The Goddess and the Ugly Duckling: C52
Coming Out Again
This novel was posted on cntranslations [dot] com, by anasiana. If you're not reading it there, you get what you get ￣へ￣)
Joanna: "Xiaoyu, before I got here, I had no intention in the slightest of confessing to you. I even felt as though I was dying on the inside when I arrived. But I never expected that after meeting you, and speaking with you, it would feel exactly as I had imagined. There was no disappointment, all I felt instead was more joy."
iana: The scenes when Xiaoya confronts her mom and turns into a little puppy-eyed kid is why she still doesn't get how big losing them might hit. She has faith her parents would come around, and that could happen, it's her parents. That's the future she sees. While, as a kid who knows what longing for a parent feels like, Lu Xiaobei sees the route where the girl she loves could be permanently estranged from her family, who she loves. That Yunta High bit really put the fear of God in her. Poor girls.
After Joanna finished speaking, Xiaoya took a conscious step back, and Joanna felt a light tinge that nothing good was coming. She was right.
Heartbroken, Xiaoya finally spoke. "Mom... please, don't cry."
Xiaoya: Captain, I had to come out again.
After saying her peace, Xiaoya turned and left the hotel. Joanna had been a bit too loud just now so a lot of people were looking their way in confusion, which made Xiaoya feel somewhat embarrassed.
"Captain read a few of the postcards you had sent me. After she did, she said you had feelings for me and I told her she was just overthinking it back then. It turns out I alone was the fool. But... you knew, you always knew I had a girlfriend."
"Captain read a few of the postcards you had sent me. After she did, she said you had feelings for me and I told her she was just overthinking it back then. It turns out I alone was the fool. But... you knew, you always knew I had a girlfriend."
Xiaoya wanted to tell Lu Xiaobei to not be too hard on her, but she knew she was the one in the wrong and a part of her wanted to be scolded. She went on to tell Lu Xiaobei how she met up with Joanna and made sure to emphasize her mother's reaction when she found out Xiaoya hadn't changed.
Xiaoya: It... it happened by accident.
Again, she had become that high-schooler who was scared witless. She couldn't even bring herself to pull out her phone to message Lu Xiaobei.
Heartbroken, Xiaoya finally spoke. "Mom... please, don't cry."
"From the first time I began sending postcards, I had done so with the intention of finding a girlfriend, so that's why I used that phrase as my nickname." Joanna confessed before she continued, "Most people were just curios, and sent back my cards. I lost hope at that time, at least I had until I came across you. Xiaoyu—"
Her father: "Sounds good. We can even afford your tuition if you can't get through with a scholarship. You can go explore countries in Europe, both big and small, then. Anyhow, you're an adult now, so the decision is all yours."
"From the first time I began sending postcards, I had done so with the intention of finding a girlfriend, so that's why I used that phrase as my nickname." Joanna confessed before she continued, "Most people were just curios, and sent back my cards. I lost hope at that time, at least I had until I came across you. Xiaoyu—"
Xiaoya wanted to tell Lu Xiaobei to not be too hard on her, but she knew she was the one in the wrong and a part of her wanted to be scolded. She went on to tell Lu Xiaobei how she met up with Joanna and made sure to emphasize her mother's reaction when she found out Xiaoya hadn't changed.
Lu Xiaobei: I'll just take another day off. Besides, just who told you you can go meeting up with that pen pal of yours in secret, huh?! Just wait until I get back, I'm going to deal with you properly!
Lu Xiaobei: This... it's not necessarily a bad thing. Anyhow, I'm coming back to Nancheng tonight, so don't worry yourself too much, alright.
But, from the side, her father interjected, telling his wife, "Don't talk as if she can't do it, she's still here right now, isn't she? You can still start to teach her to practice cooking now, but even as a girl her age, it was you who usually couldn't bear to let her do so much as washing her own dish."
Her mother: "So you want to go study abroad? Are you planning on going there on your own?"
Xiaoya cut her off to make a statement of her own. "Sorry, I'm genuinely sorry. But you're nothing like what I had imagined. I regret that I came to meet you today." Her words were more of a ramble, but they were nonetheless resolute. "I originally came today because I wanted to explain things to you clearly. My girlfriend doesn't like the idea of us exchanging postcards. I have my post graduate exams coming up and I won't be sending you any cards again either, so there's no need for you to send me any as well."
Xiaoya: "No."
Hearing her words, Joanna knew that if she gave up now there would no longer be any in the future, so grabbing hold of Xiaoya, she argued, "But she doesn't deserve you, I don't believe she's worthy of you. If it were me, I'd never even think of leaving you! I'm even willing to come all the way to Nancheng for you! I'd never interfere in your relationship with your friends! I'd put your opinion on those matters above all else!"
This made Xiaoya believe it was a false alarm, until she got in the car and they drove home together. Her mother made no moves to say a word the entire ride there, and that's what made Xiaoya aware a great storm was ahead.
Hearing her words, Joanna knew that if she gave up now there would no longer be any in the future, so grabbing hold of Xiaoya, she argued, "But she doesn't deserve you, I don't believe she's worthy of you. If it were me, I'd never even think of leaving you! I'm even willing to come all the way to Nancheng for you! I'd never interfere in your relationship with your friends! I'd put your opinion on those matters above all else!"
Taking couple steps to the side, Xiaoya moved away from Joanna and added, "This is it. Even though I was really happy I had gotten to know you, our ties will end here. So, please, don't do anything further to destroy the beautiful memories left between us."
It is said, waiting for the sentencing of death was more torturous than dying itself.
Xiaoya: Captain, I had to come out again.
Noticing people around the hotel starting to look their way, Xiaoya grabbed Joanna by the arms, asked her to not be so agitated and said in an effort to calm her, "But you are still not the person I thought you were. Didn't I just tell you that I regret coming here for us to meet? That's because the pen pal I imagined you to be was a bright and upright person that would never try to steal someone else's girlfriend! Neither would she be the kind of person that would expect me to betray my lover!"
"Are you planning on doing your postgraduate studies overseas?" Her father asked while they sat at the dinner table.
Taking couple steps to the side, Xiaoya moved away from Joanna and added, "This is it. Even though I was really happy I had gotten to know you, our ties will end here. So, please, don't do anything further to destroy the beautiful memories left between us."
It is said, waiting for the sentencing of death was more torturous than dying itself.
The next Friday morning, Xiaoya's mother made her breakfast as usual and called her out of bed. "Your school is further away from here so I asked your father to give you a lift."
Lu Xiaobei: You haven't even graduated as yet. Why didn't you discuss it with me before doing something like this?
After saying her peace, Xiaoya turned and left the hotel. Joanna had been a bit too loud just now so a lot of people were looking their way in confusion, which made Xiaoya feel somewhat embarrassed.
