Qiu Wen was always wondering where Joy inherited her reckless driving and he finally learned it was from Xue Ting. While Xue Ting sped home furiously, Qiu Wen and Matthew were struggling to keep themselves from flying in the car. None of them was able to refute her act for fear she would go even faster. When they finally reached home fearfully, Joy quickly ran down to greet them.

"Mummy, what was that call about?!" She questioned as Xue Ting ignored her and she saw her brother and father with bruises.

"What… happened…" She stuttered when Xue Ting was about to storm upstairs. "Mummy, did you whack them?!" Joy asked in shock as Xue Ting glared at her.

"Qiu Qiu!" Matthew scolded as he covered her mouth.

"Ting Ting…" Qiu Wen called out to her which made her stop climbing the stairs.

"Can we talk?" He pleaded as she calmly turned around and came back in front of him. She sighed at the look of him before turning to look at Matthew who was worried and scared.

"What exactly are you doing at the bar today? Why are you still working there? Am I not giving you enough money?!" She snapped at Matthew who was pouting while looking on the ground. Qiu Wen tried to calm her down but instead, she finally snapped at him.

"And you! What are you even involved in such fights for? I thought you were supposed to ensure he was protected!" She literally could not control her anger at this rate.

"Mummy, mummy calm down. It's not like what you think it is last time…" Joy tried to save the boys.

"Then what's it supposed to be?" Xue Ting snapped at her too who began to become sad while pouting due to Xue Ting's harshness. Matthew instantly pulled Joy in his arms.

"I'm sorry it's all my fault, Mummy. Qiu Qiu did no wrong. I had never allowed her to enter the place I work and I always protected her. Don't blame her. It's not her fault." Matthew defended as Joy shook her head.

"No, if you want to scold him then you scold me too, Mummy. I always ask him to accompany me out on Wednesday to shop for my materials and I made him lie too that we were going out to study. So, it's my fault!" Joy defended which surprisingly made Xue Ting's anger disappear for a moment seeing the siblings protecting each other, leading Joy to tears. Qiu Wen noticed it too as the couple exchanged discreet looks in their eyes.

"Oh, am I the only one who isn't supposed to know about your secret endeavors now? So you have your daddy now and I become useless is that so?" Xue Ting decided to act angry for a while more.

"No, mummy! No!" Joy denied.

"We just don't want you to worry. Look we knew you would be like this when you find out." Matthew explained.

"Why wouldn't I? I am your mother! Do you know tonight was always my greatest fear? How am I supposed to bail you out when we don't have money back then and now?! Matthew, you're the most sensible one here! What on earth are you doing there tonight and fighting?" Xue Ting scolded.

For a moment, Matthew wanted to admit his confession to Diane and his happiness but he remembered he had not sorted out the quarrels with his sister yet to be able to inform them all. Instead, he skipped that part and jumped to the end.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"I was defending you! How could I just stand there and let them threaten to harass my mother?! Whether it was verbally or intending to physically, I would never let them touch you!" Matthew revealed while his wails unexpectedly turned into sobs as Joy gently rubbed his back.

Xue Ting tried to calm down as Qiu Wen held her hand.

"It's true. If he cannot hold it in, neither do I?" Qiu Wen concurred. "We are fine now. Don't worry." He coaxed as she sighed, reaching out to her crying son and hugged him.

"Mummy… I'm sorry…" Matthew apologised as Xue Ting nodded and sustained her tears as she rubbed his back.

"Now, stop crying if you want to keep your part-time job…You're banned unless…" Matthew instantly let her go and looked studied her face.

"Mummy… Are you sure?" Matthew questioned urgently.

"Provided your daddy continues accompanying you else you cannot be there and I might attend occasionally too…" She teased before making her way upstairs.

"You knew about daddy…" Matthew's words become inaudible as he stares at Qiu Wen.

"She knew all along?" He asked as Qiu Wen nodded.

"Mummy! That's not fair!" Joy protested as she ran upstairs.

Xue Ting decided to text Qiu Wen a message on the way to her room.

Tell him to do two days a week with another on weekends else the deal is off.

