Xiang- Hong Kong

Xiang's younger than Mei since to my knowledge, Hong Kong had been founded as a British colony sometime during 1842, while Taiwan had been founded as a Dutch colony sometime during 1623.

Mei raced around the courtyard, trying to find anyone she knew to learn what was going on. Though the red lacquer beams and the cobblestone ground had not changed since her absence, a lot had.

She didn't recognise one servant, and even when she did, most of them didn't recognise her back or were too busy carrying the crates to notice her. Not one of her brothers showed up either, nevermind her father, who was often gone on his business trips.

She slowed down, catching her breath as she wondered if she had ended up at the wrong courtyard. At last, a kick of joy chorused through her when she saw Xiang helping a servant carry a large box. At the sight of her younger brother, she couldn't help but tear up. In her three years of absence, he had grown taller, and his sides had lost its pudgy baby fat.

"XIANG!" She called out. Xiang whipped his head back at the voice. His cheeks lost its baby fat, too, and his face had grown longer. But he still had those pearl black eyes and those furrowed brows that reminded her of the gaze of shiba inus. At the sight of her, Xiang's face lit up and he let go of the box.

"Mei!" She collided into her younger brother, tackling him onto the hardwood floor and grasped him close and tight to make up for the 3 years away.

"Oh, Xiang, I've missed you so much!" Letting go and looking at Xiang's height, she beamed. "You've grown so tall, too!" Xiang nodded and looked to the side.

"Really now? Thanks, Mei." Mei smiled back at the sight of Xiang's rare smile. Sadly, if he had grown so much, that meant that she didn't and remained the same short size. She could only pout.

But her eyes fell back onto the crate Xiang carried. The crate Xiang helped transported had the same red diamante stickers like the ones outside. Mei's heart dropped into her stomach. "Xiang... is someone getting married?" Mei asked. A dreaded feeling told her that the answer was her, but she needed to be sure.

"Oh, this?" Xiang turned his head back towards the crate. "They're gifts for you. The Ma family has offered for your hand in marriage." The Ma family!

"Isn't the head of the Ma family one of Father's friends?" Xiang nodded.

"I know it's very sudden. But on the bright side, you'll be a part of a wealthy household."

"Oh. I… I see." But her mind wandered back to Jan. If she married to another family, she wouldn't be able to see him again. "Why must I marry? It's… it's not like we're bankrupt or poor, either. A lot of our older brothers already have stable Government positions, too."

Xiang's small smile went down. Drawing a breath in, he hooked his hand over his neck. "Well… I think that it's got to do with Father's good relationship with them." She glanced to the side, appreciating Xiang's reasoning, but still feeling down.

Thinking back to Jan, Mei's nails dug into her fist, guarded only by her long sleeve. What about dear Jan? Once she gets married, she wouldn't be able to see him as much anymore. Maybe she can talk to Father about this. Explain that she didn't need to be in a wealthy household to be happy. That was if he was home.

"Xiang, where is Father?" To her disappointment, Xiang shook his head.

"He's not home, he's on a business trip to the mainland." Mei widened her eyes and glanced to the side.

So it looked like that until her father came back, there was nothing she could do about her situation. But what about Jan? Jan was coming soon, too. He would be excited to see her again, only to learn that she will have to be married. Staring at the floor, she tightened her fist.

Well… at the very least, since he had to go back to the Netherlands, he won't find out right now.

In the back of her mind, a small wish hoped that she could see more of the world. Board a ship and travel together with Jan, even. Finding and painting other beautiful locations, forging many more memories together, every single bit lived to the fullest extent. Once she married, bound to her house and expected to be a loyal wife, she won't be able to do that anymore. At least back in the academy, it seemed possible. But now it crumpled and ripped into small, ineligible pieces.

"Mei?"

"I have someone else coming from the academy," Mei blurted out. Xiang looked back, surprised as he raised an eyebrow. Realising what she said, her blood froze in their veins.

"Really now? When?" Mei looked down. When did Jan say he was coming again?

"Around…" Mei realised that Jan's training would take at least a couple of years. That and the time it took to travel back would take a few months.

And here she thought that they can see each other again right away. A worm of doubt told her that he wouldn't be accepted, anyway. But since he was training to be a merchant, perhaps her father can allow… no, Jan was her dear friend, and she was his friend, too. She shouldn't think of him like that. That, and it wasn't like they could hold back the marriage for a few years, either. Once he came back in a few years, she will be married.

Her bottom lip trembled as something welled in her chest. She bit the inside of her cheek, attempting to hold back any tears that might come out. "It's alright. He's… he's only a friend." Mei glanced to the side and rubbed her arm. The words she added didn't make it all the better.

"Only a friend?" Xiang asked. "Well, that's alright… Mei, are you alright?" Mei glanced up.

"Uh-huh. Yes." Xiang frowned. At a realisation, a small gasp escaped his mouth.

"You love him." Love was a strong word. Did she? She took a deep breath in. He was certainly a good friend of hers, but he didn't love her back.

Perhaps.

"I miss him."

"Ah." Xiang walked forward and put his hand onto her shoulder. He mustered up a small smile for her. Somehow, the sight caused her guts to wrench. He was unsure, too. "Well... on the bright side, not all friendships last forever. In a few years, you'll move on."

That was his answer? She nodded. What he said was correct, though she didn't like to admit it. Memories were only so durable. 3 years compared to the rest of her life was so tiny, simply a drop of water in an ocean… she frowned.

Why did her mind wander back to the butterflies? Why did her mind wander back to the day in the spring? That was only yesterday, yet it seemed to be an eternity away. An eternity so recent… just like a dream, so wonderful and vast, only to melt into ether once one wakes up.

Just like Jan.

Mei shook her head. Except that Jan wasn't fake. Jan was alive, breathing, and real. Yes, Jan was alive, breathing and real, and he will come one day.

Only he will come back too late.

Frustrated, she ran into her old room as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Mei? Mei! Come back!"

A really short chapter this week ^^ Ma Wen Cai from the original tale stays as Ma Wen Cai since he doesn't play a big role