Her mother: "So you want to go study abroad? Are you planning on going there on your own?"
A good while passed before Lu Xiaobei messaged back after hearing this.
Lu Xiaobei: You haven't even graduated as yet. Why didn't you discuss it with me before doing something like this?
"From the first time I began sending postcards, I had done so with the intention of finding a girlfriend, so that's why I used that phrase as my nickname." Joanna confessed before she continued, "Most people were just curios, and sent back my cards. I lost hope at that time, at least I had until I came across you. Xiaoyu—"
Xiaoya: Captain, I had to come out again.
So, to herself, as she made her way from the hotel, Xiaoya chanted that there was no one there to recognise her and no one would know who she was.
Soon, she lifted her eyes to meet her mother's, only to then discover se couldn't utter a word.
Xiaoya: "No."
Lu Xiaobei: Didn't you say you'd wait?
With her head down, she hurried to the train station to get home because she didn't have enough money to take a taxi after paying for what they had at that coffee shop earlier, which were not cheap. But before she even got that far away, Xiaoya felt a noticeably strong gaze focused on her from somewhere to the side that she did her best to ignore, but it was sharp enough to feel like a knife on her back.
All sorts of thoughts swirled in Xiaoya's head, but before she could spit out an excuse, her mother walked over to her and spoke first. "Let's head back home first."
With a frown, she turned to meet its direction. It's not Joanna still insistent of pestering me, is it? She didn't come off as somebody who could do something so cheap.
You can do this! Xiaoya cheered in her heart before responding.
N/A
Heartbroken, Xiaoya finally spoke. "Mom... please, don't cry."
But the person who met Xiaoya's eyes was not one she had ever expected.
"I still haven't decided which school I'd like to attend. But I heard from a female senior of mine that there are a lot of Chinese students studying abroad. Of course having people you already know there was the best, but if there was no one, you could just make new friends."
Noticing people around the hotel starting to look their way, Xiaoya grabbed Joanna by the arms, asked her to not be so agitated and said in an effort to calm her, "But you are still not the person I thought you were. Didn't I just tell you that I regret coming here for us to meet? That's because the pen pal I imagined you to be was a bright and upright person that would never try to steal someone else's girlfriend! Neither would she be the kind of person that would expect me to betray my lover!"
Her mother's voice was gentle, no different from it usually had been.
But, from the side, her father interjected, telling his wife, "Don't talk as if she can't do it, she's still here right now, isn't she? You can still start to teach her to practice cooking now, but even as a girl her age, it was you who usually couldn't bear to let her do so much as washing her own dish."
Lu Xiaobei: This... it's not necessarily a bad thing. Anyhow, I'm coming back to Nancheng tonight, so don't worry yourself too much, alright.
Seeing them, her jaw fell in shock while her legs froze in place. The flow of people moving through the station, all the noise filling smothering the atmosphere, everything, all of it disappeared. Everything around her was drained of colour, and all that was left was the person who stood five steps away from her.
She desperately clung to the hopes that her mother hadn't seen her just being grabbed by Joanna and had only just arrived. She also hoped she could end the matter by saying they were just classmates who had a small dispute, but... Joanna's look and dress were clearly too mature, it made the odds of her mother buying her as a fellow student get tossed out the window, so... Could I just say she was just someone I met working part-time, just a friend?
Once there, she messaged Lu Xiaobei.
Seeming to understand it all now, her mother nodded before adding in a voice that ad grown weak, "I get it now."
Once there, she messaged Lu Xiaobei.
When they got home, her mother's first question was: "Was that girl your current girlfriend?"
Their eyes met, flooding Xiaoya with an instant sense of panic as she watched the emotions swirl on the other person's face that could only be described as complex.
Joanna: "Xiaoyu, before I got here, I had no intention in the slightest of confessing to you. I even felt as though I was dying on the inside when I arrived. But I never expected that after meeting you, and speaking with you, it would feel exactly as I had imagined. There was no disappointment, all I felt instead was more joy."
Taking couple steps to the side, Xiaoya moved away from Joanna and added, "This is it. Even though I was really happy I had gotten to know you, our ties will end here. So, please, don't do anything further to destroy the beautiful memories left between us."
After Xiaoya's afternoon class was over, she went back to her family home. But even until the Sunday afternoon went Lu Xiaobei had to go back, her mother didn't say anything or do anything in objection. Life at her house remained unchanged, it was the same old usual calm.
Xiaoya: Captain, I had to come out again.
Noticing people around the hotel starting to look their way, Xiaoya grabbed Joanna by the arms, asked her to not be so agitated and said in an effort to calm her, "But you are still not the person I thought you were. Didn't I just tell you that I regret coming here for us to meet? That's because the pen pal I imagined you to be was a bright and upright person that would never try to steal someone else's girlfriend! Neither would she be the kind of person that would expect me to betray my lover!"
Xiaoya mumbled, still unable to properly voice her words out. Inside, there was still a small part of her that wanted her to just turn around and run, but... she couldn't do that, she didn't want to run away any longer.
Their eyes met, flooding Xiaoya with an instant sense of panic as she watched the emotions swirl on the other person's face that could only be described as complex.
Xiaoya: "I've thought about it. Doing my postgraduate degree overseas would take one or two years at most, and it's also the perfect opportunity for me to go see the world. Europe has some universities that don't have sky-high fees and there's an option to apply for a scholarship as well."
"Look at me in the eyes and say it clearly." In a whisper, her mother urged.
"How can those even be considered the same as this?!" Her mother argued.
Lu Xiaobei: Didn't you say you'd wait?
So mustering up every bit of courage she could, Xiaoya proceeded to call out, "Mom."
N/A
But, from the side, her father interjected, telling his wife, "Don't talk as if she can't do it, she's still here right now, isn't she? You can still start to teach her to practice cooking now, but even as a girl her age, it was you who usually couldn't bear to let her do so much as washing her own dish."
Xiaoya: It... it happened by accident.
She desperately clung to the hopes that her mother hadn't seen her just being grabbed by Joanna and had only just arrived. She also hoped she could end the matter by saying they were just classmates who had a small dispute, but... Joanna's look and dress were clearly too mature, it made the odds of her mother buying her as a fellow student get tossed out the window, so... Could I just say she was just someone I met working part-time, just a friend?
Taking couple steps to the side, Xiaoya moved away from Joanna and added, "This is it. Even though I was really happy I had gotten to know you, our ties will end here. So, please, don't do anything further to destroy the beautiful memories left between us."
All sorts of thoughts swirled in Xiaoya's head, but before she could spit out an excuse, her mother walked over to her and spoke first. "Let's head back home first."
Hearing her words, Joanna knew that if she gave up now there would no longer be any in the future, so grabbing hold of Xiaoya, she argued, "But she doesn't deserve you, I don't believe she's worthy of you. If it were me, I'd never even think of leaving you! I'm even willing to come all the way to Nancheng for you! I'd never interfere in your relationship with your friends! I'd put your opinion on those matters above all else!"
