Soon they were all sitting in Mao Lu's living room drinking happily and eating the snacks they'd prepared.

"So you're a client at B&B law firm?" Bing Bing asked.

Chàng Bo nodded.

"What kind of circ.u.mstance requires you to stay with Mao Lu?" Bing Bing couldn't help but ask curiously.

"A private circ.u.mstance." Chàng Bo replied back coldly.

"Private. Ah I see hahaha." Fei Bing Bing laughed awkwardly.

Seeing the awkwardness Frank w.a.n.g got to his feet and pulled two bags from the corner of the room.

"So here is your housewarming gifts, you didn't think we came empty handed did you?" Frank w.a.n.g winked as he pa.s.sed the two big bags to Mao Lu.

"Oh you guys didn't have to!" Mao Lu cried out as he pulled out the brand new rice cooker, a collection of porcelain dishware, cool photo frames and a set of air fresheners shaped like arrows.

"Oh my you guys!!!! This is so nice and sweet of you. Oh my. Thank you so much. I love you all." Mao Lu shouted in joy.

"I knew he'd like them!" Frank w.a.n.g smiled smugly.

"It's nothing to be grateful for Lu, Frank w.a.n.g was the one who got the presents, we only gave him the money." Fang Kai said.

"Yeah but you guys prepared all of this together and you put money towards the gifts. Of course I'm grateful to all of you for all of it. And I really do love you guys. This means the world to me honestly."

They all (minus Qi Zhou and Chàng Bo) smiled like fools at Mao Lu's words.

Everyone raised their gla.s.ses, Chàng Bo quickly copying them.

"Here's to Mao Lu's brilliant future and hopefully more good luck and good fortune." Zhao Detong proclaimed, "Kampei!!!"

"Kampei!!!!" Everyone else shouted back as they clinked gla.s.ses and drank more.

Half of them drank beer, the other half some wine and spirits. The only one not drinking anything alcoholic was Zhao Detong who was going to be driving everyone home.

"Sooooo" said a very drunk Tanaka, in less than an hour he was already on his 5th beer, "You Mr gorgeous and handsome" he said as he wagged his finger at Chàng Bo.

"Do you like my Mao Lu, my Mao Lu is b.l.o.o.d.y amazing. Just look at that face and body. You won't lose out if you started dating him!" Tanaka yelled.

Mao Lu felt his face burn with embarra.s.sment.

Both he and Bei Lao both yelled "Tanaka!!!!" at the same time.

"WHAT!!!" he yelled back. "I'm not wrong, right? This guy should date you Lu. Oi Chàng Bo, my Lu has much he can offer you. Not only is he handsome, he's also very smart, if he continued his education he'd have all honours by now. You can't find a better man than him. Not only that my Lu is a virgin, a pure s£%=([email protected]=/%/##"

Tanaka's next words became m.u.f.fled as Bei Lao covered his mouth.

At this very moment Mao Lu wished he could just crawl into a hole and die. Everyone was looking at him, including Chàng Bo.

This was so embarra.s.sing.

"Why Tanaka just why!!?" He screamed in his head.

"It's not humiliating to be a virgin, virginity is a good thing to maintain. Sometimes it's better to wait until you meet the right person." Fei Bing Bing said as she saw Mao Lu's embarra.s.sed and red face.

Fang Kai who was as drunk as Tanaka, laughed "Hahaha maybe for women it looks good if you're a virgin by Mao Lu's age, but Mao Lu's a man, even if he's a gay he's still a man. Being a virgin when you're nearly 25, people will think you've got some problem down there hahaha."

Zhao Detong, Fei Bing Bing, and Bei Lao glared at Fang Kai.

"Really Mao Lu it's nothing to be ashamed of, I mean there are all kinds of people and it doesn't matter if you put out or not. I doubt anyone will think you have a problem." Detong said trying to salvage the situation.

"Wow says the guy that had various girlfriends and lost his virginity at 15, what would you know about virginity" Frank w.a.n.g said. "As a fellow virgin, just like you Lu I'm the one who's qualified to say that there is nothing wrong with it. Just wait to find someone you love."

Fang Kai began to giggle again, "Yeah but you've at least kissed someone before, right Frank? Mao Lu has never done that. He told me so the last time we went drinking. He's never kissed another person, not once! He's a 1000% virgin!"

"Fang Kai!!" Fei Bing Bing yelled as she shook Fang Kai by the collar.

"Yeah." said Tanaka as he escaped Bei Lao's grasp and stood on the gla.s.s table, "That's why you should love our Lu!!!! He's 1000% pure, 1000% pure hearted, 1000% decent. He's the best d.a.m.n thing you'll ever find!" Tanaka yelled into Chàng Bo's face.

Chàng Bo watched all of this with growing amus.e.m.e.nt, and at the same time he also felt embarra.s.sed on Mao Lu's behalf.

He didn't know whether Gatekeeper Lu really took a fancy to him or not, but being advertised like this by his mortal friends must be mortifying.