He smiled showing the message to Matthew who was overjoyed as he hugged Qiu Wen.

"Thank you, Daddy." He said as Qiu Wen chuckled. "Silly boy! Don't forget to sort out your quarrels with Qiu Qiu." Matthew nodded with an understanding smile.

"Now, go get cleaned up, and don't forget to put ointment." Qiu Wen urged as he sneakily passed Matthew the ointment he took from the first aid kit box in the drawer nearby.

Later that night, as Xue Ting tried to absorb the chaos of the night, she was waiting for Matthew to come to find her for ointment but instead, he slept after his shower.

As strong as a human can get, it was only that much one could take in. It was nature's flow to make humans learn to let go sometimes, whether we like it or not.

With a heavy heart realising her baby boy was now all grown up, Xue Ting went to tuck him in his blanket before heading to the balcony to catch some fresh air but instead, she finally cried. She sobbed all she wanted without noticing Qiu Wen was awake to find she was not by his side.

He knew she was hiding all her emotions earlier and was angry for no significant reason as he went to embrace her. She immediately eased into his hug knowing it was him.

"It's alright Ting Ting… He's fine and I am fine too. I promise I will watch over him every Wednesday and on the weekend too. When you're free, come see him." He coaxed as she held him tightly.

"You didn't have to… It was just empty threats to him. I know it was a one-time-off matter." She said as he helped to dry her face.

"He's all grown up now… He no longer comes and finds me for ointment." She pouted as he chuckled.

"He didn't dare. I had helped him. Besides, today he was extra happy." He was reminded of their coincident meeting in the bar as she raised her eyebrow questioning for an explanation.

"He wasn't supposed to perform today but he went to confess to Diane. I think they worked out just fine. Besides, his little twinny seemed to forgive him really fast when she defended him earlier but he didn't want to announce it when you questioned him as their quarrels aren't sorted out yet." He explained as Xue Ting laughed.

"Their childish arguments will never last two days honestly. Qiu Qiu is always up to something no good and he would always have to rescue her." Xue Ting lamented as she leaned on his chest and he accidentally yelped in pain.

"Now where does it hurt?" She asked as he passed her the ointment he took back from Matthew while showing her the bruises near his stomach and arms. She flashed him a terrifying mischievous smile before she pressed hard on the bruise on his arm to help him massage it.

He cried out loudly in pain as he was caught by surprise when Xue Ting scolded him to keep it down. The twins heard him but returned to sleep when they heard Xue Ting scolding him. They knew she must be helping him with his bruises.

"Softer, please! Softer!" Qiu Wen pleaded but Xue Ting was teaching him a lesson.

"You really didn't have to worry so much about Matthew. His martial arts skills were so good that he alone could fight off four of them. So much better than me. I realised my fighting skills have gone ruSTYYYYYYYY!!!" Qiu Wen explained while Xue Ting got agitated about the last part that she put in more force and he was enduring it.

"Softer!" He kept going but Xue Ting snarled at him playfully.

A part of her was proud of Matthew and glad to have Qiu Wen by her side now. If tonight's event happened back then, she would definitely be breaking down all over again but now, she could secretly chuckle at Qiu Wen's pain.

Joy sighed after being awakened by Qiu Wen's screams a couple of times before deciding to find her brother to sort out their quarrels which had been bothering her. She sneakily climbed into his bed as he stirred awake.

"Qiu Qiu, why aren't you asleep?" He asked groggily.

"Have you put ointment on your bruises?" She asked sweetly as he smiled and nodded.

"The ointment is with daddy as you can hear." He said as they ended up laughing together.

"I heard from Diane…" She said solemnly as Matthew knew she wanted to sort things out so he sat up in bed.

"I'm sorry for the way I reacted. I thought you weren't responsible. Diane is a very nice best friend. I really want to be her best friend forever." Joy pouted as Matthew patted her head.

"And I promise I will try my best to make her mine forever alright?" Matthew comforted as Joy smiled and nodded before the siblings hugged to make amends which only ended up in laughter as Qiu Wen's scream came again.