Matthew was very worried for their mother so he quickly made Joy pack up to abide by the contract to be ready to move house the next day as he knew there was a hefty fine. He was still very distracted by the sudden circumstances and arrangements. He wondered what were the details of the contract.

Joy walked over to her brother after noticing he was slightly agitated. She tip-toed and gently patted his head to comfort him.

"Don't worry Xin Xin. We just need to stay close to mummy and it's just six months… We will be fine." Matthew was a little taken aback by his little sister's gesture as he nodded. The twins were born six minutes apart with Matthew being the older of the twin but at times, Joy made Matthew feel like he had an older sister protecting him always.

Xue Ting understood she had to explain to her twins her situation when she stepped into the house but when she watched both of them busily pack their wardrobes and empty out their rooms, she wondered how she raised them to adapt to situations so easily and fast. She was worried they would easily be cheated by others for being so gullible and obliging without any questions asked when they are out in society in the future. She was especially worried about Joy who usually was oblivious to situations and getting used to being pampered so much. Xue Ting realised Joy had taken some of the bad habits from her biological father as she can be very demanding at times.

Xue Ting sat on the sofa watching them pack as she slowly tried to catch her breath after a day of surprises. Joy noticed Xue Ting was observing them as she skipped into the living room and sat next to her.

"Mummy…" She was chirpy as she slid her long slender arms locked with Xue Ting.

"How could the both of you be so easily adaptive? I just told you we are moving and you're already packing?" Xue Ting whined at her twins as Matthew went to sit with them. Xue Ting hugged them both in her arms one at each side as they cuddled with her.

"But you're the one who says we need to move?" Joy retaliated in mumbles as Xue Ting sighed.

"Mummy is not trying to scold the both of you. Mummy knows it's my fault for putting us into such a mess. I'm sorry…" Xue Ting apologised.

"Mummy, how did you get into such a situation? Is there a lot of money involved?" Matthew asked as usual being the realistic one.

"I was at work catering for an inauguration ceremony and also an engagement party… So happen it was Uncle Ryan's. His family… is a little strange." Xue Ting paused reminiscing about how Qiu Wen usually didn't invite her and James over to hang out during school days. She wondered if it was because Qiu Wen had always been ashamed of his family, especially his mother. She wondered if his parents were still together as she recalled their relationship was rocky before she left.

"Mummy, how did you meet Uncle Ryan?" Matthew asked to break the silence.

"He was your daddy's and my best friend in high school. His family has been very restrictive of him since he was young, especially his mother. Hence like he mentioned he was betrothed since young but he was also a rebellious child. He still is…" Xue Ting smiled recalling how he swept her off her feet today.

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"Anyway, we cannot let his family know the real identity of both of you but instead, you're both my younger siblings, and do not tell grandma about this. Since it's only six months, thereafter we will have enough to buy a house on our own." Xue Ting explained.

"Grandma already knows. The whole world knew mummy. It's in the news. Look." Joy showed her the headlines of the news over her phone; "Tang's youngest is no longer eligible bachelor!"

Xue Ting's heart sank thinking of all the explanations she had to do tomorrow as she held her head.

"He is paying you?" Matthew asked Xue Ting. "Yes. That's also part of the reason why I agreed to it. Then, we will be closer to buying our dream house sooner." Xue Ting smiled as Joy giggled.

Xue Ting suddenly remembered she cannot let Qiu Wen find out about the twins' Chinese name syllabus's real meaning.

"Another thing. If anyone in their family asked you about your Chinese character "Qiu", tell them its meaning is begging and not autumn." Xue Ting calmly explained while waiting for their endless questions.

"I don't get it. Why?" Joy started asking.

"Cause Uncle Ryan's Chinese name is Qiu Wen. The same "Qiu" character as you both. I don't want it to create any suspicions in his family, understand?" Xue Ting said sternly which sent Joy to sit up straight from slouching on her.

"Alright." She answered as Matthew nodded. "In front of them including Uncle Ryan, we all stick to our English name and also call him by his English name only." Xue Ting emphasised the last part of the sentence creating more suspicion in the twins.

"Qiu Wen? The warmth of autumn?" Joy mumbled curiously.

"Qiu Qiu! I just said to address him as Uncle Ryan." Xue Ting scolded.

"I know! I just want to clarify the meaning of his name! Mummy, what's wrong with you?!" Joy was annoyed and snapped at Xue Ting's unreasonable self.

Matthew was beginning to be suspicious of Xue Ting being sensitive about their names and Qiu Wen's but he kept it to himself first as he didn't want to further agitate their mother.

Xue Ting sighed. "I'm sorry. Alright, alright. Yes, it's the warmth of autumn."

"So sweet…" Joy mumbled but Xue Ting could still hear it. She couldn't help but smile.

"Yes, it is." Xue Ting agreed in her heart.

"Hmm… so happened it's also mummy's favorite season too," Matthew added.

"Heh, Qiu Xin, Xin Qiu… Oh, daddy's Xin Xin and Uncle Ryan's Qiu…Then why are we named after Uncle Ryan's Qiu?" Joy asked blankly at both Xue Ting and Matthew.

Seeing Xue Ting was deep in thought, Matthew knew it was a secret their mother has been hiding so he diverted his sister's question away. "Silly girl, didn't you say earlier autumn is mummy's favorite season?"

"Oh, yes…" Joy giggled. "Mummy, tomorrow do we wait in school or come back home?"

Xue Ting started to think back about the first time Qiu Wen came with James to approach her in class as they needed her to help out with their art projects. Back then, she was well known for her creativity and everyone envied her talent.

She was smitten when she saw Qiu Wen then as the very first time she ever met him was when she stood alone by the school gate to gaze at the sunset before leaving for her extra classes. She was too shy to make contact but could feel his gaze on her all the time. It was that fine autumn when a maple leaf fell off the branch and landed on her book. Ever since, she had kept the leave laminated away in her safe box as she occasionally, would take it out to look at it when Qiu Wen crossed her mind.

When she heard him introducing himself using his Chinese name, she was mesmerised by the coincidence not only was it her favorite season but it made her recall the maple leaf which fell on her when she noticed him staring at her back for the first time.

As though it was destiny at play, his mother so happened was her tutor for maths but oddly, she never saw Qiu Wen in her maths tuition classes at their home.

Because of that, Xue Ting got to know James in the maths tuition class at Mrs. Tang's home and grew closer to him through their study group together. Eventually, she ended up dating James instead of Qiu Wen.

Since he was James's best friend, the three of them would always hang out together and when she talked about her thoughts and perspectives which could be very absurd sometimes, only Qiu Wen would always play along. A part of her was still glad to get to see her crush while dating his best friend but a part of her longed for Qiu Wen always that she had to keep her feelings for him suppressed.

Xue Ting sighed at the thought of the past. "Mummy…" Matthew called out.

"Mummy, are you listening?" Joy asked.

"Huh?" Xue Ting was startled by her daydreaming a while ago.

"I asked you if we are coming back here tomorrow or to wait in school?" Joy asked impatiently and slightly annoyed.

"Oh…. Come back here. Pack only necessities and we will move ourselves and the necessities tomorrow to Uncle Ryan's house. We will slowly come back to move over more alright?" Xue Ting explained as they both nodded and scurried to their rooms to continue their packing.

Xue Ting was left sitting in the small not well-to-do but cosy little living room, slowly absorbing the fact of being Mrs. Tang the next day.