89 The Japan Trip 1 (1/2)

However, Joann stopped herself at the last minute. This was because she was also taught the important lesson of not looking a gift horse in the mouth and she felt like this was a good time to practice that. She had taught Sylvia similar lesson so practice what you preach, right?

Furthermore, from what Xiu Ling had said, both the plane tickets and hotel rooms had been paid for so it would sound rude for her to question the giver's intention. Plus, she failed to see how a free trip to Japan could be hiding any malicious intent.

Therefore, Joann went along with it and asked about the details of the trip instead, ”When will we be leaving? What is our date of departure?”

There was another period of silence at the other end of the phone. Caught in her excitement, Xiu Ling had completely forgotten about this most basic detail.

Accompanied by an awkward laugh, Xiu Ling told Joann, ”One minute, let me ask Lin Kang.”

Joann smiled at the mistake done by her ditzy friend. ”Okay.”

A few seconds later, Xiu Ling's voice came back on. ”We'll be leaving this weekend.”

”This weekend?!” Joann repeated with consternation. ”But that is so soon…”

”Joann, let's just drop everything and go. Haven't we been planning for a girl's trip for so long? So why not now?” Xiu Ling pleaded. ”We don't have much to pack since it's just the two of us. There'll be no husbands, families and troubles back at home. Trust me, the change of scenery will do you good.”

Joann thought about it and she had to admit the offer does sound tempting. A trip to a foreign could be the very thing that she needed to forget about the scandal back at home.

Joann found it funny that somehow in that moment, their roles had switched. Normally, it would her, the more brazen one convincing Xiu Ling, who was the more cautious one of the two, to do things that the latter was hesitant to participate in.

Then again, Joann understood this break in character for Xiu Ling. Since her best friend came from a modest family background, this was probably the first time Xiu Ling had travelled out of the country.

As a celebrity, Joann had gone to many places already and the allure of travelling had slowly worn out over the years. However, for Xiu Ling, it was probably something exciting and new. Joann envisioned it would be something similar to how she felt when she travelled overseas for the first time.

In the end, for the sake of her friend, Joann agreed to this impromptu trip. Joann smiled when she heard the barely contained cheer coming from the other end of the phone.

”I'll see you this weekend then, Joann. I'll need to go pack now! I wonder what we need to bring…” Xiu Ling said before hanging up.