Pretending as if it was nothing, Xiaoya then replied casually, "For both high school and college I lived in dormitories. As a result, I'm pretty sure my ability to care for myself of quite strong."
Xiaoya: "Okay."
Her mother's voice was gentle, no different from it usually had been.
Xiaoya: But today is still a weekday, you have work tomorrow.
Not even three seconds later, her phone lit up with a message from Lu Xiaobei.
Xiaoya had nothing else to say to her father who was oblivious to the situation, so she turned her attention to her mother, the biggest mountain in her family to surpass and the woman who understood clearly what her daughter was suggesting.
This made Xiaoya believe it was a false alarm, until she got in the car and they drove home together. Her mother made no moves to say a word the entire ride there, and that's what made Xiaoya aware a great storm was ahead.
And, like this, for four weekends since then, despite being so busy she was constantly called on the train, Lu Xiaobei still insisted on returning to Nancheng each time. So, finally unable to just wait on bated breath any longer, Xiaoya decided to probe her mother.
Lu Xiaobei: I'll just take another day off. Besides, just who told you you can go meeting up with that pen pal of yours in secret, huh?! Just wait until I get back, I'm going to deal with you properly!
"How about you answer this, then. In high school, were you going out with that boy?"
Pretending as if it was nothing, Xiaoya then replied casually, "For both high school and college I lived in dormitories. As a result, I'm pretty sure my ability to care for myself of quite strong."
Noticing people around the hotel starting to look their way, Xiaoya grabbed Joanna by the arms, asked her to not be so agitated and said in an effort to calm her, "But you are still not the person I thought you were. Didn't I just tell you that I regret coming here for us to meet? That's because the pen pal I imagined you to be was a bright and upright person that would never try to steal someone else's girlfriend! Neither would she be the kind of person that would expect me to betray my lover!"
Her mother's voice was gentle, no different from it usually had been.
After Joanna finished speaking, Xiaoya took a conscious step back, and Joanna felt a light tinge that nothing good was coming. She was right.
Again, she had become that high-schooler who was scared witless. She couldn't even bring herself to pull out her phone to message Lu Xiaobei.
A good while passed before Lu Xiaobei messaged back after hearing this.
"Look at me in the eyes and say it clearly." In a whisper, her mother urged.
Their eyes met, flooding Xiaoya with an instant sense of panic as she watched the emotions swirl on the other person's face that could only be described as complex.
After Xiaoya's afternoon class was over, she went back to her family home. But even until the Sunday afternoon went Lu Xiaobei had to go back, her mother didn't say anything or do anything in objection. Life at her house remained unchanged, it was the same old usual calm.
Xiaoya mumbled, still unable to properly voice her words out. Inside, there was still a small part of her that wanted her to just turn around and run, but... she couldn't do that, she didn't want to run away any longer.
Her father: "Sounds good. We can even afford your tuition if you can't get through with a scholarship. You can go explore countries in Europe, both big and small, then. Anyhow, you're an adult now, so the decision is all yours."
Xiaoya cut her off to make a statement of her own. "Sorry, I'm genuinely sorry. But you're nothing like what I had imagined. I regret that I came to meet you today." Her words were more of a ramble, but they were nonetheless resolute. "I originally came today because I wanted to explain things to you clearly. My girlfriend doesn't like the idea of us exchanging postcards. I have my post graduate exams coming up and I won't be sending you any cards again either, so there's no need for you to send me any as well."
When they got home, her mother's first question was: "Was that girl your current girlfriend?"
When they got home, her mother's first question was: "Was that girl your current girlfriend?"
Xiaoya wanted to tell Lu Xiaobei to not be too hard on her, but she knew she was the one in the wrong and a part of her wanted to be scolded. She went on to tell Lu Xiaobei how she met up with Joanna and made sure to emphasize her mother's reaction when she found out Xiaoya hadn't changed.
You can do this! Xiaoya cheered in her heart before responding.
After Xiaoya's afternoon class was over, she went back to her family home. But even until the Sunday afternoon went Lu Xiaobei had to go back, her mother didn't say anything or do anything in objection. Life at her house remained unchanged, it was the same old usual calm.
When they got home, her mother's first question was: "Was that girl your current girlfriend?"
Xiaoya: "No."
Xiaoya: Captain, I had to come out again.
"I still haven't decided which school I'd like to attend. But I heard from a female senior of mine that there are a lot of Chinese students studying abroad. Of course having people you already know there was the best, but if there was no one, you could just make new friends."
Xiaoya: ...
Her mother: "Is there a girl you're dating right now?"
Xiaoya cut her off to make a statement of her own. "Sorry, I'm genuinely sorry. But you're nothing like what I had imagined. I regret that I came to meet you today." Her words were more of a ramble, but they were nonetheless resolute. "I originally came today because I wanted to explain things to you clearly. My girlfriend doesn't like the idea of us exchanging postcards. I have my post graduate exams coming up and I won't be sending you any cards again either, so there's no need for you to send me any as well."
Pretending as if it was nothing, Xiaoya then replied casually, "For both high school and college I lived in dormitories. As a result, I'm pretty sure my ability to care for myself of quite strong."
Lu Xiaobei: I'll just take another day off. Besides, just who told you you can go meeting up with that pen pal of yours in secret, huh?! Just wait until I get back, I'm going to deal with you properly!
Heartbroken, Xiaoya finally spoke. "Mom... please, don't cry."
Xiaoya cut her off to make a statement of her own. "Sorry, I'm genuinely sorry. But you're nothing like what I had imagined. I regret that I came to meet you today." Her words were more of a ramble, but they were nonetheless resolute. "I originally came today because I wanted to explain things to you clearly. My girlfriend doesn't like the idea of us exchanging postcards. I have my post graduate exams coming up and I won't be sending you any cards again either, so there's no need for you to send me any as well."
Xiaoya's mother ignored her husband, however, and spoke directly to Xiaoya next, "For now, let's drop it, but tonight you and I will be having a proper chat."
Her mother's voice was gentle, no different from it usually had been.
Xiaoya: "There... isn't..."
Lu Xiaobei: You haven't even graduated as yet. Why didn't you discuss it with me before doing something like this?
So, to herself, as she made her way from the hotel, Xiaoya chanted that there was no one there to recognise her and no one would know who she was.
Her mother: "Is there a girl you're dating right now?"
"Look at me in the eyes and say it clearly." In a whisper, her mother urged.
But all throughout, Xiaoya's heart was still uneasy. At noon, after class was over, she went back to the apartment she and Lu Xiaobei shared. The two discussed everything for a long time, but no particularly great idea came from it. Lu Xiaobei then simply told her, "Don't worry about it too much. If both your parents come to know about it, just call me and I'll face them with you."
