At the airport, they spotted her easily.  As she came out of the arrival area at the other side of the railings which separate the guests and the pick-up crew, they rushed into each others' arms in warm embraces.

"How's my favorite son doing?"

"Mother, I'm your only son, right?"

"Right, right!"She chuckled lightly, eyes sparking with inexplicable delight.  She studied her son's face, hair, and body, heart-aching while reminiscing the recent tragedy.

"I'm so glad to see you healthy and up again.  You frightened Mother…"

Chen Linyun hugged his mother tightly in consolation.  "I'm sorry, Mother, I wasn't careful enough.  I'll double - no triple - my efforts to keep me and our family safe."

Still locked in her sweet son's embrace, Mother Chen turned to Jinxu on the sides, "Daughter-in-law, come here, too, give me a hug.  Oh, dear, you two always make me worry sick."

She extended one arm towards Xue Jinxu.  Chen Linyun freed her slightly as Xue Jinxu held her hand first, then wrapped her other arm around her mother-in-law's shoulders.

"Don't worry anymore, Mother!"

The old woman lightly hummed approvingly.

The last time that Mother Chen came home wasn't quite good.  It was when she learned that her son was missing that she took an impulsive trip back home.  However, mainly because of impulse, she had left several important things hanging in Canada before she left, and so when Chen Linyun had finally been found, she couldn't wait for him to wake up and went back to Canada to attend to her own business-related stuff.

Truth be told, when Mother Chen had left Chen Linyun's side, the latter had already gained consciousness.  However, since the couple was wary of their surroundings, they had not disclosed this small fact even to Mother Chen.

Now, they decided to keep that small detail a secret, or else it would only hurt Mother Chen's feelings if she knew that they had not told her about Chen Linyun's health improvement when she was still with them.  After all, it was behind them, in the past.

At the current meet-up, all three were simply engulfed with happiness and love for the ones they hold dear.  Upon embracing her son and daughter-in-law, Jiang Biyu wiped the corner of her eyes a bit to get rid of her unshed tears.  Even earlier she was trying so hard not to shed tears during this wonderful reunion.  In her mind, that would ruin the mood.

From the airport, they drove straight home.  They figured that Mother would be tired from her flight which took around twelve to fifteen hours.

At home, the household prepared for a sumptuous welcome dinner for Jiang Biyu. 

"Good gracious!  There's too much food!  How can we finish all that?"

The Chen couple laughed at her reaction.  "Don't worry about that, Mother.  In a while, two children - teenagers - will be joining us.  They should be starving by now.  They'll naturally help wipe this table clean."

"Oh, wonderful! Alright!  Then, let's wait for them."

"Oh, no need, Mother.  They're on their way anyway so let's begin.  The food will get cold." Xue Jinxu urged.

"Alright, then."

Chen Linyun sat at the head of the table.  Xue Jinxu sat at his right side, while the seat on his left was occupied by Jiang Biyu.

They chatted pleasantries while eating.

A few minutes later, the boisterous laughter of big kids was heard from quite a distance.  Xue Guangxi's cries of delight invaded their tranquil dinner.  Their voices reached the dining hall first before them in flesh.

"Guangxi." Annoyed, Xue Jinxu called out in warning.

"Oh, we have a guest.  Aunty, how have you been?  Long-time no see?" Guangxi regarded his sister's warning as he somewhat behaved himself a little, but seeing Chen Linyun's mother, he got too excited as he rushed to her for a hug.  Jiang Biyu turned her body and welcomed the boy in a tight hug. 

The two were all smiles in seeing each other again.

While Kang Sola…

The girl stayed frozen at the farthest side of the dining hall.  She kept her head bowed down.

"Sola." Xue Jinxu called out.

"Hmm?" Finally, the girl looked up.  "Xu-Jie…"

Xue Jinxu stood up and went to where the girl had been frozen solid.  She tugged her wrists and gradually pulled her toward the table.

"Mother-in-law this is Kang Sola.  She's a good kid.  She and Guangxi live here with us."

Xue Jinxu smiled and gently nudged at Kang Sola, "Greet her, come on."

"It's my pleasure to meet you..."

"The pleasure is mine.  What a lovely girl.  Your hair is cute.  Is it the fad these days?  Come sit with me." Jiang Biyu was quite indulgent.  She even gently pulled the girl's wrist for her to come closer to her towards the empty seat beside her.

"Thank you, Ma'am."

"Oh, just call me Aunty, not Ma'am, alright?"

Kang Sola threw a side-glance at her brother at the head of the table.  He nodded in acknowledgment as if saying, "It's fine, Sola."

After that, she relayed her agreement to Mother Chen.  'She seems nice and warm, just like Linyun-ge.'

All this while, Chen Linyun had kept his silence and simply observed the situation.  He had allowed Xue Jinxu to take charge.

At this point, he broke his silence.  "Mother, let's have tea after dinner.  There's something we need to discuss."

From the tone of his voice, she could deduce that it's something serious, not appropriate to be tackled during a festive dinner.  She nodded in agreement.

The family of five ate and drank merrily.  Xue Guangxi helped liven up the already jovial mood by recounting the events of that day.  Mother Chen seemed to enjoy the company of youth.  She laughed and responded to the two kids' lively banter and stories with such high spirits.

Once in awhile, Mother Chen would put parcels of food on Kang Sola's plate.  It seemed that she had taken a liking towards the girl.

Xue Jinxu and Chen Linyun exchanged contented looks. 

If only life would maintain how it had been that moment, then all will be happy and well.

However, life would not have been challenging if that would be the case.

By nine o'clock, the mother-son duo convened at the latter's study.  They each were served a br.i.m.m.i.n.g hot ginger tea on cups safely placed on saucers. 

At first, the two measured each other.  Realizing that the urgent matter for discussion could not be delayed any longer, Chen Linyun gradually introduced the topic.

"Mother…"

"Hmmm?" Very elegantly, Mother Chen, with her left hand supporting the saucer, took a slight sip from the cup carried by her right hand.  "Yes, dear?  What's bothering you?"