Mirror, Mirror, on the wall
Who's the BADDEST of them all?

The SSG President of the Academy Vs. The Basketball Captain of E-State University. Who do you think will win?

Let's Play A Game
Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the next player of them all?

Money and interests make people animals.
Where love is rare

My best friend is the mirror because when I cry, he doesn't smile


Money and interests make people animals.
Where love is rare

My best friend is the mirror because when I cry, he doesn't smile
Money and interests make people animals.
Where love is rare

My best friend is the mirror because when I cry, he doesn't smile
Money and interests make people animals.
Where love is rare

My best friend is the mirror because when I cry, he doesn't smile
Money and interests make people animals.
Where love is rare

My best friend is the mirror because when I cry, he doesn't smile
Money and interests make people animals.
Where love is rare

My best friend is the mirror because when I cry, he doesn't smile
Money and interests make people animals.
Where love is rare

My best friend is the mirror because when I cry, he doesn't smile
Money and interests make people animals.
Where love is rare

My best friend is the mirror because when I cry, he doesn't smile
Money and interests make people animals.
Where love is rare

My best friend is the mirror because when I cry, he doesn't smile
Money and interests make people animals.
Where love is rare

My best friend is the mirror because when I cry, he doesn't smile
Money and interests make people animals.
Where love is rare

My best friend is the mirror because when I cry, he doesn't smile
Money and interests make people animals.
Where love is rare

My best friend is the mirror because when I cry, he doesn't smile
Money and interests make people animals.
Where love is rare

My best friend is the mirror because when I cry, he doesn't smile
Money and interests make people animals.
Where love is rare

My best friend is the mirror because when I cry, he doesn't smile
Money and interests make people animals.
Where love is rare

My best friend is the mirror because when I cry, he doesn't smile
Money and interests make people animals.
Where love is rare

My best friend is the mirror because when I cry, he doesn't smile
Money and interests make people animals.
Where love is rare

My best friend is the mirror because when I cry, he doesn't smile
Money and interests make people animals.
Where love is rare

My best friend is the mirror because when I cry, he doesn't smile
Money and interests make people animals.
Where love is rare

My best friend is the mirror because when I cry, he doesn't smile
Money and interests make people animals.
Where love is rare

My best friend is the mirror because when I cry, he doesn't smile
Money and interests make people animals.
Where love is rare

My best friend is the mirror because when I cry, he doesn't smile
Money and interests make people animals.
Where love is rare

My best friend is the mirror because

Mira is a descendant of The Mirror. The Mirror is a millennias old kingdom, who have been protecting the world from The Shard.
The Shard has been The Mirror's arch enemy for over 3 million years, which was when The Shard broke off from The Mirror and it's ways...The  Shard's main purpose is to annihilate The Mirror, and all mankind.
The Mirror has been looking for the heir to their throne ever since The Shard stole the child and dropped it somewhere in a distant dimension...on the planet Earth.
Mira is that heir...If only she knew...



Chapter 8 

 

They were returning from a raid on a Hutu refugee village, which they had first looted in search of food, particularly meat, and again recruits to make up for the casualties that recent jungle skirmishes had inflicted on them. To this end, they had kidnapped ten children between the ages of twelve and fifteen, whom their men, particularly Danilo, would train with the usual dose of brutality, drugs and sensual stimuli to turn them into killing machines if necessary. But there was a boy Branko Popovic had set his sights on for a different purpose. It was an eleven”year”old boy with very dark skin and prominent buttocks who had awakened the Serb's fantasies. 

Upon arrival at the camp, he entrusted Danilo to take care of the batch of future warriors and his personal servant to take care of the boy he had reserved. 

“Make him wash well and feed him. You know what to do. 

Popovic lay down on the bed dressed in his fajina uniform and fell asleep immediately. At the age of fifty”five the struggles to which he had been subjected since the long”distant war in Bosnia gained their share of energy 

He woke up when his servant entered his material house carrying the boy only dressed in a loincloth. The man coughed lightly to reveal it. 

"Do you want me to take it and bring it later?" 

Popovic took the boy by the hand and brought him closer to his bed, then stroked his belly and his butt. 

“No. Leave it now.” He answered. 

"His name is Dido," the servant reported, referring to the boy before leaving. 

Pleased by the child's passivity, the Serb forced him to climb onto the bed. He had already decided to make it his immediately. 

 

Alisha had taken a flight to Brussels and left with light luggage, consisting of a single suitcase that could be placed in the upper compartment of the row of seats. Since I was going to spend two or three days in the Belgian capital and some places nearby, I did not have much replacement clothing. Basically he was wearing pants and a jacket. 

He took a room in a three”star hotel and showered before going out to lunch. From the room he made the first three appointments with firms that he planned to visit that day. A fourth did not prosper because they simply refused to interview strangers, which was to be expected in companies that had a lot to hide and were known to be in the sights of independent journalists and television channels who wanted to expose European partners who financed the African warlords responsible for so much killing and suffering in the recent thirty years. As a former colonial power in the Congo and neighboring countries, Belgium maintained preferential ties with some of its leading circles. 

Alisha was going to play a role that was known to her for her long working and romantic relationship with Romain. Posing as an Indian businesswoman named Aruna Laghari, the wife of an American mining entrepreneur named Bill Morris, she carried with her business cards with those details and an address in Paris. 

In the early afternoon he rented a car and headed for the first of the appointments located in a lower”class suburb of Brussels. There she was received by one of the firm's directors named Claes Jacobs. 