"Look at me in the eyes and say it clearly." In a whisper, her mother urged.
"How can those even be considered the same as this?!" Her mother argued.
Seeing them, her jaw fell in shock while her legs froze in place. The flow of people moving through the station, all the noise filling smothering the atmosphere, everything, all of it disappeared. Everything around her was drained of colour, and all that was left was the person who stood five steps away from her.
But the person who met Xiaoya's eyes was not one she had ever expected.
Soon, she lifted her eyes to meet her mother's, only to then discover se couldn't utter a word.
Xiaoya: ...
The older woman had a pair of large, beautiful eyes which curved into an enchanting shape around a pair of pitch-black pupils. Normally, Xiaoya loved looking at these eyes a lot, and would never fail to gripe about how she never inherited any of her mother's best features. But now, as Xiaoya stood before her mother, all she could feel was sorrow. She couldn't bring herself to stare directly at those eyes now gazing at her sharply, and did her best to calm herself after becoming aware of the thuds from her own pounding heart.
Seeing them, her jaw fell in shock while her legs froze in place. The flow of people moving through the station, all the noise filling smothering the atmosphere, everything, all of it disappeared. Everything around her was drained of colour, and all that was left was the person who stood five steps away from her.
Pretending as if it was nothing, Xiaoya then replied casually, "For both high school and college I lived in dormitories. As a result, I'm pretty sure my ability to care for myself of quite strong."
Seeming to understand it all now, her mother nodded before adding in a voice that ad grown weak, "I get it now."
Soon, she lifted her eyes to meet her mother's, only to then discover se couldn't utter a word.
The next Friday morning, Xiaoya's mother made her breakfast as usual and called her out of bed. "Your school is further away from here so I asked your father to give you a lift."
It is said, waiting for the sentencing of death was more torturous than dying itself.
After Joanna finished speaking, Xiaoya took a conscious step back, and Joanna felt a light tinge that nothing good was coming. She was right.
"How about you answer this, then. In high school, were you going out with that boy?"
So, to herself, as she made her way from the hotel, Xiaoya chanted that there was no one there to recognise her and no one would know who she was.
Xiaoya's parents had always believed she found a boyfriend wile at Yunta High and that they eventually broke up after their college entrance exams because they went to different places. Xiaoya had never denied it was the case, and even used her supposed broken heart as an excuse for her to go on vacation with Lu Xiaobei that summer before her freshman year as a means to ignore her pain.
But all throughout, Xiaoya's heart was still uneasy. At noon, after class was over, she went back to the apartment she and Lu Xiaobei shared. The two discussed everything for a long time, but no particularly great idea came from it. Lu Xiaobei then simply told her, "Don't worry about it too much. If both your parents come to know about it, just call me and I'll face them with you."
Her father: "Sounds good. We can even afford your tuition if you can't get through with a scholarship. You can go explore countries in Europe, both big and small, then. Anyhow, you're an adult now, so the decision is all yours."
Once there, she messaged Lu Xiaobei.
Seeming to understand it all now, her mother nodded before adding in a voice that ad grown weak, "I get it now."
Xiaoya wanted to tell Lu Xiaobei to not be too hard on her, but she knew she was the one in the wrong and a part of her wanted to be scolded. She went on to tell Lu Xiaobei how she met up with Joanna and made sure to emphasize her mother's reaction when she found out Xiaoya hadn't changed.
When she returned to her family home that Friday evening, she told her parents, "A roommate of mine signed up for English classes and asked me to join them. After thinking about it, even if it's just for the sake of learning English, or if I plan on taking the IELTST/n: International English Language Testing System, an international standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. in the future, it'll be useful either way."
The older woman had a pair of large, beautiful eyes which curved into an enchanting shape around a pair of pitch-black pupils. Normally, Xiaoya loved looking at these eyes a lot, and would never fail to gripe about how she never inherited any of her mother's best features. But now, as Xiaoya stood before her mother, all she could feel was sorrow. She couldn't bring herself to stare directly at those eyes now gazing at her sharply, and did her best to calm herself after becoming aware of the thuds from her own pounding heart.
Her mother's voice was gentle, no different from it usually had been.
Xiaoya cut her off to make a statement of her own. "Sorry, I'm genuinely sorry. But you're nothing like what I had imagined. I regret that I came to meet you today." Her words were more of a ramble, but they were nonetheless resolute. "I originally came today because I wanted to explain things to you clearly. My girlfriend doesn't like the idea of us exchanging postcards. I have my post graduate exams coming up and I won't be sending you any cards again either, so there's no need for you to send me any as well."
Heartbroken, Xiaoya finally spoke. "Mom... please, don't cry."
"From the first time I began sending postcards, I had done so with the intention of finding a girlfriend, so that's why I used that phrase as my nickname." Joanna confessed before she continued, "Most people were just curios, and sent back my cards. I lost hope at that time, at least I had until I came across you. Xiaoyu—"
Reaching out a hand, her mother caressed her head. "I'm not going to cry, don't fret. Just go to your room for now, okay? I need some time. Your mom just needs some time to think all this over properly, alright?"
Xiaoya's parents had always believed she found a boyfriend wile at Yunta High and that they eventually broke up after their college entrance exams because they went to different places. Xiaoya had never denied it was the case, and even used her supposed broken heart as an excuse for her to go on vacation with Lu Xiaobei that summer before her freshman year as a means to ignore her pain.
Their eyes met, flooding Xiaoya with an instant sense of panic as she watched the emotions swirl on the other person's face that could only be described as complex.
Coming Out Again
Xiaoya had no idea what she should do at this time either, so she listened to her mother and made her way to her room.
Again, she had become that high-schooler who was scared witless. She couldn't even bring herself to pull out her phone to message Lu Xiaobei.
With a frown, she turned to meet its direction. It's not Joanna still insistent of pestering me, is it? She didn't come off as somebody who could do something so cheap.
"I still haven't decided which school I'd like to attend. But I heard from a female senior of mine that there are a lot of Chinese students studying abroad. Of course having people you already know there was the best, but if there was no one, you could just make new friends."
All sorts of thoughts swirled in Xiaoya's head, but before she could spit out an excuse, her mother walked over to her and spoke first. "Let's head back home first."
But all throughout, Xiaoya's heart was still uneasy. At noon, after class was over, she went back to the apartment she and Lu Xiaobei shared. The two discussed everything for a long time, but no particularly great idea came from it. Lu Xiaobei then simply told her, "Don't worry about it too much. If both your parents come to know about it, just call me and I'll face them with you."
Once there, she messaged Lu Xiaobei.
Coming Out Again
Lu Xiaobei: You haven't even graduated as yet. Why didn't you discuss it with me before doing something like this?
