Silence

"Mingxia, I am actually conflicted." She said after quite some time.

Like what they always said that 'changes are the only constant thing in this world', Han Meixiu also changed. And she did change a lot.

The more she thought about the choices that she has to make, the deeper she fell into her dilemma. But deep down inside she knew which would she most likely choose.

Han Mingxia actually understood her cousin. They both have different priorities. She could not continuously drag Han Meixiu to achieve her goal of seeking answers.

Unlike her, her cousin has an option on how she's going to continue her life.

She's married.

In reality, once a woman got married, the matter about her maternal family wouldn't weigh as much as her husband's.

Thus, Han Meixiu could choose to prioritize her own family now.

The moment her cousin said she's conflicted, she knew she was about to let go the matter regarding her parents. She's not in any position to further complicate her cousin's way of thinking for selfish reasons.

"I'm sorry." She could only apologize. Yes, she has selfish reasons why she contacted Han Meixiu even though her uncle once told her that it's better for her cousin to live a life separated from him. She still contacted her. She was looking for a companion to solve the mystery she's facing. Han Meixiu was just the perfect candidate for it.

"I just wanted to inform you about Uncle. But...I think it would be better if you just forget everything. Since I already know the basic information I need to know, I might not be visiting you again." She smiled bitterly.

There was only one person she wanted to share her thoughts but looking at Han Meixiu who was now leaning on the wall and looking blankly at the target point up in front of them, she concluded that it would be better to leave her out of this mess.

She thought that since it was her father that got missing in search of her mother, she might have the same enthusiasm as her. Then both of them could work together. But one thing that she miscalculated was the situation her cousin was in.

Han Meixiu was no longer the lazy but free spirited young woman back in Q City that she could invite once in a while and argue with trivial things.

She's now Mrs. Liu Zijian. Wife of the Second Young Master Liu.

She had to let go of this hope. The hope of having someone to talk to while achieving her goal. In the end, no matter where she was, she could only rely on herself. Maybe it's really time to walk in this kind of path.

Silence enveloped the two woman as both got lost in their own respective thoughts.

"Then, this might be the last time we're seeing each other." Han Mingxia spoke after a while and slowly walked to her cousin. From now on, she would work alone and discuss her strategies with her own self.

Han Meixiu snapped from being in a daze and looked questioningly at her cousin.

"What are your plans?"

"I don't know yet." She answered while shrugging her shoulders. She placed her hands on her waist and slightly leaned forward making her face came nearer Han Meixiu's.

"Don't bother yourself with my problem anymore, got it!?" She said as if trying to provoke the other woman.

"Tsk!" Han Meixiu answered then rolled her eyes.

Han Mingxia let out a small laugh before she lazily stretched out her limbs. She then walked towards the door and stopped when she heard Han Meixiu's voice.

"I have something to tell you before you leave."

Han Mingxia turned around and waited for her to continue.

"There's a man power agency located in K Country's second largest city. There might be some kind of connection between them and the black.com. Wang Jinyi also worked for a certain man power agency called white peony but this company already closed down three years ago. But this agency I'm talking about had their uncanny expansion around also that time. It's up to you how will you connect the dots."

Han Mingxia was surprised with what Han Meixiu said. It's a good angle to look at. This piece of information gave her a new thread of hope.

"How did you know about the connection of black.com and this agency?" She curiously asked.

"I saw it in a hospital."

"Hospital? Which one?"

Han Meixiu told her about her visit in that department and how she saw the stitches first then the paper weight.

"You're pregnant?"

"No, well... not yet. Not all patients in that department are pregnant. Besides, you don't need to ask about my personal matters. I looked into that information as I was curious." She answered feeling a bit agitated.

"Hey, relax. I'm not going to condemn you for choosing to prioritize your family or for planning to make your own family, okay?" Han Mingxi answered and her voice started to humor her cousin.

Han Meixiu didn't answer but glared at the other woman. Although she knew this, she couldn't stop herself from being a bit defensive.

"I was just curious. It's actually good for you to have something to look forward to. Our roads might be diverging from each other now but that would not change the fact that we're still cousins. Whether you like it or not, I will always be..."

Her last unfinished sentence was softer than usual.

It made Han Meixiu felt that they might not be able to see each other again. She felt that the way her cousin was saying her goodbye was somewhat showing a state of despondency.

"Han Mingxia, don't do anything stupid!" Han Meixiu knew that even her cousin was a party-goer and loved to be in the crowd, she's lonely. And when she's being in this state, she would act recklessly.

The type of loneliness she has was rooted from the core of her being. Being born as a girl in Han Family wasn't something to be bragged about.

It was good for her because she left the Han Family at a young age and was in the care of her maternal grandparents while growing up. It was different from Han Mingxia.

Although she didn't actually know the entire story, but based from the bits of information she got while listening and arguing with her in the past, she was almost all alone the entire time of her childhood days.

The other woman playfully smiled before she answered.

"I'm not Han Mingxia if I don't do anything stupid."