Granting You A Second Life

Little 4th eyed his mother suspiciously: "Mommy what did you do?" He knew his mother too well. His mother currently wore her "I"m great because I meddled" face.

Madame Qin tried to look innocent: "What are you talking about baby?"

Little 4th: "Mommy you only look like this when you"re interfering."

Madame Qin looked at the firm expression on little 4th"s face. It was difficult to hide anything from the little bun.

Madame Qin: "Never you mind. Its not appropriate for your innocent non-adult ears."

Little 4th scrunched his face.

Madame Qin pinched little 4th"s soft white cheek "You shouldn"t meddle in grown up business ."

Little 4th looked at his mother unhappily. He had a high IQ and EQ for his age. His reading level was that of a 12 year old and he was able to comprehended most situations adult or not.

Madame Qin knew what little 4th was thinking. He was a very gifted child and didn"t like to be reminded that he was a child. In fact Little 4th only mentioned his age when it was to his advantage so he could win an argument. The Qin"s wanted little 4th to retain as much of his childlike innocence as possible. They wanted him to enjoy his childhood.

Madame Qin had a sly look in her eyes: "Hmmm for some reason I"m really in the mood to get some ice cream."

Little 4th perked his ears up at the mention of the word ice cream.

Madame Qin: "Oh and maybe some cake too."

Little 4th was slowly succ.u.mbing to his mother"s bribery.

Madame Qin: "Little 4th didn"t you mention that your big sister liked strawberry gateau? Maybe we could buy some at that little cake shop you like and drop it off to her on the way home?"

Little 4th was unable to contain his smile. He had been successfully cajoled and bribed.

.....

Back of the Taxi - Holiday

Tang Tingzhe and Jiang Huan were currently reclining in the back seat of a taxi. Jiang Huan was wearing a blindfold and head phones.

Jiang Huan took off the headphones: "Could you please tell me where we"re going? At least one clue? One little clue? The antic.i.p.ation is killing me."

Tang Tingzhe removed Jiang Huan"s blindfold "I"ve missed those eyes."

Jiang Huan blushed a little before excitedly looking out of the window.

Jiang Huan squealed in joy: "We"re in j.a.pan!!!" She had never imagined that Tang Tingzhe would take her to j.a.pan. She had thought that Tang Tingzhe was taking her to Hong Kong.

Jiang Huan: "This is the best surprise ever. Thank you." She reached over to Tang Tingzhe and kissed his cheek.

She then put her head on his shoulder. Everything felt right in the world.

Tang Tingzhe put his arm around Jiang Huan"s waist as she snuggled into him.

Jiang Huan: "Where are we staying?"

Tang Tingzhe: "I"ve arranged for us to stay in one of the most-renowned ryokan in Tokyo."

Jiang Huan and Tang Tingzhe sat in a comfortable silence. There was romance in the air.

40 minutes later they had arrived at the ryokan.

Tang Tingzhe was unpacking in his room when he heard a gentle knock at the door.

Tang Tingzhe: "Come in."

Jiang Huan made her way through to the bedroom.

Tang Tingzhe smiled: "Come over here."

Jiang Huan walked into the room and closed the door behind here. She walked into Tang Tingzhe embrace and hummed happily.

She looked up at Tang Tingzhe and then to his lips before meeting Tang Tingzhe"s eyes once again.

Tang Tingzhe slowly leaned into kiss Jiang Huan.

Jiang Huan closed her eyes and gripped the back of Tang Tingzhe"s s.h.i.+rt.

Just as their lips were about to touch. A song started playing from nowhere.

Tang Tingzhe sighed: "Give me a second." He took his phone out of his pocket.

Tang Tingzhe: "Sorry I have to take this"

Jiang Huan let go of Tang Tingzhe. She felt her courage deflate with the interruption. It had taken all her strength to muster her courage to make the first move on Tang Tingzhe.

Tang Tingzhe answered: "h.e.l.lo. Chung is everything okay?"

Jiang couldn"t make out what the other person on the phone was saying but she saw Tang Tingzhe"s expression turn solemn.

Tang Tingzhe: "Okay I"ll be back by then. Bye"

Tang Tingzhe sighed and then sat on the bed.

Jiang Huan: "Is everything okay?"

Tang Tingzhe forced a smile: "Its nothing. Shall we go and get something to eat?"

Jiang Huan: "Its not nothing. Tell me what"s wrong, maybe I can help?"

Tang Tingzhe: "It was just one of my friends. His mother is unwell and needs an operation. It"s been scheduled for this Thursday."

He reached out for Jiang Huan"s hand: "I"m sorry I have to cut our vacation short. He"s like a brother to me. We grew up together and his mother was a second mother to me. Even though it isn"t a major operation I just have to go back and be with them but I hate the idea of disappointing you. "

Jiang Huan crouched down in front of Tang Tingzhe: "Don"t apologize for being a good friend. What"s wrong with his mother?"

Tang Tingzhe: "Like I said its nothing major, she just needs her gallbladder removed. But Chung is struggling financially so they"re going to a less than kosher hospital. I"ve never even heard of the hospital they"re going too, its in some random place on the outskirts of the city. I"ve tried to offer to pay for the surgery but he"s just too proud and see"s it as charity. If I try to convince him any further I"m afraid I"ll not only hurt his pride but our friends.h.i.+p as well."

Tang Tingzhe stood up and pulled Jiang Huan up from the floor. He then put his arm around her waist. He kissed the side of her forehead.

Tang Tingzhe: "Let"s not talk about such depressing things any longer. We should be enjoying our first holiday together. You must be famished. Let"s go and get some food."

Jiang Huan nodded. She began to think of a solution to help Tang Tingzhe"s. Unfortunately the plan she was formulating was taking her further down the dark path of no return.