Love O2O- Beyond a Beautiful Smile

Chapter 52- The Family you Choose

Relating to Episode 29 of Love O2O

In exchange for Hao Mei claiming the best room for himself and KO, he was 'volunteered' for BBQ duty. Technically, they'd both been volunteered but as no one wanted to take KO's place as head chef he was off the hook for the rest of it. Which left Mei cleaning the BBQ and getting it lit while the rest of the guys hit the pool. Just in case anyone felt sorry for Mei, Ban Shan and Yong Hou had shared stories about some of his early cooking attempts when he'd just moved into the dormitories. These stories were taken as proof that Mei was great at lighting fires... so he was left to do so in peace. Fortunately for everyone, Mr Chef was very particular about his work space and had printed off instructions before leaving the office. Mei had watched him in the kitchen enough that had no trouble following the precise instructions and before long the BBQ was heating nicely.

    "Senior KO and the others are swimming... you're not going to take a look?"  Bei Wei Wei offered him a drink of water and he took it gratefully.

    "Who says you'll know how to swim if you grow up by the sea? I only know how to eat fish." The gods were smiling on him if Wei Wei was the first one he tried his excuse with; she was more naive than the others but if she accepted his story then no one else would question. Such was the power of being Laoda's furen. 

   "All right," Wei Wei shrugged. If Mei wasn't swimming then at least she wouldn't be the only one sitting on the side watching. It didn't take long before Mei was wiping his hands on his pants. 

    "Okay, this is all good," he grinned at Wei Wei. "Let's go watch them swim."

    "This would be you forcing me to go."

    "Let's go. I'm forcing  you to go." Mei grabbed her arm and dragged her towards the pool. they could hear raucous laughter echoing in the  glass atrium and it was hard to stay apart and set up the barbecue. Especially when Mei was used to being in the centre of that much noise. "Let's go watch them swim."

    

Contrary to Mei's expectations, only Xiao Nai and KO were still in the pool. The noise came from their friends sitting on the sidelines, teasing the two men about being unable to define 'relaxation'. It wasn't long before basic male posturing led to a competition between the two... which led to Mei's current predicament. 

    "Eh?" He scratched his head as he watched KO swim away. "What did I do?"

    "Think it through and then go and apologise or Ban Shan will have to cook."

    "Hey!" Ban Shan hit Li Qiang over the back of the head, then smirked. "But he's right. Hurry, Mei, and make up to your husband. We're all getting hungry."

     "Yeah."

     "Hurry, hurry."

     "Make up quick. We want food."

         Several hands pushed Mei towards the opposite end of the pool where KO was leaning against the wall with his face half in the water. He cleared his throat as he approached, squatting next to the swimmer. 

     "Hey, KO. What's wrong?" The clear water, Mei decided, was a curse. How was he supposed to concentrate on finding out what was wrong with KO, when he had the perfect view of his bare chest... all wet... he licked his lips then spluttered as he copped a face full of water. "Eh? What was that for?" 

     "So thirsty." KO pulled his swim cap off and ran his hand through his hair. Mei's mind went blank. 

     "You're thirsty? I'll get you a drink." Another wave of water splashed over his face and into his open mouth. Coughing and spluttering, he wiped chlorinated water from his eyes. "Eh? What was that for?"