Xiaoya cut her off to make a statement of her own. "Sorry, I'm genuinely sorry. But you're nothing like what I had imagined. I regret that I came to meet you today." Her words were more of a ramble, but they were nonetheless resolute. "I originally came today because I wanted to explain things to you clearly. My girlfriend doesn't like the idea of us exchanging postcards. I have my post graduate exams coming up and I won't be sending you any cards again either, so there's no need for you to send me any as well."
Soon, she lifted her eyes to meet her mother's, only to then discover se couldn't utter a word.
Xiaoya cut her off to make a statement of her own. "Sorry, I'm genuinely sorry. But you're nothing like what I had imagined. I regret that I came to meet you today." Her words were more of a ramble, but they were nonetheless resolute. "I originally came today because I wanted to explain things to you clearly. My girlfriend doesn't like the idea of us exchanging postcards. I have my post graduate exams coming up and I won't be sending you any cards again either, so there's no need for you to send me any as well."
Hearing her words, Joanna knew that if she gave up now there would no longer be any in the future, so grabbing hold of Xiaoya, she argued, "But she doesn't deserve you, I don't believe she's worthy of you. If it were me, I'd never even think of leaving you! I'm even willing to come all the way to Nancheng for you! I'd never interfere in your relationship with your friends! I'd put your opinion on those matters above all else!"
Xiaoya: Captain, I had to come out again.
Xiaoya: Captain, I had to come out again.
The older woman had a pair of large, beautiful eyes which curved into an enchanting shape around a pair of pitch-black pupils. Normally, Xiaoya loved looking at these eyes a lot, and would never fail to gripe about how she never inherited any of her mother's best features. But now, as Xiaoya stood before her mother, all she could feel was sorrow. She couldn't bring herself to stare directly at those eyes now gazing at her sharply, and did her best to calm herself after becoming aware of the thuds from her own pounding heart.
Not even three seconds later, her phone lit up with a message from Lu Xiaobei.
With a frown, she turned to meet its direction. It's not Joanna still insistent of pestering me, is it? She didn't come off as somebody who could do something so cheap.
Xiaoya had no idea what she should do at this time either, so she listened to her mother and made her way to her room.
Hearing her words, Joanna knew that if she gave up now there would no longer be any in the future, so grabbing hold of Xiaoya, she argued, "But she doesn't deserve you, I don't believe she's worthy of you. If it were me, I'd never even think of leaving you! I'm even willing to come all the way to Nancheng for you! I'd never interfere in your relationship with your friends! I'd put your opinion on those matters above all else!"
Xiaoya mumbled, still unable to properly voice her words out. Inside, there was still a small part of her that wanted her to just turn around and run, but... she couldn't do that, she didn't want to run away any longer.
Xiaoya: "Okay."
Lu Xiaobei: Didn't you say you'd wait?
Reaching out a hand, her mother caressed her head. "I'm not going to cry, don't fret. Just go to your room for now, okay? I need some time. Your mom just needs some time to think all this over properly, alright?"
Lu Xiaobei: You haven't even graduated as yet. Why didn't you discuss it with me before doing something like this?
"Look at me in the eyes and say it clearly." In a whisper, her mother urged.
Xiaoya: It... it happened by accident.
Not even three seconds later, her phone lit up with a message from Lu Xiaobei.
"From the first time I began sending postcards, I had done so with the intention of finding a girlfriend, so that's why I used that phrase as my nickname." Joanna confessed before she continued, "Most people were just curios, and sent back my cards. I lost hope at that time, at least I had until I came across you. Xiaoyu—"
With a frown, she turned to meet its direction. It's not Joanna still insistent of pestering me, is it? She didn't come off as somebody who could do something so cheap.
Xiaoya wanted to tell Lu Xiaobei to not be too hard on her, but she knew she was the one in the wrong and a part of her wanted to be scolded. She went on to tell Lu Xiaobei how she met up with Joanna and made sure to emphasize her mother's reaction when she found out Xiaoya hadn't changed.
Her mother: "Fine, but when you go abroad alone, can you take care of yourself properly, then?"
Xiaoya: "No."
"From the first time I began sending postcards, I had done so with the intention of finding a girlfriend, so that's why I used that phrase as my nickname." Joanna confessed before she continued, "Most people were just curios, and sent back my cards. I lost hope at that time, at least I had until I came across you. Xiaoyu—"
After Xiaoya's afternoon class was over, she went back to her family home. But even until the Sunday afternoon went Lu Xiaobei had to go back, her mother didn't say anything or do anything in objection. Life at her house remained unchanged, it was the same old usual calm.
Heartbroken, Xiaoya finally spoke. "Mom... please, don't cry."
A good while passed before Lu Xiaobei messaged back after hearing this.
Her mother: "Is there a girl you're dating right now?"
"Are you planning on doing your postgraduate studies overseas?" Her father asked while they sat at the dinner table.
Lu Xiaobei: This... it's not necessarily a bad thing. Anyhow, I'm coming back to Nancheng tonight, so don't worry yourself too much, alright.
Her mother: "Is there a girl you're dating right now?"
Xiaoya cut her off to make a statement of her own. "Sorry, I'm genuinely sorry. But you're nothing like what I had imagined. I regret that I came to meet you today." Her words were more of a ramble, but they were nonetheless resolute. "I originally came today because I wanted to explain things to you clearly. My girlfriend doesn't like the idea of us exchanging postcards. I have my post graduate exams coming up and I won't be sending you any cards again either, so there's no need for you to send me any as well."
Lu Xiaobei: This... it's not necessarily a bad thing. Anyhow, I'm coming back to Nancheng tonight, so don't worry yourself too much, alright.
Xiaoya: "I've thought about it. Doing my postgraduate degree overseas would take one or two years at most, and it's also the perfect opportunity for me to go see the world. Europe has some universities that don't have sky-high fees and there's an option to apply for a scholarship as well."
Xiaoya: But today is still a weekday, you have work tomorrow.
Xiaoya: "There... isn't..."
Xiaoya: It... it happened by accident.
Lu Xiaobei: I'll just take another day off. Besides, just who told you you can go meeting up with that pen pal of yours in secret, huh?! Just wait until I get back, I'm going to deal with you properly!
After Xiaoya's afternoon class was over, she went back to her family home. But even until the Sunday afternoon went Lu Xiaobei had to go back, her mother didn't say anything or do anything in objection. Life at her house remained unchanged, it was the same old usual calm.
Taking couple steps to the side, Xiaoya moved away from Joanna and added, "This is it. Even though I was really happy I had gotten to know you, our ties will end here. So, please, don't do anything further to destroy the beautiful memories left between us."
