However, true enough, Qiu Wen didn't wake till the twins were home later in the evening.

"Daddy's still asleep. He doesn't look like he woke up before. Do you think he is alright?" Joy said as Matthew checked the temperature on his forehead only to find it was no longer hot.

"His fever should be gone. Come let's prepare him dinner before mummy is back and wake him later." Matthew urged as Joy excitedly followed Matthew to the kitchen.

When Xue Ting returned home to find out that Qiu Wen was still sleeping, she quickly grab a bowl of soup and head up to his room.

"Wen Wen…" Xue Ting called out. He shook him awake as Qiu Wen slowly opened his eyes.

"You're alright? Feeling better?" Xue Ting helped him to sit up in bed as he held onto her hand trying to wake up.

"Here, drink some soup first. You haven't eaten the whole day and you need to take your medicine." Xue Ting said as she blew the soup in the spoon to make it less hot before feeding him.

"Jia Yi…" He said while reaching out for his phone, noticing the pitch-black sky outside the window as Xue Ting helped him with it.

"I have sent him off to work in the morning and thank you for arranging for him to send the kids to school. But you really don't have to especially now that you got us a car." Xue Ting reminded as Qiu Wen busily typed on his mobile in reply to Jia Yi and caught up on some work, ignoring her.

"I will prepare more sober soup for you and some honey drink since you're meeting many clients lately?" Xue Ting offered as Qiu Wen stopped momentarily to acknowledge what she just said.

"Ting Ting, thank you." He said earnestly as Xue Ting smiled watching him continue to get busy with his work in bed as she left him alone.

She only return to check on him when she was about to head to sleep but he was still awake; busy with work on his laptop in bed this time. It was worrying as she walked in and sat by his bedside.

"You're still not well. Could you take some rest now and continue later in the morning?" Xue Ting asked worriedly as Qiu Wen stopped typing momentarily.

"I couldn't sleep after sleeping so much earlier…" He replied gently as Xue TIng chuckled.

"You sleep this late too or is it because of me?" He asked out of curiosity.

She shook her head. "I was about to head for a walk alone to clear my thoughts. I only do it when the twins are asleep and on a cool night, especially after the rain."

He looked out to see the clear sky. "Mind if I join you?" He asked as she nodded and quickly grab a jacket for him.

"It's so refreshing…" Qiu Wen said as he hide his hands in his pocket while Xue Ting smiled as they strolled the quiet streets of his neighborhood.

"I have noticed you have a lot of dinners to attend to. It's tiring to socialse isn't it?" Xue Ting asked.

"Yes…" He said as he reminded himself of his upcoming schedules.

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"And you don't like it?" She asked as he scoffed a little.

"Yes. Just the same reason you never liked them either." He said as Xue TIng chuckled.

"You remembered…" She said, a little surprised.

"Of course, I do especially when you sat in the garden the whole night during prom…" He teased as she giggled.

"So, how was life over these years we have lost contact?" He asked as Xue Ting folded her arms while walking.

"Hmm… There's plenty to tell…" She said as he shrugged.

"We have plenty of time. Let's make a deal. Whenever I am free, let me accompany you for walks or even if it's not walking, let's exchange a piece of the update if possible every night?" He suggested as Xue Ting thought about it for a moment and nodded.

"I will start then… Hmmm, I had a college mate, Dan whom I grew closer to while searching for you in an art course. I signed up for many art courses just to find you and he too had the same encounter as me with his love life." Qiu Wen said as Xue Ting became more curious.

"What was similar?" She asked.

"He liked a girl in his class called Pam but just didn't dare to confess. During their prom when he finally did, the confession turn wrong and he ended up with Pam's best friend instead." He explained as Xue Ting wondered if he was hinting to her about their own confession which presumably had gone wrong too but decided to keep her mouth shut.

"I see." She acknowledged as Qiu Wen knew it was too early to make a move on her although he clearly wanted her to take the hint that he was trying to tell her that his confession many years ago to her failed the same way and that he was a coward.

"What about yourself? What do you have to tell me tonight?" He changed the topic noticing the awkward silence.

