Yanmei And Xiang Huan
[15:13] <Yanmei> She had a moment to think after Lin had left, weighing her emotions against the predictions they'd made together. But those things seemed to pale against the opportunities facing her right now… and her worries. Was everyone getting along out there? Was it scary for them? What about Lizzie? Would a little kid understand what was happening?
[15:21] <Minaplo> [Then she felt something… A soft rippling behind her.-
[15:21] <Minaplo> ["It's really you." Said a soft male voice.]
[15:25] * Yanmei spun, startled. She hadn't been prepared for that…
[15:28] <Minaplo> [A man stood in front of her- a Chinese man with short, messy black hair and very dark eyes. He had long legs and a tanned, athletically slim build- a sprinter's physique.-
[15:29] <Minaplo> ["You look a lot like your mother." Said Xiang Huan, his voice shaking. "But you have my eyes."]
[15:33] <Yanmei> "Oh." Yanmei suddenly felt incredibly self-conscious as she stared back at him. "H-hi. it's good to finally meet you…"
[15:35] <Minaplo> [He stared at her silently for a long, long time…-
[15:35] <Minaplo> [Then he sank to his knees. "I'm so sorry…"-
[15:35] <Minaplo> [He covered his face with his hands and began to sob.]
[15:41] * Yanmei had been expecting that even less. For a split second, she stared at him in confusion, and then, she knelt down next to him and wordlessly pulled him into a hug.
[15:42] <Minaplo> [Huan sank desperately into Yanmei's embrace.-
[15:42] <Minaplo> ["I should've been there…" He said, his voice pained. "I should've looked after you…"]
[15:44] <Yanmei> "You couldn't help it? No one blames you, ok. Especially not me."
[15:46] <Minaplo> [He hugged her back, tightly; he was still crying. "My baby girl…"]
[15:52] <Yanmei> "Dad…" She sounded a little shy all of a sudden. "I can call you Dad, right?"
[15:54] <Minaplo> ["O-Of course you can! Dad, or-or Daddy, or Papa, whatever you want!"]
[15:59] <Yanmei> "It's… overwhelming, huh? Heh… We should catch up. Time doesn't matter here so we can take it slow…"
[16:01] <Minaplo> ["C-Catch up…"-
[16:03] <Minaplo> [He pulled away, a little, just enough so he could see her face. It seemed to make his tears flow even more.-
[16:03] <Minaplo> ["R-Right." He said, trying to laugh it off. "Yeah. Sorry…"-
[16:03] <Minaplo> [Deep breath!-
[16:03] <Minaplo> ["So. Tell me about yourself."]
[16:19] <Yanmei> "Well. I'm Zhang Yanmei. I like cooking, running, and more recently, boxing. It's relaxing! Um. Have you met with Mom yet?"
[16:20] <Minaplo> ["Y-Yeah." Said Huan. "Wait, you… Like running?"]
[16:25] <Yanmei> "Yeah," she grinned. "I'm not as good as you were, probably. I'm out of practice, and there was an injury that stopped me a while back."
[16:26] <Minaplo> ["An injury…? N-No, wait, that's not important. You like running. Oh my goodness!"-
[16:27] <Minaplo> [He hugged her again, fiercely and tightly. "My baby girl's a runner!"]
[16:42] <Yanmei> "That's right?" She beamed. "You should have seen me! Actually, I bet we could have a race."
[16:49] <Minaplo> ["Absolutely. First thing when we get back."]
[16:51] <Yanmei> "So you are coming back!"
[16:52] <Minaplo> ["Of course. I'd never forgive myself if I didn't." Said Huan.-
[16:52] <Minaplo> ["Also, er… I didn't really grasp one of the options, and reincarnation sounds kinda scary, and also I miss your mum a lot…"-
[16:53] <Minaplo> ["But mostly, I have eighteen years to catch you up on. What do you want for your birthdays? Just name it!"]
[16:56] <Yanmei> "Let me think about that… Maybe eighteen days off, with the two of us just talking about stuff. Ah… also you have to meet someone very important to me when you return."
[16:56] <Minaplo> ["Y-Your boyfriend, right?"]
[16:57] <Yanmei> "Husband."
[16:57] <Minaplo> ["H-Husband!"]
[17:01] <Yanmei> "Yeah. He's really sweet! You'll probably like him!"
[17:01] <Minaplo> [And then he was crying again.-
[17:01] <Minaplo> ["I should've been there for your wedding… I'm so sorry, sweetheart!"]
[17:06] <Yanmei> "Well, not many family members could make it. The circumstances surrounding it were pretty exceptional? But maybe we could hold another ceremony. Or a getting-to-know-you party with you and the in-laws there. If… if they're coming back themselves, that is."
[17:19] <Minaplo> ["Y-Yeah, for sure. That sounds like a good idea."]
[17:27] <Yanmei> "There are other things about me that you should know. Like, I didn't end up applying to college yet? But I have a good job in politics now. So maybe I can save up and go later."
[17:30] <Minaplo> ["A job in politics…?"]
[17:36] <Yanmei> "Yes. I ended up being a key part of this independent milliary operation type of thing. It's a long story. The world's changed a lot in eighteen years."
[17:37] <Minaplo> ["I-I think I'm getting the picture. Your mother told me a little bit…"]
[17:43] <Yanmei> "Did she tell you about Lizzie?"
[17:44] <Minaplo> ["L-Lizzie?"]
[17:47] <Yanmei> "…" Yanmei sat down completely and patter the air next to herself. "Here. Have a seat. This is going to be a lot to take in…"
[17:50] <Minaplo> […]