After sitting in Jacobs's office and exchanging some kind phrases that were complements to the animal magnetism that the woman emanated with her spectacular silhouette, deep dark eyes and black hair, Alisha”Aruna clearly explained the purpose of her visit, with Arguments that were as close as possible to the truth: The company headed by her husband Morris was carrying out explorations in an area of central Africa that was not going to reveal at the time, close but different from those already in operation in Kivu. The geological survey looked promising and she was looking for potential customers with good purchasing power and financial resources. At a certain moment, he dropped a phrase that implied that the mineral was in areas prohibited by the sanction of the Nations 

… 

United and trying to find out if that would be an impediment to doing business with the Jacobs company. As a result of her own Internet investigation, Alisha was aware that a company of her interlocutor had been sanctioned in 2003 by the UN, and that they had simply set up another with a different name and shareholders to return to business; He also had the intuition that Jacobs was actually a name”lender, a straw man behind whom the true owners of the business hid. 

The man alleged that his signature was very severe in the requirement to his suppliers that they only deliver mineral with papers that accredited that it came from "clean" areas, but that they were satisfied with an affidavit to that effect, not carrying out further research. 

When asked by the woman about her possibilities of increasing her purchases from a new provider, the answer was clear. 

“The market is in full evolution and needs much more material than what is being exploited now. We are buying between fifteen and twenty tons of coltan per month, but we could increase this amount to fifty in one year. 

Alisha”Aruna thanked the man and immediately had a feeling that this first interview reflected the story he was going to hear in the remaining seven signatures. He was not fooled. 

That day he attended the remaining appointments and the next day he was able to complete the ones that were missing. When he left the last one, he looked at the window that led to the office where he had found himself, and through the voile curtains he saw that his interlocutor, a certain Janssens, had picked up the phone as soon as she had left and was in a conference For some reason that haste gave him a bad feeling. 

 

“Hans? I'm Gabriel from Brussels, hey, an Indian woman came to visit me, who claims to represent a new firm that is conducting prospecting in a new area of the Central Lakes ... yes, if new suppliers appear, the price of coltan may plummet. In our character as one of the largest suppliers to electronics, that would harm us ... I propose that they start a campaign to confirm if there are new players who want to enter ... Well in that case we would see how to eliminate the dangers. 

 

On the trip back to Venice, Alisha pulled out her laptop and began recording the results of all her interviews, including hard, hard data on market size, as well as her subjective impressions. He knew that Romain loved his written reports. 

 

That night the woman tried to call her boyfriend, although she did not know where she would be and if she would have a connection to enhance an Internet video conference. He was glad to be able to get in touch on the first attempt. 

“Hello! I thought you would have already gone looking for your new place, wherever that is. 

“In Uganda, not far from the border with the Congo and Rwanda. But no, we have not been able to leave because since yesterday afternoon it has been pouring rain throughout this area. The streets of Bukavu are flooded so imagine how the rural roads and paths will be that we must go. The lake is at a very high level and the rivers and streams have difficulty draining into it and flood all the fields. 

“Then what will you do? 

“Resign ourselves to accept the limits that Nature imposes on us and wait at least four days for the waters to drop and the vehicle to roll on the ground. 

“I hope you are not looking for fun in Bukavu. I know there are women of all colors. 

“Get those ideas out of your head. None compares to you. 

“Maybe they don't compare. I hope you are not tempted to make the comparison. 

“Well tell me. What have you found in the companies you have visited? 

“All swear and swear that they comply with the UN restrictions, but between the lines they let you know that they will simply require you to deliver only "clean" metal and that they will discharge the responsibility for compliance on you, that is, on their suppliers. 

“And were you permeable to the idea of doing business with a new supplier? 

… 

“It is all a matter of price, quantity and quality. There is no ideology or principle. Business is business. Ah! I wanted to warn you. One of those I saw the first day, a certain Janssens seemed somewhat suspicious to me. 

“ For what reason? 

“Call it hunch. As soon as I left he made a call that I suppose would be related to my visit. 

“Well, you know that I have a lot of respect for the feminine intuition and very particularly for yours. Now do a parade again in front of the computer screen. I want to see how you dressed up and dressed today. 

“I'm glad you ask because I actually spent an hour in front of the mirror before calling you. 

 

Taking advantage of the immobility of the expedition caused by the storm, Mercier decided to visit the city in order to make first”hand contact with the social reality originated in Kivu due to the boom in clandestine trade in coltan and the war or rather wars that the mineral both caused and financed. 

On the one hand, he found that although the city did not have any industry, certain economic activities were in rapid growth. Good examples were construction and real estate activities, including some extravagantly luxurious homes outside of the city context; Also land transport companies and even small airlines had a boom undoubtedly linked to mining, of which the vast majority was illegal. 

As he wanted to see the two sides of the coin, he asked Yusuf to take him to a nearby church that was attending a kind of makeshift hospital. The priest told him about the horrible situation to which the people who came to attend were subjected. 

"I can't understand how human beings can commit these aberrant facts," he said as he projected a series of creepy slides with rows of massacred men, women, and children, severed corpses, children who had had their heads blown off, and mutilated bodies covered. of blood. 

“Those who survived have not fared much better, particularly women. Some of them were systematically raped by a gang of savages for days until they could no longer move. Many of those who arrive have their bodies destroyed by abuse and torture, and the psychological consequences are not less than physical. 

"Who are the rapists?" Mercier asked. 

“Mostly members of the irregular militias, many of them children who have their first sexual experience with these unhappy people. But also government soldiers and miners who want to take revenge on the fourteen”hour days spent in the quarries.”The priest sighed visibly affected by his own words; Romain laid an empathetic hand on his arm. Tears appeared in the eyes of the seasoned clergyman. 

"Africa can be tough on her children." His narration continued. "But wars mean the end of all codes and brakes, and the reign of the most horrible instincts, instincts that wild beasts do not have. 

