DAHLIA - Xu Minghao

Chapter 17 - Where is Home?

"Hey there Delilah, what's it like in New York City?
I'm a thousand miles away, but girl, tonight you look so pretty."

***

     Meilin gulped as she looked at the huge doors to the penthouse where her father lived. She hadn't been here in over a year, and to say she was nervous about seeing her millionaire father was an understatement. He was an incredibly kind man, but she had only lived with him for less than two years. She didn't know him very well. Meilin hadn't even told him she was coming back to China. She hadn't told anyone, for that matter, not even Yenling.

     The maid that opened the door for her a few seconds after she knocked gasped when she recognized the girl. Meilin smiled kindly and bowed her head as several other maids were called to help with her luggage. Meilin had left one of her suitcases with most of her school stuff at Jihyun and Chaeyoung's appartement, and taken the other two suitcases with her.

     Hesitantly, Meilin followed the maids into the house, her eyes darting about. Not much had changed since she moved into the Academy dorms. The walls were still a creamy color, and everything Meilin laid eyes on seemed to be made of glass. She didn't see her father or his girlfriend anywhere, though.

Meilin's suitcases were brought to her room, and Meilin herself was led to the 'closed off' wing of the floor. The wing where her father's office was located. Back when she still lived here, she was never allowed to come here. If she needed something from her father she had to send his assistant or a maid to come get him.

"Meilin." The girl jumped at the voice of her father. She hadn't noticed the door to his office open, but he was smiling down at her now. "What are you doing here?" He asked as he opened his arms for her.

Melin didn't hesitate to jump into them, grinning. Her nerves had disappeared at once. "I got in trouble with the company, I had to leave. Decided it wouldn't hurt to pay my old man a visit, now would it?" She grinned and stepped back. Her father grinned too, and invited her into his office. Meilin looked around curiously, since it was the first time she was actually inside the room. It wasn't a very big office. One wall was completely made of glass, looking out on the city, and the back wall was green. There was a bookshelf behind the desk, so full that there were several piles of books on the floor as well.

     "Sit down, dear." Meilin's father said, and the girl took a seat on the couch in the middle of the room. Her father sat down next to her and put his cup of coffee on the small table before them. "What happened, Meilin? I thought you were determined to debut?"

     "I fell in love, dad. The company didn't like that. They kicked me out because I finally found my person." Meilin's voice broke as she spoke, but she didn't allow herself to tear up. An arm wrapped around her shoulder, and for a moment, Meilin considered moving away, but she ended up leaning into the touch. "I love him, Pa. I love him and they made me leave him."

"If the two of you are truly meant to be, Meilin, you'll find your way back to each other. I'm sure of that." Her father reassured her. Meilin nodded, blinking away her upcoming tears. "Did you tell him you love him?"

Meilin shook her head. "No, I was afraid it was too soon. We haven't been together very long."

"If the two of you really love each other, it's never too soon to say those three words, my child."

"I don't want to get my hopes up, to be honest. I don't even know if he loves me too, or if he just likes me." Meilin said, the tears in her eyes now dangerously close to falling.