Turning Of the Tide by Diana Sander

It was the next day. The entire Sapphire City looked as if it were covered by a pure white quilt. Everywhere you looked, white was visible. The snow scene was beautiful, creating a sense of tranquility and delight.

Amidst the quietude, there was laughter and joy at an ice rink in a certain part of Sapphire City. The snow was still falling, and due to the heavy snowfall, their originally planned outdoor activities were canceled. In order not to dampen the spirits, Joseph took charge and arranged for the group to be at the ice rink. He rented the entire rink for the occasion.

Frank and Ava held hands, gracefully dancing on the ice rink. They circled around again and again, with Frank occasionally lifting Ava and spinning her around. The young lady laughed freely, embracing Frank's neck. In the distance, Joseph also smiled when he saw them enjoy themselves. George, wearing a pair of mini skates, was a bit timid and did not dare to take a step forward.

Joseph held his son's hands, patiently teaching and providing a sense of security. Encouraged by his dad, George gathered the courage to slide forward bit by bit. His lower body and upper body were several inches apart from his movement, revealing the little guy's nervousness.

On the other side of the rink, Christina, wearing ice skates, crouched in a corner collecting information.

As for Natalie and Trevon, they were somewhat teasing each other affectionately like love birds in public. They played with fancy skating moves, chasing each other, twirling in circles, and even performing a skating dance.

Quinn, holding a seemingly reluctant Stella, couldn't move her feet and clung to the edge of the wall, with her buttocks an inch away from his upper body just like George, saying, "Quinn, I... I'm afraid." "What are you afraid of? I'll protect you. And why are you two just standing there watching instead of joining the fun?" Quinn looked at Leia and Chris, both standing still, separated by one person's distance, watching the others skate. Both of them had ice skates on their feet. Leia couldn't skate, but Chris could. As for why Chris could skate, thanks to Trevon and the others during their college days. They often played these activities, and with time, they naturally learned some things, like ice skating at the moment, which Trevon and Frank enjoyed a lot.

Chris, in a short black down jacket, surveyed the surroundings. He realized everyone had already formed groups, even the children. Yana was playing with Sophia, Jasper was with Olivia, and George was being taken care of by Joseph. It seemed like it was just him and Leia left on the ice rink. He withdrew his gaze, approached the woman who was in one person's distance from him, and asked, "Do you want to play?" Leia naturally noticed this and did not want to dampen the mood. "I can skate a little, but | might bump into people.” Before Chris could speak, Christina skated over, smiling. "Leia, let my brother teach you. He's good at skating; he learned from Trevon and the others." Upon hearing Christina mention Trevon, Natalie asked, "You used to go skating often?" Trevon's lips curved into a nice arc as he replied, "Just to pass the time before | met you." Natalie was speechless to hear the answer.

Seeing everyone having fun, Leia did not want to be left out. "Then, | will have to ask for your help, Dr. Yamin." Leia generously extended her hand, and Chris hesitated for a second before reaching out. Their hands met, her fingers held by his large hand, mutually conveying warmth. The heartbeats of the two quickened and synchronized at the some moment. Leia pursed her lips, looking down at her feet. Chris reminded her, "Look up." In that fleeting moment of looking up, the two collided unexpectedly.

Chris's chin took a hit, and Leia instinctively reached out to see, her fingertips touching his chin. He was momentarily stunned, forgetting to speak.

Christina, from a distance, finally captured a thrilling scene, something to share with her mom. She sent the well-taken photos to her mom and then slipped over to Joseph's side. George still felt a bit scared, but Joseph did not force the child. He had George take off his skates and led him to the coffee shop outside.

With Stella's howling, along with Sophia's screams, Leia did not feel as awkward. In matters of emotions, she tended to be more reserved and shy compared to the straightforwardness of Christina. Perhaps because Leia was sliding too fast, she could not stand steadily and stumbled towards the edge. Chris instinctively reached out to grasp her waist. She had a slender waist, even through the down jacket, it could be felt. Time stood still at that moment, she looked at him, and he looked at her as if some chemistry was between them. After looking for a while, both of them realized their lapse in composure. Leia averted her gaze first. "Let me try on my own." When Leia withdrew her hand from Chris's palm, an empty feeling crept into his heart, as if something were missing and the feeling was not good. This was an indescribable feeling he had never experienced. Staring at Leia's retreating figure, he was absent-minded for a moment, forgetting to retract his hand, frozen in mid-air.

Quinn smiled at the scene and leaned against the side, watching Leia approach the wall with a smile that seemed both mocking and ambiguous. Leia felt uncomfortable with this smile and approached to inquire, "What's with that look of yours?" Quinn shrugged and replied, "Just a normal look. | thought | saw a spark. How did you manage to contain it?" "What contain? | did not," replied Leia.

