Chapter 13

Ling's POV

I spent the majority of my time in the hospital next to Luhan. He didn't really need to be in the hospital, but the company had thought it a good idea to keep him there longer for publicity reasons.

One morning I had decided to go over early right after EXO had left for their schedules. I snuck out of the dorm and made my way to the hospital under Zhang-ge's guidance over text. When I arrived, Luhan was still sleeping. I sat and watched him sleep, eventually falling asleep myself with my head on his bed.

When I woke up, Luhan was stroking my hair.

"Good morning," He beamed at me.

I flushed red and sat up straight next to him. "H-how's your wrist."

He shrugged at me. "It's fine, I hate how I'm just stuck here."

He got out of bed and walked around the room stretching. He stopped in front of the rows of flowers given by his fans. "If only they knew why I'm still in the hospital."

"Oh," I got a lunch box from my bag. "I made you lunch."

He turned in surprise. "For me? You shouldn't have."

He made his way to me and took the lunch box with no hesitation. "Tell you what Ling, I've been getting sick of the food here. I mean it's good and all but..."

I watched him look at the contents hungrily and take an egg roll.

"Wow, you can really cook." He looked at me, eyes wide.

"I worked at a small restaurant before. I can cook really well."

"Perfect wife material."

I blushed profusely and shook my head, my heart feeling like its going to beat out of my chest. "No, no."

He laughed my reaction. "So you're the ring girl huh? Sehun couldn't stop talking about you last night on the phone."

I looked at him surprised. "Really? I'm not that interesting."

"He told me how you resolved his argument with Xiumin."

I blushed.

"I have to say, you're doing really well as his ring girl."

"No, Sehun's just immature," I explained. "He didn't understand why Xiumin went to see you without telling him. I mean Xiumin's just trying to protect him you know, and he just didn't understand."

Luhan smiled at me and said nothing.

I stared back. "What?"

"You're fond of him," Luhan's smile widened into a smirk. "You like Xiumin."

My heart flew out of my chest and I felt my eyes widen in shock.

How could you say that to me, when it's plainly obvious that the one I like is you.

"You're so cute when ur embarrassed." Luhan ruffled my hair and stuffed the past of the lunch in his mouth. 

"It was delicious thank you."

Mid afternoon, Xiumin arrived at the room with a basket of fruits. He stopped when he saw me.

"Ling, what are you doing here, why aren't you at home?"

"What are you doing here, don't you have schedules?" I retorted back.

Xiumin waved a hand at me. "It's over for the day."

He sat down next to me and looked at Luhan. "Fruit basket for you from your fans. I picked it up at the front desk."

"Oh thanks," Luhan put it on the bedside table. "Did you bring me anything?"

Xiumin stared blankly at him as he chuckled. "Ling brought me a lunch box, where's your present?"

Xiumin stared at me for a moment then back at Luhan. "Lu-ge, I'm here, what more do you need?"

Luhan laughed and pulled me closer to him. "I have Ling, I don't need you."

I felt his chin on my head as he held me around my shoulders and my heart just couldn't take it anymore.

Luhan...

-
Xiumin's POV

I was jealous. Jealous of the lunch she made for him and jealous of their relationship. The way Ling looked at me was nothing compared to the way she looked at Luhan.

I watched as he jokingly pulled her into a hug, her face turning red and his not.

It's so obvious that he doesn't like you that way, Ling.

I grabbed Ling and pulled her out of his grip.

"You should go home," I muttered to her.

She looked at me confused. "What why?"

So I don't have to watch you and Luhan.

"Our manager is coming later, and if he sees you, there'll be talk."

Luhan nodded in agreement. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Ling frowned and walked out of the room without looking back.

"Jerks." She said before she closed the door and I couldn't help but smile.

"How's your wrist doing," I asked Luhan.

"Fine," he smirked at me and leaned forward. "Let me tell you something, brother."

I leaned in.

"I think Ling likes you."

I snapped and stood up glaring down at him. "Let me tell you something, if you think I'm going to lose against you, you are wrong."

He stared at me with a lost expression. "What? What are we competing for?"

I cried out in frustration. He doesn't even know, he's always so oblivious and it is really pissing me off.

I glared at him again and waved it off. "Never mind, let's talk about something else."

We listened to music and talked about his concert for the rest of the afternoon. Around 7, the rest of EXO filed into the room. We all yelled excitedly at each other waiting for the camera man and the managers arrival to shoot our next scene with Luhan. Naturally, he was not excited for the shoot. Luhan was the only one out of all of us to have a script. The managers couldn't risk him letting slip something as he was no longer in EXO.

