/Italic text/ = personal point of view

.

Riding atop the cloud on her way back to Kunlun Mountain, Bai Qian pondered on the epiphany she experienced while talking with Ye Hua. From there another conversation with another man replayed in her mind.

:: flashback ::

"You said once that despite not knowing your heart; you are already in love with me. If you still have your memories, tell me, Bai Qian, would be ever give your heart to another?"

Her whole body stilled; every muscle in her body was drawn tight.

"Would you?" he repeated.

Bai Qian shook her head furiously. Even after seventy thousands of years, the longing for his presence still weighed heavily in her heart. That was why there was no one else for her; despite the loneliness she felt so keenly but denied to ever exist.

"Then your trial did not have to mean anything, if you do not want it to be."

. :: End of flashback ::

Had her lover come to the same realization she just did? Or perhaps an inkling of the truth? Knowing him, it was more likely than not. But if he had already figured it out, why not just tell her?

She grumbled sullenly to herself as she recalled his famous last word. Oh, she knew why. She was supposed to learn on her own. Mo Yuan, must you always be so ruthless? She bemoaned her injustice. All that fretting and anxiety she went through. You could give me a hint and save the trouble!

A presence at the back of her mind suddenly reared its head; its voice dripped with sarcasm: Say you, you would not believe him if he tried.

Bai Qian scoffed. "This is not true, I certainly will."

Liar. The voice rebuked her instantly. You would pick a fight with him and accuse him of misleading you on purpose, just to prove him wrong.

"Hey!" She cried indignantly at the insult.

Since when you graciously accept whatever truth anyone throw at you? Never. You, stubborn girl, you always take the hard way and complicate your life.

The Goddess do not need any more scorn. She opened her mouth, prepared to defend her actions only to become aware of the absurdity of arguing with herself. "Oh, shush you," she hissed instead.

Just then the sight of snow-capped peaks of Kunlun Mountain ranges greeted her. A warm excitement began to bubble inside her being. Bai Qian promptly ignored her pointless argument with her own conscience. Deep down, she too recognized the futility of contradicting what she knew constituted the truth.

The Goddess jumped off her cloud and rush up the flight of stairs. She crested upon its top in no time and hurried along the corridor leading to the Lotus Pond. A soft, melodic song drifted over to her. She quickened her pace, smile alighted her now brightening face.

:: Kunlun Mountain ::

"I am back," she pleasantly announced her return.

Mo Yuan had stopped playing the zither when she first appeared in his line of sight. He waited for her to come to him. His hand, once rested on the strings, lift up and extended toward her in a clear invitation. The Goddess placed her smaller hand in his then promptly let out a startled yelp; disoriented by the quick, pulling down motion. Before she could even register; her body was already shifted and sank down into his laps.

"Welcome back, Seventeenth."

She giggled, loving the attention she got. "You said it all wrong." Her long, nimble fingers smoothed the confused lines that pinched his forehead. Her head pulled back a little to look at him better. "You should say 'welcome home,'" she smiled coyly.

The way her eyes looked pointedly and meaningfully at him had he studied her face more closely. "Is that so?" His lips stretched out thin as he took in her lightened mood. "You come back earlier than I have thought."

The goddess pursed her lips. "We run into each other unexpectedly." It was unnecessary to clarify whom exactly she was referring to. "At first, I planned to meet him at the PeachTree Groove. It is more of the neutral ground. I suppose it is a trying time enough for the Celestials; there is no need to aggravate them further with my intrusion."

"It is truly impressive that you are this considerate," Mo Yuan complimented her. The Goddess caught onto his jesting. She slapped her hand against his solid chest and tried to give him a glare.

He intoned, curiously. "So what changed?"

Bai Qian shook her head slightly. "I just wanted a small time-off to cool my head first. Mortal Realms seemed like a good choice. Never had I thought that we will end up at the same place."

Mo Yuan frowned. "He left for Mortal Realms?" It was quite risky of him to leave the Nine Heaven vulnerable at the moment.

"I think he noticed someone was trespassing the property, so he came to take a look." Seeing the question on his face, she elaborated. "I was losing my way in the woods, then can you believe it? I stumbled into a hut by chance. It turns out to be the very same one my mortal-counterpart used to live in." She wisely omitted the obvious.

Mo Yuan carefully observed her demeanor as she talked animatedly. Her eyes were clear; no longer tainted with rage or bitterness. Whatever happened between them had cleared any lingering confusion and doubts from her mind. The tight knots in his shoulders slowly melt away at this finding.

