Learning to Love Again

A white Toyota with two women inside drives into the underground basement of a condominium.

Sarah and Sun Tang carpool home together. It is cheaper and more convenient. They live in the same apartment building and work in the same office.

Sarah stares at Sun Tang's designer bag in slight envy. " I can't believe you were able to afford that."

Sun Tang caresses her bag with a smile. "This is one of the benefits of being single and not having kids." She says while pointing to Sarah's wedding ring.

"What I can't believe is that you married such a broke man and still decided to have a child with him."

Thinking about her husband and daughter, Sarah smiles. "It isn't always about the money. I love them both and besides, he isn't broke. He is just still in the early stages of his career."

Sun Tang snorts. "Call it what you want honey, you still make more than him."

"That doesn't matter."

The two get out of the car and walk towards the exit with Sun Tang rushing ahead.

"Sarah, what would you do if your husband got rich and decided you were no longer good enough for him? You know men are scum, something like that isn't impossible."

*Thump

"Sarah?" Sun Tang turns around and sees her friend laying on the ground with blood flowing from her head.

"Ahhhh... Murder." Sun Tang screams in alarm, but before she can make a move, she gets knocked out from behind.

Her vision goes dark.

All she sees before she loses consciousness is a woman dressed in black towering over her.

...

Shen Xun arrives in front of the old house an hour after she texted Liu Yumei.

When she walks in, she sees Liu Yumei, Han Haoran and Han Lili sitting around the dining table. Lots of food has been arranged on it, but it hasn't been touched. They seem to be waiting for her.

Shen Xun retains her usual stoic expression and bows her head slightly to greet them.

"Mother, father, Ms. Han, I made you wait. I'm sorry I am so late, but I had a lot of work at the company."

"No need to apologize or stand on ceremony. You work so hard, I don't think we pay you enough. Come eat, I had the cooks prepare all of your favourite dishes."

Shen Xun takes a seat opposite Han Lili. Normally, Han Lili would look at her with caution, but today she just gave her a light smile.

"In the twelve years you've been with us, you have been working extremely hard." Han Haoran begins.

"It's the least I can do to repay you all." Shen Xun bows her head. "I'm an orphan and you took me in and made sure I never lacked anything. I am very grateful."

"Well, we think that you deserve a reward. An executive position has opened up in one of our branches in England. We want you to take it."

Panic immediately flashes through Shen Xun's eyes. "No!"