"Hmm... In the restaurant I worked for now, I owe the old couple, Mr. and Mrs. Jang a lot. They were the ones who offered me the part-time job. When I was on the job for a month or so only then I realise I was pregnant with the twins. Even then, the old couple didn't throw me off the job but continued to look after me well as I had some complications towards the end of the pregnancy." Qiu Wen stopped his pace abruptly after listening to her as she chuckled.

"Don't worry. It's all over. Oh, they had a son called Keith who is now overseas studying. That little boy who used to be six years old when the twins were born is now a grown-up man whom I know Qiu Qiu had a crush on. Just that I never allowed them to move on any further. Not till Qiu Qiu finishes high school at least." Xue Ting explained as Qiu Wen's eyes reddened and noticed she was comfortable with him that she even addressed Joy by her nickname to him.

"Why didn't you ever try to come and look for us?" Qiu Wen questioned as he hugged her momentarily. Xue Ting for once felt the security she once longed for in his arms as she let the moment sip in but knew she wasn't ready to tell him more yet.

"One question a night?" She teased, trying to avoid his question as he smiled.

"Let's head home. It's late and you have just recovered." She said as he nodded and walked with her quietly back home, enjoying the comfortable silence between them.

Lately, his early morning trips with the twins were getting more interesting as they had him learning more about Xue Ting's schedules and also the family's past indirectly.

"Are there any off days for your mum?" Qiu Wen questioned in the car out of curiosity as he noticed she was always very busy.

"Yes. Monday is always the off day for the restaurant as it's closed." Joy said as Qiu Wen frowned.

"Then why is she always so busy? She always has something to do." Qiu Wen's question sent the twins chuckling.

"She loves her art and she draws one masterpiece monthly to be sold in Auntie May's art gallery. Somehow her art is highly on demand in Auntie May's gallery." Joy explained as Qiu Wen nodded.

"I see… Financial difficulties must have been really tough." Qiu Wen mumbled but it was loud enough for the twins to hear him. He quickly covered up with another question.

"Who is this Auntie May?"

"Oh, she is mummy's best friend ever since we were born," Joy explained. "Mummy does volunteer work too at the hospital she used to deliver us in," Joy added as Qiu Wen frowned.

"Why?" He asked. "Cause she initially was paying off the hospital bill in installments which probably made her feel a little guilty about it." Joy shrugged.

"We could visit her next Monday if you want since it's the first Monday of the month when she visits the hospital," Matthew asked as Qiu Wen raised both eyebrows in surprise at his question.

"Sure! Lead the way. We will go after school and I will make sure to make time." Qiu Wen promised as Joy pouted.

"Nowadays she seemed to be busier at the restaurant with her cupcakes delivery. Ever since the news of your marriage and us, her business seems to be booming more than ever. I am not sure how she is coping but I hope she will be alright." Joy whined as Qiu Wen gently patted her head to comfort her as he smiled.

"Don't worry… Your mother is a strong woman. If you know she needs any help just let me know. Knowing her, she is always so independent." Qiu Wen offered as Joy nodded while Matthew smiled at how well Qiu Wen knows of Xue Ting.

"Would you like to come with us this weekend to visit our puppies at the animal home shelter?" Joy asked as Qiu Wen was a little surprised again at her question. It seemed the longer their conversations were, the more surprises he discovered.

"Why are your puppies in the home shelter?" He asked noticing Matthew's mood instantly was down as Joy sighed.

"It's just too pricey to afford one. What more to say a few? So mummy would let us visit the animal shelter every weekend to play with them. If she is on a later shift, she would accompany us else… Looking at how busy she is lately, I guess we would be going by ourselves this weekend." Joy explained as Qiu Wen could tell of their disappointment.

"Sure let me accompany you all there! Do you want to adopt one instead?" His question made Joy and Matthew a little delighted for a moment but Matthew signaled Joy at the rear mirror to reject as he knew their fortunate situation was temporary.

"It's alright. Visiting them at the shelter and knowing they are in good hands is enough. Besides, knowing someone who loves them would adopt them is so much better." Joy smiled as Qiu Wen noticed their discreet gesture but respected their decision. He was slowly getting closer to their life little by little and he was glad it turned out that way.