49 SHE'S ALRIGHT

The woman cried in Xueyan arms for some times then stopped. 

After she sobered up, she made Xueyan promise it will never happen again. Xueyan did and the woman's mind was then at peace.

Outside Zhong brought all the clothes out and knocked on the door, Yuxi made Qingran stay out with her, so the little girl won't see her mother and granny talking. 

"Who are you?" Yuxi asked. A lot of people have been coming here, recently, what do they want? 

"I'm Zhong."

"Zhong who?"

Zhong mouth twitched, "Zhong. Just Zhong. Can you help me with the door, please? I have to return to work."

*

Xueyan brought the woman a glass of warm water. 

"Drink some yourself," the woman said with a hoarse voice. 

She did and her mother smiled, "I called your father in the midst of it all. They took the first train and headed over here. I... I can't call him to go back. It's still a good thing he's coming anyway." She played with her daughter's hand. The door opened and they both turned to it. 

Seeing the unfamiliar face, Mrs Bai frowned. 

Zhong smiled, the same smile he had given Xueyan at the hotel. He bowed to the woman.  

She was still, so didn't reply. 

He went out to get the boxes after putting the bags down. 

"What's in them?" Yuxi asked. 

Xueyan stretched out her hand to Qingran and the little girl went into her mother's arm. "Mommy, are you alright? Did anyone bully you? Tell baby, I will go fight them all. If anyone tries anything funny, we will both fight them, OK?" Qingran pleaded, then gave her mother a peck on the cheek. 

"No one has bullied mommy, I'd be sure to tell you if anyone tries."

The little girl then beamed. "Yes! Make sure you tell me. I'm the captain and I will rush over with my rescue team to set you free and beat whoever is looking for your trouble to a pulp!" She cheered. Her little voice was all over the room. 

The atmosphere was lightened immediately. 

Zhong placed the last box on the floor, he heaved and bowed deeply, "Ma'am, I will be leaving then." 

Xueyan nodded, he then turned and left. 

How will I answer to their incoming questions? 

She cleared her throat, "A friend of mine...i bumped into an old friend of mine and we talked and had fun. My cloth got ruined with wine and my friend got me all these."

"Your friend must be rich! Very rich! These are all Xings clothes."

She nodded at Yuxi. She didn't specify the gender of her so called friend and they didn't ask. Oof, I'm safe. 

She called the hotel afterwards and the female manager assured her she could resume tomorrow. Telling her that it was fine and happy that she has returned. 

When Xing Rongbo heard it, he sighed. Well, glory to his name that she is alright. 

*

Not long after she returned, her father and Shihuan arrived. 

The old man was shivering even though the day wasn't cold. When he saw Xueyan he almost cried. Oh lord, she's safe. Thank you for keeping my child safe. I would have died had something happened to her... No, no. Nothing will happen to my child again. 

Shihuan sat beside Yuxi as she narrated how scared they had been. 

"Mother couldn't even cry. She didn't think of it as a way of finding sister. She bottled it up and tried to stay calm not to frighten Qingran. Even I almost lost it. She cried when sister came back."

Shihuan nodded, even he had been so scared when his father told him what was happening. They almost forgot to lock the door, all in the name of fright. 

Mrs Bai was in the kitchen with Qingran telling her princess story. She said she would conquer the world and make the people of the world bow at her mother's feet. Mrs Bai would laugh so hard that a tear would drop. 

Good good. She would say happily. 

The father and daughter was in the dining, the man held onto her hand and will squeeze it occasionally. "Be safe child. I don't want anything to happen to you again. I couldn't protect you back then. And I don't know how I would do so if it happens again. So please be safe and let the Almighty guide you." He blessed her.

She smiled, "Father, let me go help mom in the kitchen."

"Good, good. Go ahead." 

She first went to room and took up the phone. 

<I want to see you! It's urgent.>

She sent out the text, to the only number in her cell. 

He didn't reply as soon as he did before. 

She came back out and went to the kitchen, helping her mother with the vegetables. 

*****

When Zhaolin received the text, he had been so shocked. Yes, she was persistent on me getting out of her life and now? She wants to see me. 

He was lost in his thoughts so he didn't reply as soon as he got it. 

He was in the meeting room. Jiayi and Jingze was in the same room as him. 

Jiayi watched the young man when his phone came on. She had seen something in those black eyes but before she could pin anything to them, it vanished just like it came. Without trace. 

Thirty minutes later, the meeting ended with the board of directors, everyone left except four people. Zhaolin and his two uncles Jingze and YumZheng with his aunt Jiayi. 

They talked about the release of the newest car, the design and colours they wanted to first make them in. 

They left the colour for him to decide and left the boardroom. 

*****

The hospital Xiangyang's mind wandered away from work. He was way too curious about that woman. But how can he find her. 

If he had been able to see her face then he wouldn't be this worried about her identity but now... 

Songyan nudged him, "Where are you lost at? The sea? Or the ocean? You need help returning?" She smiled when she saw him frown, "We are working here and you are busy thinking about a woman. Tell me, was she that good?"

He frowned more. "Yes, I'm thinking about a woman. A woman very capable. She's too much and deserves an award! To be able to do what she did last night, she is really capable."

This time it was Songyan's turn to frown. 

He smiled and winked at her and her face twitched in disgust.