Newhaven: Week Seven - The Chang-Ngai Family
Things were very happy in the Chang-Ngai household.
Even if not everyone appreciated Gretchen’s enthusiasm.
All in all though, despite the untraditional nature of the family, the household was a peaceful one. Mei’s boyfriend Matthew Passang, Xun and Gretchen’s son Xiang, Mei, Xun and Gretchen all lived together harmoniously.
Matthew, when he wasn’t romancing, had an interest in making money and was soon working full time with Mei at the family business Chang’s Collectables.
The business continued to go from strength to strength, quickly turning over its stock of beach collectables and pottery crafted by Xun. Soon it reached level 10 and Mei was able to realise her dream of working in business.
Working full time as well as running a successful business didn’t leave Mei much free time. Even though she had pursued her relationship with Matthew after feeling somewhat left out when both her sister and step-mother were pregnant, she truly did appreciate her time with him. Although it seemed that for time being their relationship would be mostly physical, Mei felt that in the years to come it would grow to be something much deeper than that.
For Xiang, who had just begun his high school career, things were pretty relaxed. He hoped to one day be a celebrity chef like his cousin Lin and in the meantime was working in her restaurant.
This left him plenty of time for romancing, although he wasn’t always successful.
Sometimes though he was, sharing his first kiss with Coco Darcy. She was a few years older than him, and frankly a bit bossy, but for some reason, he found himself finding that really attractive.
For the whole family things had been going so well, until that one stormy day when everything changed. Matthew left a message saying he was visiting a friend, and was never heard from again.