epilogue|| DAOMINGSI and SHANCAI

2 - reunion of F4

7 years later

Ding dong.

"Just a second!" Shancai calls over her shoulder. She sprays the last of her pine potted plants, cozy in pink jars, before setting the bottle down. Hauling herself to her feet, she tugs off her gloves and makes for the front door of the house.

She passes the living room, where Xiao He and Daoming Si lie on their stomachs on the carpeted floor. They fiddle with little car models and dinosaur figurines of all colours. Xiao He gurgles an ecstatic giggle, and through the corner of her eye, Shancai catches Daoming Si's warm smile.

"Daoming Si! Get up already," she says. "They're here!"

Daoming Si attempts to look over his shoulder at his wife, but he has to twist his torso, and his position is awkward. But the excited beam in his eyes doesn't dim, "They're here? Already?" Honestly, Shancai can't tell who the real three year-old is in the house.

She wipes her hands on her jeans and opens the door.

Lei's softly smiling face is the first thing she sees.

"Lei!" She exclaims, breaking into a broad grin. Behind him, Ximen and Meizuo make their appearances, but they're goofily half-hiding behind wrapped gifts. "Meizuo! Ximen! Oh my, guys, come in! Come in already..."

"They're here?" Daoming Si repeats. Shancai senses him stagger to his feet in the next room.

She closes the door behind the F3, and suddenly notices how large the objects are in their hands. The gifts are wrapped in clean cream and beige colours—reminding her of the unending carpet in a 5-star hotel—and protrude in strange, round shapes. They must be vases or cabinets, or something.

She scoffs a dramatically mean laugh. She barks, "Guys! Why did you bring presents? You didn't have to get us anything, really. Take it back, there's no way I'm accepting that."

"But we want you to," Meizuo pouts. He shrugs, glancing coyly around the room, "Who knows? Maybe we could help you make the place actually livable for a young child."

Shancai narrows her eyes, "Oh, ha ha."

Meizuo is the first to set his gift down. He leans it against the wall, then takes a sweeping step around Shancai, peering playfully at her. She grins. "Shancai... wow. Just look at you."

"Shancai," Ximen greets in a mockingly formal manner. He nods his head. She laughs, doubling over. "You're looking as stunning as ever. Really, I think you've grown even more beautiful since the last time I saw you."

"You're not really a weed anymore. You're more like a flower in full bloom," Meizuo leans forward, staring intently at Shancai's face. "Damn, just look at the natural blush in her cheeks!"

"Clearly, Ah Si's been making her very happy..." Ximen drawls, eyebrows dancing. Meizuo cracks up.

Shancai rolls her eyes, "Shut up, both of you."

As if on cue, Daoming Si steps into the room, Xiao He snug in his arms. The little boy is perched on his father's shoulder, little dark arms clinging dearly around his neck. Daoming Si grins wildly when he sees his friends.

"Ah Si!" Meizuo thrusts his hand out to greet the man of the house. "Look at you, my man. Damn, you haven't aged a day..." Daoming Si accepts the greeting—but carefully; Xiao He is still in his arms.

"Heyy, there, Xiao He," Ximen is focused on the three year-old boy Daoming Si holds. "Xiao He, do you remember me? I'm Uncle Ximen."

"Xiao He, it's me. Uncle Meizuo! You have to remember me. I got you the little red Mercedes mobile car, you know the little car with the gold wheels? And the tooting horn?" Meizuo persists, still cooing. He and Ximen lean towards the child, sticking their faces closer and closer in his view, until Daoming Si crushes their wills.

"Alright, alright, back off! Give him some air," Daoming Si proclaims, turning the boy in his arms away from the fawning crowd, his arms wrapped protectively around him. Ximen and Meizuo step away, chuckling. "The great Daoming He doesn't have time to waste! He doesn't need to be doggled by a bunch of idiots."

"Daoming Si," Shancai scolds.

"What? I'm joking when I say that!"

"I think you mean ogled?" Lei comments. His calm smile draws mischievously upwards. Shancai laughs into her hand, and Daoming Si's face goes red. He scowls faintly.

"Whatever. That's what I meant," he shoots.

The little boy in Daoming Si's arms looks more and more familiar to Shancai, the older he gets. She watches as the F3 lean closer to observe their godson (, or, as close as his stingy dad will allow). Xiao He has rough dark hair and big, wilful eyes.

Ximen snickers, "Look at him. He's an Ah Si replicate."

"I know right?" Shancai exclaims. She lays her hand on her husband's arm, leaning in to focus on her child. Her other hand is gentle on Xiao He's ear. "It really amazes me. Sometimes, he's just like Daoming Si!"

She doesn't realise her husband is grinning smugly until he says, "I know, I know. You're welcome, for passing on my incredible genes. He's cute like me, right? And charming like me too. I bet he'll be just as smart."

Shancai sneers, "Idiot. I'll pray he's not as smart as you, because if he is, that means he's an idiot!"

Ximen and Meizuo burst out laughing. Daoming Si's brows draw furiously. Wordlessly, Shancai takes Xiao He into her own arms and cradles him gently, completely ignoring her husband.

Daoming Si scoffs loudly. He uncrosses his arms and glares at his wife, "Ungrateful hag," he mutters.

"I see nothing has changed," Lei observes.

"Alright, now, what are we still standing around here for?" Shancai asks, grinning like nothing happened. Daoming Si puts his hands on his hips and looks away. "Sit down, guys! I'll go make us some black tea."