No Pressure

"You know why I can't leave Elder Xiang alone," said Mu Chenyan after taking a while to sort out her thoughts. "I'm not saying he does need a babysitter, but he does need a caretaker."

"Even if he does, that can't be you now," replied Raelle without missing a beat. "You're the one who said that Opa only has you and me now. Also, our happiness is all that matters to him now." The polite smile from her face vanished in a blink of an eye as she added, "So, how many excuses are you gonna make just to avoid going out in the society? Do people intimidate you that much?"

Mu Chenyan sighed out, "Maybe I am intimidated by people now."

"If you allowing someone to intimidate you, that means you're letting that person control you. And a person controlled by another is often called a puppet. Because their own self gets buried under that intimidation." She stared into Mu Chenyan's eyes as she went on, "Where is the woman who always taught me to never let anyone intimidate me?"

"Ah, this is the moment I should say it's easier said than done," replied Mu Chenyan. "My Elle is a born fighter. Obviously, no one can intimidate you. But I'm just a normal person. It does scare me to know that while people have reached a zenith in their lives in the past 2 decades, I'm still standing right where I was." She took a deep breath, "While people have walked on the road to becoming leaders of their lives, I'm still just a failure."

Raelle placed her finger under Mu Chenyan's chin and turned her face towards herself again as she said, "Look at me... Who I am?"

"You're my Elle," replied Mu Chenyan as her eyes turned gentle instantly.

"But what do people know about me?"

"Hmmm... Raelle Xiang. Youngest Chairwoman of Xiang Conglomerate. Also the youngest CEO of the Wanda Enterprises. Has been awarded the Top Businesswoman award in Country G for 5 years straight." She breathed out, "There is so much more, but I am tired now. It'll take me a whole day to brag about my Elle and even that might not be enough."

One could clearly see the look of pride on Mu Chenyan's face. Raelle was the baby about whom the doctors said she might never be able to blend in the society. Because she's different. But instead of blending in, today her Elle was the woman people looked up to. She never tried to get accepted by this society. She had been challenging it all her life.

"Your peers might have become the leaders in their lives, but you have raised me. You've raised Raelle Xiang. You might have not become a leader, but you've raised one. You should be proud of yourself."

Mu Chenyan laughed at Raelle as she placed her hands against her cheeks and said, "How can I forget that? You are my pride. You've always been my pride."

"Then for me, start living your life for yourself. Opa and I are not your responsibilities." She took a pause seeing the hesitation on Mu Chenyan's face and added, "When I was young, I used to tell you how everyone around me said I'm not normal so I don't fit in with them. You're the one who taught me that there is no such thing as 'normal'. It's the way of looking at things. You said just because I don't fit in the definition of the 'normal' set by society, it doesn't make me an anomaly. It makes me unique and special. Because we can find those normals everywhere, finding someone special is rare."

Mu Chenyan suddenly shuddered saying, "The way you remember everything, word for word gives me goosebumps. I think I said that when you're six. Is it alright to remember it even now?"

"You can't recall what happened when you're six?" questioned Raelle.

"No, I can't!" retorted Mu Chenyan.

"Eat more almonds," said Raelle with a straight face. "You said it's good for the memory."

Mu Chenyan gaped at her in disbelief, "Did you just insult my memory?"

"Did I?"

Mu Chenyan looked at her face and sighed out, "Nevermind!" She let her body sink into the couch as she leaned back and held the cushion in front of her saying, "I like this."

"What?"

"Having you to talk to," replied Mu Chenyan. "I feel like I can tell you everything and magically, everything will be alright."

"There is no such thing as magic in this world," said Raelle.

Mu Chenyan chuckled softly and said, "There is."

"To believe in the power of magic is an insult to science." She stood up to go back to her desk as she added, "However, science can be described as magic. Instead of using enchanted tools to aid the performance of tricks, we have the technology. And that technology does allow us to turn into magicians."

Mu Chenyan shook her head at Raelle and said, "My dearest Elle, there are things science can't prove. The universe is mysterious in its own way."

"Yanyan, do you believe in the supernatural power of magic?"

Mu Chenyan nodded her head, "Yes, I do."

"Why?"

"Because you need to believe it, to see it," replied Mu Chenyan. "It's all about the power of faith."

"What do you mean?"

"Humans' power of faith is quite interesting," she said. "It has the power to turn a statue of stone into a god. So, don't ever doubt it."

"That doesn't make magic real," retorted Raelle.

"The magic is all around us... You don't have to see it to believe it. You can just feel it."

Raelle looked in her direction and said, "It is again a poetry reference that I won't be able to understand?"

"It's okay. Take your time. You'll eventually understand it."

"What if I don't want to understand it?"

Mu Chenyan smiled at her, "That's okay as well. We are only humans, there is only so much we can understand in life. There is no need to feel pressured."