The Goddess also studied her lover in return, though more discreetly. Whoever ever said her Mo Yuan was an unfeeling creature must have never looked deep enough. Or they were simply not that courageous to meet his cool, penetrating, searching gaze. His eyes were so expressive at time.

"I take it all went well then?"

She paused for a moment, to think. "Well ... I can not speak for your brother but it is enough for me." No longer she felt conflicted and divided. "I guess we parted as amiable as we could." Somehow his skeptic looks irked her. "I did not even assault him. You can be assured; not a single hair on his head fell out," her face scrunched up in a slight scowl then smoothed out.

"I also realize something else," her fingers plucked at the front of his robe as she thought of how to word it. "The reason Su Su took up with him in the first place; even if she did not love him yet. Do you know? Even with your mustache and his constant frozen expression, both of you resemble one another a tad too much."

"You did not tell him just that, do you?" Mo Yuan's voice asked warily, almost as if he already resigned to hear her answer.

"That he always wears a stuck-up face?" She arched her eyebrow, playfully.

"You know very well my meaning," he sighed. "Ai, Seventeenth, one of these days your brutish honesty will cost you yet."

"Well, how else can I make him understand? Admit it, your brother is more stubborn than a mule. His fixation is borderline unhealthy. But you already know that, do you not?"

"And I just commended that you have learned well how to be courteous," he chuckled.

"I can be courteous," she said haughtily. "I am just picky about the person I show it to. And I am still saying, I actually did him a great service. It is better rip the bandage off quickly than let the wound underneath fester," she added sagely.

"Yes, but there is no need to be so tactless about it. If you keep this up, everyone is going to say the courtesy of Kunlun Mountain is declining." He flicked her forehead affectionately. "Perhaps I should discipline you, so you will act more fitting to what your new station demands."

The Goddess flushed cutely at his imply of her impending status. Their wedding had yet to be rescheduled. Then she realized; he was making fun of her again! "Quit it, will you? I am not a child anymore. And you do like me just fine the way I am." First senior would foam at the mouth if he ever heard her talking back to their mentor so rudely.

"Adults can be disciplined too; just with different approaches." He said deadpanned. "I guess that lesson starts now."

She squirmed in his laps; trying to scoot away from the perceived threat. The hand that circled her waist tightened; another caged the back of her head and force it down. In the end, one of them was persuaded so thoroughly into submission. If this was the kind of correction he had in mind; then she had no objection.

"So what now?" She asked after a time. Her soft, pliant body laid languidly against his chest; too content to move away from her warm, personal cushion. He smelt so good. She greedily took in another whiff of his scent; some burning incense mingled with mountain mist. She surmised he must have gone out of his meditation earlier that day.

"Whatever you wish. Though we should pay your family a visit and inform them of your recovery."

She was almost lured to sleep by the hypnotic, repetitive manner his hands rubbed her hair. What he said next however brought her out of her languor to full wakefulness. The Goddess winced once she thought of the scolding of the centuries she would likely face should she drop by Qing Qiu now.

"Perhaps next week," she bite her lips anxiously. "Next month sounds good too."

"You made everyone worry about you, your mother especially."

Her neck twisted and crane up to get a better look at him. Though his tone was still even and without emotion; her gut was telling her something was amiss.

In the past, her mother had lamented time and again how she should not have entrusted Zhe Yan to take her only daughter to Kunlun Mountain. She had deemed the ill-fortunes that befell her once spirited, cheerful youngest child were all Mo Yuan's fault. Now her mother learned of her sufferings as a mortal. An undeniably direct result of her attempt to deal with the gruesome legacy Mo Yuan left behind after his demise. Combined that with her recent effort to close the Bell of Eastern Emperor, her mother was bound to react badly. Very badly. Who else she would turn all that pent-up aggression to, if not him.

"When I was out, did my mother gave you a hard time?" She asked tentatively. "No, do not answer that." She groaned. "She accosted you, did she not?"

Bai Qian could almost perceive her mother's thoughts. Most likely her honored mother would see it differently than she did. In her mother's eyes, Mo Yuan had manipulated her to fulfill his unfinished task; one that could claim her life if not careful. And it almost did. She was lucky to survive; not that the alternative ending was any more favorable.