"From the first time I began sending postcards, I had done so with the intention of finding a girlfriend, so that's why I used that phrase as my nickname." Joanna confessed before she continued, "Most people were just curios, and sent back my cards. I lost hope at that time, at least I had until I came across you. Xiaoyu—"
N/A
Lu Xiaobei: I'll just take another day off. Besides, just who told you you can go meeting up with that pen pal of yours in secret, huh?! Just wait until I get back, I'm going to deal with you properly!
With her head down, she hurried to the train station to get home because she didn't have enough money to take a taxi after paying for what they had at that coffee shop earlier, which were not cheap. But before she even got that far away, Xiaoya felt a noticeably strong gaze focused on her from somewhere to the side that she did her best to ignore, but it was sharp enough to feel like a knife on her back.
Her mother: "So you want to go study abroad? Are you planning on going there on your own?"
But all throughout, Xiaoya's heart was still uneasy. At noon, after class was over, she went back to the apartment she and Lu Xiaobei shared. The two discussed everything for a long time, but no particularly great idea came from it. Lu Xiaobei then simply told her, "Don't worry about it too much. If both your parents come to know about it, just call me and I'll face them with you."
But the person who met Xiaoya's eyes was not one she had ever expected.
N/A
Xiaoya: ...
Seeming to understand it all now, her mother nodded before adding in a voice that ad grown weak, "I get it now."
The next Friday morning, Xiaoya's mother made her breakfast as usual and called her out of bed. "Your school is further away from here so I asked your father to give you a lift."
Lu Xiaobei: Didn't you say you'd wait?
Her mother: "Is there a girl you're dating right now?"
Hearing her words, Joanna knew that if she gave up now there would no longer be any in the future, so grabbing hold of Xiaoya, she argued, "But she doesn't deserve you, I don't believe she's worthy of you. If it were me, I'd never even think of leaving you! I'm even willing to come all the way to Nancheng for you! I'd never interfere in your relationship with your friends! I'd put your opinion on those matters above all else!"
After Joanna finished speaking, Xiaoya took a conscious step back, and Joanna felt a light tinge that nothing good was coming. She was right.
Taking couple steps to the side, Xiaoya moved away from Joanna and added, "This is it. Even though I was really happy I had gotten to know you, our ties will end here. So, please, don't do anything further to destroy the beautiful memories left between us."
When she returned to her family home that Friday evening, she told her parents, "A roommate of mine signed up for English classes and asked me to join them. After thinking about it, even if it's just for the sake of learning English, or if I plan on taking the IELTST/n: International English Language Testing System, an international standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. in the future, it'll be useful either way."
Lu Xiaobei: Didn't you say you'd wait?
Xiaoya: "Okay."
Xiaoya's mother ignored her husband, however, and spoke directly to Xiaoya next, "For now, let's drop it, but tonight you and I will be having a proper chat."
Lu Xiaobei: I'll just take another day off. Besides, just who told you you can go meeting up with that pen pal of yours in secret, huh?! Just wait until I get back, I'm going to deal with you properly!
Xiaoya cut her off to make a statement of her own. "Sorry, I'm genuinely sorry. But you're nothing like what I had imagined. I regret that I came to meet you today." Her words were more of a ramble, but they were nonetheless resolute. "I originally came today because I wanted to explain things to you clearly. My girlfriend doesn't like the idea of us exchanging postcards. I have my post graduate exams coming up and I won't be sending you any cards again either, so there's no need for you to send me any as well."
With a frown, she turned to meet its direction. It's not Joanna still insistent of pestering me, is it? She didn't come off as somebody who could do something so cheap.
Lu Xiaobei: I'll just take another day off. Besides, just who told you you can go meeting up with that pen pal of yours in secret, huh?! Just wait until I get back, I'm going to deal with you properly!
But all throughout, Xiaoya's heart was still uneasy. At noon, after class was over, she went back to the apartment she and Lu Xiaobei shared. The two discussed everything for a long time, but no particularly great idea came from it. Lu Xiaobei then simply told her, "Don't worry about it too much. If both your parents come to know about it, just call me and I'll face them with you."
After Xiaoya's afternoon class was over, she went back to her family home. But even until the Sunday afternoon went Lu Xiaobei had to go back, her mother didn't say anything or do anything in objection. Life at her house remained unchanged, it was the same old usual calm.
After Xiaoya's afternoon class was over, she went back to her family home. But even until the Sunday afternoon went Lu Xiaobei had to go back, her mother didn't say anything or do anything in objection. Life at her house remained unchanged, it was the same old usual calm.
Pretending as if it was nothing, Xiaoya then replied casually, "For both high school and college I lived in dormitories. As a result, I'm pretty sure my ability to care for myself of quite strong."
She desperately clung to the hopes that her mother hadn't seen her just being grabbed by Joanna and had only just arrived. She also hoped she could end the matter by saying they were just classmates who had a small dispute, but... Joanna's look and dress were clearly too mature, it made the odds of her mother buying her as a fellow student get tossed out the window, so... Could I just say she was just someone I met working part-time, just a friend?
Xiaoya wanted to tell Lu Xiaobei to not be too hard on her, but she knew she was the one in the wrong and a part of her wanted to be scolded. She went on to tell Lu Xiaobei how she met up with Joanna and made sure to emphasize her mother's reaction when she found out Xiaoya hadn't changed.
Xiaoya: "Okay."
Xiaoya: Captain, I had to come out again.
When they got home, her mother's first question was: "Was that girl your current girlfriend?"
Taking couple steps to the side, Xiaoya moved away from Joanna and added, "This is it. Even though I was really happy I had gotten to know you, our ties will end here. So, please, don't do anything further to destroy the beautiful memories left between us."
It is said, waiting for the sentencing of death was more torturous than dying itself.
"How about you answer this, then. In high school, were you going out with that boy?"
Their eyes met, flooding Xiaoya with an instant sense of panic as she watched the emotions swirl on the other person's face that could only be described as complex.
Xiaoya wanted to tell Lu Xiaobei to not be too hard on her, but she knew she was the one in the wrong and a part of her wanted to be scolded. She went on to tell Lu Xiaobei how she met up with Joanna and made sure to emphasize her mother's reaction when she found out Xiaoya hadn't changed.
iana: The scenes when Xiaoya confronts her mom and turns into a little puppy-eyed kid is why she still doesn't get how big losing them might hit. She has faith her parents would come around, and that could happen, it's her parents. That's the future she sees. While, as a kid who knows what longing for a parent feels like, Lu Xiaobei sees the route where the girl she loves could be permanently estranged from her family, who she loves. That Yunta High bit really put the fear of God in her. Poor girls.
Heartbroken, Xiaoya finally spoke. "Mom... please, don't cry."
And, like this, for four weekends since then, despite being so busy she was constantly called on the train, Lu Xiaobei still insisted on returning to Nancheng each time. So, finally unable to just wait on bated breath any longer, Xiaoya decided to probe her mother.