Mao Lu's expression was dark. He didn't say anything. He didn't look at any of his friends, and he didn't dare look at Chàng Bo, else he might scream in embarra.s.sment. Instead he just glugged down more of his beer and stuffed his face with some more dumplings and tried to pretend he wasn't involved with anything happening around him.

But then…

"Oh and by the way Chàng Bo, Mao Lu is a solid Shou, a Uke you know, so he likes it %§@&% so if you want to %@&£/@%@ then you can! And I'm sure he'd love it if you & #£@[email protected][email protected]££#_#%+%@+£%+#%@him!!!!!!" Tanaka shouted on top of the table.

That was the final straw.

Mao Lu sprang to his feet and dragged Tanaka off the table.

"THAT'S IT!!! ALL OF YOU HAVE STAYED LONG ENOUGH. LEAVE! LEAVE! LEAVE RIGHT NOW!!!!!"

Zhao Detong and Frank w.a.n.g immediately grabbed the drunk Fang Kai. Fei Bing Bing and Bei Lao grabbed Tanaka.

"I'm so sorry Mao Lu!" Fei Bing Bing said hurriedly.

"Yes this wasn't meant to happen Lu, we'll take these guys away and leave now okay. We didn't mean for this to end on such a sour note." Zhao Detong apologised.

Mao Lu couldn't even respond, he was too busy internally screaming. "Why are my friends such messes. Why why why why why why why!!!!!!!"

They all hurried to the car, as Qi Zhou lingered, wondering whether she should leave or not, Mao Lu sighed and said "Let's have a chat another time, right now I'm not in the mood." he replied darkly.

Qi Zhou quivered and nodded quickly as she ran towards the Land Rover like a headless chicken. She was so glad she'd been allowed to leave, she thanked the heavens.

In less than five minutes Mao Lu's home had been vacated and the only ones still there was him and Chàng Bo.

Mao Lu wanted to run away.

Chàng Bo also felt extremely awkward. He wanted to say something like, "It doesn't matter" or "I'll pretend it never happened" or "Don't be embarra.s.sed you're a Gatekeeper I wouldn't dare even dream or think of such things."

But Chàng Bo stopped himself.

He felt like saying anything would make the situation even more uncomfortable and embarra.s.sing for Mao Lu.

So instead he just sat there quietly and waited for Mao Lu to say anything.

In the end Mao Lu just quietly cleaned the living room.

Chàng Bo helped him.

They put the extra food in the fridge, brushed and mopped the wooden floors, cleaned the surfaces, put away the gifts, and did the dishes together. All in silence.

Mao Lu looked like he wanted to say something to Chàng Bo, and he did, but he didn't know what.

In the end Mao Lu just avoided eye contact with Chàng Bo and walked away towards the west building.

The moment his bedroom door closed he jumped onto his bed and screamed into his pillow.

"How embarra.s.sing!!!!! How b.l.o.o.d.y embarra.s.sing!!!!!!!"

After screaming for ages he heard a chuckling sound.

It was Gates, it couldn't help itself it laughed like crazy. "Hilarious, absolutely hilarious."

"I'm glad one of us finds this so funny." Mao Lu mumbled bitterly.

"I can't understand why you're so upset, he is your future Fate Companion, he'd know these things sooner or later." Gates said, still laughing.

"That isn't the point Gates! It isn't the point!" Mao Lu weeped and screamed more into his pillow.

"[email protected]/%@)@%@%%@)@:@!!!!!!!!!!!!" Mao Lu continuously cursed.

"How the h.e.l.l am I supposed to tell him about the Fate Companions.h.i.+p now!!!!????"

__________________________

ZHONGSHAN PARK- TIAN'ANMEN

The Beijing sky was a hazy dark blue as the evening ripened.

A couple walked in the park hand in hand.

"I love you Ming Tian" A girl confessed.

"I love you too Ji Nai." The boy confessed back.

They embraced under the moonlight.

As the girl hugged him, she opened her eyes and saw a pair of green bloodshot eyes staring back at her.

"AHHHHHHH!!!!" She screamed as she pulled Ming Tian back.

A large creature that was the size of the tree next to them, stood above them. Staring at them hungrily.

It's large tongue wagged as thick green drool oozed off of it.

It's body seemed to be made of shadows, it was like some mutated no-face.

Ming Tian screamed loudly as he spotted the monster.

He grabbed Ji Nai's hand and began to run out of the park.

As they desperately ran they heard the creatures ragged breath behind them.

Ming Tian held Ji Nai's hand tightly as he continued running but suddenly something felt very wrong.

As he looked to his side he realised his hand was still holding Ji Nai's, but her hand wasn't connected to her body.

It was just a dismembered hand.

"AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"

As he screamed the creatures mouth was wide over his head. The next second it's jaw clamped shut.

_____________________

Mao Lu opened his eyes wide. His entire body s.h.i.+vered. He felt something very wrong. Yet he couldn't pinpoint it.

He used Sense of the Realm but he couldn't see or feel anything unusual. What was this growing feeling of anxiety? Why did he suddenly feel so nervous?

He remembered the warning he'd gotten from Argenti before he'd left the Flaming Star Fortress.

"You need to keep your eyes out for any irregularities"

Was this an irregularity?