A New Life

Su Ting and Quan Zihao talked and decided to return to his country. Quan Zihao was only planning to be here for a few days, anyway. He had just come to sign the papers and meet in person. He did not know if Su Ting would accept his proposal. He hadn't expected he'd actually find a mate in the first place. He was surprised when Su Ting showed signs of high compatibility with him. And since he has a little sister to take care of and his mother is in the hospital, he couldn't stay for long.

Su Ting didn't have anything, in particular, to keep her here since she didn't have to follow her family and no longer had Chen Lijun as a fiance. It was also necessary for the link. Quan Zihao said the beginning of the link-making process is the most important. They had to be together until the link was formed otherwise it would not form. If a link is not formed, then they would have to wait at least a few decades to try again. At that time, due to changes in experiences, situations, character, habits, and so on, there may not be such a strong link or even the possibility to form a link again.

So they could have him take a few extra days off so they could be near one another for the entire week and hope the link is created by then. Instead, Su Ting admitted that her plan all along was to move overseas if she could get him to help with her mother. This was her intention from the start. Not only would she be away from her past, it would also allow her to be free of distractions. She had a feeling that if she were to stay here then she would fall back into her past life's habits.

She let her stepmom know about the move without bothering to talk to her father or cheap sister. She didn't have much of a reaction. Su Ting was a little disappointed. She was expecting her to offer her some money or a few words of care. Not that she needed the money. It was just that after she'd gained a new understanding of the woman she felt as if they'd become closer.

After thinking about it again, Su Ting realized this wasn't unexpected, either. Hao Kaiming wouldn't suddenly change into a doting and overprotective mother just because Su Ting knew she cared for her. She had her own way of caring for people. Otherwise, it wouldn't have taken so many years for her to gain an understanding of her.

It could also be said that Hao Kaiming helped lay the groundwork for Quan Zihao. Without interacting with her cold demeanor throughout the years it would be more difficult for Su Ting to understand and accept Quan Zihao.

For instance, although Su Ting never received a reply, Hao Kaiming did listen to all her curses. Yet, Su Ting didn't give up. She went at her again and again, and no matter how busy she must have been, Hao Kaiming still took the time to stay and accompany her. Even though she didn't understand at the time, she still subconsciously understood she had her attention. Even if there was no reply. Even though her expression never changed. Even though it changed nothing and took their relationship nowhere. For years, this never changed.

So even though Quan Zihao didn't reply to small talk or obvious questions, he still responded when needed. He was patient and clearly explained when you had a (proper) question. And even though his expression hardly changed, she knew she wasn't ignored.

It probably hadn't completely sunk in that her stepmother actually cared about her all those years. But how Hao Kaiming reacted to her allowed her to have some kind of weird new culture under her belt.

If it were Quan Zihao, he wouldn't need all those years of tempering.

Su Ting couldn't help this thought from cropping up.

It was probably because of this that, when they arrived and Su Ting kept finding things she wanted to paint, he knew it was because she was putting off entering the pod. He knew without blinking that she was scared. After a few days of letting her run away, he calmly pulled her into a pod with him.

They bought a new mansion for Su Ting as soon as they arrived. Although they weren't living together, he also had a room here.

She had made him find somewhere between the school zones and his mother's hospital. He had been given enough to provide for her a small mansion on the outskirts or in a high-security villa, but she insisted. She told him to keep the rest of the money for himself.

She put all the decision power in his hands after this. In the end, he still used most of the money to buy her a middle-class flat in a nice part of town. It was an old-fashioned place. The type they both liked. The dining and living room on the first floor was opened up for two stories. On the opposite side of the living room were a guest room, storage area, and balcony. Above these rooms were the open hallway and the master bedroom, study, and bathroom. It came fully furnished with chrome and red oak furnishings.

Su Ting particularly loved the dining and living rooms. She would lie on the couch or sit at the table and stare at the chandelier. She had never had a roof that was so high above her. It made her feel comforted and at ease. It may also have something to do with the permanent furniture.

She hadn't ever lived in such an old building. Not being able to change the room with a mere thought should have taken a lot of getting used to, but Su Ting took to it like a fish in water.

Quan Zihao wanted to put it in the guest room, but she insisted that the room be set up for him. When he said he still needed to live with his sister, she said that was only a matter of course, but she still wanted him to have his own space here. If he didn't want his own room, they could share one. Su Ting would never admit she was a little disappointed when he decided to take the guest room.

Every day Quan Zihao would visit after seeing his sister off to school. He would hop in a pod for a few hours, watch her paint, make them lunch, and so on. When his sister's school was over, he would go to pick her up and the both of them would visit their mother at the hospital. Quan Zihao spent the rest of the day with his family. After their mother chased them away he would take his sister home and cook dinner, and help her with homework. When he was free, he'd chat with his neighbors or take a walk and find himself at someone's social function. At night he would go home and sleep, then wake up and take his sister to school and do it all over again.

On the fourth day after Su Ting arrived overseas, she finished her first painting. It was a simple landscape of the cityscape outside their window. Zhao Qihao was there when she put some finishing touches on it and then picked up her sketchbook. She didn't notice him sipping tea behind her as she quickly began sketching out random shapes. She drew and painted as if someone was chasing her.

He saw the paints and paintbrushes being put away and tossed into the cleaner. He stepped forward, leaning over from behind her to glance at her sketchpad, "This cleans your brushes, right? What a neat tool."

He looked at the paintbrush handles sticking out of a tube splashing water and soap inside. The handles were sticking up through holes so their handles didn't get wet, and the water moved differently in each section for each individual brush. It was made to create an ideal setting for different brush types so that the brush can keep its shape and integrity.

Su Ting jumped. Had she known he was back, she'd have continued painting. Maybe it could use some clouds? She guiltily glanced at the painting that didn't have any sky in it. Maybe some window glare? "I'm washing them to get the paint off. I need it wet to get up the paint for some of the windows." She began pointing and explaining her sudden ideas as if she had planned them all this time.

He listened earnestly to her go on and on. Once she had worn out all other words and then some, he finally spoke up, "If you put a glare here, won't it destroy the balance of color you've created in the center frame?"

Su Ting's chest tightened. She unknowingly held her breath. Her mind raced for an explanation. While she was trying to find excuses she suddenly felt her bottom leave her stool. She screamed as she was thrown over his shoulder.

"I've let you put it off for long enough. Time to go."

"Quan Zihao! You put me down!" She feigned anger, but the tremble in her voice gave her away.

How was she supposed to face the woman she'd been ignoring for two lifetimes? What kind of face should she show? How should she apologize? Is it even possible for them to make up? Her mother sending messages all the time is one thing, facing her daughter who hated her for 18 years is another. What if she doesn't like her anymore? Her illusions of a perfect child are destroyed. Su Ting knew better than anyone how faulty she was.

Even though she had made it her goal, she was still scared out of her mind.

"I-I changed my mind, I don't wanna go! The deal is off!"

She didn't know if his lack of response was because he'd seen through her or because he was choosing to ignore her. The office door swung open.

"Wuwu… Quan Zihao you devil." She cried.

She was gently pulled down into his arms and set in his lap. She thought he was going to coax her before they entered but in the next moment she noticed they weren't on the couch but in an extra large two-person pod. Before she could freak out again the top closed on them and they were cut off from the outside world.

As her consciousness faded she thought his warm embrace must have an adjunct of calming as well. How many adjuncts does he have? She really hit the jackpot with this one.