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Side Story 02: Meili's Secret
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[Timeline: Chapter 71-80]
Meili hid behind a pillar, watching as the maids passed by. After making sure that the coast was clear, she ran out into the hallway and secretly entered Liu Jin's room. Finally making it inside, she closed the door gently and let out a huge sigh.
"Mission accomplished!" She huffed.
She looked around the room before walking towards Liu Jin's desk. She then climbed onto his chair before trying her best to open a heavy drawer.
Upon finally pulling it open, she took out a thick album.
She then slowly climbed down the chair and carried the album to the bed. There, she opened it up and laid down, resting her head on her little hands.
"Hehe." She giggled.
This was her secret hobby.
She knew that her Jin-gege kept lots of pictures of her Daiyu-jiejie and she always loved looking through them. Her Daiyu-jiejie was really pretty! Meili wanted to grow up to be just like her.
She flipped through the pages, eyes wide in awe as she observed Daiyu's dresses.
"Meili wants a dress like this too!" She commented.
After flipping through the pages some more, she saw Daiyu inside a pink car. Meili's eyes sparkled brightly.
"Meili wants a pink car too!!!"
---
The next day, Meili pestered her mom to bring her to the Wang Mansion.
"Daiyu-jiejie! Meili has come to play!" She called.
Soon, Daiyu descended from the stairs and greeted her.
"Meili!" Daiyu smiled and caught her in her arms as the child ran towards her.
"Daiyu-jiejie! Meili wants pretty dresses too!"
"Mmm? Pretty dresses?"
Meili nodded.
"Meili saw Daiyu-jiejie wearing lots of pretty dresses in – in Jin-gege's pictures!"
Daiyu tilted her head to one side.
"Pictures?"
Meili covered her mouth. Oh no! She gave away her secret!
Daiyu giggled. Was she talking about the pictures Jin used to take when they were younger?
Just then, Daiyu had an idea.
"Then let's play dress up!"
Daiyu then brought Meili into the storage room where all her old dresses and toys were kept.
"Woah! Daiyu-jiejie has so many dresses!" Meilie commented as she observed the room.
Daiyu giggled. She then started pulling out most of her favorite dresses and together with Xiao Nuan, they dressed Meili up the entire afternoon.
When the sun went down, Daiyu sent Meili home.
"Oh my! What did you bring home?" Nana asked upon seeing the driver carrying lots of bags for Meili.
"Daiyu-jiejie gave Meili lots of dresses!" She then proudly showed Nana the pictures they took today.
"Wow. Meili is so beautiful!" Nana commented and Meili nodded.
"Meili will grow up beautiful, just like Daiyu-jiejie!" She proudly claimed and Nana giggled.
It seems like all her children were attached to Daiyu.
After taking the pictures back from Nana, Meili snuck back into Liu Jin's room. She then secretly inserted her pictures beside Daiyu's baby photos where they wore the same dresses.
"Hehe! Daiyu-jiejie and Meili are matching!" She commented upon eyeing her work.
After she finished arranging the pictures, she returned the album back into the drawer from where she took it.
She giggled and covered her mouth with her little hands. Her Jin-gege would surely be surprised upon finding out the secret in the future!
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Side Story 03: Shuren's Struggle
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[Timeline: Chapter 71-80]
"Daddy!" Mingli raised his arms, asking to be picked up.
Shuren bent down and carried him. Mingli then cupped Shuren's face with his small hands and kissed his nose. Shuren stared down at him in return. Mingli frowned.
"Daddy!" He called with his brows furrowed.
"Mmm?"
"Kiss Mingli too!"
Shuren kissed his little nose and he giggled.
"More!" He called.
Shuren kissed him again.
"More!"
Shuren kissed him again but Mingli frowned.
"Not like that! Mingli wants kisses like mommy's!"
Shuren raised a brow, not understanding what the boy meant.
"Like this!" Mingli then peppered his face with light kisses and Shuren chuckled.
He then copied Mingli and peppered his face with kisses too.
Mingli giggled happily. He rested his head on Shuren's shoulders and wrapped his arms around his father's neck.
"Daddy, Mingli loves you."
"Mmm."
Mingli frowned.
"Daddy!" He raised his head and looked Shuren in the eye.
"Mmm?"
"Say you love Mingli too!" He frowned.
"…"
"Daddy!"
"I love you, Mingli."
Mingli squealed in happiness.
From afar, Nana giggled. Mingli was very different from Liu Jin and Shuren was having a hard time adjusting to the boy. Liu Jin was quiet and reserved but Mingli was proactive and sought attention from his father all the time. Shuren wasn't used to it but Mingli patiently taught him.