After Joanna finished speaking, Xiaoya took a conscious step back, and Joanna felt a light tinge that nothing good was coming. She was right.
When she returned to her family home that Friday evening, she told her parents, "A roommate of mine signed up for English classes and asked me to join them. After thinking about it, even if it's just for the sake of learning English, or if I plan on taking the IELTST/n: International English Language Testing System, an international standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. in the future, it'll be useful either way."
After saying her peace, Xiaoya turned and left the hotel. Joanna had been a bit too loud just now so a lot of people were looking their way in confusion, which made Xiaoya feel somewhat embarrassed.
The older woman had a pair of large, beautiful eyes which curved into an enchanting shape around a pair of pitch-black pupils. Normally, Xiaoya loved looking at these eyes a lot, and would never fail to gripe about how she never inherited any of her mother's best features. But now, as Xiaoya stood before her mother, all she could feel was sorrow. She couldn't bring herself to stare directly at those eyes now gazing at her sharply, and did her best to calm herself after becoming aware of the thuds from her own pounding heart.
Heartbroken, Xiaoya finally spoke. "Mom... please, don't cry."
She desperately clung to the hopes that her mother hadn't seen her just being grabbed by Joanna and had only just arrived. She also hoped she could end the matter by saying they were just classmates who had a small dispute, but... Joanna's look and dress were clearly too mature, it made the odds of her mother buying her as a fellow student get tossed out the window, so... Could I just say she was just someone I met working part-time, just a friend?
Xiaoya had no idea what she should do at this time either, so she listened to her mother and made her way to her room.
Again, she had become that high-schooler who was scared witless. She couldn't even bring herself to pull out her phone to message Lu Xiaobei.
Seeing them, her jaw fell in shock while her legs froze in place. The flow of people moving through the station, all the noise filling smothering the atmosphere, everything, all of it disappeared. Everything around her was drained of colour, and all that was left was the person who stood five steps away from her.
"Are you planning on doing your postgraduate studies overseas?" Her father asked while they sat at the dinner table.
Noticing people around the hotel starting to look their way, Xiaoya grabbed Joanna by the arms, asked her to not be so agitated and said in an effort to calm her, "But you are still not the person I thought you were. Didn't I just tell you that I regret coming here for us to meet? That's because the pen pal I imagined you to be was a bright and upright person that would never try to steal someone else's girlfriend! Neither would she be the kind of person that would expect me to betray my lover!"
Xiaoya: ...
When they got home, her mother's first question was: "Was that girl your current girlfriend?"
With her head down, she hurried to the train station to get home because she didn't have enough money to take a taxi after paying for what they had at that coffee shop earlier, which were not cheap. But before she even got that far away, Xiaoya felt a noticeably strong gaze focused on her from somewhere to the side that she did her best to ignore, but it was sharp enough to feel like a knife on her back.
Seeming to understand it all now, her mother nodded before adding in a voice that ad grown weak, "I get it now."
Her mother's voice was gentle, no different from it usually had been.
Hearing her words, Joanna knew that if she gave up now there would no longer be any in the future, so grabbing hold of Xiaoya, she argued, "But she doesn't deserve you, I don't believe she's worthy of you. If it were me, I'd never even think of leaving you! I'm even willing to come all the way to Nancheng for you! I'd never interfere in your relationship with your friends! I'd put your opinion on those matters above all else!"
Xiaoya: "I've thought about it. Doing my postgraduate degree overseas would take one or two years at most, and it's also the perfect opportunity for me to go see the world. Europe has some universities that don't have sky-high fees and there's an option to apply for a scholarship as well."
But, from the side, her father interjected, telling his wife, "Don't talk as if she can't do it, she's still here right now, isn't she? You can still start to teach her to practice cooking now, but even as a girl her age, it was you who usually couldn't bear to let her do so much as washing her own dish."
Again, she had become that high-schooler who was scared witless. She couldn't even bring herself to pull out her phone to message Lu Xiaobei.
Their eyes met, flooding Xiaoya with an instant sense of panic as she watched the emotions swirl on the other person's face that could only be described as complex.
Her father: "Sounds good. We can even afford your tuition if you can't get through with a scholarship. You can go explore countries in Europe, both big and small, then. Anyhow, you're an adult now, so the decision is all yours."
Xiaoya had no idea what she should do at this time either, so she listened to her mother and made her way to her room.
Xiaoya's mother ignored her husband, however, and spoke directly to Xiaoya next, "For now, let's drop it, but tonight you and I will be having a proper chat."
Again, she had become that high-schooler who was scared witless. She couldn't even bring herself to pull out her phone to message Lu Xiaobei.
Xiaoya had nothing else to say to her father who was oblivious to the situation, so she turned her attention to her mother, the biggest mountain in her family to surpass and the woman who understood clearly what her daughter was suggesting.
Lu Xiaobei: I'll just take another day off. Besides, just who told you you can go meeting up with that pen pal of yours in secret, huh?! Just wait until I get back, I'm going to deal with you properly!
Joanna: "Xiaoyu, before I got here, I had no intention in the slightest of confessing to you. I even felt as though I was dying on the inside when I arrived. But I never expected that after meeting you, and speaking with you, it would feel exactly as I had imagined. There was no disappointment, all I felt instead was more joy."
Lu Xiaobei: I'll just take another day off. Besides, just who told you you can go meeting up with that pen pal of yours in secret, huh?! Just wait until I get back, I'm going to deal with you properly!
Her mother: "So you want to go study abroad? Are you planning on going there on your own?"
When she returned to her family home that Friday evening, she told her parents, "A roommate of mine signed up for English classes and asked me to join them. After thinking about it, even if it's just for the sake of learning English, or if I plan on taking the IELTST/n: International English Language Testing System, an international standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. in the future, it'll be useful either way."
So, to herself, as she made her way from the hotel, Xiaoya chanted that there was no one there to recognise her and no one would know who she was.
Xiaoya's mother ignored her husband, however, and spoke directly to Xiaoya next, "For now, let's drop it, but tonight you and I will be having a proper chat."
Their eyes met, flooding Xiaoya with an instant sense of panic as she watched the emotions swirl on the other person's face that could only be described as complex.
And, like this, for four weekends since then, despite being so busy she was constantly called on the train, Lu Xiaobei still insisted on returning to Nancheng each time. So, finally unable to just wait on bated breath any longer, Xiaoya decided to probe her mother.
Xiaoya: "There... isn't..."
When she returned to her family home that Friday evening, she told her parents, "A roommate of mine signed up for English classes and asked me to join them. After thinking about it, even if it's just for the sake of learning English, or if I plan on taking the IELTST/n: International English Language Testing System, an international standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. in the future, it'll be useful either way."
You can do this! Xiaoya cheered in her heart before responding.
Once there, she messaged Lu Xiaobei.
"How can those even be considered the same as this?!" Her mother argued.
