The Devil's Hands

Dating

The working space is mostly decorated in a wooden style so manly. Some medical books are arranged neatly on the bookshelf, some just piled on the table. A comfortable grey sofa has been put near the window, and you can see the flower garden from that window.  Liu Fei leads May to that sofa and arranges some pillows to support May's back.

What the hell...He is just a doctor treating his patient now May, don't overreact!

"Are you comfortable enough May? Do you feel any pain?"

"Huh? Oh...I am fine..."

Liu Fei gets some paper on his desk and sits beside May.

"This is the data about you that Mr. Xi sent me, I need to ask some questions to get to know you better."

"Okay, what do you want to know Liu Fei?"

"Is this data real? Or is it made up only for this case?"

"Hmm...you can say so... Don't worry whether it is made up or not it is me now, Nobody will doubt that."

"Well... I mean since we both will live together from now on, I think we at least should know each other favorite things, habits, maybe allergies and etc. What I wrote in the data that I sent to Mr. Xi is all real..."

"I get what you want to say, and I suggest that you believe in everything that has been written there, I wrote it by myself. I wrote everything you need to know about May the fiancée, you won't have any trouble explaining about me and if someone tries to check on me, they will find it exactly as I wrote, don't worry."

"I see...but may I know what is the story of those scars on your body? if one day, though I hope that day won't happen, that you get into trouble and need treatment in the hospital when I am not around...the doctor who treats you will ask me about that..."

"Don't worry, it won't happen! I have a backup team if something happens they know where they should take me. Liu Fei, I will try to finish this case as soon as possible. And you will get your life back to normal like I never exist, I will make sure that we will never run into each other anymore." May said it while looking at Liu Fei's eyes.

"Oh..."It's ridiculous I just know her for 2 days but hearing her said that she will disappear from my life as soon as possible makes my heart in pain?!

Heart what the hell are you doing? Why do you feel sad after saying the reality May? It's just what always happens in each case you are in, you will disappear after that.

After an awkward silence...

"Liu Fei, I need the blueprint of this house and the apartment. Do you plan to stay in this house until the case solved or not?"

"What is your suggestion?"

"In each case that contains death threat, I usually limit the people around the target so it will be easier for me to protect. Sometimes the people that connected to the target, will be used by the murderer to get to the target. So I prefer we live in the apartment only both of us until the case solved."

"I see...how about if we leave this house after you are healed, everything that we need to treat your wounds are complete here. And I don't want aunty Xu to feel sad."

"Okay deal, we will live at this house until you get back to work. Give me the blueprint, I will discuss it with the twins."

A couple of hours later...

"Yes, we have agreed to stay here for a week, and then we move to the apartment. Can you find the blueprint for the apartment and check what we have to add to tighten the security?"

(Knocking on the door)"May... Are you sleeping? You need to take the medicine..."

May opens the door and gives Liu Fei a signal to wait for a minute, she will finish talking on the phone in a minute.

"Yes...Jake...I agree with you...No, I will make sure we don't go out very often. So yes you can go prepare the equipment there, as we discussed before. Okay, thanks..."

"You haven't rested since this morning, have you? Don't you feel any pain?"

"Pain has become my friend since a long time ago (May said it smiling), so what can I do for you, Liu Fei?"

"Your medicine, and I hope you get a little rest until dinner time."

May take the medicine and drink it, "Thank you doc!"

"Good girl, now lay down and have some rest. I will call you when dinner is ready."

"Okay..."

May tries to sleep but she feels uncomfortable, she hasn't taken a shower since yesterday. She can't do it alone because she can't raise her arms, and she doesn't want Liu Fei to help her. 

"Maybe I can do it by myself now...No problem, just give it a try..."

She goes to the bathroom and tries to take off the clothes suddenly feel so much pain in her stomach. She starts sweating a lot and feels dizzy. She hurriedly sits on the floor of the bathroom and leans against the wall.

"Easy...May...This is just a normal reaction when the body feels too much pain and to make matter worse I haven't fully recovered from the last wounds. I just need to take a rest for a while." 

May think she just needs to close her eyes for a second, but she didn't realize that she passed out.

"May is dinner time..." Liu Fei calls May several times but no answer. He begins to worry but doesn't want aunty Xu to come upstairs, he picks the key for the connecting door and opens it. He looks for her on the bed but sees the bed is empty and he sees the bathroom door open a little bit. He hurriedly goes inside there and finds May is laying on the floor, her lips have become a little bit blue. He picks her up and takes her to the bed. puts some blanket on her to get her warm. "May...May...wakes up..."

