Both husband and wife lost the track of time and when Ye Jie noticed the time, it was already past 8. He suddenly remembered that he told Azalea he would take her to He family house in the evening. And that just also reminded him that he still had to tell Xu Mey about sending Azalea back.
Both of them got dressed up while Ye Jie spoke up, "Baby, I have something to tell you."
"Mhmm..." Xu Mey replied distractedly.
"Um... I decided to send Azalea back," Xu Mey turned to see him pulling out a new shirt since she had ruined his other one.
"Why so suddenly?" she questioned.
Ye Jie sighed heavily as he said, "I met Dr. Chen in Imperial. He seemed like he was missing his daughter a lot. And she's fine now so, I thought now is better than later."
Xu Mey nodded her head. "So, are you clearing everything else as well? I mean... about you and them?" She questioned hesitantly.
"No, I just want to send her back for now." He answered plainly.
"Oh, okay." Xu Mey didn't say anything else since this was something he had to decide for himself. As for her, she just needed to stand by his side and support him with whatever he chooses.
As they came out of the bedroom and walked into Ye Jie's office, his eyes caught sight of a small cake placed on the coffee table. He looked at her and turned to look at the cake. "You brought it?"
"I did. But I forgot... again." She said ruefully as she facepalmed herself.
Ye Jie pinched her cheek and remarked, "Baby is getting way forgetful. I'm afraid that she might even forget me one day." He would have never said those words if he knew that those words would play with him in the worst way in the future.
Xu Mey punched his chest and complained, "And whose fault is it that I forgot?"
"How would I know?" Ye Jie played the innocent part.
Xu Mey poked her finger at his chest saying, "It's all your fault. Who told you to entangle me in the web of your words, and those dreamy eyes that I can't seem to get out of?" Ye Jie held her finger poking him and opened his mouth to say something but she interrupted him. "Also, how dare you to say that I'd forget you? If I forgot you then how will I breathe?" Her voice turned into a whisper as she added, "And if you forgot me, I'll lose my reason for existence."
Ye Jie chuckled and pulled her in his embrace saying, "Relax! Baby, it was a joke. Now, shall we cut this cake?"
He felt her shaking her head against his chest. "It's not fresh anymore. We'll buy a new one later."
"Okay." He complied to her as he was willing to do for the rest of their lives.
By the time he left the office building, all the employees had gone home. On the drive back home, Xu Mey stared at the side of his face thinking about something. "Ah-Jie, if you have to choose between your real parents and the one who raised you, who would you choose?" she finally asked the question that's been bugging her for a while now.
Ye Jie looked at her through the corner of his eye and answered, "I'd choose you."
"Huh?" Xu Mey was feeling confused. She wasn't one of the options. Was she? "I didn't even add myself in the choices."
"So what? If there is no you in my options of life, I'd rather not choose. Or I'll just keep adding my own option and choose you over and over and over again." He spoke crisply as he focused on the road ahead.
"Cheeky! And Corny!" He heard her grumbling beside him making him chuckle.
When they reached home, Azalea was pacing outside the door waiting for them. "Bro, you told me to wait for you. And look, you're 3 hours late."
"Sorry!" Ye Jie smiled trying to placate her and it worked Azalea's anger deflated like balloon seeing his eyes crinkling like her father's.
"Whatever!" She said and pulled out her suitcase saying, "I'm all set."
"Oh, okay!" Ye Jie took the suitcase from her and put it in the trunk.
All three of them set out towards the military compound. Azalea was feeling jittery and excited about seeing her parents after almost 2 years. Xu Mey noticed her nervousness from the front seat and turned a bit to hold her sweaty hands. "Relax! Instead of feeling nervous, you should be excited right now."
Azalea nodded and smiled back at Xu Mey. She was nervous because she didn't have much to tell her parents. She didn't even know whether to lie or tell the truth about her accident.
But she knew Ye Jie wasn't ready to disclose his identity and if he wasn't ready then she didn't want to bring up the accident part since it'll only shift the blame on Ye Jie and she didn't want that.
"Jie Ge-Ge," she called out.
"Hmm..." he hummed in response.
"When we get there just tell everyone that I'm friends with you and that's why you picked me up from the airport."
"You want to stick with the lie of traveling around the world?" Ye Jie questioned her.
"Yes, and don't argue with me on that. I don't want to bring up the accident at all." Hearing Azalea, Ye Jie could only nod.
He was planning on revealing the truth about the accident leaving his identity aside. He was ready for the punishment because he wasn't comfortable with lies. As Ru always teased him before, 'Dear best friend, you're the kind of person who would rather take the punishment than to lie. And you despise explaining yourself. Would it kill you to clear up everything?'
He knew that Ru was right. He didn't like explaining himself to anyone. And punishments would help in pulling him out of guilt while lies will only push him further in guilt.
But he couldn't say anything to Azalea. He didn't want to hurt her. So, he decided that he would neither say anything nor would he lie.
When they arrived at the He family home, there was pitch black darkness. There wasn't a single person in the front garden and there wasn't even a single light on.
"Are they even home?" Ye Jie asked with furrowed brows.
Azalea smiled to herself and said, "They must be inside. Let's go!"
The three of them trudged their way on the cobblestone path and right in the middle of their way, with a 'pop' confetti fell on Ye Jie and the whole garden illuminated as they heard loud cheering of, "Happy Birthday!"