I watched as Sehun and Chen tried to cheer him up with new jokes they've learned. He smiled weakly back at them and eventually the two of them gave up deciding it was best to just give him some space.

The cameramen arrived first with our makeup artist. I couldn't help but glance at Luhan as they brushed his soft dyed gray hair. His face looked grim as he read over the script the cameraman gave him.

Without warning the door to the room slammed open and our manager stormed in. He slammed his hand on the table.

"Xiumin, that friend of yours from China," he bellowed at me and I jumped. "What is her name?"

I blinked.

"What happened?" Luhan left his bed and joined us around the table.

"Oh great, you know her too?" Our manager was fuming in anger. "And all of you know her as well."

All of EXO bowed their head in confusion.

"Great, great, that's wonderful, then do tell me." He paused to take a breath. "How do I explain this situation to your fans?"

He pointed at a picture on his phone. I moved closer to take a look.

The photo was taken at the hospital and Ling stood at the center of the members, not including me. Sehun stood in front of her and Chen had his arm around her shoulders. She was smiling and her fingers were in Sehun's blonde hair, stroking it back.

He scrolled the page to reveal more pictures and I felt my mouth drop.

One of them was a picture of Ling in her blue blouse and me in my sunglasses walking in the mall with our coffees.

Beside me, Sehun stared at the photo of the two of them walking together at night.

Ling!

Chapter 12

Ling's POV

I had told Zhang-ge to pick me up at their dorm so that we could go to the hospital together. I specifically kept this from Xiumin as we walked home in worry.

Of course, all this backfired when we arrived home and Zhang-ge was already there.

"Ling let's go."

"Where are you going?" Lay asked joining into our conversation. "What's happened."

Xiumin looked at the members and his gaze rested on Sehun. "Luhan's at the hospital."

Sehun's expression turned dark instantly and he grabbed his coat. "We're going."

Suho nodded and the members all left to grab their jackets.

"No!" I screamed at them and they stopped in their tracks. "You signed a contract!"

Suho sat down in thought. "That's true."

Sehun didn't stop and headed for the door. "I don't care."

Kai held him back. "Let's think of another way."

"Use the fans," Zhang-ge muttered impatiently at me. "If they find out that Luhan's at a hospital in Korea, they'll have to let them see him."

Lay nodded. "That's not a bad idea."

I explained to the members and they nodded their heads.

"Baekhyung has a fan account he uses to interact secretly with the fans." Chanyeol grinned and Baekhyung blushed. The two of them huddled together on his phone and started to spread the news. Zhang-ge passed his phone to me.

"It's all over the Chinese news, I don't think you need to do that," He said scratching at his stubbles. "We got swarmed at the airport when I went to meet him too. Everything should already be in the media."

"Oh!" Baekhyung yelled. "They already know! SM is getting major hate right now."

He played a video on his phone.

"Fans have gathered in front of SM entertainment to protest against not letting the members of EXO see their former member Luhan at the hospital." The reporter was yelling at the top of his lungs over the fan cries. "The former Chinese member was transported to Korea earlier tonight after being in a fatal hit and run accident in Beijing, China. It is reported that he did not want to abandon his Korea concert which will be happening later this month. Nothing has been heard from the Chinese police regarding the suspects, but the investigation is ongoing."

Suho's phone rang.

"Hyung-nim?" Everyone looked at him. "Yes, yes, I understand."

He hung up and grabbed his jacket. "They're letting us see him."

Everyone cheered and left to prepare.

"You and Zhang-ge should probably go ahead of us," Suho told me. "It'll be bad if our manager sees you here."

I agreed and left with Zhang-ge to the hospital.

-
Luhan's POV

They made too much of a deal about it on the news.

A fatal injury? Not even, I wasn't dying, well except a broken wrist and an aching side. But really, fatal was not the word.

The door to my room burst open and Ling ran in towards me. She bit on her lip and smacked me on the head.

I blinked at her and my mouth fell open. "W-why!"

"How did you get in an accident!" She bellowed at me tears forming in her eyes.

"It wasn't my fault!" I reassured her. "I-"

That wasn't true and I knew it. I recalled my dizziness just before the collision and shut my mouth tight.

"Your manager outside just said to me that you were over-worked!" She said sitting down angrily on the chair next to me. "And that you wanted to be overworked?"

I said nothing, it was nice to see Ling again.

She pouted and glanced up at me, her eyes softening. "I'm glad that you're alright."

I blushed and ruffled her hair. "You're dressed so nicely, did you go somewhere today?"

She nodded. "Xiumin showed me around Seoul."

Xiumin?

Just then the door burst open again and all of the EXO members rushed in.