Liu Fei hurriedly gets the towel and soak it in the warm water, he put it on May's cold face. Her face is like ice, how long has she passed out? Why didn't she call me, God this stubbornness has gotten into me. After she wakes up,  I surely will give her enough lesson to remember!

Slowly May's face begins to be back to her normal color, she slowly regains her consciousness and opens her eyes. She was so startled to see Liu Fei's angry face just 10 cm from her. "What...?" May said nervously. I never feel nervous in any situation, that is my main strength to make my opponent loses his control, but what happens now?

"I clearly remembered telling you to ask for help. But what have you done there in the bathroom? How long have you been there? If I come in when you have woken up, I bet you will never tell me that you have passed out in the bathroom, right?"

"Haha... well maybe... You are really good at reading people, you know? You can use that expertise to get a lot of money." May tries to humor Liu Fei. 

 "That is not funny at all, it's the worst joke I have ever heard.  A doctor will never joke about someone's health."

"Fine...I am sorry I just thought I was strong enough to take a shower by myself, I feel itchy all over my body because I haven't taken a bath since yesterday. You know I sweat a lot yesterday, running, fighting, and enduring the wounds. And I don't like...someone sees me naked especially when there are a lot of scars " May's voice almost can't be heard when she said the last part, she feels shy.

"As I have told you before, we are engaged whether it's real or not but that our status now.  And you are my patient, so you don't need to feel shy. Now if you don't feel dizzy anymore, let me help you take a shower."

"Huh?!"

"Don't you said your body feels itchy?"

"Yes...but..."

"No arguing, come I help you take off your clothes and I will carry you to the bathroom."

"Come on, if you refuse my help I predict you will never take a shower until the next 2 or 3 days! That wound on your stomach and your arm will need that long time to heal."

Imagining she still has to stay dirty that long makes her upset, it's not the first time she has to skip the shower for a couple of days. Sometimes in her task, she has to hide in the forest for days, but that's different, nobody is around the last thing she has to worry about is her smell. This time she has to live with some strangers and some of them don't know about her real identity.

"All right...No need to carry me to the bathroom I still can walk."

Liu Fei helps May gets to the bathroom, they walk in silence.

"Come, raise your arm slowly when it hurts I will stop. I will find another way to take your clothes off, remember don't try to push it! or it will get a longer time to heal."

May hesitantly obeys Liu Fei's command. This is her hardest challenge so far in life, she will choose to get head to head with a gun than being here naked and watched by Liu Fei. Luckily he didn't know about her real identity, so after this she could easily disappear.

After takes May's clothes off, Liu Fei slowly cleans her body. He warns himself, this is just another patient's body. God why is this so hard? I have treated so many patients, even celebrity who is prettier and sexier than her but never had any emotion involved. But why he feels passionate about her and at the same time he feels sad to see the scars and how skinny her body is.

After two days of spending time inside, May finally feels the urge to have fresh air outside. She wakes up early in the morning, put on her running shoes, and silently go outside. It is still dark and the cold air suddenly makes her shiver, instead of going back into the house, she smiles and enjoys it.

"Jake, are you awake? I am running for a while. Please watch him for a while."

"Got, it big sis!"

As a doctor, Liu Fei has got used to waking up at 6 AM, except when he has a night shift or some emergency that makes him go to bed very late. He goes to the bathroom to wash his face and brush his teeth. He takes May's medicine and goes to May's room through the connecting door.

The room is still very dark, he thinks May must be still asleep. Slowly he goes to the bed, don't want to make her startle again. He still remembered the first time he surprised her, he ended up being pinned down. May was being honest when she said her condition won't stop her to protect him from bad guys, she still can defeat a man who is 25 cm taller than her and at least 30 Kgs heavier than her!

When Liu Fei finds her bed is empty, he begins getting anxious. Did she pass out in the bathroom again? For how long? He hurriedly goes to the bathroom, but she isn't there.

"We usually work in a team, so when I am not around one of the twins will replace me to watch you."

He remembered her words, he hurriedly gets his phone and calls Jake. "Jake, do you know where May is?"

"Good morning doc, she is having her morning run an hour ago, I think she will be back in a minute. Do you need anything doc?"

"I see, no nothing, I just want to give her the medicine but she is nowhere in her room."

