One: The cute crazy guy

"Sir! "

I looked back and saw a man dressed in black and white suit came running towards me.

"Shit. " I hissed and walked faster. That crazy guy is here again!

"Sir wait! "

"Stop following me! " I yelled then ran away from him as fast as i can.

I went in an alley but i was stopped by a three meter high wall made of barbed wire, once again i looked back and saw the man looking left and right to find me. I rushed to climbed up the wall and jumped swiftly.

"Sir come back! " I glanced one last time at the guy following me, he was stuck at the other side of the fence trying to climb too. It's a pity that he's crazy, he was kinda cute.

I continued to run until i see no sign of him. I ended up in a lake park, it was a manmade lake but the view is extra ordinary. There were ducks swimming on the lake while pigeons were on the ground pecking on the concrete floor looking for food i guess.

I sat on a bench and leaned on the back rest.

That guy has been following me for a week now, he introduced himself as Shan Zhao and that he was working for the imperial family.

I almost laughed when i heard that, but he told me he was serious. I tried to be serious too and decided to listen to whatever he has to say which i shouldn't have done, what he said next was what made me laugh, rolling on the ground.

"You are the descendant of the great Emperor. And the imperial family needs you. " He said.

Imperial family my ass! The monarch in this country was long gone! And how did they even know I'm a descendant? Did they scanned my whole body with some advanced equipment or something?

I told him he's delusional and that i wasn't the one he was looking for. I showed him my house which was an old apartment with a hole on the roof, creaking floor and smelly hallways.

"If i was a royalty or something i wouldn't be living here and should be enjoying luxury, but I'm not, so get out! "

I slammed the door in his face and ignored him when he knocked on my door for hours. That went on until now. It's either i ignore him or run away from him.

" found you. "

My eyes widened when i heard a familiar voice, I've been hearing it for days so i know whose voice it was. He was catching his breath and almost collapsed on the ground. He's only using his left hand to support his weight.

"When will you leave me alone? " I asked, irritated.

"Chill, I'm not going to force you to come with me now. " he said still catching his breath.

"What? You're going to kidnap me? Nice try, you won't even be able to budge me here. " I snorted.

He laughed and sat beside me. " I didn't know you're funny. "

"And i didn't know you're so bold, When did i allow you to sit beside me? " I scowled at him that made him immediately stand up and bowed.

"I-I apologize. " He said trembling. What the heck?

"What are you apologizing for? " I asked.

"I forgot that you are a prince, please forgive me. " He answered with his head still looking at the ground.

My face grimmed. "Enough with that bullshit, lift your head up and sit beside me. I don't want to hear anything about that made up monarch of yours. "

He lifted his head and looked into my eyes sadly. But he didn't said any word and sat beside me.

There was a long silence between us before i break the ice.

"Why me? "

He looked at me, surprised by my sudden question.

"Huh?

"I said, why is it me? Of all people. " I repeated, he now understands what I'm talking about.

He sighed and looked at the lake before answering.

" Because it's you, not other people but you. i was just doing the order that was given to me. I was ordered to find you and bring you back home. " He said.

"But surely i know there are also a lot of descendants from that Emperor or whatever. Why not choose from them? "

"You have the perfect DNA resembling those from The great Emperor from the Tang dynasty. You are the perfect heir and they need you to bring back monarchy in this country. "

"How did you know i have the perfect DNA resembling his? "

"Oh! I snuck into your room and I took your tootbrush for DNA testing. " He explained.

I frowned. "That's why my brush went missing! it's you! And why do you people even want to bring back the monarch? I've read from books that the monarchy isn't a very good experience for the people. "

"If you come back with me, you'll understand. "

I groaned "not with that again! "

He puffed his breath "fine, fine. Let's talk about something else. " He said.

"Fine. "

" Oh, Wait! I have one more question. " He suddenly said.

"What is it? "

"Don't you believe in the monarchy system? You seem so against it. " He asked.

I glared at him, he put his hands up " i was just asking! Just this once then I'll let go of this topic! "

I sighed before answering.

"No reason, i just don't like the idea of having an emperor or what. They doesn't seem too kind. " I said before i looked at the lake view. It looks breath taking if you learn to appreciate the scenery before you.

He nodded the watched the lake with me.

"My name is Shan Zhao, 28 years old. Working as an imperial councilor in training and a son of a Captain General of the royal army, i know i have told you before but i want to start again, not someone ordered to chase you and bring you back but someone who want to become your friend. "

"Really? " I sarcastically said.

"Yeah, really. After a week of chasing you i realized that you don't have that much friends. There's only a handful of them right? " He teased.

"So you pity me now? "

He shook his head. "Nah, it's just that.. we're actually the same. "

I raised my eyebrow at him " How so? "

" I didn't have many friends, i barely manage to have a talk with other people in the palace except for my parents, siblings and my bestfriend. "

I nodded. I decided to not say anything. I just enjoyed the scenery in front of my eyes.

"Are we friends now? " He asked.

I closed my eyes and feel the breeze of the air against my face.

"Mr. Wang—"

"Shut it" i hissed.

"But– "

I opened my eyes and stood up, i looked at him, he was sitting while looking up at me.

His face was hit by the sunlight and his eyes squinted because of it so he blocked the sunlight with his hand, the wind blew and his hair danced along with it.

I almost got lost deeply looking at his hazel brown eyes that were looking back at me. I snapped back into reality and told him,

"If you want to become my friend, call me Vernon. And please stop pestering me about that monarch thing. I've been having nightmares because of that, got it? "

He nodded, his eyes was still locked into mine. He looked more lovely in my eyes as the time passes that we looked into each other.

I cleared my throat.

"Do you want some snacks? Let's go buy it over there. " I said and pointed at a convenience store near the park.

"What? O-Okay.. " he said. He looked like he just realized that he stared at me for a long time, his cheeks was flushed with bright red.

I turned my back on him and walked towards the convenience store, i secretly tapped my chest.

What the hell is going on inside my heart? It's beating like crazy.

We only took a few steps when i turned to him again which made Shan bumped into me, he was so surprised, and so am i.. I accidentally inhaled his scent.. and it's addicting.

I distanced my self and extended my hand

" my name is Vernon Wang, 24 years old. An orphan and a poor citizen of China. Just wanted to let you know. That's my identity. " I said.

He was pondering whether he would shake my hand, but he took it in the end and smiled at me.

I turned my back on him one again and lead him to the convenience store i was talking about.

Shan was following me behind, looking dazed. I glanced at him. When he realized that i was looking at him, he looked back at me and smiled showing his bunny teeth.

His smile reached his eyes and that's what make my heart flutter more.

What the hell did he do to me?