"Hyung!" Chen rushed over to my side. "How are you?"

I spent the next hour being entertained by my visitors. We joked and they filled me in on all the things that happened after I left. I couldn't help but feel left out as they continued each other's sentences to finish telling me a story.

I used to be a part of that.

Ling put her hand on my good hand and squeezed. She looked at me but said nothing.

"Luhan, did you know she was the ring girl?" Sehun said excitedly.

"What? No way."

Sehun took my hand and showed him the ring on my finger. The members oohed and I felt my face explode with embarrassment.

"I bought her the shirt." Xiumin cut in smirking at Sehun and the members grew louder.

"I bought her those shoes." I challenged feeling slightly irritated. "Back off from my sister."

"What is happening here?" Chen laughed. "Love, square?"

Before I even had time to react, the door to my hospital room slammed open for the third time. My old EXO manager walked in followed by the other EXO managers and a few cameramen.

"You two, out." He pointed at Ling and Zhang-ge.

I watched as they were escorted out of the room and into the hallway with the door slamming in their face.

"You guys just act normal." My ex-manager said to us. "Ignore the camera man."

The other managers hurried to do our makeup and fix our clothes.

I pushed them away with my good hand. "I'm sorry, I'm not with SM anymore and I don't want you filming in here."

He smirked at me and leaned into my face. "You think I don't know why Xiumin went to China?"

The room fell into complete silence.

"I don't think he will still have a spot in EXO after I tell the boss."

I glared back at him then glanced at Xiumin who shook his head.

"Fine." I spat at him bitterly.

His face distorted into an ugly smile and he handed me a piece of paper. "Your script."

"My what?" I snapped. "Why do I need a script?"

He looked at me and laughed. "So you don't mess this up."

I read over the script in annoyance and paused at a line.

"I'll be working on a song with EXO?"

-
Ling's POV

I stood outside the door with my ears pressed against the door as Zhang-ge sat patiently with his tea in his hand.

"I can't hear anything!" I complained and sat next to him. "Why did they shut us out?"

"So it's just EXO members." Zhang-ge chuckled. "They probably don't want us messing up their image."

I ran my hands through my hair. "I can't believe SM is using stuff like this to their benefit."

Zhang-ge shrugged. "That's business."

A few minutes later, the door to the room opened and the camera crew and managers flooded out.

I watched as the EXO members followed them out and all bowed in unison. I joined them back in the room and sat on the bed next to Luhan.

"What happened?" I asked as Zhang-ge strolled slowly back inside.

Baekhyung passed me his phone with a video on it. The members talking to Luhan just like old times and-

"You're working on a joint project together?"

Everyone shrugged in confusion and the video continued. "SM planned it."

I looked at Luhan who has been silent since I walked in. Our eyes locked and he smiled weakly.

"You okay?" I asked and everyone looked at him.

"Yeah," he paused and looked up at us, his voice was shaking. "I just don't want to anymore, not with SM again."

I sat feeling helpless in the silence of the room. My hand yearning to hold on to his.

Chapter 11

Ling's POV

I woke up to the smell of breakfast and wandered in my pajamas to the kitchen where Xiumin was making breakfast.

He turned to me holding a cup of coffee. "This is about the only thing I can make well."

He puffed his cheeks in embarrassment and passed the cup to me.

"It smells amazing," I smiled at him. "Thank you."

I took a sip just as Baekhyung, Chanyeol and Sehun came down the stairs.

"Woah!" Baekhyung called out. "Ling, you shorts! They're so-"

I blushed hard and tried to pull down my shorts.

Sehun smacked him on the head and held him in a choke hold. "What were you thinking hyung."

Baekhyung laughed and the two of them moved to the couch and crashed.

"Wow, hyung!" Chanyeol's mouth watered at the site of the food. "Is this all for us?"

Xiumin laughed and scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, it's not that great."

He passed me a plate of eggs, toast and bacon and leaned on the counter as Chanyeol and Sehun helped themselves to breakfast.

"Where do you want to go today, let's go do something fun." He grinned and tilted his head.

I pinched his cheeks and giggled. "So cute." I blurted out.

He frowned and pushed my hand away. "Stop it."

I looked at him blankly kind of shocked.

"I'll meet you back here in 10 minutes for our outing okay?" He said without looking at me.

"Yeah, okay." I said hesitantly and watched him go back to his room.

I sat there in silence trying to comprehend what had happened. Sehun took Xiumin's place in front of me and looked me in the eye. "You shouldn't have said that."

"What? I didn't offend him." I groaned.

He flicked my forehead. "Aish this girl. You hurt his man pride."

I furrowed my brows and looked at him skeptically.

