28 Chapter 28- Blood is Thicker than Water (2/2)
”As a wedding present, of course. He's already bought the house you'll move in to after your marriage. It's much more suitable for a family.”
”So why are you selling this one?” He almost rubbed his forehead but restrained himself. It's just like sitting opposite a tiger: do not show fear.
”Market value in this area skyrocketed! It would be silly to hold on to it when the value had almost doubled.”
Mei sighed, his weariness with the conversation evident. ”Do what you want with this place. It was bought as an investment so I suggest holding off for at least two more years when the new precinct is finished being developed. Value should be triple.”
He stood up, tugging his tie loose as he looked down at the woman sitting tidily on his couch. ”As for the rest, I will not be going in to the company on Monday. I will not be learning the ropes. And I will not be getting married in the spring.”
”Hao Mei! What kind of son are you? Of course there will be a wedding in the spring. What kind of son have I raised that he would treat a girl so carelessly?”
”Me? Who have I ever treated carelessly?”
”Wang Fang. She was here this morning when I arrived. She told me all about how you let her invite her friends over and how she didn't have time to do the dishes before going to bed... I'm not an idiot. She was coming out of your bedroom when I came in.” As her voice rose, his mother stood, anger clenching her fists at her side. ”Of course there will be a wedding.”
”Did she tell you I was here last night?”
His mother froze. ”Huh?”
Mei strode over to his bedroom door and flung it open. The destruction of the room didn't really surprise him. He'd expected something of the sort when he'd encouraged her to ring her friends and then left: someone unstable enough to think last night was a good idea, would be the type of person to want revenge for the humiliation. He took in the stripped bed, the emptied drawers and the overturned dresser. Lipstick on the mirror and windows proclaimed him to be a ”bastard”, in a variety of spelling.
”This was the woman you chose for me?” Mei moved back to let his mother fully into the room. Her eyes were wide and her painted lips formed a burgundy moue. ”You appear to have questionable taste in daughters-in-law.”
”She is high spirited...”
”No. She is a spoiled brat with enough dreams of romance that you successfully orchestrated last night. What was your plan, mother? Coincidentally drop in to visit your favourite son and accidentally catch us over breakfast at the kitchen table?”
The answer was written over his mother's face before she wiped it clean.
”I don't know what you're talking about. But even if there is no wedding, you will return to the company and you will be a filial son.”
”I will be a filial son. I will visit you for birthdays, anniversaries, religious holidays. I will accompany you and Father where a son should. And I will respect you, with the respect I am given.”
The mauve shade creeping over his mother's face would have been amusing under different circumstances. As it was, the lump in Mei's stomach grew harder and harder, heating at his core. All night, he had lain awake in the hotel room, staring at an unfamiliar ceiling... thinking. Thinking about his Father's constant, disparaging remarks about his interest in computers. Thinking about how abruptly he was cut off from all family support when he dared apply for a University, and a course, his parents hadn't approved off. Thinking about the friendship his three brothers and shown him... and finally, thinking of the love that KO was showing him... and teaching him what a home could feel like, full of warmth. So very different to the mausoleum of his youth.
Hao Mei bowed deeply to his mother and once more left his apartment with only his laptop and the office keys.
.