Perhaps because it was afternoon, with workers still at work and tourists already at their destinations, the elevated bridge from David Island to Manro Island had far fewer cars than Liu Qing had expected. They made good time and returned to the Eight-Leaf Lotus Hotel on Manro Island in less than half an hour. After Liu Qing parked the car and approached the hotel entrance with Cynthia, however, the doorman informed them that someone was waiting for them.
"Who could it be?" Liu Qing wondered, feeling a little helpless. Anyone coming at this hour clearly knew their movements well. Who else could it be but their parents, who apparently hadn't been satisfied with checking on them over the phone?
"Could it be my grandmother? She must be very interested in the Pearl of the Sea!" Cynthia guessed as she entered the lobby with Liu Qing.
As soon as they entered, Liu Qing spotted May and Max sitting on a sofa in the lobby's guest lounge. A red-bodied Wurmple with yellow spikes on its head and tail lay on Max's lap, while Ralts stood behind him, apparently studying Wurmple. Since Max was facing the entrance, he spotted Liu Qing and Cynthia at the same time. "Ah, it's Mr. Liu Qing and Lady Cynthia! May, let's go over!"
"Hello, May, Max. We meet again!" Liu Qing and Cynthia greeted the siblings.
"Mr. Liu Qing, Lady Cynthia, we only found out that something so terrible had happened on David Island when we saw the news last night. We hadn't heard anything about either of you, so when we saw the report a little while ago saying you'd left the hospital and returned to Manro Island, Max and I came over. We happened to be here looking at the flowers!" May explained.
"Thank you