In a way, he did indeed manipulated her but not because he wished to. Bai Qian just understood him better than most. What other candidate did he have but her? The spell was too dangerous to entrust with an outsider. Among her disciple brothers, only she has the capacity and the capability to carry out his plan and see it through. Bai Qian was not about to endanger her beloved ones with her responsibilities either. Knowing Mo Yuan, Emperor Dong Hua would most likely be his last resort; a backup in case all of his plans went awry.

Honestly speaking, it was not Mo Yuan's fault that Bai Qian did not get out of her confrontation with Qing Cang unscathed. How was he supposed to know that she would cut up herself and bleed for him for the years that followed? While her heartblood donation no longer threatened her life; it drained her considerably and continually of her magic and spiritual power. An extra price she was more than willing to pay in exchange to keep his body preserved. But seventy thousand years was by no mean a short time, even by immortal's standard. Despite many regular, prolonged meditation retreat to replenish and cultivate her spiritual power; in the end it was not nearly enough to battle out with someone of the former Ghost Lord's caliber.

The only comforting thought she had, before she completely blacked out and fell down to the Mortal Realms, was her foresight to pass down the spell to another capable hand. Bai Qian did not doubt the ruthless, former ruler of heaven and all realms would finish her mentor's endeavor one way or another had she failed.

"She totally did, did she not? I knew it" Bai Qian said, chagrined.

"The anger she held for me is more than understandable. I am here this time around. It was not your place to risk your life on my behalf again. I failed my promise to her to keep you protected and safe. Naturally, she reacted."

For a sliver moment, Bai Qian swore she glimpsed a desolate expression on his face. Then it went as fast as it came; she wondered if it was her imagination. "So, it is that bad?" She pried. What she just witnessed might be a trick of light. But the slight, almost unperceivable tremor that passed under her fingertips was no mistake. She wondered what else he left out.

"I deserve her berating. It is done and over with. Let us not dwell on it," he concluded. His hand tipped her chin up and made her look at him. "If you do wish not to see your parent right away, what else do you have in mind?"

Bai Qian recognized an evasive maneuver when she saw one. It cemented her suspicion that something monumental happened without her knowledge. One even her senior did not know. Whatever it was, she can not quite put her finger on it yet, was very serious. And it seemed he did not want her to know.

The Goddess chose to file it away for later. Perhaps a drop by PeachTree Woods was direr than she expected. She covered his hand with her own and said cheerfully. "How about we spend time together? Or simply having a day out?"

He looked bemused. "Are you that eager to go back to Mortal Realms?"

"Actually, I am proposing Zhe Yan's Woods. We have not been there together for as long as I remember. So this time, let's stay there for a few days. My fourth brother is most likely not around at this time either."

She chattered on and showed good amount of her genuine interest in their upcoming outing. In the end, Mo Yuan bowed down to her wish and she garnered herself a promise from him to play the zither together. "I am really looking forward to it now."

The day after that, after she bid her farewell to her seniors and promised to bring back some of Zhe Yan's finesse wine; they set out for the PeachTree Woods.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Have I not already promise not to partake any wines in the foreseeable future?" Bai Qian said defensively when she noticed Mo Yuan stole a side glance at her. "I will only bring some bottles for Senior Zhi Lan; he has not tasted any since…", she tapped her chin thoughtfully, "since everyone scattered and went back home after you were gone, I guess."

He nodded and shifted his eyes to the path ahead of them. "After the stay with Zhe Yan, perhaps we could go back there for a few weeks. There are nothing that demands our immediate attention right now."

It took Bai Qian a while to catch on with what he was mentioning, "You mean your retreat in the Far East? Truly?" She felt giddy at the prospect of going back to their haven. "I thought you are going to suggest I start cultivating soon for my lost spiritual power."

The corner of his mouth tucked up a little. "If you already think about it then I do not have to impress upon its importance. I really have no wish to see you so vulnerable, Seventeenth."

"I have given it a thought, I really do," she insisted. His arm was trapped against her side; her face draped over his toned muscle intimately. "I just want us to have some time for ourselves first, before we visiting my family and I beginning my meditation retreat."

"I know, Seventeenth." He padded her hair softly.

He honestly wished for the same thing and privacy on top of all. He had yet to reveal to her the repercussion of her almost self-sacrifice. When the time come, he knew she would be devastated by the truth. It would not be easy to placate her. A distance place from prying eyes and time for her to regain her footing will be necessary.