---
After dinner, the twins had a bath and were sent to bed.
"Knock, knock!"
Nana giggled upon hearing Mingli's voice. Shuren got up and opened the door. Mingli then raised his arms and Shuren carried him.
"Daddy, Mingli wants to sleep with you."
"Alright."
He then carried the boy towards their bed.
"No! Mingli doesn't want to sleep here!" He pouted.
"… Then where do you want to sleep?" Shuren asked.
"In Mingli's room with daddy!"
"You don't want to sleep with mommy?" Nana asked.
Mingli shook his head.
"Boys only!" He claimed and Nana laughed.
Shuren hesitated. He wanted to sleep with Nana. But Nana pushed him away and told him to sleep with his son. He sighed and carried Mingli away.
Upon reaching Mingli's room, the boy quickly went to the shelves and picked out a book.
"Daddy read this!" He gave Shuren the book and climbed onto his bed. He then patted the space beside him, beckoning Shuren to join him.
Shuren lied down beside the boy and began reading the book.
"Rawr! Daddy you need to make sounds like rawr!" Mingli instructed as Shuren read the part where the bear appeared.
"…"
"Rawr! Like this daddy!" He taught his father.
"Rawr." Shuren blandly stated.
Mingli nodded in approval and signaled his father to continue.
Soon, the boy began nodding off to sleep. Shuren tucked him under the sheets before trying to get up from the bed but Mingli's little hand stopped him.
"Daddy…" He called.
"Mmm?"
"Daddy, Mingli loves you lots lots lots." He said in a soft sleepy voice.
A rare smile bloomed on Shuren's face. He got back under the sheets to join Mingli and gently stroked his hair.
"I love you too." He said as he kissed the boy's forehead.
---
When morning came, Nana went to check on the father and son pair and she found them asleep together on Mingli's tiny bed. She giggled.
Mingli had his arms wrapped around Shuren's neck while Shuren had an arm wrapped around the boy's torso.
Nana smiled warmly.
'Ah Jin… Look at your father now.'
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Side Story 04: Broken Toy
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[Timeline: Liu Jin at 9 years old.]
Shuren parked his car inside the Liu Estate before descending from it. The sky had grown dark and it was already around nine in the evening.
Usually, he came home at around six to have dinner with his family and to spend more time with his children. But today, a company meeting ran late and he was only able to leave a few minutes ago.
Upon entering the house, he was greeted by Nana's worried face.
"Honey." She called.
"What's wrong?" He asked as he wrapped an arm around her waist before gently kissing her forehead.
"It's Ah Jin. He skipped dinner tonight and he won't come out of his room either. I tried talking to him but its not working."
He raised a brow.
"What happened?" Liu Jin was not the type of boy to throw a tantrum, specially not against his mother.
"… Remember that toy you bought for him in Japan? Well, Mingli snuck into his brother's room and broke it."
Shuren paused.
"I'll take care of it." He said before heading towards Liu Jin's room.
"Are you sure?" Nana asked, still worried.
"It'll be alright." He replied.
---
Upon arriving at Liu Jin's room, Shuren knocked once before speaking.
"Jin. It's me."
No answer.
He gently opened the door and saw the boy lying down on the bed with his back facing the door. He walked towards him before sitting down on the bed.
"I heard Mingli broke your toy?"
Liu Jin paused before quickly getting up to hug his father. He buried his head onto Shuren's chest and began silently crying.
Shuren gently rubbed his back, waiting for him to speak.
After a while, Liu Jin wiped his eyes dry before going to his desk. He then took the broken toy and showed it to Shuren.
Shuren received it from him and found that the parts had been smashed.
"I'll buy you a new one." He offered but Liu Jin shook his head.
"It's not the same." He spoke, his voice cracking from his tears.
Shuren paused before stretching his arms wide open. Liu Jin walked over to his father and hugged him back. He sat on his lap, his head resting on his chest.
"Jin, why do you like that toy?"
No answer.
"Is it because I gave it to you?"
He nodded.
"Well… you don't have to treasure it that much… Dad's here now. There's much more I can and will give you from now on…"
He paused.
"You may have a broken toy… but our family is whole again." He said before gently kissing Liu Jin's forehead.
"Dad's here. I'm not leaving. Not now… not tomorrow… not ever."
Liu Jin bit his lip, his tears streaming down his face.
He remained silent but raised his pinky finger. Shuren hooked his finger onto his in return.
Liu Jin then buried his face onto his father's chest and sobbed.
"-ve you."
Shuren smiled.
"Love you too."