"Leia, if you could put the boldness you have in your career into your love life, you wouldn't still be single," Quinn continued.

"I haven't found the right one," Leia replied.

Quinn asked, "What about now?" Leia remained silent. During their time running together in Athana, they had shared many conversations, gaining a certain understanding of each other. Leia could sense subtle changes within herself. Upon seeing the mark on Chris's neck and considering his family background, she sobered up instantly. "He has a girlfriend.” Quinn squinted at Chris, looking incredulous. "Wait a minute. Christina's brother has a girlfriend? Are you kidding me? Her mom even placed the Bible at her brother's bedside, threatening that if he did not get a girlfriend soon, she would force him to become a priest and practice celibacy for a lifetime." Leia, still resting against the wall, was astonished at what she had heard. "Is it that outrageous? It can't be." Impatient by nature, Quinn did not like beating around the bush. Otherwise, she would not have divorced so decisively and left with a clean slate. She shouted to Chris in the distance, "Hey, Dr. Charming. Do you have a girlfriend?" Leia, with her back to Chris, kept signaling to Quinn with her eyes as if asking, "What are you doing? The girlfriend is just one reason; family background is another.” Quinn spread her hands, comforting her. "Don't be nervous. What's wrong with asking? It's not illegal.” Stella leaned against the wall and approached, panting heavily. "My brother is single. A fucking real bachelor.” Chris from a distance did not know how to react but thought to himself, ‘There was really no need to explain this." Quinn raised an eyebrow at Leia as if to say, "See?". Leia was speechless, glaring at Quinn, but her heart had eased.

Trevon and Natalie were tired from skating, and Frank and Ava also leaned against the wall to rest. Olivia had already sat on a bench, taking off her skates. Seeing this, Natalie asked, "Olivia, don't you want to play anymore?" Jasper replied, "It's been a little long for her to skate.” Trevon instructed his son, "Then take a break. Take your sister to the café outside to find Joseph, and we'll be there shortly." Jasper nodded. "Okay, got it." Frank and Ava followed the two children outside, each holding a child's hand.

Meanwhile, Sophia seemed to have no intention of stopping. She signaled to Yana to let go, claiming she could do it on her own.

Yana, nervous, did not dare let go. If anything happened, she would not be able to bear the consequences.

Stella had already learned a little and sneaked up to Sophia. With a single-minded focus on skating by herself, Sophia quickly removed her grasp while Yana wasn't paying attention and swiftly glided away. Sophia proved to be quite adept at skating, consistently demonstrating good learning abilities in such activities. Yana was extremely nervous. Natalie nodded at Yana from a distance, comforting her, indicating that everything was fine, and they were keeping an eye on Sophia. With Natalie's signal, Yana's heart finally settled.

Sophia skated freely on the ice rink, feeling like she could master the sport. Proudly, she accelerated, and in the distance, Trevon reminded his daughter with a furrowed brow, "Sophia, slow down." His words were like nothing to Sophia, and she was too excited and refused to listen. At the turning point, Stella moved like a snail, and Sophia, in an out-of-control state, rushed past.

Stella was thinking about how to avoid her in her mind. Everyone held their breath. Chris and Trevon glided towards the two at the some time, at the fastest speed.

Stella had a quick idea and spread her legs wide. After Sophia fell, she slid through Stella's legs and covered a short distance.

Trevon swiftly picked up his daughter, while Stella, still in shock, maintained the open-legged position with trembling legs. Chris went over to help his sister close her legs, saying, "Bring them together, the posture isn't that appealing.” Everyone gathered around Sophia. Chris crouched down to check. After confirming there were no issues, Sophia, seeing everyone's stern faces, twisted her waist and hips, assuring them she was fine. It did not hurt at all and it was not a big deal. She had fallen much more seriously when practicing martial arts. Seeing Sophia was fine, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Without waiting for his daughter to say anything, Trevon changed her skates into shoes and took her out of the ice rink. Even if Sophia did not want to, she dared not speak, as her mom's stern gaze was deadly.

After the others left, Stella, still in shock, patted her chest. Leia asked if she was okay, and Chris stood on the side, watching.

At a table with six adults and four children, Ava and Natalie ordered a milkshake, while the three children had juice and George had milk. Separated by the glass window, they could see the panoramic view of the ice rink. Inside, Chris was talking with three women. Trevon looked on with a strong sense of disdain, commenting, "He wastes too much time to pick up a girl." Frank smiled faintly and teased, "In terms of time, you have the least say." Trevon could not retort as he knew it was the truth.