 

 



A Canadian geologist returns to Africa after ten years to resume prospecting for deposits of coltan, an essential mineral for the manufacture of cell phones and other uses in electronics, whose consumption is increasing exponentially in the world. The struggles for its possession cause a humanitarian catastrophe due to the continuous killings that the militias carry out and the horrible situation in which the miners, true modern slaves, work in an undeclared war that has produced millions of deaths in the Congo.
The search action does not go unnoticed by obscure interests linked to the global business of coltan, and who will try at all costs to stop new players. To do this, they will hire the services of merciless mercenary gangs willing to do anything to fulfill their mission.
A vibrant thriller that will keep you on your toes from start to the end

"This is what I did." Chen Feng explained his feminization scheme to Qin Hai.
As Qin Hai listened on, he was dumbstruck. It was obvious that it was simply impossible that those so-called geniuses had been able to comprehend the power of beyond with a single attempt. Without much thought, Qin Hai already knew that those fellows had actually secretly consumed quite a huge number of beyond X gene reagents to obtain comprehension. Now, if what Chen Feng told him was true…
Qin Hai started sweating as he thought of it.
"You hadn't consumed any of the new gene reagents, right?" Chen Feng asked with a sinister expression.
Qin Hai scolded without hesitation, "Scram! I was one of the participants in your beyond X tests back then. Since I am aware that you have a better edition of this gene reagent, why would I have taken any of trash they are taking?"
Chen Feng smiled. "Hehe." He had indeed assisted Qin Hai's breakthrough into the realm of beyond. This was a rather easy feat for Qin Hai, who had already been a genius. Moreover, the version of gene reagent he'd used was Chen Feng's best version. As such, the effect was even better. This was also thanks to the ancient race. Using the wealth earned from the ancient race, humanity's research and gene production level had progressed greatly.
Qin Hai was anxious. "What are you planning to do next?" Although the ancient race no longer had a future, they were still here in the present. The present ancient race was exceptionally powerful. If humanity were to end up accidentally eliminated by the ancient race, the final result would be the mutual destruction of both races, and the devil race would be the one who profited from all this.
Chen Feng smiled toyingly. "Don't worry. I naturally have a way of dealing with that."
"That's good, then." Qin Hai did not put much thought into these words of Chen Feng's. On the next day, an extremely astonishing piece of news was released. For humanity, this was extremely ordinary news, but for the ancient race, this was akin to disaster.
"Bluemoon grass and a whole bunch of other medicinal herbs have increased greatly in price due to the huge increase in demand. After three months of research by the Research Agency, a brand new farming method has been discovered, finally greatly reducing the price of these herbs by around a hundred times, returning these herbs to their initial prices before all this."
This was the latest report from the Research Agency. The materials affected here were astonishingly all the materials included in the formula that the ancient race obtained. As such, the cost of production for the ancient race's beyond X gene reagent became incredibly cheap, resulting in the supply of this gene reagent on the ancient race's market increasing greatly. This caused the ancient race to go crazy.
The various major ancient race families were stupefied. "Why did this happen?" They had never expected that this gene reagent that had still been an extremely valuable commodity a short while ago would now become a common commodity. This item that they had previously obtained after almost bankrupting their families became something everyone could afford.
The scariest aspect of this was the effect this had on their rebels. Initially, the only advantage the major families had had over these rebels was the power of beyond. Now, the rebels were able to obtain the power of beyond as well, greatly increasing their strength.
They were all bewildered. "How did this happen…"
The prince was furious. "Where did those damnable gene reagents come from?"
"No idea." The underling was alarmed. "Those gene reagents flooding our market are not from any of our official suppliers. It seems like there are some unknown suppliers hauling these gene reagents into our market without stop and selling them at an extremely cheap price."
The prince raged. "Bastard!"
Pu!
In his anger, his underling was killed on the spot, alarming countless people around him. How many times had this happened? The temper of this prince, who had previously had a refined temperament, was becoming weirder and weirder. This seemed to be happening to all their other experts as well…
At the slightest provocation, they would start killing. Was it due to the recent chaos?
These underlings exchanged glances and inwardly decided that perhaps it was time for them to leave, to leave this place and return to the chaotic world outside. Now that these gene reagents were so cheap, they would be able to easily enter the realm of beyond as well. As such, on that night, a bunch of ancient race foot soldiers disappeared… Before leaving, they even remembered to take the riches of the prince with them.
The prince was so angry that he started cursing. "Bastards!" This was uncontrollable and unstoppable. As their rebels started entering the realm of beyond, the ancient race entered a stage of total chaos. Numerous major factions appeared and started fighting each other like they were savages.
As for the beyond X gene reagent, due to how cheap and effective it was, it became a gene reagent each of these ancient race members had to have. Even a normal poverty-stricken ancient race commoner was prepared to obtain several beyond X gene reagents as their trump card.
And now, finally, the initial effects of this feminization plan showed itself. Based on the estimation of Chen Feng's group, after consuming a single bottle, the effect wouldn't be too obvious, yet the testosterone production would be somewhat inhibited. After consuming 10 bottles, the user would be somewhat feminized. Their body would start producing estrogen, and testosterone would continue being inhibited. Those who consumed 20 bottles would be greatly feminized and would no longer be able to breed. Those who had consumed 50 bottles would start losing the physical characteristics of a male. Those who had consumed 100 bottles…
Mhm…
This was what Chen Feng's group had intended to only happen toward the end. That was because it was simply not easy for this scheme to succeed. For it to happen, a huge amount of this gene reagent was required. A long time was required for it to slowly happen as well. As such, this had initially been set up as a long-term strategy, but unexpectedly, the ancient race was actually this crazy.
This plan… had totally ignored the initial stage where, first, a sufficient amount of gene reagent had to be made available. Rather, it had directly entered the stage where only time was required for the ancient race members to consume a sufficient amount of them. Nearly all ancient race members had consumed more than 100 bottles.
"According to our early tests, how long will it require for this plan to display its effect?"
"Half a year."
"Half a year…"
Chen Feng calculated the time. It seemed like it was almost time? But then, the moment it reached the final stage, the ancient race would most certainly realize that something was wrong with their gene reagents. That wouldn't do. The ancient race had yet to be completely destroyed, and the devil race had only suffered small damage so far. Mhm…
"Seems like I have to think of something." Chen Feng sunk into contemplation.
At present, in the ancient race's territory.
The prince appeared. "All rebels shall be killed without mercy!" His handsome appearance and cold temperament caused numerous people to submit to him. This was the future of their ancient race! This was their ancient race's prince. After receiving the order to suppress the rebellion, the prince eliminated the enemies in a short amount of time. Once again, the power of beyond showcased an unimaginable level of strength.
"Return," the prince commanded coldly.
"Yes."
Countless underlings gazed at him with reverence. This was their prince, so powerful that he caused one to feel intoxicated. Without realizing it, in their reverence-filled gaze, an additional odd feeling was included as well. After returning to the camp, the prince dispersed his underlings. Next, the firm and persistent expression vanished, replaced by a gentle expression. After rinsing a pot of clear water over his face, the makeup on his face was cleared, revealing a gentle yet beautiful appearance. Gazing at himself from the mirror, the prince caressed his face gently with his fingers.
Shua!
His clothes slid down his body. Numerous strips of white cloth were wrapped around his chest, seemingly suppressing a certain existence.
The prince shut his eyes painfully. "Why… have I become this way?" That face of his he had seen in the mirror was actually a face so lovely one couldn't resist feeling compassion for. Was this still him? He was supposed to be the future of the ancient race!
All this while, he had been busy dealing with the rebellion and had not had the time to consider anything else. Suddenly, one day, he had been this way. It had reached a point that he did not dare to even leave his room without first putting on makeup. Was he suffering from the ambush of some other prince? He nibbled on his lip and stomped his feet on the ground before saying, "I will most definitely find out the truth about this."
Right as he was about to investigate this matter, some astonishing information was transmitted to him. Due to the appearance of the devil race, humanity had suffered a disastrous loss. In their anger, the experts of humanity had unleashed a legendary forbidden skill toward all nonhuman territories: Nine Yin Demonic Termination!