Noticing people around the hotel starting to look their way, Xiaoya grabbed Joanna by the arms, asked her to not be so agitated and said in an effort to calm her, "But you are still not the person I thought you were. Didn't I just tell you that I regret coming here for us to meet? That's because the pen pal I imagined you to be was a bright and upright person that would never try to steal someone else's girlfriend! Neither would she be the kind of person that would expect me to betray my lover!"
"I still haven't decided which school I'd like to attend. But I heard from a female senior of mine that there are a lot of Chinese students studying abroad. Of course having people you already know there was the best, but if there was no one, you could just make new friends."
Xiaoya had nothing else to say to her father who was oblivious to the situation, so she turned her attention to her mother, the biggest mountain in her family to surpass and the woman who understood clearly what her daughter was suggesting.
"Are you planning on doing your postgraduate studies overseas?" Her father asked while they sat at the dinner table.
Seeming to understand it all now, her mother nodded before adding in a voice that ad grown weak, "I get it now."
"How about you answer this, then. In high school, were you going out with that boy?"
But the person who met Xiaoya's eyes was not one she had ever expected.
"Captain read a few of the postcards you had sent me. After she did, she said you had feelings for me and I told her she was just overthinking it back then. It turns out I alone was the fool. But... you knew, you always knew I had a girlfriend."
A good while passed before Lu Xiaobei messaged back after hearing this.
Her mother: "Fine, but when you go abroad alone, can you take care of yourself properly, then?"
Her mother's voice was gentle, no different from it usually had been.
But, from the side, her father interjected, telling his wife, "Don't talk as if she can't do it, she's still here right now, isn't she? You can still start to teach her to practice cooking now, but even as a girl her age, it was you who usually couldn't bear to let her do so much as washing her own dish."
Her father: "Sounds good. We can even afford your tuition if you can't get through with a scholarship. You can go explore countries in Europe, both big and small, then. Anyhow, you're an adult now, so the decision is all yours."
Once there, she messaged Lu Xiaobei.
Lu Xiaobei: Didn't you say you'd wait?
Pretending as if it was nothing, Xiaoya then replied casually, "For both high school and college I lived in dormitories. As a result, I'm pretty sure my ability to care for myself of quite strong."
But the person who met Xiaoya's eyes was not one she had ever expected.
Her mother: "Fine, but when you go abroad alone, can you take care of yourself properly, then?"
Seeing them, her jaw fell in shock while her legs froze in place. The flow of people moving through the station, all the noise filling smothering the atmosphere, everything, all of it disappeared. Everything around her was drained of colour, and all that was left was the person who stood five steps away from her.
"How can those even be considered the same as this?!" Her mother argued.
Xiaoya mumbled, still unable to properly voice her words out. Inside, there was still a small part of her that wanted her to just turn around and run, but... she couldn't do that, she didn't want to run away any longer.
Xiaoya: "There... isn't..."
Lu Xiaobei: This... it's not necessarily a bad thing. Anyhow, I'm coming back to Nancheng tonight, so don't worry yourself too much, alright.
This made Xiaoya believe it was a false alarm, until she got in the car and they drove home together. Her mother made no moves to say a word the entire ride there, and that's what made Xiaoya aware a great storm was ahead.
"From the first time I began sending postcards, I had done so with the intention of finding a girlfriend, so that's why I used that phrase as my nickname." Joanna confessed before she continued, "Most people were just curios, and sent back my cards. I lost hope at that time, at least I had until I came across you. Xiaoyu—"
But, from the side, her father interjected, telling his wife, "Don't talk as if she can't do it, she's still here right now, isn't she? You can still start to teach her to practice cooking now, but even as a girl her age, it was you who usually couldn't bear to let her do so much as washing her own dish."
Lu Xiaobei: This... it's not necessarily a bad thing. Anyhow, I'm coming back to Nancheng tonight, so don't worry yourself too much, alright.
Not even three seconds later, her phone lit up with a message from Lu Xiaobei.
Joanna: "Xiaoyu, before I got here, I had no intention in the slightest of confessing to you. I even felt as though I was dying on the inside when I arrived. But I never expected that after meeting you, and speaking with you, it would feel exactly as I had imagined. There was no disappointment, all I felt instead was more joy."
The older woman had a pair of large, beautiful eyes which curved into an enchanting shape around a pair of pitch-black pupils. Normally, Xiaoya loved looking at these eyes a lot, and would never fail to gripe about how she never inherited any of her mother's best features. But now, as Xiaoya stood before her mother, all she could feel was sorrow. She couldn't bring herself to stare directly at those eyes now gazing at her sharply, and did her best to calm herself after becoming aware of the thuds from her own pounding heart.
The older woman had a pair of large, beautiful eyes which curved into an enchanting shape around a pair of pitch-black pupils. Normally, Xiaoya loved looking at these eyes a lot, and would never fail to gripe about how she never inherited any of her mother's best features. But now, as Xiaoya stood before her mother, all she could feel was sorrow. She couldn't bring herself to stare directly at those eyes now gazing at her sharply, and did her best to calm herself after becoming aware of the thuds from her own pounding heart.
All sorts of thoughts swirled in Xiaoya's head, but before she could spit out an excuse, her mother walked over to her and spoke first. "Let's head back home first."
With her head down, she hurried to the train station to get home because she didn't have enough money to take a taxi after paying for what they had at that coffee shop earlier, which were not cheap. But before she even got that far away, Xiaoya felt a noticeably strong gaze focused on her from somewhere to the side that she did her best to ignore, but it was sharp enough to feel like a knife on her back.
Xiaoya's mother ignored her husband, however, and spoke directly to Xiaoya next, "For now, let's drop it, but tonight you and I will be having a proper chat."
So mustering up every bit of courage she could, Xiaoya proceeded to call out, "Mom."
It is said, waiting for the sentencing of death was more torturous than dying itself.
Xiaoya cut her off to make a statement of her own. "Sorry, I'm genuinely sorry. But you're nothing like what I had imagined. I regret that I came to meet you today." Her words were more of a ramble, but they were nonetheless resolute. "I originally came today because I wanted to explain things to you clearly. My girlfriend doesn't like the idea of us exchanging postcards. I have my post graduate exams coming up and I won't be sending you any cards again either, so there's no need for you to send me any as well."
Xiaoya: Captain, I had to come out again.
So mustering up every bit of courage she could, Xiaoya proceeded to call out, "Mom."
Xiaoya: "I've thought about it. Doing my postgraduate degree overseas would take one or two years at most, and it's also the perfect opportunity for me to go see the world. Europe has some universities that don't have sky-high fees and there's an option to apply for a scholarship as well."
Xiaoya's mother ignored her husband, however, and spoke directly to Xiaoya next, "For now, let's drop it, but tonight you and I will be having a proper chat."
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