Xue Qin continue her daily life actives as per normal. She continue to work hard. Regarding to family actives, she rarely join them. Especially if the Wei family is included. She constantly takes holidays and work as excused to fly in and out of the country. Even if at home, she will stay in her little apartment to read or paint.
Another year had pass. Her Lunar New Year is spend with Nan Qin in France. They travel everywhere and absorbed the French culture. Try eating everything that they come across. They took a lot of selfie and sent it back home.
"Thank you for spending another Lunar New Year with me Nan ger." They click on their wine glass."Well spending it with you is better than my family. Besides that, mei mei is going to get marry soon. My new brother in law is a bore. I can't talk to him. Cannot understand why she likes him so much."
"Well he must have something that she likes."
"Money!" Xue Qin laugh out loud and slap his arm "Stop it! Mei mei isn't that kind of girl!" She continue to laugh out loud. People around them are laughing and playing their wine games, so with two of them joining in the noise is nothing. Shorty they hail a cab back to the hotel. Back in her room, Xue Qin removed her outer coat, she slump down the couch and look at the window. Outside is the beautiful Eiffel tower and big round moon. She smile bitterly while she brush her hair up and bun it up. "Are you happy here?"She asked the reflection of herself. "Yes and no" She point to the reflection. "You better be happy! The real happiness is outside the door!" Just then her phone ring. She looks at the screen which display an international number. "Hello, this is Han Xue Qin. Who is this?" It is a silence call from the other side. "Hello, if you don't .."
"I am Daniel Wei." Her hands tremble slightly. "Can i help you, Mr Wei?"
"I ..." The door bell rings right at the moment. Xue Qin sight a relive and thank that ring on the door bell. "I am sorry. I have to end the call. If there is anything important. You can text me. I will try to reply soon. Good nite." She hang up the call. She walk to the door with her trembling hands she open the door.
"I bought another good wine at the wine shop yesterday. Want to share ..."
Nan Qin see his little cousin in tears. She hug him tight and cry. Bewailed at the sight of her, he hug her and pat her back. That night they sit on the couch and Nan Qin hold his cousin till dawn. He sees her phone rings a couple of time. He wonder if this is the caller that upset Xue Qin.
They flew back home three days later. Back home, both of them give their Lunar new year greetings to Mr and Mrs Gu also the other elder members of the household. As usual, Xue Qin is happy and chippy. She even help out in the kitchen to prepare for dinner.
"Miss! This soup taste good! Where did you learn this?"
"I took up cooking lessons when i am free. It's easy to do when i always hang out with all the ladies in the kitchen."
"Oh am i going to lose this job as a cook?!" They all laugh. Just then Nan Qin comes in with a wine bottles in both hands."Ladies! one bottle for you all to share and the other is for cooking." The helpers all surround him and chatted. No one noticed the back door to the kitchen is open. "What is this? Why is everyone so excited?"
"Mr Gu! We are just excited to talk to young master." Mr Gu walk in with another person behind him. Xue Qin seeing him, she barely smile. Daniel nod him when their eyes meet. She continue to peel the carrots while he stand behind Mr Gu. The kitchen is lively with the people chatting about but these two persons are in their own world. His mind even thought is looking and talking with anyone, is keeping a watch at Xue Qin. In his mind he is wondering how can he find a place to talk to her. Finding her mobile number is really difficult. Calling her, she rarely picks up his call. Texting her, she never reply to them. He wonder what else to do.
While in Xue Qin's mind, she want to escape the room with him in it. She don't know how to do or what to do. She hasty peel the carrots skins. Testing the taste of the soup now and then. She quietly instruct one of the helper to take care of the soup and she quietly slip off the kitchen to the mail hall. She walk off in a rush. "Xue Qin!" Her aunt call her loudly that she jump from where she is. "Yes aunty."
"I call you twice and you can't seems to hear me. Is it something wrong?"
"Nothing. Is there something you need me to help you with?"
"Yes go help mei mei. She just can't get her hair done properly. Also help her to pick a nice pair of heels." Together they walk up to the room that Xue Qin used to stay in many years ago. Inside, her old bed is thrown away. the lights are redone. Even the window is different now. Mei Qin is siting on her vanity table trying to fix her hair. Mrs Gu ask Xue Qin to help to fix the hair."This side should be comb nicer and neat. The other side needs a pin or something else." Mrs Gu keeps rumbling on and walk up and down. While Xue Qin trying her best to satisfy both her cousin and her aunt. Once the footwear is selected, Xue Qin run off to her apartment as soon as she can. However the smell of flowers in her garden stop her from moving away. As the sun sets, she walk slowly and enjoy the smell. "The most beautiful flower is here." Stated she look up to see Daniel standing near her. She got up in a haste. He rush to get her to get up but she push him away. "it's ok. I can get up by myself."