The rain was subsiding that when the door's alarm rang upon their all entering, Xue Ting was shocked.

"Where did you… When did you all leave? I didn't hear you!" Xue Ting exclaimed as the sight of the twins entering being damp from the rain made her worried.

"We went to pick …" Joy comically said before reaching out to Xue Ting's arm when Qiu Wen walked in. Xue Ting gasped.

"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be on the trip? Wouldn't it be affecting the business badly since Grandma said…" Before he could explain, his anxiety got the better of him as Xue Ting instantly went to his side and supported him as he tried to control his heavy breathing.

"Wen Wen, listen. Breathe. We aren't going anyway. I'm sorry I… I didn't explain earlier to you. I didn't want you to misunderstand and I didn't want to strain your relationship with your mother any further…" Xue Ting explained as Joy returned with a glass of warm water and had him drink it.

"Honey, could you both check his car for any luggage? Bring it up so that he could change." Xue Ting instructed Matthew as Joy tagged along while Qiu Wen pulled Xue Ting in for a hug.

"Don't ever leave me like this. Don't ever do anything without telling me. Just don't." Qiu Wen pleaded as he shuddered in their embrace while Xue Ting blinked away her tears.

"I promise. I'm sorry…" Xue Ting held his cheeks in her palm.

"May explained and I know you know. It doesn't matter how my relationship is with my mother. That can no longer be salvaged. All that matters to me now is you and the kids. I promise you I will keep you all protected. It's tough to fight my mother but I won't barge and I will forge on for the sake of all of you. I know our contract is about to end but that doesn't matter to me anymore. If you want more money I will just provide. No questions asked. If you need more time to accept us, I will let you but all I ask of you is please trust me and don't… Just don't leave me. Please…" He pleaded while holding onto her hand tightly.

"I didn't mean to leave this way… I was trying to think of ways to tell you which wouldn't make things worse…" Xue Ting explained.

"I'm sure she will get back and rush to the old house tomorrow to cause a commotion. Well, watch me give a piece of my mind." Qiu Wen said angrily.

"Wen Wen… She is still your mother. If the twins were to abruptly go against me and get involved with any wrong parties, I would do the same to protect them." Xue Ting explained.

"But you're not a wrong party…" He defended as Xue Ting smiled knowing she could not reason with him.

"Alright, alright but you get the idea. It's just the mother's instinct at work." She surrendered to his embrace.

"I agree for all of us to stay in the new house but just tomorrow we will put up with her one last round…" Qiu Wen said as Xue Ting nodded as he claimed the kiss he had been missing. However, it didn't last long when they heard a soft giggle from the background as Xue Ting turned to find Brisbane watching them from a corner.

"Baby! You're awake!" Xue Ting greeted her with wide-opened arms as Brisbane ran into them and hugged the couple.

"Looks like I will need to throw a housewarming at this rate." Qiu Wen teased as Xue Ting smiled lovingly at the man she still owns.

Meanwhile, at the private island, everyone was shocked at how daring Qiu Wen's move was.

"What do you mean he isn't joining us?!" Francesca exclaimed when she heard Jia Yi announce the sudden turn of events. Grandma suspected it had something to do with Mrs. Tang but she was equally taken aback at how brazen Qiu Wen was. Somehow, she felt a little proud of him and was hoping it was related to Xue Ting.

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"Apologies, Mr. and Mrs. Wei. There must be a sudden serious matter he had to handle. He didn't mean to reject your invitation." Mrs. Tang apologised as Mrs. Wei looked agitated.

"You know how the main person who is to be engaged is not in attendance? We have been very patient with the delay in divorcing his current wife and postponing the engagement announcement. At this rate, are you sure your son is not fooling around?" Mr. Wei voiced out his frustration which made Qiu Yeh look at Mrs. Tang in disgust.

He knew she was always up to no good but he never knew she was at this stage. Despite his anger, he held back at the sight of Grandma being upset over Mr. Wei's comments.

