Mrs Gu quickly look at her husband then back to Xue Qin "What i meant was ..."
"it's fine aunty. You need no explain. I just want you to know that the company is within law and order. The leave to approve or not the HR will do the work."
"But..."
"Nan ger is old enough to know what he should do and what he should not do. He never want to disrespect you nor anyone." She look at Nan Qin to her left "Nan ger, let's shorten the trip to three days since the project is important."
"Bring mei mei along if you want to go. This silly girl never go anywhere."
"I am not going anywhere without mother."
"Silly girl. You are old enough. You should go and see the outside world. Your brother will be there so i will be relive. He will take care of you."
"I told you i am not going anywhere without you!"
Mrs Gu sighs "Am i suppose to follow you? Fine fine. I will come along."
"Mum, why are you forcing yourself to come along? This trip was supposed to be for me and Xue Qin. If Mei Qin doesn't want to come, don't force her!"
Mrs Gu slam down her chopsticks on the dining table. "Is this how you talk to your elders? I am not your colleague at work! I just want mei mei to go with you, how can this be wrong?!" The dining table starts to squable with them yelling at each other. Mr Gu who can't take it anymore, told them to shout up. "Enough! " He looks at his wife"Our children are all big enough to think for themselves. Stop trying to control their actions and thoughts." Mrs Gu look at her husband with tears in her eyes. She push back the chair and walk out of the dinning room. Mei Qin soon follow after she ate up the rest of the food in her bowl.
"Nan Qin, go and apply the leave. Your mother is just being dramatic. She has been like this all her life. She is never bad person, please understand my son."
A week later, Nan Qin and Xue Qin decided to takes a short road trip to the next county. They take time to enjoy the sights and sound. That night, they had dinner and enjoy the ambiance. The work phone buzz continuously. Nan Qin did not want to pick it up, eventually he pick up and walk a distance to talk. Xue Qin look around the hotel's restaurant. As she look around, she notice a man sitting in front off her on the other table. He had big round eyes that sparkle like diamonds. He actually slowly smile and swirling his wine with one hand. Xue Qin immediately look away and pretend to be eating her meal which is almost gone except for the flowers decoration. She look up again, the stranger again give her a smile. Feeling shy she look away and feel that her ears are heating up. Just then Nan Qin return. Once he sit down, he completely cover that stranger who is sitting in front of her. She sigh but through the glass window and the reflection of the light, she see him staring at her. Once Nan Qin finish his meal, they stood up and left. From the corner of her eye, she see an empty table which the waitress is clearing up. That mysterious stranger had already finish his dinner and left. Slightly disappointed, she look at the wine glass on the table.
Spending three days with Nan Qin, they drive back to their home town. Back home, Mrs Gu is still angry with Nan Qin. However Nan Qin coddle his mother like a baby and Mrs Gu is back to her happy self. He even play the piano for his mother to make her happy. While Xue Qin is hiding in her little apartment. She goes into her art studio and started to paint. She use the photos on her phone and her memory to know what she wants to paint. When the piece is done, she step back and look at it. She smile and put it aside. Xue Qin walk to the window and look out to see the sun still harbouring over the sea.
The next day, she drive a mini cooper out without breakfast. It is a long road with the trees aline along the windy road. She drives till she reach the local cemetery. With a bouquet of flowers, she stands in front of the family she miss badly. Xue Qin cleans up the tomb and wipe the names and photos. She whispers as she did all that. As she stood up, she sees a man to her left. He is paying respect to a deceased. He turn to his right to see her standing there with her red eyes and red nose. It is the same guy she saw the other night. Today he is standing across her in all black and sunglasses. They did not move nor say a word to each other. Till a lady approach him and circle his arm. As they walk off he turn back to see Xue Qin still standing there with her teary eyes. His heartache and he can't do anything but to keep walking away.