Celebration

OASIS. Just like the meaning of the name, the orphanage is the safe haven for parentless kid, either losing their parents in unpredictable accidents or being abandoned by their selfish parents. It provides the much needed life's fundamentals for the children and also some other essentials that suitable for each individual.

The late founders laid some mandatory rules in the orphanage and impelled every in-charge personnels, either the management, the cooks or even the gardeners to treats every child with fairness. They also encouraged every child to explore their own passions. This is to ensure the kids feel safe and loved and also teach them to become a just person too towards their other 'family members'. No bully or other immoral behaviours occured in the orphanage as every single person strives to maintaining the friendly and amiable home for everyone.

Today the lively atmosphere in the orphanage became more livelier when Fu Mingxia decided to bring her sons to her childhood home in order to celebrate their first birthday with everyone in the orphanage. It's not only to bring a joyous mood to everyone that was affected by her parents' deaths but also to emphasise to each person she is still with them, working together with everyone to preserve her late parent's legacy.

"Alright..let's gather in front of this stage everyone so we can sing the birthday song together and captures some pictures too," Fu Da spoke into the microphone on the stage in the assembly hall. He as the principal aka captain of the orphanage is in-charge of today's celebration, to let his subordinates know that he had pledged his loyalty to Fu Mingxia as some of them still unsure if she is the right person to be their leader because she never involved herself with the orphanage management before.

Excited exclamations and cheerful laughters from smaller kids reverberated around the hall as they joyfully crowded around one of the big round table on the most front where two giant cakes with different tiers of flavours stood tall. Two adorable babies are seated on two high chairs with Fu Mingxia stood in between and Xue Ling with Han Lei stood at the other sides of each baby. The other grown up children also gathered around, joined by the staffs of the orphanage.

"Everyone ready?" Fu Mingxia cheerily asked as she eying every kids with big warm smile on her face.

"YESSSS!!!" Loud roar of excitements echoed in response to hers.

She signaled Fu Duyi to start playing the tunes on the electronic keyboard. "Alright..in count of three. One, two, three.. Happy birthday day to you 🎶🎵🎶🎵~~"

A round of loud applause resonated after the birthday song ended as Xue Ling and Han Lei helped to blow off each candle on the top of the cakes. A group photos was taken afterward before delicious foods are being rolled in and served on the round tables in the hall as the staffs ushered the kids to take their seats and eat. Some children whined when they did not get the cakes but the staffs ensured everyone they will get some after they had finished their main course later.

In one of the corner, a woman gazing at the right most front round table where Fu Mingxia and the others are seated. She glares hatefully at her before she smirked maliciously and went out towards the kitchen. Along the way, she smiled amiably at everyone that she encountered.

Upon reaching the big kitchen, she walked towards one of the kitchen counter and cautiously looking around for other's presences before she pulled out a tiny vial and secretly poured the contain inside a juice pitcher. She stirred it and brought it to the hall again, where she approaches Fu Mingxia's table and warmly smiles at everyone whom seated there.

"Miss Fu, here is a pitcher of passion fruits juice specially made for you. It's your late mother's favourite too." She carefully put the glass jug onto the table.

"Really? But I don't like that fruit."

"Oh? That's really unfortunate then. I'm sorry for not knowing about your preferences beforehand but if I'm not mistaken, the late Madam Fu always told me you loved it too." She looked confused.

"I did because that's her favourite drink. It's a form of my love towards her. But now she's not here anymore, I don't need to drink it anymore too."

"Right~~ Should I toss it away, then?" She adorned a quite stiff smile and feigning regret to waste such drink.

"You can drink it then. Here, let's sit with us. There's a vacant seat there. I would like to hear about your experiences working with my late mother before."

"No..no..it's okay. I still have some things to do in the kitchen. But I'll share my experiences with you some other time when you come again in the future. Have a nice meal." She excused herself and brought the pitcher back into the kitchen while cursing Fu Mingxia profusely inside her mind and heart.

Bonk!

She roughly placed the pitcher on the kitchen island with a frown marring her dark expression. Her expression instantly turned bright when a man came inside the room, directly walking towards the island too.

"Mrs Tan. What're you doing here alone? Everyone is celebrating in the hall, busy savouring on the yummy cakes. Don't you want to have some too? Your child enjoyed it very much." The man crouched down and opened some of the lower cabinets, seemingly searching for something.

"Ah! I just want to dump this juice in the sink."

"Why?" The man stood up and put a glass jar in his hand onto the counter.

"I think the juice tasted bad already. Well..fresh juices tend to spoil faster. You..what're you doing here? Right..where's my husband? I didn't saw him before." She tried to change the topic discreetly.

"Oh? He went out to fetch some thing for Miss Fu. You should accompany your child..let's me help you with the juice."

"No..it's okay. I--"

"Let's me." The man grabbed the jug and brought it to the back and poured it into the sink. "There..it's done. Don't just wasting time here. You're one of the staff too. It's not everyday we got to celebrate together like this with Miss Fu."

"Fine. I'll go first." She smiled and walked away, feeling relief after the juice was gone.