Chen Feng, of modern earth, had suffered bad luck since birth. After finding the legendary “lucky artifact,” his bad luck peaked and he became the only person killed in an earthquake. By a twist of fate, he found himself transmigrated into a different and magical world! A world much larger than earth. A world only partially explored due to the dangers within. A world where human civilization centered around genes. In this world, human beings possessed all sorts of abilities due to genetic fusion. Some went on to create world-changing technologies with their mysterious genetic abilities, while others went on to become undefeated genetic warriors with their combat genetic abilities. How will Chen Feng fare in this new world?

I'm frozen in fear, but Nathan's voice pouring out from the kitchen startles me.
"You were so right about the Lawry's seasoning salt, I'm using it on everything now."
I quickly close the incognito browser and leave up the picture for Nathan to see. 
I put the phone down on his coffee table.
As he comes back around he sees my face and stops cold.
"Emilia, are you okay?"
I can't stop picturing Al's face. What it felt like to have him on top of me, hitting me, stabbing me, picturing every attack for the last few years.
"Yea…I'm fine…just…I need to…sorry…"
Nathan sees my internal panic and steps forward with his hands open. 
"Hey, you're okay. If you need to go upstairs that's fine."
But it's too late, I can feel my heart pounding and my mind is racing. The taste of adrenaline and bile rises in my back of my mouth.
"I…I can't…"
I gesture to my chest but can't get another word out. My breaths are ragged and shallow, but I can't slow them down. I put my hand out to find the couch but miss it, starting to fall forward.
"Whoa, let me help."
Nathan catches me and gets me seated on the couch. He kneels in front of me while I try to breathe.
"Emilia, just breathe."
I can't slow my breathing down and shake my head. He extends his open hand to me.
"Squeeze my hand and focus on my voice."
I take his hand in mine while I try to steady my breath.
"That's good. Let's focus on something else for a minute until this passes."
I'm shaking all over, tears running down my face, trying to get my breathing to slow and I can't focus on anything but the rising panic.
"Why don't you tell me more about spices?"
I lock eyes with him and shake my head.
(I can barely breathe right now)
"Okay, better idea. Why don't you name a spice for every letter of the alphabet. Start with A, what's a good spice that starts with A?"
I take a few breaths and barely get it out. "Adobo"
"Alright, now B?"
Another few breaths and I'm able to say it.
"Basil…"
He nods as I continue rattling them off. By the time I get to K I'm breathing normally.
"Nathan, I'm so sorry abou…"
He strokes my hand. "Shhh…there's nothing to apologize for."
I take a few more deep breaths. "So where did you learn to do that?"
"Do what?"
"Calm me down like that…bring me out of a panic attack."
"Is that what that was?"
I chuckle, "So if you didn't know I was panicking, how did you know what to do?"
He continues rubbing my hands, "Instinct I guess? Seemed like a distraction might have been the right move."
"Good instincts…I'm really sorry about all of this. God, what you must think of me right now."
He furrows his brow and sits back.
"What I think of you? What do you mean?"
I lay back against the couch and cover my face, "Come on Nathan, it's okay. I'm a goddamned mess. I'm betting you're wishing you had rented that unit a week or two earlier, right? So you wouldn't be dealing with this right now…"
Nathan sits next to me on the couch.
"Are you kidding? I'm sitting here thinking how fucking strong and brave you are."
I burst into a snorting laugh, "Oh yea! I can totally see how this makes me look SO strong."
He pulls me into him and I lean onto his shoulder.
"Knock that shit off right now. You're incredibly strong. It takes a lot of courage to start over. And to have dealt with some asshole putting his hands on you, but still be strong enough to break things off and get out of there…that's amazing."
"Is that what Angie said?"
"No, she didn't have to. She told me what happened, but everything else is clear as day to anyone who cares about you."
"And you're one of those people?"
He pulls me in a little tighter. "Absolutely."
We sit this way for a few more minutes as I continue to take deep breaths and calm my nerves. 
(It feels so nice to be close to someone again…and to feel safe even for a few minutes)
"Jesus Christ, I'm such a fucking idiot." Nathan starts to sit up and drops his head in his hands.
"What do you mean?"
"I asked you to show me a picture…of course seeing his face would be terrible for you. I'm so sorry, I really wasn't thinking."
I grab his hand and pull it to me, but he refuses to turn.
"Nathan…"
"Nathan, listen to me. You didn't do anything wrong. It's completely logical to want to know what he looks like in case he shows up."
He still refuses to make eye contact.
"And it was the right thing to do. I wish I had a phone from after 1994, so I could have done all this freaking out alone."
That comment gets a little laugh and his shoulders relax back.
"I'm glad you weren't alone."
He smiles at me meekly.
"Me too."
We sit connected for a moment, before I remember myself.
(Come on girl, get out of here!)
I stand up, a little unsteady, and Nathan quickly rises to make sure I'm alright.
"I should get back upstairs."
"Yea, sure…don't forget the arnica."
He grabs the tube and hands it to me, our fingers grazing for a moment, shooting a tremble up my spine.
"Thanks…"
I go out and up the stairs, Nathan's eyes glued to me until I'm out of sight.
When I get inside, I end up slumped against the door and slide to the ground.
(What the hell was I thinking?!)
After beating myself up for breaking down, I decide to run a hot bath to relax. 
I soak in deeply and practice some breathing exercises a roommate taught me in back in Reno. 
(Breathe in for 4, Hold, Breathe out for 4)
After a couple of minutes, my mind is finally calm and I relax into the tub. For the first time since the incident in Amherst, I take stock of my body, trailing my fingers along the curves and ridges and over the bruises and scars.
The long scar on my right leg…
(From the car accident…)
The small burn on the back of my neck…
(The first time Paulie made his own smores on the campfire)
The tiny crack above my left ear…
(From the blindside in Reno)
The gash on my left side…
(Where he stabbed me)
I jolt upright in the bath in a panic, water sloshing over the sides.
"Shit"
I quickly rinse off, grab a towel and clean up the floor. I find another to dry off as I look myself over in the mirror.
