Chapter 117: The bittersweet truths

"Mummy!" Joy yelled for her with her voice nearly breaking as Matthew and Mdm. Ooi chased her but Xue Ting continued to storm off to her car and drove away. It hurts Joy very much for once because Xue Ting had rarely acted this way before to the twins. While Mrs. Tang continued to deny the fact, Grandma knew she had to step in as she came down from her study room to give her daughter a good scolding. 

Only then did Qiu Wen have the chance to catch up with the twins only to worry more about Mdm. Ooi.

"Let's send grandma back first. Mummy should be heading back too probably." Qiu Wen being quick-witted arranged as he regretted being impulsive in revealing the twins' identity to his mother. It must have upset Xue Ting a lot since he promised he would protect the truth but failed to do so. 

"Qiu Wen…" Mdm. Ooi called out while he drove. "Yes, mum?" 

"Blood is thicker than water. You need to take a step back and at some point talk to your mother again." Mdm. Ooi said solemnly as Qiu Wen wanted to retaliate but he knew the meaning behind his mother-in-law's words.

He knew she only wanted him to sort things out so that Xue Ting could be at ease. "I know what to do. Don't worry, Mum." Qiu Wen said assuringly. 

Xue Ting was indeed furious that she drove all the way to Wen Kang's farm where she knew rarely anyone would come to check on him since it was so far away. Only he would be so silly to commute to their old house daily just to accompany their mother. 

"Ting Ting! What are you doing here?" Wen Kang asked happily that he could see her again but noticed her agitated face as she stormed to the shed. He quickly poured her some tea and she drank it in one shot. 

"Wow! Slow down sis. You don't want to scale your tongue with the hot tea!" He reminded as Xue Ting took a deep breath. 

"Is it about the news? I thought all is well now. Why are you here?" Wen Kang coaxed some more but she stood instead.

"Don't you have work to do? Now, let me help you! Who needs some chopping?!" She walked to the farm and took a scythe with her before heading into the fields of sugarcane. 

Wen Kang then received a text from his mother to inform her if Xue Ting came to find him as there were issues with the Tang family. He instantly ran up to check on Xue Ting and when he wanted to confront her, he stopped her from scything the wrong things.

"Ting Ting! That's the best seed to sow! Don't simply scythe things! Stop!" He forcefully took away the scythe from her hands as she stormed off to the weed fields instead and started scything again. It worries him since she was pregnant and he had to keep a very close eye on her. Not long after, she began to feel the piercing pain again in her abdomen so often that she finally gave up venting and took a seat in the shed. 

A part of Wen Kang was relieved as he went over to pour her some tea again. 

"Stop being angry… It's not good for the baby…" Wen Kang said as Xue Ting rolled her eyes on him.

"How's the business doing?" She asked trying to distract herself. 

"Of course, it's been well! After all, I had good prospects…" He said but it was a slip of the tongue that he quickly cut himself off. However, it already reminded Xue Ting of her doubts when she first met Qiu Wen. 

She took up a small penknife on the table and pointed at Wen Kang who panicked for a moment. 

"Tell me, did you sell me off for your investor's money?!" She bellowed which surprised Wen Kang she knew as he raised both hands up in the air. 

"Now, calm down… it's not good for the baby. Think about the baby…" He pleaded as she raised a threatening eyebrow at him. 

"I'm sorry… yes… and brother-in-law was very generous… I'm sorry!" Wen Kang tried to appease her as she squinted her eyes at him and threw the penknife on the table. 

"How dare you?!" She snarled at him as Wen Kang tried to coax her. 

"I'm sorry sis… But look you're living a good life now…" He pointed out as she glared at him.

"Good?! You don't want to live anymore is it Liew Wen Kang?!" She threatened as he raised his arms in the air again. 

