The next night, Xue Ting had utterly forgotten about the date and when she stepped home, it was really late that the twins had slept. However, Qiu Wen was still waiting up for her.

When he heard her, he stepped out of the study room and spun her around into his arms before kissing her. When he finally let go, he noticed the blush on Xue Ting's face.

"Someone forgot about our date. How are you going to make up for it?" He teased as Xue Ting giggled and kissed him more on his cheeks but he shook his head.

"No, no… That's not good enough…" He pretended to sulk as Xue Ting thought perhaps a walk would make it.

"Alright, let's go for a walk?" She said as he instantly nodded before running to grab his coat and head out with her.

Xue Ting leaned in on him as he held her by his side while they strolled. It was humid during summer but the trees providing some shelter made it a little breezy as Xue Ting kept twitching her nose.

"Cold? It's a little late actually for a walk. Let's…" He wanted to apologise and head home but Xue Ting shook her head. She smiled and led him to stroll further.

"It's just a little uncomfortable to the nose. Don't worry. What's wrong with you? You seemed very bothered." She asked when she noticed his careworn look after paying attention to him since they started strolling.

He belatedly tried to hide his careworn face but it was too late. Xue Ting was caressing it to make him look at her as he let out a sharp sigh.

"Francesca was elected as the new sales and marketing director. There will be an official announcement soon and an inauguration ceremony. I want you to come…" He explained and noticed her distraught look as he stopped and forced her to face him.

"But that's not something that should worry you. You know all these years I have been madly in love with you... Trying to search for you everywhere... Sometimes, I wished I was as smart as Qiu Yeh, as hot-headed as James… We might have a different future than now." He lamented as she hugged him momentarily.

"I will come with you to the ceremony. Having said so, they didn't give you one…" She said as he let her go.

"I didn't want it. I didn't want to force you to such events knowing you didn't like them. That's why I am very surprised to meet you there that day and I am very grateful I did." He said as though trying to convince Xue Ting of his love.

"It's not that I don't trust you. I do and I always will from now on cause I know who it was who did all these to us. However, it's not easy for us to just shrug them away. She is a very determined woman. Poverty was what drove her to be this sustainable and I am sure she would do anything and everything to defend her wealth now including giving the best to her children especially you. Having said so, the Wei's family wealth combined would only benefit her more than anything. Besides, Qiu Yeh does need your help. Haven't you noticed what he was trying to do all along?" Xue Ting explained as Qiu Wen thought for a moment.

"What do you mean? If I am not wrong, he does like you and…" He whined while frowning as Xue Ting stole a kiss to keep him from whining.

"Qiu Yeh is trying to prove himself to your mother. He is also taking care of you. Over the years, I am sure you know he found me first way earlier or should I say when I just ran off not long after. When I found out I was pregnant and how much I longed for you…" Hearing her say that ached his heart as he reached out to caress her cheeks.

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"But he didn't make a move cause he respected and acknowledged the fact that he will not be able to replace you in my heart. Or James…" She added to not make it too obvious to him of the truth.

"So, all he could do was protect me and the kids for you. And now in return, you should help him to prove himself to your mother." Xue Ting explained which softened Qiu Wen's frowns as he nodded, understanding her points.

"But I just don't understand Francesca. What's the use of her just barging in when she is so inexperienced in the industry? Real estate to gemstones? Are you kidding me? Is she that desperate? Why does she have to be so cheap?" Qiu Wen vented and rolled his eyes as Xue Ting rubbed his chest to calm him down.

"Easy there. Easy. It's not for you to judge her. After all, you're the reason she is so head over heels. Anyone would be especially when you're so wild now…" Qiu Wen was caught off guard at her sudden compliment. He stole a kiss from her which made her blush.

"I nearly forgot this is a date you owed me and here I am venting about work. I'm so pathetic." He whined as she chuckled.

"I don't mind. So why should you? That's how relationships should work. We vent about things and once we are done, we have our happy selves again. I have my happy baby back now don't I?" She teased which made Qiu Wen hug her tightly, grateful for ever having to meet her.

