Chapter 121: Resolving the knot in their hearts
When he sped to the house's front gate, Qiu Wen barged into the house and found his mother opening the door for him. He was confused as he frowned. He did not want to address her at all and was furious.
"What are you doing here?!" He bellowed as the twins rushed to the front door.
"Daddy!" They called out in unison as Joy ran to hug him while Matthew led Mrs. Tang who was flabbergasted to sit on the sofa.
While trying to calm down, his eyes darted around to find Xue Ting before embracing Matthew who returned to his side.
"Are you both well? Did you both sleep and eat well?" He asked worriedly while checking on the twins from head to toe. Dan finally arrived at their main door and walked in with Qiu Wen's luggage.
"Yes... Yes, we did… Grandma helped out a lot… She saved mummy and had been staying with Great-grandma and Granny to help out. Granny had to return home today. Daddy, Grandma had been treating us well. Don't be so angry. If it weren't for her, Matt and I wouldn't know what to do to save mummy without Auntie May." Qiu Qiu explained while she could not help but nearly teared up as she hugged Qiu Wen again recalling that traumatic day.
"And that's the good news I wanted to tell you, bro…" Dan said before passing Matthew the car keys.
"Your dad said he got the deal," Dan said to Matthew. Matthew smiled delightedly.
"We did? Yay! That's great! My daddy is always so awesome!" Joy cheered as she lingered in Qiu Wen's arm.
Dan then excused himself and reminded them of his wedding as they all agreed to see them there including Mrs. Tang who was awkwardly keeping silent by the corner.
"How's mummy doing? Has she been crying? " Qiu Wen began to shift his focus back to his wife knowing she would.
"No. She hasn't cried much in fact but she is very very exhausted. She sleeps in a lot. All thanks to Grandma and Granny. Great-grandma had gone to the wet market to get more groceries with her caretaker." Joy explained.
"Mummy has a check-up over this weekend. You could probably accompany her this time." Matthew notified.
"Good job, good job... I will bring her there, don't worry." Qiu Wen was half comforting himself while praising the kids.
"I should make a move…" Mdm. Tang finally said to the twins after noticing the awkwardness.
"Daddy…" Joy gently tugged at Qiu Wen to coax him with a pout.
"Thank… Thank you…" Qiu Wen finally said as Mdm. Tang wanted to leave but Xue Ting was walking out.
"Mum… Can I have some honey, please?" Xue Ting asked absentmindedly only to find Qiu Wen was home. He smiled sadly, almost in tears as he rushed over to her.
"Hey…" She greeted him as he quickly pulled her into his arms and stayed awhile in that relief hug. Mrs. Tang quickly went to make her order with the twins giving them some privacy as well.
"You shouldn't get down…" He wanted to lift her when she stopped him and shook her head.
"I'm alright… Mum took very good care of me…" Xue Ting said while taking the glass of honey from Mdm. Tang.
"Thank you, Mum… You two should talk for a bit…" Xue Ting urged as she discreetly got the twins to follow her to her room.
The mother and son sat by the dining hall as Mrs. Tang started to sigh.
"Since you don't want to see me anymore after this, I will leave after I say what I need to say." Mrs. Tang started first as Qiu Wen's gaze finally met with hers. She began to tear up.
"I have never been a good mother to you since young. I'm sorry I always neglected how you felt ever since that birthday party. If I were more sensitive towards your feelings, probably you wouldn't miss out so much with Ting Ting…" Her words trailed off as she choked on her words.
"You should look after Ting Ting and support her emotionally. Don't let her get post-natal depression. You're both still young. If you really want, you both can try again but Wen Wen…" Qiu Wen's rubbed his tears away when he heard that nickname from his mother's mouth. It was also an apology he had waited his whole life.
"Don't let her suffer anymore. I was stupid to do what I thought I did was right to give you and Qiu Yeh all the good things in the world but I was so wrong. I don't hope for any of your forgiveness but I just hope you and your brother could continue to love and provide well to your own family and live happily…" Mrs. Tang said before standing up and wanting to leave.
"Mum…" Qiu Wen called out as Mrs. Tang finally sobbed when he walked over to hug her.
"Thank you, Mum… If it weren't for you I would have returned to a very dire situation. Where did you think you were going after all you had done? Shouldn't you stay to repent for all your sins against your grandchildren and daughter-in-law? And make up for all the time you wasted not teaching me well?" Qiu Wen's questions made Mrs. Tang meet his gaze as she was touched by how simply his son could forgive her.