That girl, how can she is so careless about her own body? Though her recovery is faster than other people, still she should have a rest at least for a week. 

While running around, May makes a note which way is the best for escaping by foot or by car. Who knows what may happen in the future? Better prepared than sorry! Besides she feels so refresh after 2 days stay at home doing nothing.

Hopefully, Liu Fei still hasn't woke up or she will get "a lecture" from him. She sneaks in quietly to her room. But watching the movement in her room, she knows her wish is just a wish. Liu Fei has waited in her room and hearing from his footstep, he is not happy at all!

"Good morning Liu Fei! Good news, my wounds have healed." (May open her arm widely to prove it, she smiles broadly hoping it will make Liu Fei's anger diminished a little)

"I see... (he's gritting his teeth) Take a breath Liu Fei, getting angry with her will get you nowhere!  That's good then we will be able to do the list that I have shown you. But before that let's take a bath first so that I can check your wounds." Liu Fei gets closer to May and prepares to take her clothes off.

May avoids him and gives him a wide smile. "No need anymore Liu Fei, I have recovered. I can take a bath by myself. If you want to check the wounds, we can do it after that okay?"

Liu Fei feels disappointed, he enjoys taking care of her. Though bathing her has also become sweet torture for his desire. Touching her body little by little using a sponge and dry it with a towel has become his favorite thing to do every day.

"Okay go take your bath, I will wait here in case you need it. Promise me don't push yourself just because you don't want my help, okay?"

"Okay..."She quickly locks the bathroom door, feeling happy that she doesn't need any help to do the daily routine. While taking a bath, she tries remembering what the lists are...Oh s**t! dating, buying clothes, and dancing? All those activities have never been done by her but she knows what will happen since she has watched people doing it, she is blushing...

What should I do to avoid them? Especially dancing and doing yoga, both of those activities will need intimate contact! She needs to limit those things to avoid the attraction that getting stronger. She realizes when she choose this road, she has to live on a lonely road. She watches how uncle Xi Men do that, she also remembered what uncle Xi Men said. If we have someone we care it will make him in a dangerous position and also will make you fail in your mission.

"May...are you okay? Need any help? You have been there for a long time, I am worried!" Liu Fei knocks on the bathroom door, he tries to open it first but it's locked, he gets a little bit annoyed.

May gets back from her thoughts and realize she's still standing with the towel on her head. "Just a second, Liu Fei...I am almost done..." She hurriedly puts her clothes on and takes a deep breath before gets out of the bathroom. She feels nervous since Liu Fei will examine the wounds that means another intimate touch.

"Still feels any pain?" Liu Fei leads May to the bed, he lifts her clothes where he knows there is a wound to check. He remembers all of the wounds and he also remembers her body well. He touches the wound and examines it, "The Wound on your stomach has healed, the bruise has disappeared, though I doubt it completely heals, you do feel pain in some activity right? You just bear the pain, because it's your habit."

He moves to check the wound on the arms and legs, "Since these wounds are external wounds, they heal faster. You know, you completely surprise me, average people will heal in 2 weeks even a month, I thought since you are trained you will heal in a week."

"You should be glad doc, it means you are a great doctor!"

Liu Fei takes his time touching her body while looking at her eyes. He wants to kiss her, the attraction from the first time he saw her has multiplied by 10 times. But he is not sure, does she feel the same? Or is it just her act like she said before, she is in the fiancée mode.

As an agent, May has been trained to keep calm and manage her expression as needed. If she needs to be a calm business lady, she will behave like that. If she needs to be a loving fiancée that what she will do. A successful agent is someone who can't be read what she or he really feels inside.

These couples of days have been a torture for Liu Fei, though he never had a "real" girlfriend, there are some "friends with benefit" he knows who will have s*x with him with no strings attached. The s*x was good they enjoy each other but thinking about doing it with one of them just to fulfill his desire now, is not interesting anymore.

May breaks the silence, she doesn't want the attraction to continue and turn into regret. It will ruin a good doctor like Liu Fei, "So Liu Fei what is the agenda today? Now that I have already healed, I think we better go outside. The most important thing to do is to check your apartment, the hospital, and the places you usually visit."

"We will do number 1 first, shopping. I have already received some invitations for this month."

"Hmm... thinking about that again, I think it's better if I attend those events, not as your fiancée. Don't worry I will be near protecting you, I will make an arrangement in every event you attend."

