Christmas

"Mum what do you want?" Linx was shaken from her thoughts by her daughter's inquisitive gaze. "Hmm," Helian Linx thought for a second ,"I would love to get a dress designed specifically for me but you need to do it." But deep in her heart she knew, that all she wanted was for Meilin to stay by her side.

They were interrupted by Helian Guong coming home from work. He had a big goofy smile on his face "How are my two beautiful ladies?" "We were just talked about christmas presents love" Linx was eager to find out her family's christmas wishes.

~3 weeks later, Christmas eve~

"Merry Christmas!"

The whole of Helian Manor was in a festive mood. The house was decorated with tinsel, christmas lights and fir trees. It smelled like gingerbread, burnt sugar, chocolate and candy-canes.

Today was one of the few days of the year when Meilin could finally slip off her cold cloak and have fun with her family and friends.

She was talking with her friend Ling Rong when they were interrupted by a little boy running up to them. "Mei mei!", the little boy was very excited. He hadn't seen his mother's cousin ever since she started avoiding public places three weeks ago. Meilin laughed and picked up the little boy. As she was continuing her conversation, Min Jue ran up to them with a worried expression on her face. "Meilin, Rong have you seen Jian?" The little boy poked his head out from under Meilins arm and giggled as he saw his distressed mother. "Jian you cannot run away like that" Min Jue chided her son gently as she was too relieved to actually scold him. Rong and Meilin laughed at the mother son pair. Min Jian was just too adorable when he pouted. Min Jue sighed and ruffled her sons hair. "Jue where is Chang?" Rong was a good friend of Min Jue and knew about her childs father. "Work trip" Jue waved off Rongs question. "How are you guys going?" Meilin smiled and was about to answer when she was interrupted by a loud gong.

It was the annual christmas gong that sounded every year on christmas eve. The sounding of the gong was a christmas and family tradition. It was also sounded on someone's birthday.

Helian Linx glided down the stairs in a white a-line dress with long sleeves. The dress was decorated with pearl snowflakes and sparkly threaded candycanes. On her heaf was a pearl and diamond studded crown in the shape of icycles.