As the twins finally dropped by the cafe to help out and to look after Brisbane, knowing Xue Ting needed to leave on time to prepare for the family dinner in Wai Tao that night, Xue Ting drove home with the contract in hand. Though she was rushing for time, her mind couldn't help but kept wondering about how much should she quote the compensation and if she was doing things right that way. She was really afraid as it involved the cafe's future.
When Qiu Wen returned home to fetch Xue Ting, he found her sitting by the doorsteps while half buckling her heels and staring out to space.
"A penny for your thoughts?" He asked while nonchalantly crouching to unbuckle her heels and changed to flats instead as he noticed she was wearing a sundress and he didn't want her to bruise her feet unncessarily.
"Oh, you're here. Sorry…" She let him change her shoes to flats before standing up.
"You don't have to hurt your feet tonight. Skip the heels." He smiled as she nodded and let him lead her to the car. While he drove, she sat wondering deep in thought on the contract matter that Qiu Wen though curious, knew they were running late and decided not to question her first.
Instead, when they arrived at the house, Francesca was already seated in the living hall accompanying Mrs. Tang. Upon noticing the arrival of the couple, Francesca deliberately acted coquettish when she greeted Qiu Wen.
Xue Ting was a little out of place and wasn't in the mood to get involved with the family drama. She loosen her arm from Qiu Wen while he was retaliating with Francesca and his mother. She walked out of the living hall to the outside garden to ease her mind for a moment.
Grandma noticed Xue Ting's dumbfounded self by a corner and shook her head when she heard the commotion in the living hall. She knew it was going to be a dinner without the couple again. She turned to her husband instead who was looking out the window curiously, in his wheelchair.
"Hubby, let's visit the couple tomorrow at their house instead. What do you think? I want to visit my grandchildren." Grandma said as Grandpa nodded in delight.
After the fight with Francesca and his mother, Qiu Wen was fuming frantically as he barged out of the main door. Xue Ting was scared by the sudden barge for a moment and was rather upset with them not having a chance to greet his grandparents yet and they were already leaving. Besides, she had a feeling he would be leaving her to get home alone again and he didn't want him to go on drinking.
Qiu Wen walked over to her by the table in the garden. "Take a taxi home yourself." He said solemnly as he wanted to storm off to his car.
Xue Ting then caught up and halted him as he cooled off a little from her firm but gentle retreat trying to stop him from heading further.
"Let me drive." She smiled while forcefully taking the car keys from his hand.
She shoved him into the passenger seat. He obediently sat in the car as she drove him a few blocks away before parking the car. She looked at him and was glad he wasn't agitated or against her idea but patiently waited to see her plans instead.
She smiled mysteriously before she got down and open the passenger door for him. She then dragged him to an ice cream stand at the night market she came to with Qiu Yeh previously. She ordered two raspberry ice creams and shove one to him as she happily bit into hers.
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She was still holding onto his hand as his mood softened when he realised it. He ate his ice cream quietly and trailed behind her while she started buying more of the food by the street.
She intermittently will turn around to check on his mood and ensure he was still smiling. At the end of the street, she was beginning to feel full as she went to approach the fruit stall and bought some of his and Joy's favorite mangoes as well as hers and Matt's favorite guava. She tipped the seller generously and that's when Qiu Wen finds it weird as he questioned her.
"How come you gave such a hefty tip?" She turned around surprised at his first sentence after they left the house. She smiled without answering him and winked instead. He continued to follow her as she held his hand although feeling a little dumbfounded. They then came to a flower stall.
"Uncle! Give me the usual arrangement alright?" Xue Ting greeted.
"Hey pretty lady, you're here! Wow, this time with a gentleman! Your boyfriend?" The uncle teased.
She smiled shyly. "Husband." It smote Qiu Wen to hear her address him that way.
"Wow, you're a lucky man! Here you go lilies and carnations." The uncle praised Qiu Wen while giving Xue Ting a huge bouquet.
