As Yuqin and Han Rong sat side by side on the plane, she leaned on him and closed her eyes. Han Rong fixed her hair strands and looked at her with soft smile. She didn't say anything but Han Rong understood that she needed him. Three months apart left them longing for each other more than ever, he gently kissed her on the forehead as she fell asleep.
Lingling and Max were seated together behind them and they didn't say anything but smiled at each other. She looked at Max from time to time but at the end, she grabbed her headphone because she needed to calm down. She doesn't even dare to tell her brother that she had a crush on Max because he will definitely reject that idea. Max, on the other head, was reading a fashion magazine. He looked at Lingling and said, "What do you think of this outfit?"
"For you or for me?" Lingling looked at him with confusion.
"For me, of course." Max smiled, "I wish I could buy these type of outfit. But they're not cheap. I'm just a broke police officer."
"Those are definitely not cheap. But you could always save and get them if you really want it." Lingling smiled again and Max nodded, "Xiaoling, can I call you that?"
"Don't you like to call me Lingling?" She replied.
"Xiaoling sounds cuter. A cuter nickname for you." Max teased her, "Your brother already called you, Lingling, but I'm not your brother."
Lingling pouted but then smiled, "Fine. Only you can call me that. Alright?"
"I promise!" Max slightly smiled then continued on reading.
After a few hours, they landed at Sanya Phoenix International airport. Yuqin and the others grabbed their personal belongings then headed out to the exit. Han Rong and Lingling's parents came to pick them up.
"Welcome back!" Yu Jie smiled and hugged Han Rong then Lingling.
"Mom! Look, I bought you new sandals since your old ones were worn out." Lingling showed them to her.
"They're gorgeous, I'll try them after we get back. And how are you, my daughter?" Yu Jie looked so proud of Yuqin that she already considered her as her second daughter.
"Thank you, Auntie. I'm well. How you've been?" Yuqin answered.
"Call me, mom from now on." Yu Jie replied and looked at her gently while holding her hands.
Yuqin hesitated then looked at Han Rong and Lingling. They smiled and nodded.
"Mom." Yuqin softly answered. Yu Jie smiled, "Yes, my daughter."
They hugged for a few seconds longer then Guanting interrupted, "Sorry to interrupt, the car I called is here." Yu Jie was impatient to him and replied, "I'm hugging my daughter. The car can wait." Yuqin and the others laughed. Max and Albert got the luggage to the back trunk then looked at their boss, "We're calling a taxi. We'll see you tomorrow! Take care." Han Rong and the others waved goodbye.
***
After dropping off Yu Jie and Guanting, Han Rong and Lingling accompanied Yuqin to her apartment. They're now back home, to Sanya accompanied by hot and humid weather. Yuqin turned on the air conditioner then brought out two tea cups.
"I'll boil some water for you guys. There are juice and soda in the fridge. Make sure they're not expired before drinking them." Yuqin went to boil the water while Lingling looked into the fridge.
"Wow, Sister Yuqin. Your fridge....it's so clean. No fruits and vegetables." Lingling was surprised but Yuqin shook her head, "Fruits and vegetables will spoil quicker than bottled juices and soda. I already finished them before I left for Beijing. Lingling, could you check my freezer? I remembered I bought some frozen dumplings before I left."
"Got them. One or two? And do I place them here?" Lingling got two bags of frozen dumplings.
"All of them. If we cannot finish them, I'll pan-fry them tomorrow. Just leave it there. By the way, do you guys drink jasmine tea or green tea?" Yuqin replied while she took out the tea tray with variety of tea bags.
"Green tea." Han Rong came into the kitchen and looked at them, "You two are good partners."
"We are besties!" Lingling side hugged Yuqin and she smiled.
"Han Rong, the water should be ready. Help yourself, teabags are on the counter." Yuqin pointed at the counter. She poured the frozen dumplings into a wok that's filled with boiling water. After check on them, she went to drink tea with Han Rong while Lingling drank orange juice. Yuqin also brought out some chips that weren't opened before.
"Shouldn't be expired. I bought these before I left." She left it on the tea table.
"They're not expired." Lingling confirmed it, "By the way, Sister Yuqin, I'm very glad you're with my brother. He's a different person with you. Oh right, I still have this paper. Sister Yuqin, do you remember this?"
Yuqin opened the paper and saw the note that she wrote for him. She smiled and replied, "You were at the hospital then, right? I was too focused on Jenny and other stuff that I completely ignored the fact that Lingling was right in front me. I'm sorry." Lingling stood up and gave Yuqin a hug.
"I'm sorry I overheard everything from the hospital. I'm sorry about the loss. I also apologize that I didn't tell you that we were there."
"That's alright. No need to apologize. If I known it earlier, there wouldn't be a surprise. Right? All's good."
***
After Han Rong and Lingling finished their dinner and helped out with the dishes, Yuqin thanked both of them and offered them a ride home. Suddenly, Han Rong received a phone call from Albert.
"Boss, turn on the TV. Something happened."
Yuqin turned on the TV and they couldn't believe their eyes. War is starting again in the same location as Han Rong's teammates were killed. This time, they captured a someone major in the police force.
"Han Rong, what are you going to do?" Yuqin asked.
Just then, Commander Lu Cheng called.
"Han Rong, we need you back immediately."