(The bruising looks a little better)
I walk over to the desk where I grab the arnica from Nathan and read the directions. I go back to the mirror and apply it over my bruises.
I change into pajamas and head to bed, ready to put this day behind me.
When I wake up to the sounds of my alarm, I see a text from Vi.
See you outside your place in 30. xo
I hop out of bed and pick another outfit Vi will be certain to criticize…
(I need to be comfy at the market)
As I'm putting my hair up, the buzzer goes off.
"YELLLOOOOOOO"
I run over, quickly answering, "Hey girl, I'll be down in a sec"
"No chance, buzz me up!"
I begrudgingly push the buzzer and unlock and open the door a smidge. She's singing as she swings the door open.
"Hey girly, what's up?"
I round the corner after putting my hair up in a bun. "Nothing much stalker, just getting ready to meet you at work…oh wait!"
"Haha…if you'd prefer to take the train I can go."
"No way – thanks for coming. But can I ask why you're so early?"
"A lot of the markets around here are competitive. Our other cooks were lazy, but I'm getting the impression that's not your deal."
"You are correct on that."
"Well, let's get a move on then, don't want you missing out on prime cuts or whatever."
"Sounds like a plan."
I grab my bag and list, and head out, locking the door behind me. Soon we're on the road, and with Vi's lead foot we're making record time.
"You doing okay over there?"
"Huh?"
She gestures to my arm which is clinging to the door for dear life.
"You've got quite a death grip there."
"I was in a car accident a long time ago…hate being a passenger."
"Oh shit, I'm sorry."
"No, it's not a big deal – it's good for me to work on it and I appreciate you coming to get me this morning."
Without a word, she starts backing off the gas, and we move along at a much more gingerly pace.
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it."
"No, seriously, don't ever mention it at work. I rule my bar with an iron fist and I don't want anyone thinking I've gone soft."
I give her a salute, "Aye-aye captain."
Vi pulls up to the market and lets me out. "Go ahead and get started looking around while I find a spot for my baby."
As soon as I've shut the door, she peels out and barrels around a corner.
I walk into the bustling market, looking for a few suppliers and taking notes. I pass by the fishmongers and find a small organic produce stand a few minutes later.
"Well hello to you pretty lady…"
He looks me over as if I'm his prey.
"…what can I help you get your beautiful mouth around today?"
"Excuse me?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, aren't you here to fill your needs….for produce of course. Why don't you try one of our lovely carrots."
He hands the carrot to me, but won't let go, dragging his hand along my wrist.
"Wouldn't you love to take a bite out of that?"
I feel the anger rising, but before I can say another word, Vi comes up from behind and loops her arm around my waist.
"Honey, I told you not to wander too much, you had me worried."
He pulls back his hand as his face crinkles.
"Oh, you've got a girlfriend, eh?"
"I most certainly do…and she's more than I can handle."
I lock eyes with him and snap down on the carrot. He visibly cringes when I do and Vi drags me away before we descend into fits of laughter.
"Oh my god, thank you for the rescue."
"Don't mention it."
"Seriously though, you didn't want to warn me about the organic vegetable pervs?"
She chuckles as she drags me further into the market, "Honestly, I've never stood around here long enough to find out. And you'll want to keep away from the vendors at the front anyway."
"Yeah? Why's that?"
"Booths up front cost way more, so they usually charge a higher price point. We're looking for some smaller suppliers anyway."
Once we make our way toward the back of the market, Vi spies a local distiller and I make my way to a small farm to table butchery.
"Hi there, can I help you?"
"Yes, I'm working on a new menu and part of that is testing out suppliers. Would you be able to provide any sample sizes for a tasting?"
"We definitely can. We cater to smaller restaurants and pubs looking to make the transition to farm to table dining. Are you very familiar with some of the other vendors here?"
"No, I can't say that I am. Consider this a fact finding mission."
He smiles and grabs some of their materials. "Here's our year-round ordering menu, with some notes on the second page about seasonal offerings. Have you found any good produce people yet?"
I roll my eyes thinking back on the creep from the organic stand.
"Not yet, but I know they are packed in here."
"Wait, let me get you some information about our co-op. We work with all local farmers, bakers, etc. and can bundle some of our goods together for regular ordering."
"Great, that would be amazing."
As he digs behind the counter to grab the info, he keeps making conversation.
"Say, what restaurant are you working for?"
"It's a bar over in Hyde Park called CiViL."
"I'll have to look it up sometime." He hands over the pamphlet as we walk to the case together.
"Give me some time to get the menu up and running before you try us out."
He lets out a friendly chuckle. "I'll keep that in mind."
We run through what I'd be looking for meat-wise and he wraps it up for me. As I'm about to pay, I realize I'm supposed to put it on the company card, so I text Vi. She runs over with a new bottle of bourbon and pulls out the company card.
After he rings us up, he gives me his card: Ehran, Owner of Homestead Meats
"Now, if you have time, take a wander down 2 more rows to find some of my co-op members. There's a great farm and a cherry man all the way from Door County who makes his own grenadine."
Vi's face lights up, "Onward: To grenadine!" She drags me away as I give him a final wave.
We head to the other vendors and find some great options, filling two more bags with produce and herbs as we wrap things up.
"Do you need a hand with those?"
"No, I'm good. Especially since you've got all the glass."
"What can I say? I can't turn down bourbon, grenadine and artisan pickles."
"I didn't think artisan pickles would make for a good drink garnish."
"Oh you silly girl. The grenadine is for the bar, but the pickles…the pickles are all for me."
We find a bench where I can wait while she pulls up the car. She runs off, later swerving into a no parking zone while we load up then speeding away the second I'm buckled up.
"Alright girl. Let's get over to work before tweedle-dee and tweedle-dumbass get there and wonder what's happening."
"Which one is tweedle-dumbass?"
"Stevie, duh!."