"I'm just so grateful for having you. I am never going to ever lose you again. I'm sorry for all the past. I feel so bad for you…" He said as she smiled while shaking her head.

"You can compensate me by not losing me again." She teased as he chuckled and nodded while letting her go.

"I will be heading to the hospital next Monday though. So, I wouldn't be able to drop by your office to check on Pam and accompany you." She said while swiping away some loose fringe blew by the breeze to his forehead.

"So, the real reason you came to my office sometime was to keep me company, and checking on Pam was just an excuse?" He questioned knowing it was not exactly the truth. She blinked in confusion for a moment.

She shook her head and chuckled. "No, it was really to check on Pam and help her out but it always overrun till late that I ran into you."

"Oh, don't deny it. You're always so good at denying. Now, I know you were there to keep me accompanied. Oh, I'm so lucky!" He cheered as he skipped away leaving Xue Ting flustered as she chased him down to tickle him as revenge only to be held in his arms as they strolled home happily.

Following a hectic week ahead for the both of them, after their first date, they were both mostly exhausted from returning late from work. On Monday when Xue Ting finally had a break, at the back of her mind was prepared to surprise Qiu Wen after the hospital session with the children.

She was especially glad to see little Lily recovering gradually and the other children were more or less progressing well. After the incident long ago, Lily was more willing to speak and she was very attached to Xue Ting whenever they meet. It was most probably due to the guilt of hurting her in the process but because of that, Xue Ting had helped Lily to learn ways to express her emotions which made life a lot easier for her mother.

While Xue Ting was about to leave for Wai Tao, she caught a glimpse of Dan who was sitting by the patient waiting area. She quickly approached him only to find him looking very pale and lost.

"Dan?" She called out as he looked up at her, a little startled.

"Sicily…" He stood and greeted weakly. "What a coincidence! Are you not well?" Xue Ting asked as he hesitated to answer.

"What are you doing here?" He asked trying to distract her from her question.

"I worked here voluntarily on the first Monday of every month. Handling kids with anxiety." Xue Ting explained. He nodded but felt wobbly as he sat back down with the help of Xue Ting.

"You're alright? I will get the doctor to attend to you immediately…" She said wanting to rush off but he held her back.

"No, it's alright. I am just low on insulin. I am waiting to collect my monthly dosage." He explained while enduring his dizziness. Xue Ting noticed he looked even paler as she sighed inwardly.

"Don't worry. I have been busy lately that I had no time to come pick them up. I have arranged for a few months dosages." He further explained.

"Do you need to take them daily?" She asked trying to assess the severity as he nodded and she was glad it was still diabetes type 1 but his pale look made her suspect he must have missed out many days.

"Does Qiu Wen or Pam know about this?" She questioned. "Only Qiu Wen. Don't tell Pam, please. I don't want to trouble her with such petty matters. Besides, I have always kept it under control ever since I was diagnosed with it years back." He explained as Xue Ting may not agree fully but she knew she was not in a position to dictate his choices.

His queue number was called when he bid her farewell. She thought to herself to not meddle as he should be fine taking his daily dosage but the moment she wanted to step away, Dan collapsed in front of the pharmacists which triggered a team of medics to attend to him.

She instantly called Qiu Wen but he did not pick up. Instead, it was Jia Yi who came on the line.

She hastily explained to Jia Yi the situation that Jia Yi alerted Qiu Wen instantly during the brief break from the meeting. Qiu Wen without hesitation rushed over to the hospital, knowing Dan's hypoglycemia issues relapsed again.

Qiu Wen was struggling to keep his anxiety suppressed while Jia Yi drove but he ensured he felt the pain from the grip he held on to his crumpling shirt each time he felt he was on the verge of breaking down. Just the thought of losing Dan to death drives him insane as he shoves away his thoughts of the first time he experienced Dan collapsing from his hypoglycemia symptoms.