First Doesn't Mean Last

Searching for 'her'

"Well done." A deep, yet soft manly voice spoke from behind.
Chen Xue recognized the voice immediately as his face brighten up into a smile.
"Uncle Tiantian!" The kid turned his head behind noticing a black-haired man standing with his arm crossed and a grin on his lips. The man was wearing a grey suit with black pants.

The man released his hands and opened them up. The kid understood the sign and jumped into his arms in a hurry.
"How is your new school, my dear nephew?" Li Tian chuckled as he caressed Chen Xue's hair.
"Everyone bullies me." The little kid pout as he stared at his uncle cutely.
The man smirked and pinched his cheeks. "Right. Are you sure you're not the one bullying them?" He questioned Xue'er.
"Ah!.. that..." Xue bugged as he looked around trying to find an excuse since he realized his uncle had watched the scene that happened a few minutes ago.
Li Tian chuckled as he enjoyed his nephew struggling to find an answer to his question.
"Ok. I did but don't tell mommy." The child's expression soon turned serious.

Li Tian sighed and nodded. He already knew this child was no ordinary the moment he started talking and walking. He started walking and talking earlier than other kids. He also learns things fast. 'My brother-in-law must've been a genius. And with my smart sister, of course, their son would be so smart.' Tian picked up Chen Xue while thinking.
"Time to go home." He spoke after a few seconds.
Xue nodded as they headed towards Tian's car. The car was a BMW like Mei's but the colour was black like his hair.

-Elsewhere-

Mei was walking around the street searching for the flower shop she worked at years ago. She was wearing black heels with a white top and black shorts. She had her hair tied up in a ponytail exposing her pale neck.
Mei had look at each of the flower shops that were in this city, but she failed to find it. Shuu told her that apparently, an old woman was owning a flower shop on this street so she wanted to take a look. The young woman stopped when her gaze fell on a specific shop at the other side of the street she was on.

It was written, "Flowers all over the world." The name was unfamiliar to her, but she had a hunch it was the one she was searching for.

The shop was a yellow one, distinct from the other building. It had two floors. On the second floor, flowers were going out of the window that was left open. The main was had a transparent door from which she could see a lot of customers gather at the line. On the door, a note said that the store was still open.

"Thank god," Mei muttered and hurried towards the shop on the other side of the road.
A car honked loudly as it braked in a rush. It almost hit Mei!
Mei only glanced at the car and ran inside the store.
"What the?!" The driver yelled one shock. He had almost had an accident because of her but she didn't even care! "If you wanna die, go die elsewhere!" He shouted as he started driving again.

A little sound was made as Mei entered the shoot. She glanced left and right, trying to search for that old woman.
"How can I help you miss?" A man wearing a blue shirt with black pants asked with a smile on his face.
"Uhm... does an old lady work here?" She asked raising an eyebrow.
"Old woman?" The man himself asked back confused.
"Sorry, I'm probably at the wrong place." Mei sighed, disappointed. She thought she had finally found it but yet again, she was wrong.
"Wait right there." A soft and faint voice spoke as Mei turned her stare immediately towards the woman who had spoken. It was the old woman she was searching for!
"Ma'am!" Mei rushed towards her.

The old woman already had grey hair but it had turned almost white. Her wrinkles had gotten worse and her hands were shaking. She was wearing her usual clothes, a shirt with loose pants with a cloth wrapped around her waist to not dirty her clothes. She smiled softly.

"Where have you gone? I haven't heard from you for ages." The woman spoke as she slowly walked towards Chen Mei.
"I-I'm sorry... I need a break from this country..." Mei mumbled.
"It's alright. I don't mind." The old woman said with a faint smile. "Why are you here?"
"I was searching for you, of course."
"Why?"
"Because I missed your flowers. They are the best." Mei replies with a bright sneer.
The aged woman giggled.
"Alright, what do you want child?" she asked with an affectionate smile.
"Hmm... The usual." Mei replied after a few seconds of looking around. "But add red roses and forget me not flowers," Mei added as she ordered.
"Alright." The woman went to go fetch the flowers by herself although she was the owner of the big flower shop.

Every customer was stunned by it. They didn't even get served by her but now, she was doing it for a woman and it looked like she respected her a lot as all although she was younger.

"Here." After a few minutes, the woman handed over the flowers she had asked for; red roses, forget me not, Angus cactus, yellow roses and orange blossom. The flowers looked exactly like those she had offered Chen Rui for the first time.
Mei took the bouquet and smiled. "Thank you." She took her card to pats
"It's free for you." The old woman spoke with her soft and sweet voice.
"Alright then. See you." Mei smiles brightly and walked away from the shop.

The old woman stared at the young female leaving. She knew a little of what she had gone through but it looked so hard yet she's smiling so brightly like she was the happiest in the world. 'Someone... please make her happy.'

Xiao Lei was driving on the street on he saw a violet-haired woman walking out of a flower shop with a bouquet in her hands. He stopped the car and glanced again to make sure he wasn't seeing things. Then he rubbed his eyes and checked again.
'Three-time check means it's really her!' He thought as he hurried to drive in front of her.
"Hello there, my dear girlfriend." Xiao Lei spoke with a grin on his lips as he waved his hand at Mei.