Jack followed Changying from the restaurant calling Dante as he cleared the doorway, and then he stepped back into the shadows beside the door and waited.
"May as well have dessert then while we're here," Ben said taking his time to look over the menu despite the fact that he knew it by heart. After ordering for them both, he sat back and looked at his sister, "So why don't you tell me what was so important that you needed me to stay?"
"I don't get why everyone likes her, even Dante," Baozhai complained.
"And Dante doesn't like anyone," Ben finished the line for her. "I don't get what your problem is. She makes him happy that's all we care about."
"If she came from the wrong family you wouldn't say that," Baozhai accused.
"She doesn't. Nor is she a gold digger or a journalist or any threat to the family," Ben said. "You think Jack, and I haven't checked her out? We even looked into the deadbeat father. So I'll ask again, what's your problem?"
"She's fine if you like fat, nerdy bookworms," Baozhai said with disgust. "Wang needs someone more worldly who can fit in with our friends and the places we like to go."
"Like Chen," Ben offered. He smiled as he tried to give him a confused look. "Don't play Dumb Baozhai, it doesn't suit you. I know about the PA you told about Wang and Changying to get her fired. We all do now, even Wang."
"What's wrong with wanting more for him? Chen's great, she has great taste goes to the same clubs and restaurants. She comes from a nice family" she said listing all the things Changying was lacking.
"Then you date her," Ben laughed. "You're more in love with her than Wang will ever be. Didn't you ever notice he has a type, and she is not it?" He stared at her. "Wang likes the quiet, bookish girls, the clubs and beautiful people are what you like and what he puts up with for you. "
"Don't be stupid," Baozhai scoffed.
"Did any of your glamorous friends last more than one night with Wang?" Ben smirked. "Recall any second dates?" Baozhai frowned as their dessert arrived. "I hope for your sake that you sent Chen home earlier because Wang will never forgive you if you have tried to break them up again."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Baozhai said stunned and not having to pretend.
"Jack recognised her when you almost knocked the table over to get out to see her," Ben watched his sister carefully and gave her credit for speed at which she recovered her composure.
"It's no secret that we're friends. I thought it might make Changying uncomfortable, so I told her to have lunch somewhere else. I'm trying to be nice to her just like Mama said," Baozhai explained away the incident easily.
"No problem then. And you kept me from walking Changying back to work because you wanted to have this little chat, nothing about the holidays or any other drama?" Ben inquired.
"Aren't I coming over to your place tonight to talk about that?" Baozhai finally began to worry.
"Sure, the kids are looking forward to having Aunty Lucy over for dinner," Ben chuckled and picked up his phone which had buzzed, and a moment later Jack walked back through the restaurant door.
"What's he doing back here?" Baozhai frowned slowly realising things had gotten out of her control.
"Fuck Baozhai, what were you thinking? I was prepared to accept it was just a chance coincidence Chen being here, but she's assaulted Changying all because you stopped me from walking her back. You can't possibly have thought this would be okay on any level," Ben was more than disappointed in his sister, he was furious, but he held his anger in check.
"I didn't send her after Changying, I sent her way from the restaurant, you saw me," Baozhai's voice held an edge of panic. Jack placed his phone on the table and gave Baozhai the earphones. She paled visibly as she listened to the recording and while it wasn't the best quality she heard enough to know she was in deep trouble even before she saw Changying tumble to the ground and heard Emilio's voice. "I didn't ask her to do that," Baozhai said weakly.
"I doubt that matters now," Ben said. "If I were you I would go to my house now and spend some time with Emily and he kids. Wang won't look or you there and if he does he won't make a scene in front of the kids."
"Wang has seen that?" Baozhai asked quietly.
"Not yet, I don't think, but I doubt that Dante will keep it from him, do you?" Ben asked reasonably.
"Why did you do it?" Jack shook his head,
"I didn't do it. I sent her away from the restaurant you saw me do it," Baozhai repeated her denial. "I'm not responsible for what she did after that. She's had a crush on Wang for forever she is upset that he chose Changying over her. It's not my fault, I didn't do anything," Baozhai had no other way to go other than to continue to protest her innocence. "I'll go and apologise to Changying and everything will be fine."
"Close but no cigar," Ben said.
"True, it was a good effort," Jack nodded. "You slipped up, though if you didn't do anything why would you apologise? The Baozhai I know would be spitting mad and ready to take Chen's head off for saying shit like that."
"She's broken hearted. Women do dumb shit like that all the time when their heart broken," Baozhai shrugged. "I didn't send her after Changying I'll bring her to see you tomorrow, and we can sort the whole mess out, Wang will understand, trust me I know him better than any of you."
"If you say so," Ben stood up. "The offer is there for dinner still, Emily will be expecting you." He leant down as if to kiss his sisters cheek but murmured in her ear instead. "Stay away from Wang and Changying tonight," the threat was clear in his voice.
"God there is nothing to worry about," Baozhai huffed. "I'll see you for dinner tonight." She stood and gathered her bag.