Ava took a sip of her milkshake, propped her cheek up, and asked, "Does Leia really like Chris?" Frank coldly glanced at Chris inside the skating rink and said, "Stop calling him with that affectionate tone." "Well, alright." Ava obediently responded, continuing to drink her milkshake.

Natalie looked at the ice rink, rested her cheek on one side, and speculated, saying, "I think both of them have mutual feelings.

As Stella said, during the days when Leia returned to Sapphire City, Chris went for a run every day until Stella told him that Leia had gone back to Athana. Only then did he stop morning runs. But | see a hint of concern in her eyes." Joseph nodded in agreement. "Your analysis is correct. Chris has likely already sorted out his thoughts, and Leia also possesses a considerable level of emotional intelligence; she may have clarified her feelings long ago. It's just that she is concerned about Chris's family background.” Meanwhile, he thought, ‘And Chris might not know how to bring up his feelings to Leia." Ava chimed in, "Oh, | see. Even though Leia's family background may be average, your parents are both very easygoing. Chris would not mind these things, right? Christina.” Christina replied, "My mom simply wants Chris to find a girl and get married, let alone such an excellent one." Frank chuckled, with a malicious smile, saying, "That criterion is quite low." Trevon also had a sly smile on his face, as if he was about to enjoy a good show.

At night, everyone gathered in the yard to accompany the children in setting off fireworks. Trevon and Frank held lighters to ignite them. After what happened last night, Trevon and Frank were reluctant to let the children handle the lighters. The children ran in circles in the yard with their fireworks. Ava and Stella joined them, behaving like two grown-up children running behind the kids.

Jasper, on the other hand, took on the role of an adult, taking care of his younger siblings and reminding them to be careful with their clothes from time to time. Sophia's fireworks went out. She took a new one from her mom's hand and lit it against her sister Olivia's firework, completely independent and without needing any help from her dad.

In the living room, Emma and Daniel each held a child in their arms. Christina and Joseph were comforting Angie. Chris, on the other hand, leaned bored against the doorway, his phone turning in his hand, unable to shake off the image of ice skating with Leia earlier today. All of a sudden, his shoulder was bumped, and Frank approached with both hands around his chest, teasing Chris, "What's up, feeling frisky?" Trevon joined in after seeing it, his gaze fixed on Sophia, saying, "Are you that horny?" Frank laughed as he continued, "Oh, you can't even imagine.” Chris put away his phone in his pocket, looking annoyed. "Fuck off and mind your own business. Stop messing around.” Frank and Trevon could not stand Chris's dilly-dallying, looking pitiful. Trevon slightly licked the corner of his lips and asked, "You haven't got her number yet?" Frank chimed in right away, "Can't you tell from his face? He looks fucking upset. What do you expect?" "What's wrong with you two? | don't have it and what's the big deal?" Chris retorted and pondered, 'l could not just ask for her contact information right away, and besides, | don't even know what she thinks of me.’ Trevon offered advice, saying, "Just reveal your nature as a simple man, and directly ask for her number." At his words, Frank's smile gradually widened, and talked in a mocking tone, "Or, how about | prepare a fortuneteller to help you choose a lucky day to ask for her number?" Chris just wanted to disappear at this moment. The two teasing friends were sharp-tongued. Finally, he could not bear it and said, "Can you two stay away from me?" Frank patted Chris on the shoulder with a meaningful look in his eyes. It was as if Chris was going to die in the next second.

Then, Frank shouted at Stella in the distance, "Stallion." Stella turned her head, not having been called by her nickname for a long time, holding a still-burning firework, she cover. "Call me one more time with that nickname, and I'll burn you." As she spoke, she moved the firework closer to Frank's clothes. Frank dodged. Stella continued her attack, saying, "Watch out. | might burn you to death.” "Why did you call me over anyway?" After fooling around for a while, Stella asked Frank, "If you have something to say, spill it out right away. I'm busy." "Give me your phone." With that, Frank turned to Chris and continued, "And yours too." Chris did not know what Frank was up to, but the two siblings, driven by curiosity, placed their unlocked phones in Frank's hands.

One minute later. Frank handed their phones back to them. Both of them lowered their heads to look at their phones. Stella was excited, while Chris was puzzled. This was because Frank had directly used Chris's phone to send a greeting message to Leia.

Frank said kindly, "I'm shortening your time as a bachelor. You don't have to thank me. With your speed, I'm not sure when are you going to get a girlfriend.” Chris had not expected Frank to do this. He had not figured out what to say to Leia yet, but he was curious and looking forward to whether it would be successful to receive a reply from Leia.

Standing on the side, Trevon commented, "I'm afraid you won't be able to sleep tonight.”