"I'm afraid she needs surgery Mrs Helian"

"I understand. When will it be?"

"I could have her sent in this evening"

"Wonderful, I'll let her know when she comes down for breakfast. You may leave now"

"Of course"

Helian Linx put down the newpaper with a sigh. Her daughter was always in some kind of medical emergency. Lost in thought, she realized that the number of ankle and foot related injuries had doubled since she had allowed Meilin to wear heals. Of course starting ones own fashion line would also contribute to damaged ankles as it was considered unacceptable to work while wearing anything other than the stylish heals one had just created.

Upstairs, Meilin was hobbling down the corridor, teeth clenched in pain. 'Why oh why were the corridors so long and the house so big?' She sighed in relief as she reached the top of the grand staircase. Now she could slide down, just like she had done when she was younger. Painfully slowly, she slipped down each stair until she reached the landing.

Pulling herself up on the banister, she continued hobbling into the kitchen where her mother sat at the table.

Helian Linx looked up just in time to see her daughter enter. Rubbing her forehead, she told Meilin about the upcoming surgery and that she had to fast, starting in a couple of hours.

Meilin looked into the kitchen mournfully but brightened when she thought of an idea.

"Hey Mark"

"Yes Meilin?"

"Bring out the feast!"

Helian Linx shook her head in defeat. Her daughter was too obsessed with food to have a small breakfast and hot drinks for the rest of the day.

As Merch gorged herself on the delicious food, she started planning her day in her head. First she was going to wash up, then she would start working on some of the designs for the competition. Surely that would take up at least an hour. After that, she would ring Ling Seko and inquire about the bracelet. A frown passed over her face as she remembered her exs new girlfriend Lu Bao. She seemed familiar, somehow. Meilin shook off the feeling. She had only been thirteen when she started the relationship with Li Huang. It had been imm.a.t.u.r.e and fun but Li Huang had been much too serious about the future for her liking. Now, it seemed, his girlfriend was too serious about the future for his liking. She decided to find out more about Lu Bao once she had finished breakfast. The girl seemed somewhat desperate to get married. The name Lu also sounded familiar but she did not know from where.

_______________________________

Ling Seko was just about to dig into his lunch, when his phone rang. Rolling his eyes he took the call.