Chapter 19 (2/2)
Her father glances towards his wife before nodding his head awkwardly as he says, Yes. The woman increases her rate of changing television channels with an even more irritated look on her fae.
Yi Yao sniffles, “Dad, thank you for always paying my school fees, it must be hard on you……”
“What did you just say?” The woman suddenly turns, “He’s paying your school fees?”
“Yi Yao, what are you saying,” Her father panics, “When did I pay your school fees? Young kids sprout the most nonsense.” Instead of saying it to Yi Yao, he sounds as if he is trying to kiss up to the woman. An embarra.s.sed smile appears on his face.
Yi Yao’s heart sinks at that moment.
“Cut that out,” The woman’s voice is sharp and reprimanding, “I always knew you’ve been giving money to them! Yi you’re really something aren’t you!”
“What did I even do!” It is obvious that her father is agitated yet he tries to control his anger, “Don’t you know exact how much money I have? You see me collect my pay every single month! Where do I get extra money!”
The woman thinks before turning away. After sitting down again, she picks up the remote control before opening her mouth, “Why are you screaming. Crazy.”
Her father turns to Yi Yao, “Did your mother tell you that?”
Yi Yao says nothing. She presses her nails deeply into her palms.
The young girl in the room wakes up due to the ruckus and screams for her father.
The woman rolls her eyes. “Hurry up and go in. You made our daughter wake up.”
Yi Yao stands and turns to leave without saying another word. She realizes that she really shouldn’t have come.
When she opens the door, the woman throws out, “Bring the trash outside the door down while you’re leaving.”
When Yi Yao exits the building, the cold wind hits harshly onto her skin. Her tears lose their temperature rapidly in the wind. They cling tightly onto her face like two streaks of ice.
Yi Yao bends to unlock her bicycle. She fails to insert her key after many tries. When the key still refuses to go in after she uses much strength, she stands and kicks the bicycle. It falls to the ground with a clatter. Yi Yao squats down and cries loudly.
After a while she stands and pushes her bicycle up. She thinks it’s time to go home.
Just as she was about to leave, she hears footsteps sound from the stairwell. Turning, she sees that her father is chasing after her. As he does not have a coat on, he’s s.h.i.+vering in the cold.
“Dad you need not send me home.”
“Yi Yao……”
“Dad I know. You can stop now.”
“I didn’t ask why you came to find me today.” The large clouds of white breath emitting from her father’s mouth are like small clouds floating before her.
“……Dad, I want to borrow money from you……”
Her father lowers his head and pulls out a wad of cash from his pocket. There are large notes and small notes He takes four of the largest note, “Yi Yao, take this four hundred…….”
It feels as if someone is injecting hot water into her heart.
Slowly defrosting her limbs that have been dying slowly.
“……Dad, actually……”
“Don’t say anything. I only have these. I don’t have anymore!” Irritated tone.
As if the light has suddenly gone out from all the street lights, everything seems to be engulfed in darkness instantly.
*Father has two characters in Chinese.
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