"Though we may forgive you, it doesn't mean you could walk in and out of our lives as you wish… I want to make one thing for sure. I would not return to the company unless Qiu Yeh decides to." Qiu Wen said clearly as Mrs. Tang finally laughed and cried at the same time as the twins went out to cheer for them with Xue Ting.
"Mum, I want to take your offer." Xue Ting said with confidence as she had been pondering the entire time and knew her heart was yearning to do so. Seeing the mother and son relationship was moving towards betterment, she decided there and then to buckle up the courage as Mrs. Tang was so delighted that she hugged Xue Ting and cried while apologising profusely.
"What offer is it?" Qiu Wen asked dumbfoundedly while the ladies smiled at each other meaningfully.
For the next whole month, Xue Ting was swarmed with work alongside Mrs. Tang. She finally knew how Qiu Yeh felt when he was in charge. She respected the effort Qiu Yeh had put in and Mrs. Tang was ready to reward that hardworking son of hers if he does return. As for Qiu Wen, he was enjoying his laid-back lifestyle running music classes and a store while the twins was suppose to occasionally turned up when they had no classes in college.
Keith returned to take over the restaurant from his old parents instead as Dan wanted to focus on expanding his bakery business after his wedding alongside with Pam and her mother-in-law. As for Joy, she had never been so blissful always helping Keith out in the restaurant and stealing time to date each other that Qiu Wen was beginning to wonder if he should keep the art side of the business for her. Grandma Tang was the happiest as she finally got her happy family back and was hoping for Qiu Yeh to return soon.
To Qiu Wen's surprise, Mr. Tang was slowly trying to find his way back to his family. Mr. Tang, to a certain extent, managed to sort out the trouble for Mr. Tang and Xue Ting whenever they encountered one due to his vast network of many years in the business industry. Qiu Wen was the first to figure it out when he saw Mr. Tang by accident, leaving the hotel premises where Xue Ting was meeting with the problematic client.
"Dad…" Qiu Wen called out as Mr. Tang was taken aback when he finally took a proper look at his youngest son who looked a lot like him. He took some time to have a drink with Qiu Wen as he dismissed his secretary.
"How long have you been helping them out?" Qiu Wen started before sipping his black coffee and noticed his father ordered the same.
"Since Ting Ting joined… I can't let that little girl suffer 'cause I know how much you have doted on her since young." Mr. Tang explained as Qiu Wen smiled knowing how identical they were when it came to protecting the lady of their life.
"Are you sure it's not because of Mum?" Mr. Tang was surprised at Qiu Wen addressing her that way after all she had done and Qiu Wen noticed as he took the liberty to explain to him about Mrs. Tang's changes which Mr. Tang had noticed a few recently.
"So, perhaps you might want to consider giving her a chance too?" Qiu Wen suggested with hopeful eyes as Mr. Tang looked at him meaningfully before taking his time to consider it. Though the son and father occasionally met thereafter, Mrs. Tang was still too bothered to notice but not Xue Ting.
She had begun to feel it was strange from the start that things were handled very smoothly and the clients even problematic ones eventually became cooperative. She could tell it was not coincidence or luck anymore after a couple of times and suspected someone was helping behind the scenes. She considered it could be Qiu Wen or Qiu Yeh but it was not possible as they both were keeping a very far distance from the business.
It had been bothering her lately as she sat by the French window of her office and looked out at the pitch-dark sky pondering before a phone call came. She saw an unknown number and could not avoid it in case it was someone with business or could aid with business matters.
"Hello?" She said in her professional voice.
"Ting Tingggggggggggggg!!!!!!!!!!!" She was shocked by the familiar wail as she double-checked the number again and it was confirmed an unknown number.
"May?" She asked skeptically.
"Ting Ting I'm in trouble!!" May wailed as Xue Ting frowned.
"What do you mean? Where are you? Where is Qiu Yeh?" Xue Ting was anxious for a moment before she heard Qiu Yeh reprimanding her and took the phone from her.
"You are making her panic!" Qiu Yeh nagged at May who pouted before speaking with Xue Ting.
"Hello, stranger?" Qiu Yeh greeted her.
"Qiu Yeh? What's going on?" Xue Ting stood from her seat, ready to sprint off.
"Come back to the family home. We will be here… Take your time. It's not that serious." Qiu Yeh said in haste before Xue Ting started to rush to her car and drove all the way wondering about all the possibilities. After nearly two months of not hearing from them, the wail from May earlier made Xue Ting certain that something was imminent but she could not think of anything close as she lamented on her fate of having May as her bestfriend.