EVERY LIKE, VOTE, AND COMMENT HELPS!

.....

After the art show ended, Li Qian and Jing Mei traded contacts. "If you have any problems, Auntie, I want you to let me know immediately."

Jing Mei smiled as she scanned his code. "Honestly, Li Qian, I don't know how to thank you enough for everything you've done. And thank you for taking Jiao Jiao under your wing tonight."

Chen Fan waited off to the side and rolled his eyes with a smirk.

"It's nothing, Auntie; it's what I should do." Li Qian turned to the little girl waiting patiently by her mom's side and held out his phone expectantly.

"En?" She glanced down curiously to see his QR code still displayed. Flustered, she realized he meant for her to add him as a contact, too! She hurriedly pulled her phone out of her bag and scanned the code.

Li Qian nodded in satisfaction. "We'll be off now, ladies. Take care of yourselves, hmm?"

Jing Mei and Jiao Jiao waved the two men off and headed home.

.....

With the first gallery show complete, the little family could finally focus on getting Jiao Jiao ready for her final year of high school.

The night before classes started, Jiao Jiao's phone buzzed.

(LQ): Feeling okay about tomorrow?

Jiao Jiao's heart pattered when she read Brother Qian's message. After trying out a few responses, she finally settled on the simplest.

(WhisperingBlooms): En.

She dropped the phone down and cringed slightly. How embarrassing! A few seconds later:

(LQ): I waited two minutes and thirty-one seconds for that response?

Jiao Jiao giggled and immediately picked the phone back up.

(WhisperingBlooms): Sorry Brother Qian, I was just a little surprised.

(WhisperingBlooms): How's this?

(WhisperingBlooms): YES! **( ' ∀ ' )**

On the other end, Li Qian yelled for Chen Fan.

"Yes, boss, you need something?"

Chen Fan rushed into the room and took in the large oak desk messy with stacks of paperwork. "I'm still pulling the contracts..."

Li Qian interrupted him. "It's not that Chen Fan. Get over here." Li Qian held out his phone impatiently. "What's that little character thingy?"

Chen Fan's eyes bulged, and he wrenched his head back. "Boss, you're texting with Miss Jiao?"

"Yes," Li Qian snapped. "Now, what does this little picture mean?"

How should I know, boss – I'm not a little girl! Chen Fan leaned closer and squinted his eyes. "It looks, sort of... kind of like a little chicken thing? Are those wings?"

Chen Fan extended his arms and flapped them slightly, trying to recreate the picture of the emoticon with his face and body.

Li Qian looked at him with mild disgust and pulled the phone back. He tilted the screen back and forth, trying to figure it out when another message came through.

(WhisperingBlooms): Actually, I guess I am a little worried about not belonging there. I'll probably be the only new girl, and I might not be able to keep up with the schoolwork. Huadian sent me a bunch of assignments to complete over the summer and they were pretty challenging.

(WhisperingBlooms): Sigh. **('･ω･')**

"What the hell is that one?" Chen Fan leaned over Li Qian's shoulder and glimpsed the cute character. "Is that a pig, or what... a bear maybe! Why are there wings though... or could be arms?"

Li Qian growled and placed the phone down, interrupting Chen Fan's musings. "Get me a report of these little character things as soon as possible."

"Erm, about the contracts..."

"Out!" Li Qian's shout drove the frightened Chen Fan out into the hallway.

Once Chen Fan had cleared the door, Li Qian picked his phone back up. One more text had come through:

(WhisperingBlooms): ??

Li Qian thought for a moment and typed:

(LQ): You belong wherever you want to belong, Jiao Jiao. And Huadian is lucky to have someone as talented and genuine as you. Just be yourself, and you'll find your place in no time.

(LQ): If you have trouble with your schoolwork, you can find me.

(WhisperingBlooms): You finished school so long ago, are you sure you'll remember anything?

Li Qian snorted. He replied:

(LQ): Money back guarantee. You can try me out, and if I don't deliver on my promises, I'll give you all your money back.

(WhisperingBlooms): Okay Brother Qian, I'll believe you! (✿◡‿◡)

(WhisperingBlooms): Good night.

(LQ): Good night.

Li Qian shouted into the empty hallway, "Chen Fan, do you have that report yet?"

.....

Elsewhere, in a quiet corner of Qinghai province, a handsome man sat on a hilltop overlooking endless grasslands of emerald. He reflected on the heavens momentarily, then smiled as though he'd just received good news. It was time to return home.