Hearing that Liu Fei feels uneasy, as if a little needle piercing through his heart. "Why is that? Is being my fiancée that difficult? We have just spent a couple of days in this status and you have already wanted to remove that?"

"Wow... don't get too worked up Liu Fei! I just think this will be for your own good. The people in your daily lives like the hospital, the apartment, and this house will know me as your fiancée because it's needed. The people outside this circle don't need to know that. I just help you out, this case can be solved maybe in a week, a month, or even tomorrow! If you introduce me to a lot of people in the event, though you are not a celebrity I am sure this news will also make some women broken-hearted, and your hot bachelor status will be stained. You should know after this case solved I will get back to my job and there will be a very little chance or even none we will meet again." Because I am a secret agent Liu Fei, I should not exist in your world!

"Oh...we'll see about that. I understand your reason but that doesn't mean I accept it. And about the little chance to meet me after this case, as long as we live we can meet each other. We can keep contacting each other."

May smiles bitterly I can't do that to you Liu Fei, an agent like me will be a danger to people around me.

"Give me 15 minutes, I will get ready. We can have breakfast and go shopping."

After having breakfast...

"Wait..."

"What now?"

"A lady should let a guy open the door for her, at least it will help the wound heal faster. You must limit your body movement."

"Oh come on.. you ask me to go on a date with you but now you say I must limit my movement, don't you feel the contradiction here doc?"

"Well, the point is I want you to let me do what a fiancé should do. "

"You enjoy this, don't you? You do realize what the real situation we are in, right?"

"Yes, but this is for my sake also, if we really look like a couple then that's great, right?"

"Whatever, let's go..."

They arrive in a big and modern apartment complex, the doorman greets Liu Fei politely.

"Good day, doc! Night shift yes?"

"No, Jeff I am taking a week off. By the way, this is May, my fiancée. She just gets here."

"Hi, Jeff nice to meet you!"

"Well, congratulation to both of you!"

"Thanks, talk to you later Jeff!"

"Yes, enjoy your holiday doc!"

They take the elevator to the 21st floor. And then Liu Fei leads them to Unit 2101.

This apartment is very empty, like mine... "You said you mostly go to this apartment than your house because it's near the hospital?"

"Yes, what? (May give Liu Fei a puzzled look) I just fill this apartment with something that I will use daily. I go every morning and return late at night just to sleep. I spend most of my day at the hospital, sometimes maybe eat outside with some friends who are also a doctor."

"I see... his life and mine are the same, the difference is just he lives in the light... Okay this will make me easier, so how about if we stick to your usual schedule? Go to the hospital in the morning and return here at night every day until we catch the bad guy?"

"What? No? Like I tell you before when I heard that I will get a fiancée to protect me, I have read some of dating advice articles and it's interesting. I would like to try it, please..."

"Dr. Liu Fei, let me remind you, your life is in danger and we haven't known who they are. My job is to protect you not to please you. I hope you understand that and be more serious about this. I am sure those people who are trying to kill you to get the blue liquid formula are not just a mere criminal."

"Yes, I understand but still... please... Let's do the shopping, have dinner and watching a movie together alright? I don't think they will do something when we are in the crowd right?"

"Well, to tell you the truth, they probably will try k********g you first then after getting the formula who knows maybe kill you? (Liu Fei's face is frowning) But yes your opinion is right, they won't try k********g you in the crowd."

"Though, I don't like how you analyze the situation but thanks for agreeing with me. So let's do what a couple do, okay? Believe me, when I go back to the hospital, we won't have time even just to go to the mini-market."

"What a pitiful life you have Liu Fei, How will you find your wife later?"

"I don't know, but people in our circle used to get married through connection..."

(May is talking to the earpiece)"Jake, I need you to check the blueprint of this apartment and send me the detail. I need to remember the exit if something happens here."

"Got, it Sis!"

Liu Fei and May are going to the department store.

"Let's find you some clothes. I will help you try them, to avoid your wound opened up again."

"No need, I don't feel anything now I think it's much much better."

"I insist, as your doctor and your fiancée. Oh hi, Ellen long time no see you..."

"Dr. Liu nice to meet you, and I am so sorry for your loss..."

"Thanks...By the way, this is May, my fiancée she has just come back from the US. She didn't bring many clothes, so can you help us suggesting some clothes for her daily use and for a special occasion?"

"Hi Miss May, I am Ellen. Let's go to the waiting room. We will bring you some clothes to pick. Do you have a special request?"

