Chapter 122: Quality time
Little did Xue Ting guess that the trouble arising was good news to the Tang family as Mrs. Tang and Grandma Tang were laughing happily when she joined the family in the living room. Before Xue Ting could ask anything, May rushed into her arms and hugged her before sobbing.
"Ting Ting… oh how I miss you!! I have heard of your miscarriage. It must be so sad for you…" May went on as Xue Ting's gaze met with Qiu Yeh's apologetic eyes.
Xue Ting was flabbergasted and it felt too sudden for her to be holding her best friend in her arms again finally. Moments of terror slowly slipped away even more knowing they were safe, but her mind could not figure out the drama earlier.
"Oh dear, little new daughter-in-law, you cannot stress yourself out so much… Control being emotional or my little grandchild will be sad too…" Mrs. Tang helped out Xue Ting whose mouth was open wide at the news while Mrs. Tang led May over to the seat next to Qiu Yeh.
"Mum… What did you say?" Xue Ting asked and it made Qiu Yeh feel awkward hearing Xue Ting address Mrs. Tang that way.
"Yes, you heard me right. We have resolved all our conflicts earlier and this little best friend of yours, I am so happy she would become my daughter-in-law like I wished. And she is pregnant so she must rest a lot on the bed until her first trimester is over." Mrs Tang explained while holding onto May's hands happily and sat by her side.
Grandma Tang was laughing heartily too as Xue Ting was a little dumbfounded, trying to register the whole episode. She did not know to laugh or to cry at the news as Qiu Wen went to hold her while she tried to regain her composure.
"Oh, I'm sorry Ting Ting, it must be hard for you to accept all this…" May apologised when she noticed the frown on Xue Ting's face as Grandma Tang laughed.
"If it gets too tough, remember to make yourself a priority first May. This is the rule of the Tang family. Our daughter-in-laws are priorities." Grandma Tang announced as May nodded obediently holding on to her small bulging stomach.
"You!" Xue Ting finally snapped after regaining her composure. She finally felt overwhelmed by betrayal and was upset at May as she stormed up at her.
"How could you be gone for months with no news whatsoever?! Do you know how dangerous my situation was and the twins were so lost without you?! How dare you come back just in the blink of an eye and make them all your family too?! Weren't you against this family all this time? Weren't you even against my pregnancy all this while? Are you competing with me now?!" Xue Ting scolded. Mrs. Tang wanted to reprimand Xue Ting but both Qiu Yeh and May stopped her. May shook her head at Mrs Tang discreetly to indicate letting Xue Ting continue venting her bottled-up emotions.
"I'm sorry…" May wanted to hold Xue Ting's hand but she shrugged it off.
"If it wasn't because of Mum I wouldn't be here! How dare you return and get yourself a delicate pregnancy?! You always scolded me for putting myself in a dangerous situation! Now, why are you doing the same?! Yet you didn't find me a single time while you were happily enjoying the cruise?! Yet you dare return not as my friend but what? Sister in law! Am I your pushover?!" Xue Ting finally broke down as May went to hug her. Both Qiu Wen and Qiu Yeh could only watch over the ladies guiltily. The entire family knew how much they owed Xue Ting and it was only right for her to vent all she wanted.
"I'm sorry Ting Ting… I'm so sorry!" May held on to Xue Ting as she sobbed with her.
"Don't squat. Sit." Xue Ting instructed instantly as she obediently did so.
"I'm going to punish you…" Xue Ting finally said in a sad tone as May smiled.
"Please do…" May said while laughing.
"You're going to take the sales and marketing director spot alongside Mum and me once you're free from being bedridden!" Xue Ting demanded as May nodded instantly and hugged her tightly even if Qiu Yeh wanted to protest, he knew he was not in the position to do so as it was his mother's strategy to lure the brothers back into the business.
From then on, as Xue Ting often had to work very late with Mrs Tang, she would occasionally return to the family home to stay for the night and accompany May who was on bed rest for nearly two months. At that rate, Mrs Tang had no hope for her sons to return to help out in the business since they were all busy with their businesses.
