Chapter 217 - The Missing Groom

While Shi Ai was having a bridal shower, Zhang Min and Knox had planned a bachelors party for Ah Hai. Sadly for them, Ah Hai had other plans and instead of dancing and clubbing as was the original plan,everyone was almost put to work by Ah Hai. Thankfully the Long Brothers had come and Ah Hai, unable to order them around had been forced to stop. So everyone was now gathered in the living room with beer, takeaway greasy food and playing poker.

As Zhang Min leaned against the door and observed everyone,he decided that he was never going to introduce his brothers to the Longs! The three eldest brothers successfully and repeatedly teased the otherwise un-teasable Long Ah Hai. If his own brothers observed this and adopted their strategies,then he was done for!

Soon Zhang Min joined the fray,ready to lose his money!He had seen these guys play!They were card sharks!No wonder they were all so successful businessmen!

After some time,Zhang Min realized something.Their VIP for the night was missing.Oh Gosh!Ah Hai really was gone!Zhang Min had refused to believe that Ah Hai would disappear just before his wedding but now that seemed to be the case.Quietly,so as not to alert anyone,Zhang Min started to search through the house looking for the missing groom but found no trace of him.By now most of the guys were lying on their backs,drunk out.Only the Long brothers were awake and even seemed alert so he gulped and said,"Mr Long!Your brother is missing!you have to call him back!"Zhang Min expected the brothers to frown or atleast be surprised at the news but they simply stared at him as if he was talking an alien language and said nothing,giving no reaction. He frowned and repeated himself,"Your brother is missing!"

Neil Long squinted at the man in front of him and said,"Why are you sounding like a broken record?We heard you the first time!"

"Then why are you not reacting?Call him!Summon him back!He told me he would come back on his wedding day!That is day after tomorrow!"

"So?"

"So what if he is not able to return?And what if Shi Ai asks us about him?What if?"Snorting Matt Long placed a hand on Zhang Min's shoulder and said,"Are you feeling abandoned?Don't worry Ah Hai will come for the wedding even if he has to fly here."

The next moment Neil Long placed another hand on the other shoulder and said,"If he is not able to reach for his wedding in time, then the one going to suffer is him because he would have hurt his wife!And do you really think that my little brother can do that?Zhang Min you are a worrywart and without reason that too."

With that, Zhang Min was turned around and brought in to play another round of cards!

Meanwhile the erstwhile groom had climbed the walls of the Shi Villa and was looking for his wife.Spotting his Shi Ai in a cute 'Jerry' outfit,made his heart soft.She looked so cute!

She made a shocked 'o' face and padded over to the window, sliding it up. Thoroughly misusing his training, Ah Hai jumped in and with an arm around his wife, he pulled her to him, kissing his favorite mouse. Smiling happily, Shi Ai returned his kiss and wound her arms around him.

Finally the two people came up for air and Ah Hai held her face in his hands and asked,"Why are you dressed so surely!I just came to see you but now I don't want to leave you!"

Shi Aincould not stop smiling and explained,"Everyone organised a surprise bridal shower for me! And we are all dressed as Tom and Jerry so I..."

Ah Hai saw the happiness on her face and once again kissed her slowly and lingeringly. 

Suddenly there was the sound of someone clearing their throat and Ah Hai almost jumped away from his wife only to find a grinning Alicia Long, leaning against the door with her arms crossed in front of her.

"I should've known that there must be a reason for Shi Ai being delayed!Seems like we have an intruder.."

"Ah Hai Long,did you just skip your own bachelor party to gate crash ours?Well, gate crashes need to be punished.Since out next session consists of manicures, you can be the first person to have your nails done!" As Alicia came ahead to drag him, Ah Hai moved back and with a mischevious grin refused,"No, thank you. I got what I came for. I'll take your leave now."

With that, Ah Hai jumped back the way he had come and only air remained in his place. Alicia and Shi Ai could only stare at the place where he had been standing. After this the two girls broke into giggles and went out to have more fun.

Meanwhile, Ah Hai got on his motorcycle and rode towards the airport, his expression now fierce and grave.

Without needing to clear a security check, Ah Hai walked straight towards the private airplane that stood ready to take off.

Once everyone was ready to sleep, Shi Ai also smiled and walked back towards the bedroom. On the way,she saw her grandfather sitting on his rocking chair with his eyes closed."Grandpa." She called out to him,"You are not sleeping yet?"

Elder Shi opened his watery eyes and looked at Shi Ai who sorts at the door. Beckoning the girl, he said,"I am worried that if I sleep then when I wake up all this will have only been a dream.My wife and I, we had dreamt of a big family full of children and then grandchildren. But she could only have one child and then she left me. I could barely survive without her but I pinned my hopes on your mother. But she too left. And now I have no strength to see more losses.I am tired to the bones. If all this is a dream then I would rather not wake up and of all this is the reality then I don't want to sleep. Hearing all the giggles and laughter coming from there has given me vitality and motivation.

Shi Ai hugged her grandfather, aching for the old man who had so much love to give but no one to give it to and had to spent the whole life in a lonely existence. She asked him,"Grandpa,you were young when grandmother died, why did you not remarry?Then you wouldn't have been so lonely all these years."

Elder Shi smiled jokingly and said,"Yes, I was very handsome back then and many women had wanted to marry me but it wouldn't have been right to that person. Your grandmother had my heart and she took it to heaven with her so how could I marry someone else and hurt them?She was the only woman I had ever loved."

Shi Ai was crying at this and her heart shaking in fear. Did the mean that of something would happen to her, Ah Hai would also live such a lonely existence?"

Shaking away the thought, Shi Ai helped her grandfather up and said,"Grandfather,you need to rest.Otherwise how will you walk me down the aisle of you fall sick?And I promise you,we will all be here even when you wake up. We are not going anywhere."

Tucking in her old grandfather like a child, Shi Ai waited until he had fallen asleep and went out to get herself some water.

As she poured the water, a shadow suddenly moved out near the window, scaring her. There was someone lurking in the outside garden. Her instincts guided her towards the knife stand and she slowly moved back towards the knife stand picking up a knife. Her other hand protectively covered her belly as she got into a battle stance.

The back door slowly opened and a figure illuminated with a flash light walked in. Shi Ai had almost thrown the knife in her hand when the light showed the face of the intruder and her breath released in a whoosh.

"Zhang Min, What are you doing here?"

Zhang Min did not say a word but simply pointed at the knife in her hand. Putting down the knife, Shi Ai put her hands on her h.i.p.s and repeated her question.

"Why are you standing at the door with a knife?"

Zhang Min had actually come to tell Shi Ai about Ah Hai but seeing her stance had made him doubt himself. She was already stressed and he was about to add more to it. So he had to think fast.

"I was drinking water when I heard a sound so I came to investigate.Now why are you here?"

"I need your help!"