"How was the experience?"
Xiang Weimin looked up from the book he was engrossed in and found Zhai Kuijun walking to his side. He ca to sit on the rattan chair and continued to wait for Xiang Weimin's reply.
"What experience?" asked Xiang Weimin.
"Experience of eting your youngest sister," said Zhai Kuijun catching Xiang Weimin off guard.
Xiang Weimin closed the book in his hand and leaned back on the chair as he glanced at Zhai Kuijun. "It was quite an experience," replied Xiang Weimin. "I might not even be able to describe it. Although we have the sa blood running through our veins, we are nothing but strangers. I wonder if it really makes a difference that we have the sa blood."
"Blood is thicker than water," stated Zhai Kuijun.
"Uncle, you don't have to comfort like that," said Xiang Weimin. "You and I both know that no matter how thick the blood is, it can never overco the space left behind by ti." He closed his eyes briefly as he went on, "We can't change the fact that there are twenty-five years between us. Ti is a cruel thing. No matter how strong a relationship is, it often can't bear the storm of ti."
Zhai Kuijun raised his brow at Xiang Weimin and glanced at the book title that he had been reading. With a thoughtful expression, he said, "Are you turning philosophical after reading these days?"
Xiang Weimin smiled slightly, "It's nothing like that. It's just that when I saw how close Yue Fai was with Raelle, it made realize that I couldn't really fight with ti. That's a very difficult thing to do. You can never make up for the lost ti."
"So, you're giving up?" inquired Zhai Kuijun.
"That's impossible," retorted Xiang Weimin. "Just because I lost the past with her, doesn't an I'm willing to lose this present as well." He took a brief pause before adding, "Although I understand that I might never be able to co close to what Fai ans to her, I'd still like to be a brother to her."
"Speaking of that," started Zhai Kuijun. "I didn't expect that Yue Fai was acquainted with Raelle. No, it shouldn't be described as re acquaintances. They seem closer than that."
"I didn't know that either," told Xiang Weimin. "But I believe that he knew from the beginning."
"Do you an that's why he saved you?"
Xiang Weimin shook his head, "Not really. He only asked my na when we reached the hospital and there when he heard my na, he had a crack in his expression for a second. I didn't take it seriously back then but looking back, the way he looked at had changed after that. That's why I'm certain that he figured out my identity since then."
"He is a very interesting guy," comnted Zhai Kuijun.
Xiang Weimin smiled at that and nodded in agreent, "He sure is."
Zhai Kuijun stood up and patted Xiang Weimin's shoulder, "I'm going to work now. Take care of yourself. Don't try to act like a superhero. You haven't recovered yet. So rest well. And by resting, I an to get so sleep. Don't continue to read all the ti. Your mind also needs rest."
"Wow! You're even naggier than my own father," comnted Xiang Weimin.
Zhai Kuijun straightened up and cleared his throat, "Who is naggy? I'm just giving you advice as an elder." Saying that he left.
*Ring!*
Xiang Weimin heard the ringtone of his phone and stretched his hand to pick the phone from the table. As he looked at the caller id, his eyes narrowed and he answered the phone. "It seems you found your phone. What a miracle!"
"Ge, you can stop being so sarcastic with ," ca Xiang Wai's voice. "Anyway, I saw you called."
"I just wanted to ask you how you're doing," replied Xiang Weimin. "But apparently, your phone is such a burden that you can't even carry it on your body." He sighed out helplessly, "I heard from dad that you went over."
"Yup!"
"How long are you staying?"
"I'm already on my way back," she replied.
"It's rare for you to have ti," said Xiang Weimin. "Why didn't you spend so more ti with him?"
"Just because I have free ti doesn't an Papa does as well," she told him. "He already took a day off yesterday. I couldn't just make him ignore his work for . Besides, spending a day is enough. It's not like our family has the habit of living together."
"Fine, then co over to see when you're back," said Xiang Weimin. He couldn't possibly disagree with her words. Their family really didn't have the habit of living together. It's already enough that they get to see each other once in a while. Any more than that and perhaps even they won't be used to it at all.
"That's the plan," said Xiang Wai. Thinking of sothing, she ntioned, "Oh, Ge, mom's birthday is coming."
"So?" responded Xiang Weimin strangely. Why was she bringing that up out of nowhere? "And you even rember her birthday? You even forget your own!"
He wasn't lying. The way they lived, none of them actually rembered their birthdays. They never had the habit of celebrating birthdays either since most of the ti, they'd be out on a mission.
"I didn't rember hers," said Xiang Wai. "She called ."
"To remind you of her birthday?" Xiang Weimin felt inexplicable when he heard that. "When did she get interested in birthdays?"
"How would I know that?" retorted Xiang Wai. "Anyway, she just called to say that she'd be holding a birthday celebration next week and she wants to co. Also, she invited you as well."
"Do we have to go?" asked Xiang Weimin as he groaned. "Just tell her I'm sick and can't co."
"If I said that, she might show up to drag you with her," reminded Xiang Wai. "And it's just a dinner. I think we can go."
"Go and let her family get on my nerve?" asked Xiang Weimin. "No, thank you! I'm not interested."
"Well, I can't go there alone," said Xiang Wai. "I don't care. If I have to go, then you have to co with ."
"You're the biggest trouble of my life," stated Xiang Weimin.
"I know," she replied. "Now, tell should we bring gifts?"
"How about a no?" He took a pause and added, "Besides, I don't even know what kind of a gift I can give her. How about this? Whatever you're buying, just buy another from my side as well."
"That doesn't sound good," said Xiang Wai. "I also don't know what to get her."
"Then let's not get anything."
"That can't do, Ge," replied Xiang Wai. "You're the one who always tells to be respectful to people. It'd be disrespectful if we didn't bring any gift while others did."
"Get anything, Wai," said Xiang Weimin exasperatedly. "I can't possibly go out shopping in my condition. So, you'd have to do it on your own."
"Ge, you're using !"
"You're my sister!" he reminded her. "It's the least you can do for ."
"You really know how to play, eh?"
Xiang Weimin looked proud of himself as he smiled smugly. But suddenly his smile was lost and he inquired, "Did she invite dad as well?"
"What? Why would she?"
"You haven't been around for the past year so you might not have heard that our mother dearest has been hanging around dad a lot."
Xiang Wai went quiet when she heard that. "I really didn't hear anything about that. Papa didn't ntion anything either. Should I call him to ask if he is invited?"
"No," Xiang Weimin stopped her. "Let's just stay out of it."
"I have no interest in their relationship, to begin with," was Xiang Wai's response. "So, I can definitely stay out of it. But I'm a bit curious. What is she up to? Why is she hanging around Papa now?"
"I'm not sure either," he replied. "I didn't hear anything from Dad but I did hear a little from Uncle Jun."
"What? What did he tell you?"
"Sothing about reconciliation, perhaps."
Xiang Wai snorted, "What nonsense is that? Isn't it too late for that? And what kind of reconciliation? They are divorced! That's the end of a relationship! Nothing good cos from going back to a relationship you know from the beginning how it's gonna end."
"Talking from experience?" he suddenly asked.
Xiang Wai was stunned for a mont before her eyes darkened and she humd in agreent. "Yeah! I certainly am talking from experience."
There was silence on both sides for a while. Suddenly, he could hear an announcent from Xiang Wai's side. It seed she was already at the airport waiting to board the plane.
"Wai..."
"Hm?"
"I usually don't get involved with your personal life but I have a question for you.
"Go ahead," she said.
"Is this really the end for you and Yanjun?"
Xiang Wai had a bitter smile on her lips as she said, "It is over! For good!"
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