Regardless of race

  “Really, don’t worry about it. I understand that you were quite… muddled at the time.” He laughed.  

  【 ✯ ｔｈｅ ｓｅａ ｓｕｒｒｏｕｎｄｓ· 】       MUDDLED might now even be enough to cut it. Andrea was wholly flustered and mind shut down by a dangerous virus or some sort. It was fortunate that Xiang bore no grudges against her ( he never did, as she could recall ). A smile began to grow on her at his reassurance and she laid her left hand over her right palm in a relaxed manner.       ❝I’m glad that you enjoyed the chocolates at least. I was worried that I might have shocked you. I think I was feeling ill at that time.❞         Andrea could only laugh nervously.

 Hopefully Andrea would catch on. Isabelle had a lot on her mind, but the cheerful girl was never quite sure how to express such negative emotions.

      【 ✯ ｔｈｅ ｓｅａ ｓｕｒｒｏｕｎｄｓ· 】        ❝王先生生病了？❞        Andrea blinked, lacing her own fingers together. As much as she had fondness for him, she was more or less taught to suppress negative emotions and it was till the point of confusion. Her responses were more often logical than emotional -- perhaps also along the path of apathy.        ❝很严重吗？我这几天很忙，找不到时间去看看他。希望他能尽快康复。❞

Liu Qinghua tried looking over her friend’s shoulder, hoping the answer would be a no. no one else seemed to have time for this poor wheelchair-bound girl lately, especially as she was stuck in Nanjing taking care of her father.

      【 ✯ ｔｈｅ ｓｅａ ｓｕｒｒｏｕｎｄｓ· 】        ❝我不算忙吧.❞         Andrea offered a smile in response after turning around to meet her friend’s gaze. She would set time aside for a friend if they clearly required her presence.          ❝发生了什么事?❞

“哪也可以. 你想跟他们过夜吗?”

       【 ✯ ｔｈｅ ｓｅａ ｓｕｒｒｏｕｎｄｓ· 】        ❝我不算坚强吧. 到现在我现不能想像我以后要怎样办事. 我的第一位老板去世过后, 我一直无法决定.         但是我觉得她不会很矜持. 她有时候很活泼. 如果您太担心, 我能试一试和他们过夜.❞

“我知道这教授. 她就是我的女儿, 刘青华. 你不记得她吗?”

        【 ✯ ｔｈｅ ｓｅａ ｓｕｒｒｏｕｎｄｓ· 】        ❝我当然记得! 她好坚强, 比我坚强多了.但是您还为了她担心. 有一位善良的家人多好. 如果这能给您一些安慰, 我也和他们一起过夜吧!❞

“我已经告诉过他们， 他们 聚会不能过夜。 刘青华是上海财经大学的教授 。如果其他人看到这样的行为 ，呢怎么办？”

         【 ✯ ｔｈｅ ｓｅａ ｓｕｒｒｏｕｎｄｓ· 】        ❝我不是不能了解你的担忧. 但是, 如果他们必须想一起过夜的话, 能阻止他们吗? 那教授您认识吗? 我也不能讲太多. 我不太了解这个情况.❞

It is completely inappropriate for a young girl to sleep over at a man’s house. Why anyone would even think of asking me for permission for such a thing, I do not know. It is absurd.

          【 ✯ ｔｈｅ ｓｅａ ｓｕｒｒｏｕｎｄｓ· 】          ❝可是王先生,我觉得如果他们彼此认识,可能不需要这么严格吧. 并且我觉得接受朋友的邀请能算是一种礼貌.❞

Chitanda Eru

:: edit by: ✿ ::

He was more or less in a reverie, lost in the calmness of the sea and its view, when a familiar voice pulled him back to reality. ‘Hm?–’ He turned, and his expression lit up at the friendly face coming his way. ‘Drea!  G’day!’   His grin was broad and toothy.  He would have offered her a friendly hug, but he was still rather wet from the sea.  ‘I had no idea you were comin’ ‘round these parts!’

       How refreshing it was to finally be able to breathe in fresh air. Usually the haze blown from Indonesia would last for a few weeks but this year, it soared to months with a new highest record of PSI level. Hence why Andrea had been cut off from her peers as of late.         The environment in Australia treated her well. Although, she had gotten a tad lost while taking the trains in Sydney. It took her an hour to navigate the huge area at the Central railway station. Nevertheless, the surroundings were a whole lot different from her country’s own MRT stations. It had an exquisite and homely vibe to it.         ❝I’m always in awe at your trains. I wish I could modify my trains into three separate levels as you do with yours. And I must admit I had some fun with turning the rear seat backs too !❞

It was hard not to be distracted by the city. Every few steps, Juchae’s gaze would wander up to the distant skyline. It was no Pyongyang.

       ❝It would’ve been less strenuous if it was a mere cough but this year, the period of haze stretched across months rather than the usual weeks that it gave me a fever instead.❞        At least things were looking up now. It was often during summer when she’d dread the oncoming haze and never once did it ever fail to meet her expectations. Nevertheless, the issue was meant to be put behind her back so that she could resume her usual diplomatic and economics activities. Well, in her usual pace, to be exact since she hadn’t ceased working even while on deathbed.      Heading to Pasir ris, Andrea then headed to the supermarket. Since Juchae was staying, she might as well make dinner. Unfortunately, the only dishes she could make with succession was durian based food and chili crabs.       ❝Hm. Shall we have durian buns? Durian dumplings? Durian rice? Durian fried noodles? Chicken with durian sauce? Durian pasta?❞