WELCOME HOME

"Where to next?" Yu Mei asks them the moment she arrives and pours herself some tea.

'Hmm, amazing, it is still hot,' Yu Mei thought, feeling the cup with her hand.

"Have you forgotten? We're staying at Liu Yang's for the weekend." Li Jun reminds her.

"Oh, yeah. It slipped my mind, my bad."

"Uhm, guys? I have to head home first since I don't have any change of clothes," Wan Li shyly announced.

Li Jun: "What?? Sis, your house is in the opposite direction."

"It's still early, though." Wan Li says while at his watch.

"You mean, it's the rush hour," Li Jun reasoned, not giving up a fight.

"We have all the time in the world. What's the rush?"

Liu Yang and Yu Mei are just watching on the side with their eyes talking: 'Here they go again.'

They giggle each time their eyes meet, not disturbing the other two quarreling.

Li Jun thought about it at first and irritably rolls his eyes at them. "Arggh! Let's just go," Li Jun grabs his purse and drags the laughing Liu Yang.

After footing the bill, the four of them headed to the parking space.

Wan Li: "Whose car are we using? I brought mine. What about you, Mei?"

"Nope. I knew you'd bring yours," Yu Mei blinks innocently at him.

"I also didn't bring mine." Li Jun winks at him. He claps his hands, "Now it's decided, we'll use Wanwan's car."

"Hey! Don't you dare call me that!" he shouted; his face darkens like the skies are overcast.

"Wanwan, let's go," Liu Yang puts her arm around his waist, grinning widely.

Wan Li sighs in defeat. "Ewww! I swear to god; you guys are the worst!"

"Way to go, Wanwan! Let's go!" Yu Mei chants, putting on the belt while the others laugh with her – except for Wan Li.

Wan Li's ears become red, not out of embarrassment, but because of fury.

In reality, he does not dislike the nickname, it's just that, it sounds too intimate, making his skin prickle.

----

Su Bin arrived at the Niu mansion at exactly 8 o'clock in the evening.

"Welcome back, Third Young Master," the butler greets him at the entrance while taking his jacket.

These days, the nights are getting colder for some unknown reasons. Su Bin immediately thought of Yu Mei. He must remind her to always keep a coat on whenever she is outside.

He nods and smiled at the old man. "Has Guan arrived, Uncle Wang?"

The butler thought for a minute before answering, "I believe he has not, Third Young Master."

"Okay, thank you."

"Su Bin!"

Su Bin's face brightened when he saw a middle-aged woman sitting on the couch in the living room.

"Auntie!" he gives Choi Minjun a hug and seats on the single-seater couch in front of her.

The old woman pours him some tea.

"Thank you," he accepts the cup with both hands; sniffing it before simply taking a sip.

"It's been a long time since you've been home. Maybe you should stay here for a few days. We really missed you a lot. The house is lonely without you." Choi Minjun said with full earnestness. This nephew of hers is the only living proof of her sister's memories.

Su Bin chuckles, slowly putting the cup on the marble table. "I'm afraid I can't do that, Auntie. I'm still busy with work these days. We have important projects coming."

"Nonsense! You, young'uns are always full of excuses! You just don't want to hang out with your elders because we're too boring."

"That's not true. You know I love hanging out with you the most."

"You are really good at bluffing."

The both of them laughed, echoing in the living.

Guan witnessed the scene and decided to hide against the wall. He smiled while thinking to himself, that he had never made his mother laugh like that, ever. All he ever gave her are headaches.

"Second Young Master?"

Guan is startled at the butler suddenly appearing out of nowhere. "Ah, Uncle Wan, it's you."

"The Madam and Third Young Master are in the living room."

"Uh, yeah. I was about to--"

Before he could even finish his sentence, Butler Wang announced his arrival to the people in the living room.

He pressed his lips into a thin line. He has no choice but to show himself in the middle of their conversation.

"Mother." Guan forces a smile, and with heavy steps, walks to the living room.

The house he left years ago is still the same – huge and lonely. He was just here a month ago, when he caused trouble the moment he landed in the country, and it wasn't a pleasant memory. Well, he never really had a good memory of this house.

"Guan!"

Choi Minjun's eyes turn red seeing his estranged son. She has been dreaming of the day that he comes back home, and here he is now.

"Aiyoo!" she slaps his arm hard, "You trouble-maker, you've only been in the country for a few weeks but you haven't visited me once. You bad son!"

"But I did come home, once." With a naughty smile, Guan answers while receiving his Mother's slaps.

"What do you mean? Do you mean, the time when you caused trouble? I've been calling you but you never answered not even a single text!"

"Aiyoo! My mother is so dramatic the moment she turned old," Guan consoled her with a hug but his tone is laced with teasing.

"What do you mean old?" Choi Minjun bellows.

Su Bin is just watching them, shaking his head at his cousin teasing his aunt.

"Yes, yes. I'm sorry, Mother."

This time, Guan hugs her sincerely while tapping her back.

Choi Minjun breaks their hug. Cupping her son's face, she looks at him, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Welcome back home, my son."

Guan's smile reaches his eyes.

For the very first time in years, Su Bin saw Guan sincerely smile like that. Only his mother could do that.

"Where are the others," Guan asks, receiving a cup from Choi Minjun as soon as they are seated.

He used 'others', which made Choi Minjun flinch but she remained composed as she answers, "Your Father is still in the hospital for his monthly check-up, while your Brother and Sis-in-law are upstairs. They said they will be staying over tonight. Why don't you two do it, too?"

Guan: "No, I can't."

Su Bin: "I'm sorry, I can't."

Hearing them reject in unison, Choi Minjun could groan in sorrow. She can understand Su Bin since he visits the house oftentimes but Guan, this son of hers is so stubborn. She had not seen him in years and now that he is finally back, he refused to stay in the mansion; although she knew the reason why.

"Can't you stay even just for one night?"

Su Bin knew that Choi Minjun's words were not meant for him. He peeks at Guan, gracefully drinking the tea, not minding Choi Minjun's words.

'This idiot, can't he see Auntie is begging him to stay?' Su Bin scorned Guan in his heart.

"You know I can't, Mother. Staying here will only worsen Father's condition," Guan looks his mother squarely in the eyes.

She knows he is not lying.

"And what about my condition?"

A rough voice resounded from behind them. All their heads turn and saw Niu Yizhang limping with a cane in his hand, guided by his secretary.

"You're here already." Choi Minjun runs to his side and helps him walk.

The mood in the living room turned unpleasant with Niu Yizhang's arrival.

"I'll get some fresh air." Guan takes his leave. He could not stand being in the same room with his father right now. He totally knew what is going to happen if one of them starts to open their mouth.

"I-I'll go, too, Uncle, Auntie," Su Bin bids goodbye to the elders and runs after Guan who is halfway through the door.

Niu Yizhang just watches his son's retreating back with lingering feelings.

"That insolent bastard!" he roars in anger.

"Yizhang! Stop it! You know you are the main reason why our son is like that."

Niu Yizhang quiets down after hearing his wife's scolding. He tries to console her but she already left straight to the kitchen, leaving him standing in the middle of the living room with his secretary.