After running for 3 years, can you finally put down roots? Or, will your dark past return to seal your fate?

The weather suddenly got much colder. A storm of rain combined with snow made all the roads in Chasu City become muddy. The tree leaves started turning yellow and falling from the trees. Autumn was now ending.
Previously, Zhang Fan paid very little attention to his clothing. Shao Hua now had one new hobby compared to before she started dating him: dressing up Zhang Fan!
Shao Hua no longer allowed him to wear much of his old clothing. Since Zhang Fan paid very little attention to clothing, very few of his clothes matched each other well. She would take him shopping where he felt like the stores were filled with way too many jackets of different colors. Winters in Chasu City were too cold. Zhang Fan often needed to go out in the middle of the night for emergency surgeries, so down-filled jackets wouldn't be warm enough. He needed a thick leather jacket.
Zhang Fan looked at himself in the mirror. A brown leather jacket, jeans, and work shoes. This looked good on him. However, he didn't really want to buy this. It was too expensive! This set of clothing would cost a bit more than 4,000 yuan, which was truly expensive.
Shao Hua was personally unwilling to wear clothes that were too expensive. However, she had much stricter requirements for Zhang Fan. "I'm just an ordinary bank employee. Every day, I have to wear the bank uniform, so it's fine for me to just wear a jacket on top. Besides, I don't go out with others that much. However, it's different for you. It's really important for men to give off a sharp aura. If you wear just a random assortment of clothes every day, you won't look sharp at all. Besides, if you wear better clothing, it'll also give me face."
"Then you should also buy some clothes for yourself to give me face."
Zhang Fan said something stupid! Shao Hua immediately responded by trying to bite Zhang Fan. In the end, Zhang Fan felt warm in his heart when he exited the mall. He couldn't explain it clearly or what bliss or love were supposed to be, but this was how he felt. It was a faint and warm feeling that was like a warm current running through his heart.
Compared to regular surgeons, Zhang Fan's skills were far too all-encompassing. He was basically a surgeon who was vice director level in every single type of surgery. Zhang Fan now monopolized all the surgeries at smaller city hospitals in the nearby area. He was capable of performing all sorts of general and orthopedic surgeries. Although he had obtained some fame within Chasu City Hospital, he was still young. There were many things in the departments that Zhang Fan couldn't deal with just yet.
Zhang Fan's name now appeared on the lists of all the major medical equipment suppliers since he had monopolized all the surgeries in the nearby area. Although the smaller city hospitals couldn't compare in number of surgeries to Chasu City Hospital, all of them added up together would still amount to a large number of surgeries. This would represent benefits. This was a market. The medical equipment merchants ruled this market.
It would be impossible for a medical equipment merchant to access any city-level hospital without a governmental leader of some sort as backup and support. Medical equipment was also categorized into imported and Chinese, and the doctors would have to use the medical equipment after it was brought to the hospital. How were the merchants supposed to convince the doctors to use their equipment?
The boss of the medical equipment supply company would be responsible for securing business with the hospital. The salesmen would be in charge of negotiating with the department directors and doctors. An excellent salesman would be able to make it so that a department director viewed him or her as part of their family.
This type of job would take place over a long period of time. Countless days would have to be spent maintaining a relationship. Once a doctor was promoted to attending physician, as long as the doctor had some skills in their field, medical equipment suppliers' representatives would try and contact the doctor and negotiate an agreement, gambling on the doctor's future success.
Medical equipment suppliers would start contacting attending physicians and heavily invest in vice directors. As for department directors, especially when it came to department directors of major departments in larger hospitals, the competition for the director's business could be quite cruel. Not only were the doctors themselves competing against each other for position of director, there were also many other factors involved here.
First of all, you would need to be one of the best in skill level in the department to be considered for director. Next would be the competition for who had more outside resources and power. Although Zhang Fan was only a resident doctor currently, not even promoted to attending physician yet, he was already showing his skills in the medical field. Li Qiong, who was Gao Shijun's personal medical equipment supplier, intended on contacting Zhang Fan even though the latter was only a resident doctor.
Li Qiong had many different brands under her management. She had been in her business for more than 10 years already, and was now deeply involved with Chasu City Hospital's internal workings. It would be incredibly simple for her to learn of Zhang Fan's movements now that she was interested in him.