"As much as I love my parents and my siblings, they are going to be suffocating and insufferable for a while. You have no idea how Fourth brother, Xiao Jiu and Mi Gu watched me like a hawk after I came back from my trial. Now, at least, I knew why they did that." She shuddered at the memories. "If I am going to be subjected to their constant vigil again, at least let me take a break first."

The first half of the journey was well-spent riding on the cloud. For the second leg, a shorter and brief one, Bai Qian suggested them taking a walk. She wished to enjoy the sightseeing on the ground. It certainly brought back the memories from the time she accompanied him to some public functions.

They arrived at the PeachTree Woods quite late that morning, Bai Qian cupped her hands and shouted for Zhe Yan when no one came out to greet them. "This is strange. What is keeping the old Phoenix occupied? I hope it is not Fourth Brother. He should be with mother and father at the Fox's Den."

Bai Qian was about to shout his name again when a small, high pitched voice called out to her from afar. Heavy and urgent footsteps quickly stomped over to where they stood.

"Mooooother. Mother. Mother."

"Ali?" Bai Qian exclaimed once she got a clear view of whose voice it belonged to. "What was he doing here? Should he not be in Qing Qiu?"

Mo Yuan followed her eyes and saw Ye Hua's son approached them extremely fast.

"Mother." Ali shouted gleefully as he jumped over the last remaining gaps and hang to her waist for all he was worth.

"Ooh! Ummpph," the Goddess grunted at her sudden added burden. It was a pure reflex that her two arms wrap themselves around his small shoulder and tightened his little body to her. The impact made her a little breathless; her boy was certainly energetic.

"Motheritisreallyyou. Youreallywakeup. Ithinkitisallinmyhead. Justafewdaysagoyouwerestill sleepingsoheavily. Whendidyouwakeuphow? DidyouwakeupbecauseyoumissAli'spresence. Iamso happyyouarehere."

She was dizzying with the way he blurted out everything on his mind at once. Did he even take a breath in between? Though the boy seemed not affected and still went on and on.

"Ali, slow down, take a breath." She squeezed his forearm and slowly steadied him, as he stood on own feet again. The boy took in a large gulp of air per her request; his eyes never strayed from her face.

Then he began to tremble and hiccupped. "I thought ... never wake ... I ... you …. always .. still." Torrents of tear poured down his chubby face. His little fingers still clutched at her dress tightly. "...you …. leave ….again …."

Bai Qian looked down at her first born with heavy heart. Although at the time she gave him up and left him with good intention; the pain of separation was still hard on him.

"Shh, I am here, Ali." She hushed. "See, I am not going anywhere."

Mo Yuan's eyes transfixed on the embracing pair and their emotional reunion. His chest tightened up with the swelling of unnamed emotion. An icy mask fell over his features as he felt the barest hint of spiritual power that herald his brother's arrival.

Bai Qian smiled ruefully, Ali had such a high hope that she would return to him and stay a family. It was regrettable that it will never be. She loved Mo Yuan so much and for so long to deceive herself to stay with Ye Hua just for his sake. Bai Qian hugged Ali closer; still she could try to be a better mother for him. Her hands stroked his little head and pat his back, offering comfort and loving embrace to the distraught child.

When she raised her head; she saw Mo Yuan standing a good distance away with Zhe Yan by his side. She failed to take note since when the old Phoenix had shown up. It seemed a conversation was going on between them; though Mo Yuan was clearly keeping an eye on them. Bai Qian tilted her head to the right, toward extensive patches of grass next to the green pond. It seemed her message got crossed. He gave her a nod and take Zhe Yan away; leaving the mother and son on their own devices.

Bai Qian bent down and gathered her son in her arms, carrying him over to the clearing she meant for them to spend time together. My, he was heavier than he looked. But she liked the way his cheeks filled out. The Goddess kissed the top of his head with fond smile. Once her destination came up, she sat down putting her back against a tree trunk and rearranged his body. His earlier emotional outburst had obviously tired him out; Bai Qian gently placed her son's head in her laps. She started humming a lullaby that her mother used to sing to her when she was still a little foxling.

She felt an immense affection and gratitude toward her parents for demanding the rights for Ali to stay with them. While it will not make up for the lost time and missed chances, her son would grow up knowing what it felt to love and be loved. He would learn how to be a child and live without so much restrictions that will only weigh down his free spirit. At least when he was with them. Bai Qian knew for certain with her family positive influence he would grow up strong and healthy in both body, spirit and mind.

