The Li family's Christmas hangout finally came to an end when Sun told them she wanted to go rest and thanked them all for paying her a visit.

They said their goodbyes to Sun and went to where their seperate cars was parked.

As Sun watched them all leave, her smile soon turned sad as she said to her maid who was standing right beside her..

"I always wished to die. But now.... I really... really want to live."

She sighed before heading inside her mansion. While her maid looked at her retreating figure with a sad expression.

"Heya" Dana called Heya as she was about sitting inside the back seat of the sport's car Muchen had driven there, after a tussle between herself and Minde on who was going to sit beside him on the front seat.

Heya paused and turned to look at her mother. Wondering what she wanted to say or complain about this time.

"I want to speak with you for a minute" Dana said to her.

Muchen, who had already started the car, turned it off and let them both know that he was going to wait till they were done with their conversation.

He was so happy today that he was willing to do whatever he was asked to do.

"If this is about trying to have me be with Zhu Lian then you can forget it. I meant what I said about not being interested in men for now"

Heya said as soon as they both went to a corner to discuss.

Dana sighed when she heard her. "It's not about that. Can't I call you to have a chat with you without you thinking I have an ulterior motive?"

"Well, you've never actually called me out to have a mother-daughter talk with me before" She reminded her.

As much as she had always tried to act like it was fine, deep down, she knew it wasn't.

Her mother had neglected her too much and it did hurt her that she didn't have a close relationship with any of her parents; especially her mother who saw her mostly as a giveaway bride than as her daughter.

"I wanted to apologize. I have been wrong" Dana smoothened Heya's hair as she finally admitted her wrongs.

"I know I have been a bad mother.... A terrible one in fact" She added with a short laugh.

"Truth is, I didn't plan to have any kids after I married your father. But I had to. You know how your grandmother is like" Sun would have strangled the life out of her if she hadn't. Heya knew that for sure.

"When I had your brother and you, I was lost. I thought it was better to allow you both do what ever you wanted to do and at the same time, make sure your foundation was solid. I didn't know I was doing the wrong thing and neglecting you both. I feel sorry for your brother. But I feel sorry for you even more. And I want to let you know....that no matter what, I love you. And I only wish for the best for you both."

Heya's eyes began to turn red as she listened to the words she had always wanted to hear from her mother..

"And I really apologize for pushing you too much. Watching you perform yesterday was wonderful. Even seeing you now, you have no idea how proud I am of you. Your decision to return to school makes me even prouder. You are Li Heya. And I must admit...you are far better than this careless mother of yours. You stood tall regardless of everything.. I...am happy!"

Dana concluded with tears in her eyes and a proud smile on her face.

"You....really mean it?" Heya asked as she used her hands to clean off the tears on her face.

"I do" Dana nodded before pulling her into a hug. "I'm sorry Heya. And thank you for being my daughter."

As Dana hugged her daughter, she saw her husband looking at them from the car with a smile on his face.

After the day she slapped Sara and got into a quarrel with her children, she had been so pissed and hadn't wanted to speak to any of them.

Her husband had asked her to apologize to them but she didn't think she did anything wrong to do so.

But looking at Heya today, she seemed to have change a lot. She was confident and bold. She even wanted to be a music professor. Although it made her feel happy to hear it, she was also sad because she hadn't been the one to help guide Heya through these paths. The person who did it all was none other than that annoying Sara.

"It's okay mother. I love you too. And I'm sorry for all the hurtful things I said. I'm really sorry I hurt your feelings" Heya apologized with tears running down her cheeks.

It really felt nice to be in her mother's embrace.

**

When it was 8pm, they put up the last 'Closed' sign for the day. Throughout, everyone was quiet and didn't say much.

With the new realisation, Sara just watched her father sadly and did whatever he asked her to do without raising any question or comment on Changyu.

Jianjun had solely focused on cooking—or tried to focus on cooking rather. His mind had been wandering about after his talk with Changyu.

He had been counting down the time to when Changyu would appear before him. Now, he was really looking to what she had to say to him.

He had tried reaching Cixi so she would join them but the call had been diverting to voice mail.

"You're finally done" He heard Miss Kang's voice behind him immediately he finished washing his hands in the kitchen sink.

"You're still here?" He asked in surprise. He thought she had left since he hadn't been out of the kitchen the entire time.

"I've been waiting for you" She answered.

He noticed she wasn't her usual cheerful self right now. He couldn't read her expression or know what she was thinking.

"Oh.. Is there a problem?" He asked curiously.

"It's Christmas. Would you like to stroll with me?"

Jianjun raised a brow at her. This was the first time she was shooting her shots so openly. Before, she would say something like.. "Joreen school's building is somewhere around, would you like to see the place your little neice studied? I can show you"

But now, she was really asking him so plainly and openly.

He looked around awkwardly. They were the only ones in the kitchen while the others were outside.

"Sorry..." He apologised. He didn't know the best way to turn her down so he left it at that.

"If it's because you're still going to be busy, I can wait" She adamantly refused to take his hint. "I've been waiting for hours, a couple more minutes isn't a big deal to me"

"The thing is.... I have... plans"

"With Song Changyu?"

The apologetic look Jianjun gave her was enough for her to know her guess was correct.

"Is she the reason you haven't been paying any attention to me? Is it because she is powerful and I am just a nobody?" Her eyes began to water as she stated what she believed were the facts.

"Miss Kan—"

"It's Xiuying!" She corrected with a shout. "I have told you times without number that my name is Xiuying. Every other person can call me Miss Kang but not you!"

This time, she began to cry, leaving him frustrated. How was he supposed to handle this issue now?

"You don't like me at all? Not at all?" She asked with teary eyes.

"Miss.... I mean.. Xiuying. You should be with someone younger and better than me. I should be around ten to twelve years older than you and I have a grown daughter already. This shouldn't —"

She raised a hand to make him stop talking. "Did I tell you I didn't know about it? Excuses! I'll be waiting for you in front of Kyle's café. If you do not show up tonight, then it's really over. I will never forgive you!"

She promised before walking out of the kitchen and out of the restaurant. Not bothering to look at Sara and the others who were looking at her curiously.