6 YEARS LATER, HONG KONG

SONG QIAN was checking inside Amanda's school bag to make sure her daughter had not missed to bring the important things to kindergarten. She even checked the other bag where Amanda had put her sport outfit and shoes inside it because she had sport class today. Song Qian then put those bags aside and sat on the bed while watching her daughter pulling up the red skirt and tucking the white sleeveless blouse inside the skirt.

          "Mama, how do I look? Do I look pretty?" Amanda asked while spinning in that lovely outfit. Song Qian just chuckled as she gestured her daughter to come closer. When Amanda stood in front of her, Song Qian fixed the collar and brushed the dirt on the blouse before looking at her daughter up and down.

          "You always look pretty, my sweetie," she then playfully pinched Amanda's cute nose, and that kid smiled shyly in return.

          "Thank you. I got everything from my Mama except my nose and eyes. They are from my Papa," she said proudly, but Song Qian knew her daughter better. She just wanted to boast in front of Song Qian about her pretty light brown eyes and the nose that was not get flat when her smile reached the eyes.

          "However I still love you the most. Papa is at the second place," her daughter then wrapped her arms around Song Qian's neck, and Song Qian hugged her back with big smile on her face.

          "I know that. Okay, let's go downstairs for breakfast because GrandMa and GrandPa are waiting for us. Hurry up. Papa will call to check on you in few minutes," Amanda immediately grabbed her bags and quickly went to downstairs, and Song Qian's voice immediately filled the house because she shouted for Amanda to be careful with her steps.

         "Good morning GrandMa and GrandPa," she quickly went to kiss Mr. Richard and Mrs. Rose before taking the seat beside her grandfather.

        "Isabella Amanda, I have told you many times that no running on the stairs," she said as she approached dining table, but her daughter ignored her because she was way more excited to get the call from her Papa.

      'Morning Mom, Dad," Song Qian kissed their cheeks before taking seat beside Amanda. The iPad tablet was in Amanda's hands and when the notification of video call popped out on the screen, she instantly swiped to answer.

         "Papa, Mama scolded me just now," that the first thing she said to her Papa, and Song Qian scoffed while looking at her daughter in disbelief. She now put the tablet on the phone so Song Qian's face could be seen in the screen.

       "Song Qian, what did my daughter do until you have to scold her?" now it sounded like she was a bad mother here for scolding her daughter for nothing. Song Qian put the jug aside and looked at Peter who obviously just woke up from his sleep.

        "She was running on the stairs. So of course I have to scold her," Song Qian defended herself and looked at Amanda who had her arms crossed on chest which she always did whenever Song Qian refused to let Amanda win in her game.

         "Oh is that so? Isabella Amanda, you deserve to be scolded. Good job, Baby," Song Qian pulled annoying face whenever Peter addressed her using that nickname while the others just laughed watching Peter wanted to be sweet with Song Qian. Peter now was in Beijing for work and would return home next week.

          Song Qian placed the sausages, bacon and egg on Amanda's plate while her daughter was so into talking to Peter until she had to interrupt them or else Amanda would be late for school. After giving flying kiss to Peter, Amanda passed the tablet to Mr. Richard because Peter had something to discuss with his father.

         "Oh, I just realize that Joshua is not here," Song Qian looked around and wondered if Joshua was still sleeping inside his room. He told her last night that he got the class this morning.

          "He received the call from Bianca saying that her car suddenly broke down. So he had to leave early to fetch her," said Mrs. Rose with small smile on face, but Song Qian knew what was on Mrs. Rose's mind because she was thinking the same thing.

         "He'll do anything for love," Song Qian said teasingly because she knew that Joshua really liked that girl. They also had nothing against Bianca because she was already like a family to them.

         "By the way, Madam Ying wants to meet me later at her place to discuss more about the auction event for next month. So I probably will come office late or won't come today," Mrs. Rose almost forgot to inform Song Qian about her meeting with Madam Ying.

          "Oh, then I'll handle the meeting with Mrs. Liam's daughter today," Mrs. Rose just nodded in approval. Song Qian had been working with her for many years now, and she was very sure that Mrs. Liam's daughter would fall in love with Song Qian's works and designs later.

          "Amanda, we have to go now. Finish your food quickly," Song Qian then left Amanda for a while to get her things inside the room and when she returned, Amanda had waited for her at the door. Honestly Amanda did not really give Song Qian hard time because her daughter was an amazing and independent child.

************

MRS. LIAM's daughter, Hie Ying would turn 18 in two months. So her parents planned to throw a grand birthday party for her, and of course she needed a beautiful dress to wear. The discussion was much more laid-back than Song Qian had expected because Hie Ying knew what she wanted for her dress, and Song Qian just have to add on Hie Ying's idea.

          "I can't wait to see that dress. Thank you so much," Hie Ying said excitedly after they had finished the discussion.

          "I'll try my best to make your dream dress come true," Song Qian replied in humble, and she would update them later about the progression of the dress. After they left, Song Qian went inside her office to finish other works first. It was almost lunch hour, but Song Qian was so lazy to leave the office, so she just ordered lunchbox from nearby restaurant.

          "Song Qian, did you order lunchbox?" her assistant Rome entered her office after knocking the door because the delivery boy was looking for her.

         "Yes," she replied shortly and went out afterwards to pay for the lunchbox. God, the foods looked delicious and she wanted to eat right away. After telling her staffs that she was staying inside during lunch hour, Song Qian returned to her office and noticed the unread message on phone screen.

           'I'll pick Amanda later because we are going to have fun in shopping mall later,' she read the text from Joshua and replied him right away.

         'Okay, but don't buy her any makeup stuffs,' Song Qian reminded Joshua because last time she found a lipstick inside Amanda's bag, and it was Joshua who had bought it for her.

         'Okay,' he replied back. Song Qian put aside the phone and started to eat her lunch while reading fashion magazine. Her gaze then shifted to the family portrait on the table where everyone looked so happy in that picture especially her. Song Qian had Amanda seated on her lap while Peter and Joshua were standing at the back.

           Life here was not easy for Song Qian and Joshua at the beginning, but they managed to get through those hardships with the help from Peter and his family. Then Amanda came into her life and brought another hope for Song Qian to pursue her dream because she wanted Amanda to be proud of her someday. Song Qian then reached her phone and texted something to Joshua.

           'I'll join you guys later. See you at the mall,' Song Qian's life was far from perfect, but she was happy with her new life now.

************

SOME things were never changed no matter how many years had passed, and one of those things was Song Qian's craziness whenever she had fun time with Joshua despite her status as a mother to a five-year-old kid. Song Qian bet no one would remember their status if they had kids who were as supportive as Amanda. Her daughter was not embarrassed to cheer up for Song Qian when she had Arcade games match with Joshua just now.