Chapter 40 - Bella De(2)

Soon Zhang Min and Shi Ai reached their 'stopover'.Shi Ai was excited to meet and kept her fingers crossed that Bella De would like her.She had always heard brother Zhang sing her praises and knew that he admired her a lot.The car turned into the gates of a the courtyard of a small red brick building and a young teenage girl came rushing out of the building even before the car had slowed down.Shi Ai's first glimplse of the girl was of a beautiful girl running towards them with her red hair bouncing around.It was only when the girl stopped a few feet away,did Shi Ai realize that the car had stopped and Brother Zhang had already alighted the car and was now hugging the girl.Shi Ai followed them out of the car and that is when the girl realized that there was someone else travelling with Zhang Min and it was a girl.Her smile turned a little awkward and turning to Shi Ai,she said,"Hi,I am Ava De!It's nice to meet you.I did not know Min Min is bringing a guest or I would have greeted you first."

Shi Ai frowned on the inside but outside she was smiling as she shook hands.She had thought this was Bella,the one she had heard about.Brother Min's first love.His childhood partner.Well maybe this was Bella's sister..But even though Ava De had said all the right words,Shi Ai could feel the awkwardness and slight hostility radiating from her.Maybe Brother Min had not told anything about her and so the girl was worried or something.

Zhang Min finally realized his manners and introduced,"Little cousin,this is Ava De.She is one year my senior but a childhood friend.And Ava this is my little cousin Shi Ai,the sister I always wanted.We are going camping so I brought her here to meet Bella before we go!"

Shi Ai could practically see the girl's aura change at Brother Zhang's words and smiled.It seemed Ava De 'liked' her brother.Of course he was a handsome and good person so he would be loved by everyone.But Shi Ai felt that Brother Zhang Min had only Bella De in his heart.And she felt that even if Ava De liked Zhang Min,she would only hurt herself.While Shi Ai stood wondering these things,Ava and Brother Min had already went ahead into the building and she hurried after them.

Shi Ai was curious to meet Bella since Brother Min had talked very fondly about her.He had told her that Bella had been moved to a rural area by her parents because she was sick and needed fresh air that was not available in the city..Shi Ai expected them to go towards the room so she was a little confused when the two went inside and then straight out of the back door.The outside was a huge open area with lots of greenery.Zhang Min then turned to Shi Ai and said,"Little Shi Ai.You wait here with Ava and I am going to go bring Bella.She will love you!"

With that Zhang Min ran towards another smaller building leaving Ava and Shi Ai side by side.Shi Ai could feel the curiosity burning from Ava but she chose to keep quiet.Finally Ava broke the ice and said,"Are you really his cousin?I've known Zhang Min for so long but never heard of them having a cousin..."

Since Shi Ai could feel the anxiety in the question,she thought to answer honestly and said,"I am actually his foster sister.We study in the same school so to avoid any misconceptions,Auntie Zhang decided to tell everyone that we were cousins."

Ava nodded,relieved at that.Though she was curious about how Shi Ai came to be fostered with the Zhang's she did not think it was too polite to ask.So she did not.But there was another question she needed an answer to.."Umm,Miss Shi,does Zhang Min have any girlfriend in school."

At this Shi Ai knew that her guess was right and Ava De indeed liked Brother Zhang.But again,Shi Ai felt that as long as this person did not do anything to hurt Brother Min or the person he cared about,there was no harm in telling her so she shrugged her shoulders and said,"No really.Though many girls chase him,he had not shown any interest in anyone yet."

Ava felt an unstoppable smile grace her face which did not go unnoticed by Shi Ai.To stop Ava from dreaming too much Shi Ai continued,"But I think brother Min already has someone in his heart."

This statement caused the beautiful Ava to lose her smile and ask painfully,"Really?Who?Is she very pretty?"

Shi Ai felt a soft tug for Ava and said softly,"I don't know..You should know better..She is after all your sister.."

This statement caused Ava to turn in shock to Shi Ai and stare at her as if she was a lunatic..She then started laughing and said,"You think Zhang Min is in love with Bella?Is he still always talking about her?I think Bella is not my competition!", Ava finished this statement arrogantly.Shi Ai was annoyed at this and was about to retort when Ava caught her by the shoulders and pointed in the opposite direction,"That is Bella!"

Shi Ai opened her mouth then closed it again.She then gaped like a fish..

Brother Min who had been always reminiscing about Bella had forgotten one pertinent detail.."Bella De was a horse.."