Chapter 22 (2/2)

“Xiao Hua, how do you two know each other?” My father asked.

“Jia Yang has been on my program before.”

I knew that drinking more would only produce a scene, not to mention this woman’s unabashed interest in me.

My father said, “During the New Year, I’ll invite you guys to dinner.”

Xiao Hua was extremely happy and wished my father a happy New Year again. My tongue felt hard and I couldn’t say anything.

Wen Xiao Hua had the best of both worlds that day. When we got home that evening, my father taught me a lesson.

“You’re an adult now. Won’t you even wish an elder a happy New Year?”

I didn’t reply. Instead, I wanted to pick up a newspaper to read.

“You disappoint me, Cheng Jia Yang. Where have your manners disappeared to?”

I bit my tongue and listened to his lecturing as I counted sheep in my head.

One, two, Australia, New Zealand…

My mother disagreed, “Given who we are, do we really need someone to socialize with or entertain us? Besides, what’s so good about girls who know how to articulate their mind?”

My mother wasn’t entirely wrong. You really are my birth mother after all, coming to the rescue at the most critical moments. You’re such a good mother.

“I’ll control the child, you shut up.”

If my father continued to talk, I wouldn’t be able to suppress my laughter anymore.

To be honest however, Wen Xiao Hua’s temperament and demeanor were both impeccable. Furthermore, her use of sophisticated vocabulary added to her professionalism. This woman was practically perfect.

My uncle and aunt were next to save me from my father’s lecturing, coming over to wish us a happy New Year. They had brought over fresh lamb meat from their own farm which our nanny cleaned and cut into thin pieces for hot pot.

Uncle and aunt wondered about Jia Ming, asking about his absence from home during the New Year.

No one knew where he went.

Uncle said, “The second child is still more obedient.”

My father glanced at me.

Every family celebrated the New Year differently. I wondered how Fei celebrated it. Together with her mom, she must’ve cooked very tasty food; tea eggs for example.

After I was done eating, I watched some TV and played a little mahjong. I ate and drank a lot today and was starting to feel tired. I went upstairs to get ready for bed.

I called Qiao Fei, but her phone was switched off. Perhaps it wasn’t charged. I went to take a shower then called again. Her phone was still off.

My phone’s wallpaper was set to a picture of her. I fell asleep by staring at it.

In the middle of the night, I had a nightmare involving blood, a lot of blood. My dream felt similar to the movie ‘The s.h.i.+ning’.

I abruptly sat up in bed, covered in sweat.

I had a severe stomach ache, which felt like there was a screw drilling up and down my insides. It was so painful that I wasn’t even able to straighten my waist. I felt nauseous and gagged a little, then I fell off my bed and onto the ground with a “thump”.

When I woke up, Jia Ming was beside me. I could feel that the pain in my stomach had slightly lessened, but I was still unable to straighten my body.

“I gave you a pain reliever shot. You don’t have high alcohol tolerance, why did you drink so much?”

“It’s not that,” I said drowsily. “There’s no problem with my alcohol tolerance.” At that moment, I started to feel extremely uncomfortable and it wasn’t solely due to my stomach, but rather an overall uneasiness.

I took my phone and called Fei again, but her phone was powered off.

“That’s too much.” Jia Ming said.

I placed the phone down, feeling troubled. Fear and concern filled my mind.

Fei had travelled to Shenyang by train, which wasn’t an issue. I asked a friend there to help her buy train tickets home, but would she be able to find him? Would she be able to get her hands on the tickets? If not, this silly girl wouldn’t possibly take a bus home right? As the New Year approached, the northeast was heavily covered in snow and the long bus ride would cost more money.

……

I grew more and more anxious, but despite calling her phone multiple times, I just couldn’t reach her.

The situation remained hopeless until the next afternoon, when I had already bought a flight ticket to Shenyang.

Before I departed, I tried to call her again and she finally picked up. “h.e.l.lo,” she said.

A wave of relief washed over me at the sound of her voice. I had felt like a drowning man who was about to suffocate any minute now, but someone had finally pulled me out of the water. I almost shouted, “Why do you always have this problem? Why is your phone always turned off?!”

“…Jia Yang?”

“Who else could it be?”

“I just got home. My arrival to Shenyang was slightly delayed. My parents even reproved me.”

I wasn’t mad anymore when I continued to hear her voice. Possessing the urge to yell at her a moment ago was really hypocritical of me. I calmed down and quietly asked, “What happened? Did you need to make a phone call about something? If you missed the train, how did you get home?”

“Oh, bus.”

“I don’t know what to do with you anymore. I almost went over there to find you. Qiao Fei, how many times has it been already?”

“Ai.” I heard her sigh and my heart softened within a second. However, I could faintly feel that there was a problem, “What’s wrong? Why is your voice so quiet?”

“I’m a little tired today so I won’t talk to you anymore. Besides, the telephone fee is quite expensive.”

What I really wanted to say was I’ll give you $1000 in deposits. However, I recalled a similar situation in the past and swallowed my words, “I’m worried. My stomach ached a lot last night.”

“Last night? What happened?”

“Just had a nightmare in the middle of the night and when I got up, my stomach was hurting. Luckily, my brother came home and helped me out.”

“……”

“You’ve just arrived home, go get some rest.”

“Okay.”

“Wish your parents a happy New Year for me.”

“Thank you. You too.”

I placed the phone down and took a stretch.

At least this coming year will be peaceful one.

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