Ali's father doted on him and looked after him with best care and love he could provide, she knew that. But growing up in the palace with estranged parents looking from afar and only strictler grandfather and maids as his companion; Ye Hua himself was robbed of closeness and bond only loving members of family could give each other.

He might be skilled and well-versed in his ruling and governing duties as well as magic and fighting prowess. But he never coped well with personal emotions; be it anger, hatred, love or else.

The cold and harsh treatments he was put through as a child left big, ugly scars on his dampened spirit.

As much as he despised his Lord and Grandfather, Ye Hua can not help but unknowingly follow the former Lord's mistakes. He lacked compassion at times, cunning and manipulative to get what he wanted and prone to overlook other's feelings. It was not his intention; nor his own choosing that he became this way. For that, she was truly sorry for him. Yet she definitely did not want her only son to end up as his father.

Her gently fingers combed through the loosened hair as she let her eyes peruse his small face. He had good feature and fine body structure. She had no doubts once his growing spurt hit, he would be just as tall as his father and uncle. She liked to say he got the charming factors from her though. His opened yet shy smile will certainly be more than enough to break someone's heart once he hit puberty. The Goddess snickered silently.

She kept the humming going on. She and her son would talk later. Now let them bonded through physical contact and loving touches in this rejuvenating ambiance of her favorite hideout.

:: PeachTree Groove ::

"Since you two are amiable enough to take a stroll here, I take it things on Ye Hua's end has been resolved?" Zhe Yan cut right into the matter once they sat down at the table inside his hut.

Mo Yuan threw him a look and sipped from his offered teacup slowly. "I should hope so."

"What kind of answer is that?" He frowned and tried again. "Fifth Sister decided not to go back to Ye Hua, yes?"

"That she did."

Zhe Yan looked relieved and nodded approvingly. "That is great, now I can stop worry about the two of you."

"She also said she fell for him because of this face." The Master of Kunlun added quietly. The stunt expression Zhe Yan displayed was priceless.

"To Ye Hua? That is harsh. Sounds like her though." He blinked once then his lips slowly twisted into a sly smirk. "That ought to feel good, right?"

"He is my brother, Zhe Yan."

The Phoenix let loose a disbelieving chortle. "And your major rivalry for Fifth Sister's heart. What are you afraid of? It is only two of us here. Do not be a prude, Mo Yuan." A thoughtful looks overshadowed his face. "Come to think of it, do I have reasons to worry about Ye Hua now? Should I offer him a cup of my Oblivion Potion?"

"It is better for you to stay away, Zhe Yan. It is a trial he has to pass on his own." Mo Yuan commented lightly.

"Hmm, I guess so. What now then?" He echoed Bai Qian earlier question. Mo Yuan was obliged to answer him.

"I can not believe you still held her out of that. It could be troublesome, you know." Especially had Ye Hua mentioned it to Fifth Sister without her prior knowledge. It had the potential to backfire spectacularly. Zhe Yan added to himself.

"What can I say, Zhe Yan. It is not a topic I can spring to her out of the blue. You should not get involved with this too."

"Yeah. Yeah. I know what to do." He waved his hand dismissively. "Tread lightly with how you deliver it, Mo Yuan. I am afraid this might be another time bomb waiting to explode."

The Master of Kunlun said nothing. He already anticipated such occurrence.

Bai Qian did doze off eventually, up until small hands shook her awake. She opened her eyes to the sight of her son's petrified face. Her instinct was put on alert in an instant. "Ali? What's wrong?"

The boy shook his head furiously and merely let out his shaky breath. Then he climbed into her laps and placed his head on her chest without uttering any words. Bai Qian was a little baffled by his strange behavior; yet she put her hand on the small of his back and began to rub it in small circles. It seemed to calm the child down. Perhaps, now she could converse with him and gleaned how much he understood the confusing entanglement between his parents, plus one.

"Ali, I have a lot of things to tell you. But first I need to know if your father have ever explained the changes that took place lately?" She started and hastily explained further when his upturned face went blank; a picture perfect of cluelessness. "I mean like how I am going to stay with High God Mo Yuan from now on."

"Oh? Ooh!" Ali's head bobbed up and down; finally caught on with her earlier questioning.

"Father Prince said you have to remain at Kunlun Mountain. Because you have a prior … a prior commitment there." His youthful face fell with disappointment. "Mother, what does that mean? You really will not come to live at the manor with me and Father Prince anymore?"

"It means, a long time ago, I already pledge myself to remain there for the rest of my life."

