3 Friends and Rivals

In an alternate universe…

While Xinghe and Mubai were fighting against the Lin family in our world, a different scenario occurred in another dimension. If someone said that this alternate plane is quite similar to our Hwa Xia, then one would notice that the wealthy Xi Empire did not exist, nor the affluent Lin family, nor the mysterious Project Galaxy.

However, the two alternate realities are not so different. Same people exist, but with different kind of life. For instance, Xinghe is a professor teaching medical students (not the genius hacker we all know), while Mubai is a new upstart businessman building foundations to become the wealthiest tycoon in City T… and yes, they are still dating.

And the person we know as Lu Qi is a young medical student who always need to spend additional hours for one-on-one coaching with Xinghe; he is, after all, struggling to maintain his grades. (He is not the genius doctor we all know.) Those additional hours were "beyond the acceptable limit" and his classmates suspect that Dr. Xinghe favored Lu Qi too much that most, if not all, male students were green with envy.

And thus, Lu Qi became the current source of Mubai's never ending flames of jealousy.

One day, Xinghe instructed Lu Qi to go to the cafeteria near the university for "additional lessons". His grades were not satisfactory, and he might be kicked out if his clinical case presentation is done poorly. To mitigate this risk, she offered to tutor him. She cared for this student after all.

It also means she has to cancel her date with Mubai. Again.

Mubai clenched his phone as he read the message. Thrice, you cancelled our date THICE!! Unacceptable!

And so, he left the ($uper) very expensive restaurant, dejected and angry. "To the City T University" he ordered the driver.

Meanwhile in the school cafeteria, Lu Qi and Xinghe were discussing important points for his case presentation. Xinghe carried a stethoscope for lecture use. Lu Qi was paying attention to Dr. Xinghe, he is in danger after all….

…not only because of grades, though Lu Qi doesn't know that.

Xinghe stood up, taking out the stethoscope from her neck and inserted the two binaural tips to her ear, "This is how you auscultate* for the heart rate." She sat beside close to Lu Qi as she inserted the diaphragm across the apex of Lu Qi's heart. (*medical term: "to listen directly or using a special equipment like stethoscope)

To those people who don't know what physical assessment is all about, people will think the teacher and student pair were dating rather intimately in public…. especially when their view is a bit wrong in the angle and failed to see Xinghe was using the instrument while touching Lu Qi's chest.

Unfortunately, Mubai arrived and saw this view, which drained the blood on his face. His hands clenched tightly as his eyes darted at the young man beside Xinghe with killing intent.

The woman he loved is touching another man's chest!

Lu Qi saw a figure approaching from outside. The man was looking at him as though he wanted to kill him. He wanted to ask Xinghe about him but somehow his tongue was paralyzed.

Xinghe was meticulous in teaching Lu Qi and when she saw him stiffen in his seat, she sighed, men are really… "Lu Qi, I can hear your heart beat getting faster. This is only a demonstration. Don't get excited. Please."

Lu Qi: "…"

Xinghe let go of his chest to calm him down. She tucked the stethoscope away. She gave him a wry smile at his predicament, "How are you feeling? Are you alright?"

Lu Qi didn't move. Xinghe now noticed that his eyes were a bit wrong. She realized he was not looking at her, but behind her.

Xinghe turned around and saw a familiar man with a very angry expression. He was looking at her student as though he wanted to kill him.

"Mubai!" Xinghe stood up. She didn't expect he would come. "Why are you here--?"

"You are cancelling our date because of him?" Mubai's eyes were filled with disbelief. *Xinghe actually fell for this guy? JUST who is this son of a b**ch? *

"You know Lu Qi is a special case, he will be kicked out if I don't help him." Xinghe eyed Mubai. What is wrong with him? He should know by now!

Lu Qi broke free from his frozen state. He quickly packed his things, "Xinghe, who is this guy?"

Mubai frowned when the word "special case" was mentioned. "I am Xi Mubai." Afterwards, the man approached Lu Qi with a gloomy expression. "And Xinghe is MINE! Not yours!"

After his last statement, both Lu Qi and Xinghe burst into laughter. Mubai's expression shifted into a surprise. He had no idea why the two of them were laughing at him.

Xinghe held his hand softly like a lover holding a precious one's arms, "Don't worry. Lu Qi will NEVER do that."

Lu Qi faced Mubai with a smiling expression, "My name is Lu Qi. And I am Xinghe's brother."

Mubai: "…"

Perhaps it is because of this incident why all 'Xi Mubai's and 'Lu Qi's of all dimensions are rivals, and later becoming friends… or maybe they were friends first before becoming rivals.