14 Days With My Love
Chapter 2: Meeting the Family
As the first rays of the sun touched Clara’s face, she woke up. It was a new day and a new morning in a foreign country ☀️. She stretched her arms out and looked beside her. Michael wasn’t there, so she decided to go looking for him in the vast penthouse.
A few moments later, she found him in the kitchen. "Good morning, love. I am making breakfast for us."
"Michael, it smells delicious! Thank you." She gave him a kiss on his cheek.
"Don't I get one on the lips?"
"Let me go take a shower first!" Clara headed to the bathroom and took her time getting ready. She walked into a beautiful marble closet and selected a colorful but comfortable yellow dress for the day 👗. After finishing her makeup at the powder station, she joined Michael for breakfast.
"What do you want to do today?" Michael asked.
"I would love to see more of Beijing!"
"Great! Then I'll arrange some activities. How about we leave in an hour? I'll take you shopping first."
"That would be perfect! Maybe you can help me find some souvenirs to take back home for my family and friends?"
"That won't be difficult at all. There are many treasures to be found here. What did you think of the breakfast?"
"I loved it, thank you for spoiling me. Is this a Beijing recipe?"
"The steamed buns are a recipe from my mother, the dumplings and porridge are my grandmother's, and the pancakes are compliments of a Google search," Michael joked 🥞.
"You are a great cook! Your family must really like being in the kitchen."
"You could say that. Every Sunday, we would cook together as a family. It was a tradition my grandmother started. Those were some of the happiest moments of my childhood."
"They seem very nice," Clara said. "Could you tell me a little bit more about them before I meet them?"
"Of course! I am the youngest of four. I have three sisters. The eldest is Li Jing; she runs a fashion design company in Shanghai. Then there's Li Mei, who lives right here in Beijing. She owns a flower shop and café with her husband, Zhang. Finally, there's Li Na, my eccentric sister. She’s a popular actress and model 🌟."
Michael showed Clara pictures on his phone, sharing stories of his mother, who raised them alone after his father left when Michael was only three. Michael still has contact with his father, but they aren't close.
"Look at the time! I have to get ready," Michael said, sprinting toward the bathroom. "Bao will be waiting for us. Oh—and you forgot to open this last night!" He handed her a gift package.
Clara opened the box to find a beautiful golden bracelet and a keycard to the penthouse 🔑. A note read: “I am happy to have you here with me. Looking forward to the many happy memories we will make together. Love, Michael.”
Suddenly, her phone rang. It was her sister, Jessica.
"Why haven't you called us yet?" Jessica complained immediately. "I've been trying to reach you for hours!"
"I’m sorry, I slept in! It's a 15-hour time difference, remember?"
They talked for thirty minutes. Clara reassured her sister that she was safe and being treated like royalty. Michael even offered to video call Jessica the next day to put her mind at ease.
A Day in the City 🏙️
Ten minutes later, they were outside where Bao awaited them.
"Good afternoon, Bao. How are you today?" Clara asked.
"I am doing fine, Madame. I hope you enjoy your stay."
As they drove toward the mall, Clara admired the scenery. "I never knew Beijing was so beautiful."
"It really is," Michael replied. "And tomorrow, I’m taking you to see the Great Wall. If you don't visit the Great Wall, you haven't seen Beijing at all!"
They spent the afternoon shopping and trying street foods 🥟. Clara took hundreds of pictures to send to her family. Eventually, Bao picked them up and drove them to a famous luxury street where Li Mei’s flower shop, "Happy Roses," was located.
The shop smelled of sweet nectar. A young lady named Jiang offered them champagne while they waited 🥂. Soon, a slim, elegant woman appeared.
"Li Mei!" Michael said, hugging his sister. "This is my girlfriend, Clara."
"Well, Michael," Li Mei smiled, "since she has excellent taste and loves my work, I can already tell you found a good one!"
Li Mei was warm and witty. "Maybe one day I could decorate for your wedding with Michael," she teased. "I already like her! Clara, would you mind joining my family for dinner tonight?"
"I would love to!" Clara replied.
Dinner with the Zhang Family 🍲
At Li Mei’s home, Clara was greeted by two energetic boys, Bingwen (8) and Huan (5). They immediately took a liking to their "new auntie."
Li Mei’s husband, Zhang, was the chef of the house. He prepared a massive feast and told the story of how he met Li Mei at his parents' noodle shop.
"The moment I saw her grumpy face, I knew she was the one," Zhang joked. "She only laughed at me after I spilled hot coffee all over myself!"
The evening was filled with laughter and stories. As they were leaving, Li Mei hugged Clara tightly. "You are like a sister to me now. I hope to see you Saturday—my mother is throwing a dinner party specifically for you."
Back at the penthouse, Clara felt a deep sense of peace. She took a relaxing shower while Michael made coffee. They cuddled on the sofa, sharing quiet kisses ☕.
"I love you," Clara whispered.
"I love you even more," Michael answered.
As Clara drifted off to sleep, she realized she hadn't missed home for a single second. She felt exactly where she was meant to be.
Keep an eye out for Chapter 3! Hit the subscribe button, so you won't miss any new stories. Until next time! 💖Missed how it all started? Don't worry, you can catch up on Clara’s emotional arrival and her long-awaited reunion with Michael right here. ✈️🌹
👉 Click here to read Chapter 1: "The First Day Since Forever.
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