"Despite my brother not being able to make it, why don't we take the opportunity to discuss the future of the business merger instead since we are already here." Qiu Yeh tried to divert everyone's anger and upsetness to something he knew was useless but at least it would keep everyone at peace and not waste this getaway.

Grandma finally managed to smile as that caught Wei couple's attention. Qiu Yeh forced himself to sit through pointless ambitious conversations that deep down he knew would not materialise.

"We will be away for a week from next week onwards." Xue Ting told Qiu Wen over dinner with the twins and Brisbane.

"What? Why? All of a sudden? Where to?" Qiu Wen asked anxiously as he put down his fork.

Joy laughed before mischievously teased him. "She is running away…"

Everyone joined in the laughter except Qiu Wen. He could not tell if was it real or a joke.

"What is going on here?" He finally surrendered.

"Oh, we are joining her on the run too," Matthew added as all of them laughed again.

Xue Ting enjoyed teasing him but could tell he was not happy about it.

She put down her fork and lightly reached out for his right hand but he shifted away abruptly as he held both hands together on his lap trying to suppress his anxiety. She noticed it as she quickly put on a serious face and explained.

"We are heading to my mum's. It's her birthday week."

He began to relax again after hearing her explanation. The crevices on his head were gone instantly.

"It's a tradition. Can't wait to skip school! The mountains are waiting for us!" Cheered Joy.

"I see…" He resumed eating again awkwardly.

"We will need to send back little Brisbane to Dan." Xue Ting updated as Brisbane frowned.

"I want to come along too! I want to see your grandma and hometown too! That's not fair you both are leaving me alone again since you're going camping with your schoolmates! I want to go hiking in your hometown!" She protested immediately.

"But you will miss school..." Brisbane got up when Xue Ting tried to explain as she climbed onto Matthew.

"You and Joy are missing school. Why can't I? I want to come along! Can you please tell my mum and Daddy Dan with me?" She pleaded with a cute expression as Matthew turned to look at Xue Ting who discreetly nodded.

Matthew then smiled and nodded just to please her before putting her back in her seat and ensuring she finished her dinner.

"Can I join in the run as well?" Qiu Wen asked awkwardly.

"But you're so drowning with work. You shouldn't. After all, it's just a week." Xue Ting said while munching some beans.

"Yes, and besides what are you going to tell Grandma about the whole telenovela?" Joy teased again as Xue Ting tried so hard to muffle her laughter.

"I still want to go. I will bring work but minimise. Besides, my design advisor is on leave, I should partially be on leave too." Qiu Wen protested as everyone laughed.

"Alright, suit yourself then." Xue Ting said lovingly to comfort him as the family finished dinner happily.

That night, Xue Ting found Qiu Wen fallen asleep due to exhaustion from flying to and fro for long hours after she ensured the kids were all sleeping well. She climbed into bed wanting to cuddle with him only to find him fidgeting over his bad dreams. She quickly held his hand and gently patted it to calm him as he woke.

"It's alright… It's fine." Xue Ting comforted as he pulled her in for an embrace. "I'm sorry for all the recent issues causing your anxiety to act up…" Xue Ting apologised as he tried to calm down.

"Just as long as you don't leave me without a word. Talk to me. Tell me things. You're not alone…" He vented as he let her off his embrace seeing her fluttering loving eyes as she caressed his cheeks.

"I will. I did in fact on the trip. With Brisbane around, I would suggest you head back to the old house alone tomorrow…" She suggested as he shook his head.

"No, let's just hide and run away for a day. Let her hunt us down and if she does, I'm going to give her a hard time." Qiu Wen said furiously as Xue Ting gently patted his chest to calm him.

"Are you sure you don't need any medication?" She asked as she frowned.

"You are my medication. And for all that you have done, I haven't punished you yet!" With that, he pushed in bed and kissed her as she struggled to get away and succumbed to a passionate night with him.