Though May was bedridden, she was helping out on the marketing side of the business lightly and there were nights when May felt so restless that she would pace the living room secretly while Qiu Yeh was asleep to think of work matters. She would catch Mrs. Tang falling asleep in the study room at times and if Xue Ting did stay over, it was about time she reached home.
However, that night, instead of seeing Xue Ting step into the house, May was shocked to find Xue Ting passed out at the main door of the house.
"Mum! Yeh! Help!!" She screamed by Xue Ting's side.
"Ting Ting! Wake up! Oh, Ting Ting!" May cried as Qiu Yeh rushed over to check on her who was unconscious before calling for medical help while Mrs. Tang called Qiu Wen.
"She will be alright…" Qiu Yeh coaxed May who was still shaken by the incident after the doctors confirmed that Xue Ting passed out from exhaustion when they were in the hospital room as the twins, Keith and Qiu Wen were surrounding her bed with Mrs. Tang holding to her hand by her bedside.
"Don't worry Auntie May… We will be here. You should head home and rest first…" Joy tried comforting her but May was nearly persistent not to listen only for Qiu Yeh to lift her into his arms and headed home first.
"Put me down… I want to accompany her…" May whined as Qiu Yeh ignored her. "Grandma you should head home too and rest…" Joy urged as she shook her head.
"No, no… Let me wait till she is awake…" Mrs. Tang protested when a yawn turned everyone's attention over.
"Ting Ting!" Mrs. Tang rushed over while Qiu Wen helped her to sit up.
"What happened? Why am I here? Didn't I just fall asleep?" Xue Ting asked while leaning into Qiu Wen's arm and yawned.
"What? Asleep?" Mrs. Tang smacked her lightly.
"How could you not care about yourself? Do you know how frightened May was that she didn't want to leave earlier? If it wasn't cause she was restless and got out of bed to walk downstairs, we wouldn't know you passed out in front of the door!" Mrs. Tang scolded as Xue Ting blinked multiple times.
"I did?" She asked Qiu Wen feeling confused as he nodded.
"Oh… I don't think I did. I just can't wait to fall into bed and probably thought the front door floor was it…I honestly am fine." Xue Ting tried to explain herself while easing into Qiu Wen's arms as he gently patted her shoulders.
"This can't be it… Time to call for a vacation!" Mrs. Tang declared as Xue Ting frowned.
"Mum, we can't… we have so much to do…" Xue Ting protested.
"You're not the boss. I am. I said so. So be it." Mrs. Tang was firm with the decision before making her move to head home first that Xue Ting could not even protest but accept the sudden off days.
That was also when Xue Ting realised her busy schedule made her miss her twins as she spent some quality time bonding with them and Keith that night.
"Mummy…" Joy held her hand while pouting as Xue Ting smiled.
"Only now could I see you both properly… Have you been well? I'm sure Keith takes very good care of you…" Xue Ting teased. She was seeing less of her twins as they both were always dating if they were not in any classes but she knew they were juggling their life well.
Joy blushed as Keith stepped up and held Joy by her shoulders to comfort her.
"Is the restaurant fine? How's Macy and Xiao Ji doing?" Xue Ting asked Keith.
"They have been well. Missing you very much but coping well with new staffs too." Keith updated politely as Xue Ting smiled missing them too.
"I shall visit them soon! Let them know…" Xue Ting giggled as Keith smiled and nodded.
"Go send her home… She needs to rest. Look at her drowsy eyes. Drive safe!" Xue Ting urged as Joy wanted to protest but failed cause Keith was firm with his gestures without having to say a word and could give the sense of conviction that Joy often felt appeased at.
"Listen to him… Go." Qiu Wen urged as Joy finally left giving Xue Ting the chance to have Matthew all to herself.
Matthew was the only one spending more time with Qiu Wen in their music store while Joy spent more time at the restaurant helping Keith and would not seize the opportunity to date while helping out.
Qiu Wen and Xue Ting did not mind at all as they both had mutually approved of Keith a long time ago. Grandma Tang was the one who had been overly excited wanting the twins to get married too but knew they should finish their studies first.
"Come here boy…" Xue Ting held her hand out as Matthew sat by her bedside before she hugged him warmly.