For instance, Zhang Fan needed to perform a bone fracture internal fixation surgery at Chark City Hospital tomorrow. He would give part of his surgery fee to the doctors there, which was why the local doctors would happily gather patients for him. For smaller city hospitals, they typically wouldn't have enough medical equipment on hand. Instead, the department director or doctor in charge of the patient would call the medical equipment supplier one day before the scheduled surgery, and the supplier would deliver the medical equipment so that it could be disinfected and used for the surgery on the following day.
Because of this, Li Qiong would learn one day ahead of time where Zhang Fan was going whenever he had an orthopedic surgery. After Zhang Fan finished the surgery at Chark City Hospital, he saw Li Qiong when he walked over to his car.
"Doctor Zhang, are you returning to Chasu City? How about giving me a ride?" Li Qiong smiled like a blooming flower. She was highly skilled at dressing herself up. She appeared mature yet also seductive. Even her body language and words seemed like they could charm someone.
"Oh! President Li! Yeah, are you going back to Chasu City? Feel free to get on my car." Zhang Fan had previously met Li Qiong through Gao Shijun.
She got on his car and they headed back to Chasu City. "Doctor Zhang, did you come here to perform a surgery?"
"Yeah."
"You're truly amazing. I'm really impressed with you, so young and highly skilled. You really are incredible! When I was younger, my dream was to become a doctor, but I was too stupid! I didn't have the chance."
"It's just a job. It's also not as good as you think it is."
"You save people from dying. It's quite divine! Doctor Zhang, surely there must be many girls interested in you with how excellent you are."
"Haha! I'm almost about to get married." Zhang Fan felt that something was off. He sensed that Li Qiong's tone contained something that sounded like she was intentionally trying to get close to him. She reminded him of himself back when he'd been a food seller, trying to get into all of his classmates' good graces in order to improve his food sales. Zhang Fan started being on guard against Li Qiong. However, he had still underestimated her. Someone like her who was a highly successful medical equipment supplier would have been crushed by her competition long ago if she hadn't had high intelligence as well as high emotional intelligence.
"Really now! It seems that Doctor Zhang must have caused many women's hearts to suffer. Doctor Zhang, what district did you buy an apartment in, then?" Li Qiong asked with an expression of exaggerated surprise.
"Oh, Qinghua District."
"Really? That's wonderful. I also have an apartment in Qinghua District. What a coincidence. Doctor Zhang, I think I'm only a few years older than you?"
"I suppose. You look quite young, President Li."
"Doctor Zhang, you're quite the flatterer. We're friends from now on then, how about it?"
"Oh! Haha, sure! We'll be friends!" Zhang Fan agreed to whatever she said without actually being serious about it.
"It's settled, then. Don't be reserved with me if you need anything in the future. For instance, if you need to buy something for your home, or heavy work like installing some electronics or assembling furniture, let me know. I'll definitely have it taken care of excellently for you."
"Thank you then, President Li."
"Doctor Zhang, do you have other business in Chasu City today? Since we coincidentally met today, let's eat dinner together? Could you please give me face?" Li Qiong suddenly changed her tone to pitiful rather than a generous one. She was skilled at instantly changing her tone.
"Oh, I'm truly sorry. I already have plans to eat dinner with my girlfriend tonight. I'm so sorry." Zhang Fan directly refused. He was quite clear that he was only an ordinary person, and that this dinner would probably involve things above his level to handle. Right now, he already had a good income, so he didn't want to get involved in more things. His greatest goal was only to grind as many surgeries as he possibly could.
"Next time, then. It's such a pity!" Li Qiong wasn't in any hurry even though Zhang Fan was being difficult to establish a relationship with. She would have been more worried if she had been able to successfully conquer him on the very first time. To her, the more difficult a person was to establish a relationship with, the safer that person would be. People who were able to resist temptation would be able to achieve greater things. This was why she wasn't impatient!
Zhang Fan arrived in Chasu City. Li Qiong got off his car before he arrived at the hospital, because she knew that with her status, it wouldn't be good for other doctors to see her together with Zhang Fan. She got off his car immediately upon arriving in Chasu City. She was highly satisfied with Zhang Fan on her first time trying to contact him. He seemed to be the steady and cautious type!


One day, Zhang Fan, a poor medical student, receives a medical system from the future. This turns him into a new shining star in the medical field. Along the way, he must face medical corruption, competition, and infighting from other doctors, and even find time for a love life as he strives for the top of the medical field!

