Xue Er Came Back!

For the past few months, chemotherapy had been giving Xue Er a lot of side effects. She had been vomiting almost every time after she finished the therapy. Which has caused her loss of appetite. Lately, she has also been noticing her hair coming off as she brushes her hair. "Wei Wei, will I be bald?" Wei Wei went by her side and sat next to her. "No, you won't. It will grow back," as she comforts her. Xue Er looks at herself through the mirror. Her once beautiful long hair has become thinner each day. She touches her hair and more hair comes off. She took Wei Wei's hand, "Sis, can you help me shave all my hair?" Wei Wei was shocked and turned Xue Er around facing her. "Are you sure? Once it's shaved, there's no turning back." "I'm ready. It's better than seeing a bunch of hair falling out every day."

The next day, Wei Wei came back with a hair razor. Xue Er didn't want her mom and dad to see this moment, so she told them to stay outside. "So, are you ready?" Xue Er nods her head, "I'm ready." She grips her hand on her clothes and closes her eyes. All she hears is the razor sound going through her head. After 10 minutes, the razor sounds stopped. "I'm done," as Wei Wei brushed the remaining hair away. "Can you bring me the mirror?" Wei Wei slowly handed her the mirror. There was no sound for a few seconds and Wei Wei looked into Xue Er's face. She was smiling as she looked at herself in the mirror. "I never knew I looked like this without hair." Wei Wei squats down and saw tears coming down Xue Er's eyes. She tightly hugged her, "You look beautiful. It will grow back once this is over." Xue Er couldn't hold back anymore and cried on Wei Wei's shoulder.

From that day on, Xue Er set a purpose for herself, believing that she would get cured. She couldn't let the illness stop her education and her future. Instead of hiding away in the hospital, she decided it's best to take advantage of what she has now. Facing head-on, after countless struggles and depression, she manages to get her high school diploma while staying in the U.S. and also began to see improvement in herself.

-------------Years has pass-----------

Coming out of the airport, a gust of wind blew, knocking Xue Er's hat off revealing her hair as it danced with the wind, "Finally feel like home now!" as Xue Er claims, breathing in her homeland air. Wei Wei took her hand and shouted in excitement, "LET GO!!".

"You seem more excited than me. Let me guess, did you tell Yi Ping we were coming back?" giving her a nudge. "Y-You got a problem with that? I miss bullying him all that." "Kids, are you getting in the car or not?" Mom said, lowering the window. "COMING!" the girls shouted.

As they drive, the scenery of their neighborhood brings back the unforgettable memories. "Still the same like the time we left," Xue Er thought. Their nanny came out to greet them, "Welcome back. Oh, is the Xue Er?" she questions, reaching over and patting Xue Er, "you grew up into a fine lady." "Hehe. Did you hear that? Nanny complimented me, not you," teasing Wei Wei. "Stop spouting nonsense, she was looking at me when she said that," Wei Wei commented as she headed in. Xue Er glanced over, "Zhi Chen senior…"

"He's no longer there," a voice called out behind her. Xue Er turned over, "Yi Ping? What's up?" "What's up? What are you now, an American girl? Where's Wei Wei?" Xue Er gave him a snigger, "Oh, Wei Wei... she's inside waiting for her man to come." "H-HER WHAT MAN?? I didn't hear anything about that." "Who can blame her? She was sooo lonely on the other sid-e" "Shut your traps," Wei Wei said as she slapped Xue Er's back. "OUCH!"

Dinner time came and Yi Ping stayed over to eat. "Now that you're back, what are you planning to do now? I heard that you studied law in the U.S," as her nanny looks at her. Xue Er finished setting up the table and looked at her nanny. "I'm gonna work in dad's law firm for his company." Her nanny smiled, "that's good. Just make sure you're happy with what you're doing." Xue Er smiled and nods.

After dinner, Xue Er went back to her room. "Nothing has changed. It's the same as before," as she said it to herself. "Of course it's the same. Nanny helped us keep it the same as before." "OMG, when did you even come in." "Just now," as Wei Wei lays down on her bed. Xue Er walks by the window and sees the window across from hers. "Too bad, he left." Xue Er turned around and saw Wei Wei playing with her stuffed bear from Zhi Chen. "Why are you still here? Leave now, I have to rest." Wei Wei gets up and walks to the door. "If you missed him, then you should call him," and closes the door. Xue Er sat down at her bed and saw the bear lying on her bed. "Call him? I don't even know if he'll even answer."

<>

Xue Er's phone suddenly rings and it's a message from Yi Ping. "Hey, you didn't sleep yet right. I just received a news that we're hosting a high school reunion tomorrow night. Let's go!" "A high school reunion?... Will he be there tomorrow too?" as she thought about it before replying back to Yi Ping. "Uhmm sure, I'll go." "Okay, I'll come over and pick you up tomorrow."

