After her long day out with her mother and sister, the trio of women were ready to call it a day and head home. The drive home felt shorter than normal with the sun slowly setting beyond the horizon. With her back against the car seat, Qian Lan gets one last glance of the modern world.
Xia Lan who sat in the passenger seat notices Qian Lan spacing out and calls out to her.
"Qian Lan? Are you alright?"
Qian Lan snaps out of her daze and sits up right.
"I'm alright Xia Lan, hehe. Just trying to absorb as much of this world with the time I have left."
Everyone goes quiet with Qian Lan's words. As if she was saying goodbye forever, no one could bring themselves to continue talking. After thirty minutes of silence, they finally arrive home. With the sky dark and the moon lightly shining down on them by now.
Qian Lan's mother slowly parks in their drive way and pauses for a moment before ushering her daughters out.
"Ahem, alright girls. Grab your shopping bags and lets head inside and have dinner. I had your father cook tonight. It's your favorite sweet pork tonight Qian Lan."
Qian Lan smiles and nods before exiting the car. With the back trunk open the ladies all grabbed their items and head inside their home. Quickly greeted by their father who was accompanied by Jiang and Lei Yi.
"Welcome back Qian Lan."
"Thanks Jiang. Hehe did you help father prepare dinner tonight?"
"Hah, as a matter of fact I did!"
Smiling proudly, Jiang grabs hold of Qian Lan's bags and motions her to go sit down and enjoy dinner.
"You're not eating Jiang?"
"I will, once I put your things away Qian Lan."
Jiang heads off into the guest room. Meanwhile, Qian Lan walks into the dinning room. Everyone was seated already with Lei Yi sitting by Xia Lan and her mother sitting at the end of the table with her father at the other end.
"Ah...mom, you guys didn't have to wait. Eat guys."
"It's alright, don't worry about it. Sit across from Xia Lan. We'll have future son in law sit in front of Lei Yi."
Qian Lan nods and grabs the chair near her; quickly pulling it out she seats herself across from her sister. Not even a minute later, Jiang walks in and seats himself next to Qian Lan and across from Lei Yi. Qian Lan smiles to greet Jiang and breaks the silence.
"Alright, now that everyone is here. Lets all enjoy tonight's dinner."
Qian Lan watches as her parents and loved ones dig into their meal. Her father went all out tonight making, sweet pork, stir fried mustard greens with pork rinds and tofu stuffed sausages. Everyone ate in silence before Qian Lan's mother spoke out.
"So....future son in law, I know this is rude of me to ask but I must know. My daughter will be your only wife correct? I know ancient time customs are different."
"Of course mother! Have no worries, Qian Lan will be my only wife till I cease to exist. I promise you that."
"That is assuring to know. How is your home back in your world like? I want to make sure my daughter will be taken care of."
Qian Lan cuts her mom off for prying during dinner time as it was rude.
"Ma, I'll be fine. Do you have to ask that right now?"
"It's alright Qian Lan. Let me put mothers heart at ease."
Jiang goes into description of what his palace looks like. He even conjured up a water sphere showing the outside of his palace and its beautiful gardens. Everyone watched in amazement at the beautiful palace and its surroundings. Everyone continued to eat and chatter among each other. The room was soon filled with giggles and laughter. It had been a while since Qian Lan saw her mother enjoy the company of someone other than immediate family.
Soon, dinner was over with but everyone continued to stay and enjoy their talks. Qian Lan watched in awe at Jiang enjoying the company of her parents. Smiling in satisfaction that if he was from her time and a normal human being, this would probably be their everyday life.
"I'll help Xia Lan clean up."
Qian Lan grabs the dirty plates and heads into the kitchen where Xia Lan had started on the dirty dishes already. Qian Lan stands at the entrance to the kitchen and stares for a moment at her sisters small frame standing at the sink.
"Fancy seeing you standing there."
"Haha, I know Qian Lan. You know....I've always wanted to apologize for not being the older sister you deserved."
"It couldn't be helped. You were sick."
"I would've been dead if not for you though."
"Well, I'm glad you're alive and well sis. Someone has to take care of our parent's when I'm away."