When he came back to their table, Li Xiqing saw Yan Yan was bowing a little to an old lady who sat next to their table. He also saw that on top of their table, now sat a decadent slice of apple pie.
Li Xiqing put the tray of their food, and threw a questioning look towards Shao Yan.
She saw him just when he lifted his face, Shao Yan gave a small smile, and pointed to the chair across from her, "Xiqing, sit down. Look, I bought an apple pie," and then she grinned at him.
After Li Xiqing sat down, Shao Yan started to say, "I saw a few people have been carrying this pie with them, so I got curious. I asked the granny who sat next to you to look after our groceries while I went to buy the pie."
She lifted up the bowl of beef noodle soup and placed it in front of Li Xiqing, "You eat this first, I will eat the pasta."
And then she picked up the plate of seafood pasta and placed it in front of her, "When I came back just now, you came back as well. That's when you saw me in the middle of thanking her."
Li Xiqing took out the chopsticks for her, "Oh alright," he paused for a while, before he finally asked, "did you meet anyone or did you see anything interesting while you walked around?"
Shao Yan used her fork to twirl the pasta around, "Hm? Nope, why did you ask?"
Li Xiqing smiled, "It's nothing, just asking. Eat slowly, don't choke on it," and then he rubbed her hair lovingly.
.....
"Go take a shower, I'll put these into the fridge," Li Xiqing told her as they stepped into the apartment. He was carrying two grocery bags.
Shao Yan was carrying a bag with her. She looked at him and said, "It's fine, I'll help you," and then she walked inside, straight to the kitchen, "Don't forget we are meeting Grandma this weekend. We have to bring the green tea we got for her as well."
Li Xiqing put the bags on top of the kitchen counter, "Alright. Also, Mandy is visiting next week. She will be staying with her husband at a unit a few stories below us. I will introduce you two later," he said as he opened the fridge and started to arrange the groceries inside.
Shao Yan paused whatever she was doing. She turned around and looked at him, "Uh, do we need to prepare anything?"
"No, she rented a full furnished apartment, so they are all set," he turned to look at her, "I think we just need you two to meet. That's all," and then he smiled. Li Xiqing walked closer to her and grabbed the bag from her hand, and casually put the items into the pantry, and Shao Yan was left with nothing to do.
"Okay, you settle everything here, I'll go take a shower first," Shao Yan leaned closer and pecked his cheek softly; and then she turned around and walked to the bedroom.
.....
When she came out after shower, her shoulder length hair was wet, and Shao Yan was rubbing it gently with her towel.
Li Xiqing just came into the room, and before he got the chance to say anything, Shao Yan had said, "I have prepared the tub for you. Go and have a soak for a while," she walked closer to him, and one of her hand reached out to hold his hand.
Shao Yan slowly said, "I noticed you were tired today, and your expression is not good. I figure, it has something to do with work? So, go and relax yourself for a while, alright?"
Li Xiqing felt that his heart squeezed with full of warmth the moment she said that. He gently squeezed her hand, "Alright," he paused for a while, before adding softly, "thank you, Yan Yan."
Shao Yan pouted her lips and then she turned him around, and with both of her hands behind his back, she pushed him to the bathroom direction, "Why are you saying thanks," and then she clicked her tongue, "just go and refresh yourself now."
.....
Around thirty minutes later, Li Xiqing finally came out. Looking all refreshed and suave, he walked over to the vanity table where Shao Yan was sitting. She caught his reflection in the mirror, and kept her eye contact with the slowly approaching handsome man.
His lips slowly curved and he gave a teasing smirk, Shao Yan stuck out her tongue while squinting her eyes; teasing him back from the mirror.
"Here, let me help you," Li Xiqing grabbed the hair dryer from her hand. His fingertips slowly brushed her damp hair and he started to shift through the warm air all around her scalp.
"How was your first day back to work?"
Shao Yan had both of her hands folded nicely on her lap, as she watched his every move, "It was not bad. Oh, Risa was involved in a cat fight a few days ago," as she said that, her body automatically straightened up and her eyes widened excitedly.
Li Xiqing did not react much, and he still shifted through her hair calmly, "Oh? What happened?"
Shao Yan slowly told him the story.
When she was done, she softly sighed, "Rumor has it that the lady is an heiress from Kanagawa Industries. Do you know that company, Xiqing?"
His hand paused, and then he looked up to see her face in the mirror. His forehead gradually scrunched, "What did you say? Helen Kanagawa is here?" His face showed a concern look and turned solemn.
Shao Yan gingerly nodded her head, she had her lips parted, and was about to say something, but she held herself back when she saw Li Xiqing put the hair dryer down, "You will continue for a while, I need to call Axel." And then he walked to the dressing table by the bedside. Li Xiqing took the mobile phone and walked outside the room.
.....
For the next few days, Shao Yan went to work as usual. The stories about potential cat fight involving the crazy lady and Risa slowly faded away, but some people would still give a questioning look at Risa whenever she walks by.
Shao Yan had started to run around the city; trying to connect with the suppliers for the year-end party.


His right hand touched her left upper arm, and then started to slide down to her wrist.

"In case you haven't noticed.." he started to say.

She had stiffened up, started from his initial touch.

"I'm officially pursuing you."


+++

All she wanted was a second chance in happiness. She had been divorced for two years now and has forgotten about the idea of finding another man. But destiny is playing a cute joke on her to let her met him.

He is successful and powerful and full of distrust on women.

Until he met her.

After that one fateful encounter, are they destined to be together forever? Is God of happiness finally bestowing this tiny spring water to both of them?

+++


ps: I only write happy ending stories. This is 1v1, with a little drama here and there. But those drama only served a purpose to strengthen their relationship. Female lead here is not perfect at all. She is insecure, full of flaws and broken. Male lead is gorgeous and charming as usual. But somehow, they complete each other.

There will be no pitiful weak Cinderella stories here, no white lotus and no almighty CEO that rule the country.

I am portraying normal average people in society. So if this is not your cup of tea, feel free to move on :)

+++


Let's embark on this love boat with me! 


This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

The cover is not mine and was taken from Google image and credit goes to the original artist.


Tag: Female lead, Handsome male lead, Modern day romance, Mature romance, Adult romance, Business world, Second chance

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