Granting You A Second Life

Apartment 5- 8 pm

Qin Jingfei, Li Xiuying and Little 4th were sitting in the living room.

Qin Jingfei: "Dr. Li also what would you do if..."

Li Xiuying continued to mute out Qin Jingfei's voice. As soon as they entered her apartment Qin Jingfei had launched her tirade of questions. At first Li Xiuying answered a few of Qin Jingfei's questions but when she realized that there was no end in sight she stopped.

Little forth yawned and rubbed his eyes with his little hand: "Big sister YingYing I'm tired."

Li Xiuying: "Me too."

Little 4th: "Good night cousin." His voice contained a little glee that he quickly tried to mask.

Qin Jingfei shouted after them: "Wait. It's still so early. I won't ask any more questions apart from maybe one or ..." She stopped when she realized no one was listening.

Qin Jingfei mumbled unhappy to herself as she sat alone in the living room munching on popcorn.

Qin Jingfei grumbled: "Stupid silence game. What even is that?! How could they just leave me here?! Who goes to bed at 8 pm? What are they like 4?"

Whilst Qin Jingfei was unhappily watching TV Little 4th and Li Xiuying took turns to enter the bathroom and change into their PJ's. Little 4th was in his brown bear pj's and Li Xiuying was wearing her polar bear Pj's.

They were now laying in bed talking in low voices.

Li Xiuying had an amused look on her face as she watched Little 4th become energetic once again: "Sleepy?"

Little 4th ears turned red and he laughed sheepishly at having been found out: "He He."

He knew that his big sister could tell he faked being tired earlier. He just wanted to get away from the question monster.

Little 4th sighed: "Cousin Jingfei is terrible at the silence game."

Li Xiuying nodded. She didn't expect that a 5 year old child could be more quiet that a grown woman. Li Xiuying didn't mind answering a few questions but Qin Jingfei was like a quiz show that never ends. She would answer one question and Qin Jingfei would fire 3 more at her.

Little 4th turned his big shiny eyes to Li Xiuying: "Big sister YingYing will you read to me?"

Li Xiuying became thoughtful. She had only ever read when it was related to her work; she would read medical journals, medical text books, case reports, patient histories, surgical papers etc.

She had never read for p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e before.

Li Xiuying turned and grabbed her phone from the bedside cabinet. She looked up 'readings apps' and downloaded one.

Li Xiuying: "Genre?"

Little 4th was so happy he could burst. His big sister spoke so little... well unless it was when someone made her angry.

Li Xiuying picked a children's fantasy/adventure novel: "Once upon a time there was a ..."

Little 4th got even more comfortable and drew closer to Li Xiuying.

Unbeknownst to little 4th and Li Xiuiyng Qin Jingfei quietly crept towards Li Xiuying's room to check if they were really sleeping.

The door to Li Xiuying's bedroom was slightly open. She heard Li Xiuying's voice. Li Xiuying usually sounded so cold and detached but the more Qin Jingfei's listened the more soothing and gentle she found the voice. Qin Jingfei thought it must be because of Little 4th presence.

Qin Jingfei didn't enter the room. She thought back to her childhood. Her mother had read to her when she was little and those were some of the fondest memories she had. As she grew older and climbed higher in the career ladder most of her time was spent working. She had forgotten the joys of reading until now.

She quietly sat down outside the room and lent against the wall with her legs folded underneath her. She listened to Li Xiuying's calming voice and let herself escape into a world of adventure.

.....

The Gilded Bonsai restaurant

Jiang Huan was sitting across the table from her rescuer. She was playing with a napkin in between her fingers.

Jiang Huan: "Mr. Tang we've been here for hours and I feel like I've just been talking about myself. I want to hear more about you."

Tang Tingzhe: "Huan, I told you already call me Tingzhe. I would much rather hear about you. Everything about you is interesting and your voice is mesmerizing."

Jiang Huan giggled:"oh you". She flirtation tapped Tang Tingzhe's arm.

Tang Tingzhe: "Your family sounds amazing. Do you see them much?"

Jiang Huan shook her head. Her hair lightly swayed from side to side with the movement. "No, my dad travels a lot for work. They're currently in Japan. I was planning to fly out there the next time I get annual leave."

Tang Tingzhe voice showed even more interest "Oh. I think you mentioned that you started a new job recently. Are you enjoying it?"

Jiang Huan: "Yes! I only started last week Friday. There's been a few mishaps on my part but my employer is great and really understanding. I'm working for this amazing surgeon I even got to go into theater and see her in action. I felt like I was part of a medical drama."

Tang Tingzhe: "That sounds like quite the experience."

Jiang Huan: "It's definitely one of the highlights. But the downside of working for someone so amazing is the amount of correspondence she receives! She receives so many emails, faxes, phone calls from so many departments. I feel like I get buried under paperwork. Sometimes people just show up at the office too especially the 1st year residents. "

Tang Tingzhe sympathized:"That sounds like it can be overwhelming."

Jiang Huan: "It comes with the territory after all Dr. Li is specialized in so many different fields. She does general surgery, pediatrics, A&E I'm not even going to continue the list because it's so long."

Tang Tingzhe: "Dr. Li sounds like an amazing doctor. I don't think I've ever heard of someone who is specialized in so many areas of medicine before."

Jiang Huan: "Nope, she's the only one."

Tang Tingzhe: "Enough about Dr. Li. I want to hear more about the beautiful Jiang Huan." He stretched out his hand and took her hand in his.

Jiang Huan blushed slightly. With her other hand she put her hair behind her ear.

Tang Tingzhe: "I've truly enjoyed tonight. Shall we continue somewhere more comfortable?"

Jiang Huan was in two minds. She really liked Tan Tingzhe but she didn't want to ruin everything by moving too fast.

Tang Tingzhe called a waiter over for the bill. He paid and they exited.

He walked Jiang Huan to her car. She turned around to face him so her back was leaning against the driver's side door. Tan Tingzhe put his arms either side of Jiang Huan and leaned into her so that there was only a few inches of space in between them.

Tang Tingzhe spoke next to Jiang Huan's ear: "You promised me a second date. I'll have to hold you to it."

Jiang Huan felt her breath hitch.

Tang Tingzhe looked into Jiang Huan's eyes before slowly moving his lips closer to hers. Jiang Huan reflexively closed her eyes.

Tang Tingzhe kissed Jiang Huan on the corner of her lips. She immediately opened her eyes surprised.

Tang Tingzhe righted himself: "I don't want to ruin this by moving too fast."

Jiang Huan's heart skipped a beat at hearing her own thoughts verbalized. She blushed and nodded.

Jiang Huan unlocked her rental car. Tang Tingzhe opened the door for her and waited until she slid in before closing it.

Tang Tingzhe watched as Jiang Huan drove away. He whistled happily as he walked to his own car.

Tang Tingzhe felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He smiled as he read the name. Then answered: "Hi baby."

A cutesy female voice rang out: "Tingzhe I miss you. Will you come and see me?"

Tang Tingzhe: "I'm already out of the house and on my way."

Cutesy voice: "Don't take too long."

Tang Tingzhe: "I can't even stand making you wait another second."

Cutesy voice giggled: "I'll see you soon."

Tang Tingzhe: "Okay Baby." He then put the phone down.

Tang Tingzhe: "Women sure are easy." He bent his waist slight and looked at his reflection in the wing mirror of a parked car.

Tang Tingzhe winked at his reflection and checked his hair: "But who could resist?"