Xia Lan deeply sighs and turns back to facing the sink.
"Will you ever be able to come visit again?"
"I don't know Xia Lan. I mean, If I disappear for four months again, will another four years pass on by here too? I don't know how I'll cope with the passage of time. Watching you all grow older as I stay the same? I don't know if I can handle that if I come back to visit."
"Qian Lan....regardless of how you'll look and how we'll look. We'll still want to see you, I can promise you that much."
"I guess we'll have to see. Only the heavenly king has the ability to bring us here. I don't want to make any promises I know I won't be able to keep, you know?"
"Alright, I will take that answer for now."
The two sisters continued to chatter among themselves before their mother interrupted them.
"Qian Lan, follow me."
Qian Lan quietly follows her mother into her old bedroom. Laying on her bed was the wedding dress that she tried on earlier that day.
"What's the meaning of this mom?"
"I'll help you put it on, I won't be able to do it once you're back to his world right? This will be my only chance so I will send you off wearing this."
Holding back her tears, Qian Lan could see her mother hiding her sadness behind her meek smile.
"Alright mom, whatever you want."
Qian Lan watches her alarm clock as her mother continues to dress her up in her beautiful red wedding gown. The clock continued to tick on by till it finally hit eleven-thirty. With only thirty minutes left Qian Lan speaks up to remind her mother.
"Mom, there's on thirty minutes left."
"I know, I'm almost done."
Finally fixing the wedding outfit. Qian Lans mother insisted on her updoing her hair and at least putting some makeup on.
Qian Lan did as she was told since she wanted to please her mother one last time. Quickly walking to her desk, Qian Lan grabs hold of her old lip tint and adds a tint of redness to her plump lips. Going all out, she throws on some light BB cream and setting powder. Last but not least she dashes on a hint of blush to add color to her pale skin.
"All done mom."
"Ah Ah Ah, your hair. I'll do it."
Qians Lans mother quickly braids a high pony tail and clips the hair up into a messy bun before adding in a hairpin.
"There, now for the veil."
Qian Lan watches as her mother places the veil over her head and motions for her to put on a pair of red shoes.
"You're all set....now lets head downstairs. Son in law is waiting."
Qian Lans mother guides her down the stairs and to the front entrance hall. Barely able to see her surroundings with her veil on, Qian Lan jolts suddenly from her sisters hug.
"Xia Lan?"
"Take care of yourself little sis."
Qian Lan hugs her sister a little tighter before moving onto hugging her quiet and meekly father.
"Take care of yourself dad. Take care of everyone."
Qian Lans father mumbles through his tears and hugs his little girl a little tighter.
"Mom, in my room in the second to last drawer is a stash of money I've saved up from when I was working. I won't be here to use it and have no need for it so please put it to good use."
Qian Lan tightly hugs her mother who was crying from tears of saddness with a hint of happiness.
"Take care Qian Lan. Know that your family here is always waiting for you."
Qian Lan breaks into a small smile and nods at her mothers words. Now that it was time to leave, the reality was finally hitting harder than ever. Although this was what she wanted, it was still a hard pill to swallow knowing shes leaving her family.
Qian Lans mother motions for Qian Lan to stretch out her hand. While doing so she grabs Jiangs hand and has him guide Qian Lan to stand by his side.
"Take care of her son in law."
"Rest Assure mother, I will."
Everyone watched from the porch as Jiang guided Qian Lan towards the temple where it all began.
Whispering underneath his breath, Jiang whispers out to Qian Lan.
"You look even more beautiful tonight Qian Lan."
Qian Lan chuckles at his remarks.
"Jiang you can't even see my whole face."
Finally reaching the temple, Qian Lan could hear her mothers alarm clock go off. It was finally midnight. It was time to leave.
Enveloped in a bright light. With wind blowing around them; Qian Lans veil flys to the side of her hair. Getting one last glance in, she stares at her crying loved ones from afar.
Putting on a strong front, Qian Lan smiled as happily as she could. Just like that, they all watched as Jiang and Qian Lan disappear into thin air.