"I do not understand," he pouted in dismay, "Is it more important than being with me?"

"Ali, are we not being together now?" She prompted him gently to see reasons. "Though we live on a separate location, I could still visit you, could I not? And when you come to the Fox Den again in the future, I could stay weeks, months with you. Or, if you prefer Kunlun Mountain, I could also get you there. I will always be around."

"But you will not be with Father Prince anymore. Why? Did you not love him and me? Nai Nai said... she said people who love each other, stay together."

Bai Qian winced internally; that was one tough cookie to clear up. How was she to explain that the love her mortal counterpart once held for his father was no longer there? "Ali, do you know every immortal goes through series of trials as they grow up?"

"I know." His face brightened, already hook up to the new topic. "My teachers also said I have to study really hard to prepare for one of my own. Though it will be in a long, long time."

"Well, it always pays off to be diligent and well-prepared." She said gravely, remembering how her laziness and ignorance has cost her. "Anyway, each trial differs from one person to another. It comes with specific set of designs to determine whether that particular immortal is worthy enough.

"Ah, I know this part!" He rocked back and forth in excitement. "If I fail my first immortal trial, I will get all wrinkles and grey and wither away." He visibly shuddered at that mental image.

Bai Qian chuckled at her son's depiction, "Yes, you are right. There is also a second trial. Only a handful immortals pass this particular test."

"To become a God or Goddess like Mother," he shouted.

"You are right again. But that is beside the point. When mother reincarnated as a mortal and met your father; it was supposed to be a part of my trial. We fell in love with each other yet some circumstances forced us apart. Perhaps you will understand better when you are a grown up."

Bai Qian held her son's eyes steady. "Listen to me well, Ali. Never forget that you were born out of that love. Your name 'Ali' is not a condemnation. Mother named you this way to let you know despite being a world apart you will always be the one in my heart. I did not abandon you, on the contrary, I left because it was the best option to ensure you will have a bright future here. Can you understand that?"

She was beyond pleased when he returned her smile. Although she doubted how much he grasped at what she was trying to convey. "When mother reborn again as an immortal, she remembered once more her pledge given to another millennial earlier. She still wishes to fulfill that promise. And by doing so, she can not stay with your father."

"Mother loves High God Mo Yuan too? For that long?" His eyes grew big. He could barely begin to count that numbers with his hands and feet.

"You have been waiting for Mother for over 300 years, so you do know right? How hard it is to let go once you meet again." She asked.

"No! I am not letting Mother getting away again." His arms wrapped around her body possessively and refused to budge.

"That is exactly what Mother feels for High God Mo Yuan as well."

Ali felt crestfallen. He wished to protest her absence but dare not upset her; Mother just got better after all. "But what about Father Prince? If Mother goes with High God Mo Yuan, Father Prince is going to be sad again."

"Ali, your father is a wise man. Eventually, he will come around and find a way to be happy again. You can help him by cheering him up, you know."

"I can do that!" The boy cried, glad that he could help. "I am going to tell him lots and lots of funny stories, then .. then Father Prince will laugh and not sad anymore, right?"

Bai Qian rubbed his little head. "That is great idea, Ali. Good boy."

Ali squeezed her with another tight hug. A silence stretched on between them until the boy spoke up again, faintly, "I guess you can stay with High God Mo Yuan. Only as long as you promise to come visit me always!"

"Of course, dear boy, you need not to ask that. It is also my wish." She laughed with good humor at his antics. "Ali, Mother will be absent for some years to regain her cultivation. After that, she will be able to visit and stay with you often enough."

She lovingly nuzzled his face with her own. An intimate gesture that the Fox Clan used to convey their love and affection; especially with their young. "Thank you. Your understanding means so much to me."

It has been sometime; Bai Qian and Ali still did not come inside. Mo Yuan went out looking for them and came to the scene of bonding mother and child with mixed-up feelings. On one hand, he was truly happy for them for reestablishing their ground and getting reconnected as they were supposed to as a family. On the other hand, a pang of regret and sorrow hit him. For that could be their child she was doting on and showering her lavish affection upon. If only, their child survived.

He turned around and headed the other way. A walking would clear his thoughts. Lingering on what could have been was never his style; but this one proved harder to be push away.

.

.

Note : My forever thanks to loreinacadis0412 for your insight and suggestions and all reviewers for sharing your thought with me.

#Guest : Well, next chapter will worth the wait, or so I hope :)