"If you dare to reveal where I am now, I will seriously consider this Liew family to not have a grandson or next generation ever again." Xue Ting threatened as she knew it was the only way to keep him from revealing. She needed a long rest from the chaos to gather her thoughts as Wen Kang obediently kept it a secret and continued to take good care of her while she was staying over. 

However, Qiu Wen's instinct could never stray away. He knew Wen Kang was bad at lying and despite not getting a direct answer from him, Qiu Wen knew his dear wife was there. 

He and the twins were very worried without news for the next two days as they stayed over to keep Mdm. Ooi accompanied. Mdm. Ooi too could have guessed where her daughter was as Wen Kang mentioned had to stay over on the farm for the next few days with an excuse to complete a big order. 

So she purposely kept Wen Kang updated about Xue Ting's schedule and knew there was a check-up in the hospital the next day. He knew he had to coax his sister to leave for a while so he decided to bribe her with a sumptuous meal of her favorite roasted chicken.

"Hmm, what's the special occasion to have this?" She asked as she dug in. 

"Finish up first…" He said as they enjoyed their meal but she began to feel like there was a catch. At the back of her mind, she knew she also had the monthly medical check-up the next day, and given the occasional piercing pain she felt, she knew she had to go. 

"If you're bribing me to head to the appointment tomorrow, there's no need to. I wanted to go anyway but still, you're not allowed to update them and I might return here thereafter or go elsewhere since you can never be loyal!" She snarled at him playfully knowing her brother could not keep secrets or lie. 

Wen Kang quickly nodded and smiled feeling relief as he joined her digging into their meal. "Are you expecting it to be a boy or a girl this time?" Wen Kang asked randomly as Xue Ting pondered for a moment. It had never crossed her mind before this as a smile appeared.

"What would you like?" She asked while digging into more of the roasted chicken. 

"A boy…" His answer surprised her. "Why?" She asked absentmindedly. 

"So that my sister will always be protected no matter what circumstances it is…" Wen Kang said sincerely as Xue Ting put down her chopsticks and had a good look at him.

"Since when did my baby brother grow up so well?" She smiled as he chuckled while putting more meat in her bowl. 

The next day, Xue Ting ended up visiting Qiu Yeh in his ward first cause she was excited wanting to catch the couple but May had gone home to freshen up.

"Happy to see you here… I heard… Where have you been? Do you know how anxious they are?" Qiu Yeh questioned calmly as Xue Ting wondered to herself how did she not had feelings for this man before and she knew he was out of her league. They would become an ideal couple leading boring protected lives. 

"Xue Ting…" He snapped his fingers in front of her. 

"What about you? Losing your cool? Where did that stone-cold heart go? Where did your rationale or calm state of mind go? Losing it all in the name of love?" She nagged as he smirked. They end up chuckling together.

"I hope she would really be my sister-in-law in the end…" She sincerely told him knowing they were just taunting each other.

"Then what about us?" Qiu Yeh knew she wanted to divert the topic and could not help to tease her in return. 

"Not this life…Maybe next life perhaps?" She winked and smiled.

"You're in good hands… I hope this time my nephew or niece will make it just fine…" He said sincerely as Xue Ting nodded and smiled with a strong hope that his words would be true cause her mother's instinct had been on the contrary for the past few days.

"Take good care of her… She looks strong but is a very delicate person inside and a fool at most times…" Xue Ting said as Qiu Yeh smiled.

"I must have been the fool all this time not making a move on her earlier…" Qiu Yeh said as Xue Ting chuckled.

"It's not too late… It's meant to be anyway since the day you both were set up to look after me." Xue Ting smiled.

"I will take her away on a cruise for months perhaps I don't know... Will you be alright?" He asked worriedly as she nonchalantly nodded her head.

"Time to let the bird fly… Things will be fine and thank you." She said as she gently patted his hand. 

He forced a smile before they parted ways knowing she was right. His responsibility is no longer her; a half bittersweet feeling hit him but a great excitement dawned on him when he thought of his plans with May and his freedom.