Knowingly, Kang Sola knew that the remark was intended for her.  "Sure.  Which one?" She answered curtly, tentatively.   She's gauging the lad's temperament first.  After all, it was the first time after a while for the two to reconvene.

For two weeks straight, Kang Sola had not seen nor spent significant time with Xue Guangxi.  The girl had heard the lad's little show of att.i.tude and his fit of tantrums during the family dinner at the Xue Mansion.  His sister, Xue Jinxu had referred to the incident in pa.s.sing while asking Kang Sola with so much worry and concern what could be wrong with her brother.

"Huh?" Kang Sola blinked questioningly at her interrogator, puzzled.  "Did it really happen?"

"Yes, dear."

Kang Sola scratched her chin, lost in deep thought as she probed her memories.  "We were together in the morning on the same day as that particular family dinner, and he seemed completely and totally fine.  I don't have any idea what could be the reason behind it, Xu-Jie.  I'm baffled myself." She tilted her head, and as she did so, a knot naturally formed on her forehead, where her brows meet.  "That's weird."

"It's alright.  Don't get yourself worked up over it.  It's probably just a small matter, and I might only be blowing it out of proportions." Xue Jinxu sighed.  She had high hopes that perhaps this girl could lead her onto something that would tell her more about her little brother's personal affairs.  Lately, she couldn't exactly get involved in his affairs and chose not to, as she had thought that there's no need for her to interfere now that Xue Guangxi had somewhat learned to manage his matters.

What's more was that she's currently heavy with child – no, children – and her husband isn't so well, plus the business had to run even if the leader gets sick.   She had to juggle all these at once. 

Now, even Sola didn't have any idea about Xue Guangxi. 

It was a dead end.

After her talk with Xue Jinxu, Kang Sola tried to contact Xue Guangxi several times and in various forms – through calls, WeChat, and other apps as well.

Well, simply put, the boy never responded to any of it.

Furthermore, Xue Guangxi never returned to Apartment 301 where Kang Sola was temporarily staying, nor to the café where they worked part-time.

At school, in most days, Xue Guangxi did not attend cla.s.s.

Kang Sola felt helpless and lonely.

'How are you?' Kang Sola sent another message of the same content.

'Are you sick?  Where are you?  I'll come to you.' It was how one of her several messages went.

'Is everything okay?  I'm worried.'

Still, nothing came from Xue Guangxi.  It appeared that he was deliberately ignoring her.

It went that way for two straight weeks.  Never did a day pa.s.s without Kang Sola sending a message of concern or support to the Second Young Master.  Each day brewed in anxiety, yet she had never gotten a response from him, not even once.

During these times, she even checked the Chen household if Xue Guangxi had been there or if he has returned.  She inquired incessantly with Xue Jinxu who informed her that Xue Guangxi has been staying at the Xue Mansion and has been locking himself up inside his room. 

"It worries me, too, but at least he eats a spoonful or two.  I don't know what's happening with Guangxi.  He seems frustrated and really down these days, but he wouldn't tell me, or anyone what's the problem."

"Can I try to speak to him?  I've been sending him messages… He's not been very cooperative… But still, I would like to try and talk to him."

The Chen madame and her young sister-in-law requested the driver to take them to Xue Mansion.  There they took turns in knocking at Xue Guangxi's bedroom door.  It was silent at first, but after around forty-five minutes, noises from the inside of the room were heard.

BLAG!

The noise came from an objecting hitting the door from the other side.  "Leave me alone!"

"LEAVE!!!"

BLAG.

Another object was thrown onto the locked door from the inside.

The two ladies, not wanting to provoke him any further, resigned in their efforts unwittingly. Both sighing, they decided to postpone their antics for some other time, when Xue Guangxi has calmed down by himself.

That was two weeks ago.

Surprisingly, one Friday afternoon, Kang Sola received a short message from Xue Guangxi.  'Let's meet.'

As the sun sets in a gloomy sepia atmosphere, Kang Sola and Xue Guangxi sat on the lawn silently, with only the howling breeze disrupting the revered stillness between them.

"I would like to claim a coupon." Xue Guangxi randomly declared one afternoon in April.  He stared at the horizon while keeping his legs outstretched in an uncaring manner.  Face masked as somewhat blank, an observer would have thought that he's simply muttering to himself.

"Sure, which one?" Testing the waters, Kang Sola decided to agree on his whims if it would not cost her life.

"Special Mission, and the five errands.  Tomorrow.  Let's meet. Nine in the morning.  I'll pick you up in front of the apartment complex."

"Hmmm?" Eyes wide with the unexpectedness of the request and the calmness in his demeanor, Kang Sola could not decipher what this boy had in mind.  "Where to?"

"I just want to have fun tomorrow.  Can you accompany me?" Xue Guangxi turned his head, and for the first time, looked at Kang Sola's questioning gaze.  His eyes were laced with sadness, frustration, and desolation.  His face was sullen and it fell like all the cells on it were deficient from nutrients and happy hormones.

Surely, this boy in front of her was so different from the person he regarded as a best friend.  She was alienated by this version.  He used to be bubbly and cheerful.

The unexpectedness of his invitation paired with the unmatching unenthusiastic look in his countenance took Kang Sola's surprise to another level.  "O-Okay. S-Sure."

"You don't have to use the coupons for that." Kang Sola added when she had recovered a bit from her initial shock.

The coupons were the hand-written, personalized gift Kang Sola gave Xue Guangxi for his eighteenth birthday just recently.

"I'll use it now one-time.  Tomorrow, then." He stood up, then went away.  He helped himself towards the pa.s.senger seat of his car that was parked alongside the road.