The next day, Xue Er woke up early. "Good morning mom and dad." "Good morning," as her mom greets her back. "Why are you up so early? You don't have to start working yet till next week," as her dad puts the newspaper down and looks at her. "Uhmm, Yi Ping invited me over to a high school reunion this evening and I want to go out to buy an outfit for today." "That's great, do you need money?" "Dad, I have money, and plus I'm dragging Wei Wei with me." Her dad smiled at her and noticed what she's thinking. "Okay, I'll get going now. Bye, mom and dad." She closes the door and hops inside the car.

"Okay let's get going, but first let's go eat." Wei Wei looks at her, "are you asking me to do things right now?" Xue Er laughs, "you're the best sister. Let's get going?" After eating their brunch, they went inside a boutique. "Welcome, do you guys need any help?" "No, it's fine. We're just looking around." The salesperson left them alone and Xue Er starts gazing around. "What dress would suit my short hair," as she looks at Wei Wei.

Wei Wei looked at her and started pulling out whatever dresses she could find hanging, "Go have fun," gesturing her to the dressing room. Xue Er stood there dumbfounded, "ALL THAT?!" Wei Wei nodded and started walking off to another section but Xue Er got a hold of her and hisses, "You're coming with me." "You don't say. Mommy needs to help Xue Er change too," Wei Wei lifeless said as she was being dragged.

After being stuck inside doing nothing, Wei Wei got bored and started trying on the dresses with her, "Selfie time~". After multiples of dresses, Wei Wei shouted, "This is it! This navy-like color with a bit of sky blue lines. Gimme a pose." Xue Er rolled her eyes and posed anyway. "Going to send this to Mom-" "What's wrong?" "I accidentally sent it to Zhi Chen! " "HUH? Since when did you have his phone?! Hurry and delete before he sees it." "Chill, I was joking! Payback for yesterday." "....don't play like that." Wei Wei grin, "You actually want him to know that you came back right?"

There was a silence, "...I'm the one who cut off all ties with him. He must hate me now." looking at the mirror, "I'm broken already..."

"Yikes, bad aura here. Let's go." "Wait I didn't change" "We will be buying all these," and pointed at Xue Er, "and the one she's wearing. After you finish wrapping, send them to this address. " "Thank you for shopping."

"Let's head home now," Wei Wei said as she fastened her seatbelt, "got to fix that face of yours." Xue Er gave her a dirty look.

By the time, Yi Ping came to pick Xue Er pick, the ladies were doing their final touch-ups. "Master Xue, Hurry up!" he shouted from the living room. Xue Er started heading down and scolded him,"Can you stop calling me that now? It's getting old." "Nah, I like saying it. I'll bring her back at 12." "Watch over her for us," Mom waved. Xue Er frowned, "I can take care of myself."

In the car, Xue Er couldn't stop moving her hands. "Relax. It's not like you don't know them," as Yi Ping tries to calm her down. "Bu-but, I don't know. I'm just having weird feelings. I feel like I can't do this anymore. Can we turn back?" as Xue Er stutters her words out. "NO, we can't. We're almost there anyway and don't think about escaping in the middle of the dinner." Xue Er took a deep breath and rubs her hand together. "Okay, we're here," as Yi Ping points out the window. "Wow, it's so fancy."

Xue Er took Yi Ping's arm and walked in together. "Do you know who will be here today?" as Xue Er nervously asked him. "Basically people that we know," as Yi Ping said it so easily. He looks at Xue Er who couldn't even walk properly, "Don't worry, he won't be here." Xue Er looks at him, "are you sure?" "I am 100 percent sure he won't be here. Now are you ready to go in?" Xue took a deep breath in and smiled. "Yes, I'm all ready." Yi Ping pushes the door open and inside it was filled with people that were in the same grade as them. "Omg, hi Xue Er. How have you been?" as one of the girls noticed her and walked right up to her. Everyone starts to turn around and welcomes Xue Er. "I see how you people are. Couldn't you see another person standing right here?" as Yi Ping protested. "We see you almost every day, but Xue Er is different. We haven't seen her in years." Yi Ping got jealous and walked away. "Leave him alone," as one girl said. "So, where were you for the past years? You suddenly left us and Yi Ping wouldn't tell us where you are? Omg did you cut your hair? Didn't you love your long hair?" More questions roamed around the room and Xue Er didn't know which one to answer first.

"Ok, everyone let's give her some space," as Yi Ping breaks the crowd. As they settled in and sat down at the table, there were two more empty seats. "Is there someone still coming?" as Xue Er asks curiously. "Yes,...." Suddenly there's a knock on the door and one of the guys went to open it. "Hey bro, long time no see. I didn't expect you'll come and is that your girlfriend?" "Hey Zhi Chen, why did you come so late?" "Zhi Chen?.... Am I hearing this wrong?" as I thought to myself. I looked over to Yi Ping and he gave me a worried face. "Don't tell me it's him," as she tightens her fist.

"Xue Er, look at who came?" as the girl sat next to her exclaimed. Xue Er turned around and saw Zhi Chen staring at her. And standing right next to him is Qiu Ya.