to do something for him."

"Oh okay." He looked over at me and raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"What's with that answer?"

"Huh?"

"Nothing."

I pushed my bangs out of my face and as my eyes scanned over Ba Wei they landed on his knuckles.

"Um," I started, "did that task for your father have something to do with your knuckles?"

He looked down at his knuckles and sighed "Yeah."

"What was it?"

"He sent me to put someone in their place."

That sentence was enough to tell me exactly what he had done for his father. I was actually surprised that he had told me without hesitation. Guess I was wrong.

"You should put ice on it."

"It's fine. It doesn't hurt."

I didn't say anything and just stared at the wall. Ba Wei was silent also and as we sat there I couldn't help but think about what kind of person his father was. He was obviously the type to send his own son to take care of a problem for him, but I wanted to know more.