"You see, guys don't like being called cute." He stabbed a piece of bacon with his fork.

"Hey don't worry. He'll get over it." He said with his mouthful. "Go get changed, you have a date don't you?"

I blushed red and left quickly as Sehun chuckled behind me.

About five minutes later I walked out of my room only to walk right into Sehun. He put a finger to his lips and guided me back into my room.

"Wear this." He held up a pale blue blouse. "He bought this for you yesterday."

As Sehun stood facing the door with a towel wrapped over his eyes, I changed into a white tank top and put on the blouse. It was a perfect fit. There were holes at the shoulders and the medium length sleeves connected to the body of the shirt where it puffed out. It matched nicely with my denim shorts and the white sneakers that Luhan had given me.

"How do I look?" I uncovered Sehun's eyes and spun him around to face me.

He gave me the thumbs up. "Go get him." He winked at me and I smiled.

-
Xiumin's POV

I sat on the couch with my sunglasses and snapback in my hand. I looked at my watch.

She's late. Is she upset that I pushed her hand away?

I used my phone as a mirror and checked my hair one last time. I ran my hand through it to make sure it stayed up. Tired of sitting, I stood up and began impatiently pacing the room. I had on a pair of black cargo shirt with a short sleeved white and green hoody, but now that I had more time, I felt more of a need to change.

I headed for my room again.

Maybe a different shirt? Should I just leave my hair down?

I tipped my head in frustration just as Ling walked down the stairs.

She was stunning from head to toe. The first thing I noticed was the blue blouse that I had bought for her the day before. She wore it extremely well. Her hair was down in small waves that surrounded her face. She combed it back with her fingers and she smiled making me blush.

"Ready?" She said coming closer.

"You look nice." I smiled and bowed my head.

"What is this, why are you so formal." She smiled cheekily at me and punched me in the shoulder.

We left after she helped me hide my identity. I had decided not to wear the face mask today because of how crowded I suspected the roads would be. Ling was worried but I insisted I without one.

The day went very well. We went to the movies, followed by lunch and made our final stop at the mall. Ling and I joked around at different shops and eventually found ourselves in a hat shop.

"You like hats don't you?" Ling ran ahead of me and tried on a top hat. She grabbed another one and placed it on my head.

"What is this." I laughed when I saw my reflection in the mirror.

We took several selfies together with different combinations of hats. Eventually, we felt the angry glaring of the shop owner and decided to leave before she kicked us out. When we left the mall with our coffee it was already dark.

"Should we go get dinner too then?" I asked looking at her from the corners of my eyes.

"Anything you want Oppa." She had made herself comfortable with calling me that word but my heart was certainly not. I felt it beat faster as we walked towards a small corner restaurant with her arms looped into mine.

"Could we get a room?" Ling asked after I told the waiters that it was only us two.

The waiter stared at us for a brief moment then nodded. "There's a room free for the night."

We made ourselves comfortable with the small room sitting side by side in front of a round table and looked at the menu. As soon as the waiter had left the room from delivering our orders Ling sprung onto me.

"Excuse me." She smiled and grabbed my glasses off my face. "It's very awkward not being able to see your eyes when I talk to you."

I stared at her surprised, my heart beating loudly.

"Imagine talking to some one who looks like this all day." She put on the glasses and my hat. Ling brought her face closer to mine to make a point. "Not very easy to talk to right?"

I laughed and took my hat back from her. "Sorry for putting you through that."

She shrugged and began to eat.

We walked home through a park. It was late and there was almost no one around. I put my arm around her holding her close.

"Are you scared?" She smiled at me. I shook my head and slipped off my glasses, I felt strange wearing sunglasses when it was dark.

She frowned at me. "You're going to get caught."

"Then I'm ready for the consequences."

"I'm not," she whined. "I'm telling you now, I would not be able to live with myself if you get kicked out of EXO."

She looked away. "There's already been so many members that left."

I hugged her closer. "Aw, you don't have to worry about me."

She pushed me away. "Oppa, you're taking this like a joke."

I stared at her in the darkness.

"You and the members get along really well, how can you be willing to just sacrifice that."

Because of you.

She crossed her arms at me and maintained a distance. My phone rang and she looked at me.

"Hello?"

Zhang-ge's voice bellowed through the speaker. "Give to Ling."

His Korean was horrible, but I passed the phone to her all the same. I listened to Ling chattering away in Mandarin and suddenly felt the urge to learn it as well.

"Xiumin," she finally said. "Luhan's in Korea."

"What really? Where?" I said taking the phone back from her.

She paused.

"The hospital."

I felt my heart sink into a deep dark hole.