"I am a simple and energetic person, I don't like feminine clothes."

"But (Liu Fei cut May's words) I think we will still need some feminine clothes for special occasions Ellen, please pick some for her."

"Understood, please wait a minute..."

Ellen brings May some beautiful dresses that she will never ever imagine to see it nor wear it!

"These are beautiful dresses, but they are too colorful for me, can I have black, white, dark blue and brown?"

"Why? I think lemon yellow suits you best, and also this sky blue one, let's try them first ok?"

Liu Fei pushes May to the changing room.

"Hey, I think I can do this by myself, just wait outside ok?"(whispering)

"May, remember I am your fiancée and also a doctor. So let me help you." (whispering while looking at May's eyes)

Dear heart, down there please stay calm. He is just another important person you have to protect, REMEMBER THAT!!!

"I think...."her body has a lot of scars, the clothes should not be too opened.

"What is it, Liu Fei? See, I have told you this kind of clothes doesn't suit me. I have what women call a boyish look." 

(May cannot avoid feeling a little disappointed and ashamed) What is it? I always feel confident about myself, but why is his judgment make me feel like this? what do you want May? You want him to praise your body and say that you are sexy, beautiful?! Your body is ugly you have scar everywhere, no one will call that beautiful!

"Huh?! I don't think like that, but I think we need another style to make you look like... YOU."

"Ellen, can you please bring something more elegant clothes you know something that doesn't show too much skin??"

"Wow you are such a jealous man, you don't want people to look at her except you right? (wink) Don't worry I know exactly which clothes can make Dr. Liu agrees and still make your beautiful body shown. By the way miss May you have a killer body!"

"What? Killer?" (May drops the clothes she holds and put her hands on her thigh where a gun is safely hiding)

Liu Fei holds May and said, "What she means your body is very sexy and makes people who see it want you!"

"Oh..."(May is blushing severely)

Look at that, she is a tough woman. Is she pretending or she really is blushing? But blushing is not something you can pretend right? Interesting, very interesting. The reason for that must be no one ever says something about her like that before.

"Look at that Dr. Liu, she is blushing. Miss May, you seldom heard people praise how beautiful you are? and that body is wow!"

"Oh, haha... you must be joking!" May replies.

After some little quarrels about the clothes that Liu Fei enjoys very much, they go to have dinner.

"What kind of dinner would you like May?"

"Just find a sandwich or a restaurant that sells home cook food."

"Don't you want to have a candlelight dinner? Usually women like something romantic like that, all my blind dates plan always include candlelight dinner."

"I usually eat anything that is quick and easy as long as it can give me the energy to do my job. I remember sometimes we have to eat on the tree or while swim in the ocean."

"Why is that?"

"It's when we are on duty guarding VVIP, we have to be ready all the time."

"May, can I know why you choose this job? It's not common for a woman to do this right?"

"To get my freedom," May said while she looks far away and smiles sadly.

"What is it? You are threatened by someone? Tell me, maybe I can help!"

"Haha...it's not like that Liu Fei. It's complicated, but don't worry no one threatened me. This is just a way to live my life as me."

They arrive in a small restaurant called "Mom's dishes", the restaurant seems so warm with many plants as the decorations.

"I already like it, and certain that the food must be good," May said happily.

"My mom and I often go here whenever we have time. Glad if you like it too, let's go inside!"

"Liu Fei, if later on, someone from this restaurant asks about me. Please don't tell them that I am your fiancée okay? The fewer people know about our status now the better. So later when this case finishes you don't have to explain about me to a lot of people, right? I have already regretted you told Ellen about me."

"..." (That uneasy feeling keep coming back)

They went inside the restaurant and Liu Fei is welcomed by the shop owner Mrs. Lee.

"Hi, Dr. Liu! Long-time no see you... I heard about your mother and I am very sorry. She was a great woman. I know she has helped so many cancer patients and give them hope."

"Thank you Mrs. Lee!"

"And who is this lady?" Mrs. Lee asks in curiosity.

"This..."

"Hi, Mrs. Lee I am May, an old friend of Dr. Liu. Nice to meet you, this is such a beautiful restaurant! I love the decorations so much! I am sure the food must be very delicious, I never doubt Dr. Liu recommendation, he has a great taste!"

"Wow, thank you for your praise Dr. Liu, I hope you really will enjoy the food. Please take a seat..."