Chapter 07

A few days later,

In a wide white room full with several canvas and sculptures present, a room which spoke of art and elegance. And in that room a girl sat in the middle, her eyes fixed at the canvas with her hands perfectly moving in it.

"It has been more than a week…" she said as she kept down the paintbrush.

"...does he not want to return to me?" She said as she held onto the locket which held the initials of WM on it.

.

"Miss, it's time to go home." A woman in a maid uniform said as she bowed, the girl didn't say anything and just looked at the gray sky.

"I guess, I will just wait…"

"Ling wait for me!" Xian said as he ran towards Ling, today both of them are going for an outing,

"Ling slow down will you?" Xian who finally reached him said while placing his hand on his shoulders.

"Oh Sorry!" Ling said as he smiled and removed Xian's hand from his shoulders.

Xian looked at Ling who seemed to be acting weird today.

.

"Ling you–"

"LingLing!! You are here!" A man who looked like he was in his 20s said as he wrapped his arms around Ling.

His face looked gentle but his overall look told a whole different story. Ripped jeans, loose gray t shirt with brown jacket and hair tied in a ponytail. He indeed looked intimidating.

.

"Shen Ge! How are you!" Ling, who now had an excited look on his face, that made Xian feel quite irritated.

"Now that you are here, I feel very much better~ Oh how cute have you become in these past years and– *notices Xian* this must be the friend you talked about last time…Gu Xian right?" He asked while giving out a friendly smile and put forward his hand for a handshake.

.

Xian looked at him or more like glared at him, but after noticing the nervous look on Ling's face he too gave out a small smile and shook hands with him. But soon he felt the grip to be a bit too strong.

"I hope you will have a nice time here." Shen said his tone seemed friendly and gentle but Xian could feel the warning in it.

.

"I will." Xian said and tightened his grip making Shen to yelp and take back his hand.

"Shen Ge? What's wrong?" Ling asked in a concerned tone.

" I was just excited just now and pressed your hand a bit too tightly. Hope you won't mind it, will you?"  Xian said in a rather mocking tone, a slight smirk on his face.

"What! Shen Ge are you alright? Should we call a doctor?" Ling asked as he held his hand and examined it.

Looking at how Ling was being all concerned about Shen made Xian feel more irritated 

"Lingling it's okay plus looking at how you care about me…all the pain suddenly vanished." 

.

"Are you sure about it Ge? Xian might not look like but his grip is really strong…I suggest maybe you should do a Xray later on." Ling said and then turned towards Xian who expected to hear an earful from Ling but to his surprise, 

Xian held his hand softly, "Does your hand hurt? Shen Ge has pointy gloves did it hurt you?" He asked gently.

.

Xian looked at Ling for sometime and ruffled his hair, "Don't worry I am fine." He said as he joined his hands with Ling's.

"You sure?"

"I am"

"Lingling!" Shen called and pulled him away from him. "Come let me show you the thing you aksed for."

"Uh..Yeah sure..Xian let's go."

Xian nodded his head and then clenched his hands which seemed to have become cold once again and missing the warmth.

.

Three of them walked towards a garage where two bikes stood neat and clean,

"Wow they look so cool~ "

"Of course afterall they are the latest model espically for mountain biking and are sent here for testing. So, even if it gets damaged we are not the one at fault." Shen wispered the last part and Ling gave him a grin with a thumbs up.

"But Ge, would it be safe? I mean even if we don't have to pay for the bike but what about the bikers?"

.

"Well this testing is usually done by experised bikers only, so never thought about the risk factor and all but...*glances at Xian* Ling you must think again cuz your friend here might not be able to handle it."

Ling thought for a while and was about to answer when, Xian announced, "I will ride" making Ling to almost stumble.

.

"Young Man, have you ever rode a bike before?" Shen asked as he crossed his arms,

"I don't know, you show me how to do it."

"I will be happy to teach anyone but this is mountain biking and one wrong step means you will meet your long gone ancestors. So tell me would you still like to do it?"

"I will" Xian said with no hesitation and fear in his voice.

.

"Xian" Ling called his face showing the nervousness,

"Ling, will you stop me?"

Ling looked at his eyes for some time and then shook his head, "Are you not afraid of me getting hurt?"

"I am, but I know even if I try to stop you, you won't stop plus I believe your subconscious brain knows what it is doing. Still don't do anything rash."

Xian smiled at his words and thanked him before leaving for changing his clothes.

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As soon as Xian left, Ling joined his hands and started praying, "God, protect him at all cost please!!"

"LingLing who are you talking with in the air? Come here!"

"Coming Ge!"

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After a hour or so, when the tutorial was given to Xian, now it was time for him to try it.

"No matter what happens, don't panic! or else you will lose control." Shen said as he gave him a helmet.

Xian nodded his head and then looked at Ling who was holding onto his arms and looking at him with puppy eyes.

"Be safe"

"I will"

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"Boss everything is ready!" The workers shouted.

"Okay! Gu Xian remember what you were taught and don't try to pull anything funny *looks at Ling* or else you will lose." Shen said with a smirk.

"I never lose" With that he closed his helmet and started his bike, the sound and the dust filled the ground, within a second the sound got farther way giving out rough slap of air to the spectators.

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"He is doing quite good for his first try." Shen said as they looked at the computer screen before them which was connected with the drone flying above Xian.

"First time? Are you sure?" The trainer asked quite surprised.

Hearing this Shen looked at Ling who was too much engrossed into Xian's performance.

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Shen was about to call Ling but before he could call him he stood up and ran towards the end point.

"What happened to him?"

"Boss look that boy reached the ending line in just 10 minutes! While others new trainees take almost 30 minutes or more to do so...he indeed is good." one of the worker said,

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"This explains that either he has trained before or he is an exceptional genius. But I believe the former is true because motorcycling is not a everyday thing especially mountain biking, it doesn't only need physical but also mental preparation which can't be done in such a short period of time..." The trainer said as he stood form his seat and looked at Xian who was smiling widely,

"Plus there is no such thing as fear or nervousness in his body...as if he is very much used to all this."

.

"But Ling told me this is his first time...so how?" Shen thought but just shrugged it off as whatever it is has nothing to do with him.

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"You did Great!!" Ling said as he gave out a big smile and held onto Xian's hands. His eyes showing the pure excitement and happiness.

"It felt Great too! My heart is beating fast as if it will come out but I like this feeling...this makes me feel alive." Xian said as he too smiled and kept Ling's hand onto his chest.

Ling who felt his racing heart too smiled,

"I guess you love motorcycling."

"Love?"

"Yes, whenever I sing, my heart beats like this too. I asked Dad what this was and then he told me, it's my heart telling me that he is happy and in love."

.

Before Xian could say anything, a loud crash sound was heard from the Garage, and they noticed some unknown faces too.

"Who are they?"

"I don't know too. Let's Go and watch them shall we? but before that, do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"

"I don't infect I feel quite fresh and energetic..."

Ling listening to that felt quite Contented, "Thats good"

"All because of you." Xian said with a smile and followed Ling.