"How's aunty's health doing? Are your children well?" Xue Ting asked politely out if courtesy.
"Yes, yes they are well, lady. Thank you so much for your support and concern always." The uncle replied.
"Oh yes... Here here." Xue Ting gave him a huge note. She wanted to tip him more than the usual price but Qiu Wen was quicker this time to pass a hundred dollar note. "Keep the change, uncle." Qiu Yeh said. The uncle was too shy to take the offer.
"Is alright uncle. Take it and have a great meal with your family alright? Bye!" Xue Ting said as she quickly dragged Qiu Wen away, not giving the uncle a chance to return the money. The florist's uncle could only smile and waved at the couple instead.
While she skipped away with Qiu Wen happily down the streets with her huge bouquet, he understood her gestures and he finally knew where the huge bouquet was from that night. When they finally walked to the quieter streets, she was munching on some of her favorite barbecue squids they bought along the way. As she finished them, her mouth was accidentally tainted with oil. Qiu Wen giggled and wiped it away with his hands.
She was staring into his eyes surprised and when she realised it was due to her tainted face, she quickly took a wet tissue from her bag. "Sorry, here, wipe your hand with this."
He chuckled as he took the wet tissue and wipe his hands. "Thank you." He said happily.
"For?" She asked absentmindedly. "This." He stopped walking as he turned her to face him while pointing to the tissue.
"And all of this. I understand your gestures. It's noble and lovely." He looked around to show her what he meant. She smiled as they continued to walk, knowing he knew she wanted to cheer him up and that she was just finding joy in helping the one in need.
"I didn't bring you here to brag about my tips but I know you would still be starving. I didn't want you to go drinking on an empty stomach. Besides, these lift up your mood too." She smiled.
"Did you come here when I ditch you to take a taxi back last time?" She smiled as her eyes darted elsewhere.
"Maybe." She skipped away as he felt a little remorse and guilty. He chased her a little before stopping her and turning her in for a hug.
It was too sudden for her to realise what happen. She could hear his heartbeat beating as fast as hers.
"Ting Ting... I'm sorry. Thank you. I promise I won't let you home alone again the next time." She felt his hug loosen as she caught his last line. It drew a smile on her face.
She knew there will be a next time they would visit his family house again. At least she didn't have to worry about his grandparents staying upset for long.
"It was a great deed you did tonight. I'm proud of you. I didn't know there was a street market here at night." He said.
"They are mostly the poor folks trying to make a living. I didn't expect you to join in with the tip. You didn't have to. I will return the hundred dollars." She said while opening her purse.
"You don't have to. I haven't bought you anything ever since we got married. A hundred dollars of flowers which you will turn into pretty dried ones like the ones in your room should keep me in your memory a worthwhile I hope." Qiu Wen said sincerely.
She smiled as her eyes twinkled. She felt as though she was walking down memory lane with him all over again like in their high school. He then held her hand and walked her to the car before he remembered she was zoning out from home throughout the journey to his family house.
"Since you have lifted my mood, could you tell me what was bothering you earlier?" He asked curiously as she sighed and had a little pout that he caught sight of.
He stopped walking for a while and held her shoulder as she faced him.
"I understand we are in a contract and an awkward situation but again, for old-time sake, you were the best of friends I had whom I won't hesitate to help when you're in need of it. So please, after all that you had helped me with, at least let me return the favor?" Qiu Wen asked as his words took Xue Ting by surprise.
"I… I just had a contract that I need to ask if you're able to help me review the conditions and I need to determine the amount of compensation. I… I wasn't sure if you could help?" Xue Ting asked shyly as he smiled dotingly at her.
"Even if I can't, I have the expertise and Qiu Yeh is one of them. But let me have a look first." He said lovingly as she smiled and nodded feeling a little at ease.
"It's at home." She said.
"Let's go home." He held her hand and walked her to the car as they enjoyed feeling like they were in high school days again, walking home after a long day of school.