319 So Long, Brazil (2/2)

”I still want to thank you, Twain... Tony. You've made Shania's life in the last two years richer and more colorful. You gave her a lot of things we couldn't give her. Aunt Ryan is a very stubborn and traditional Englishwoman. Shania would definitely not be happy living with her. So... She is still going to stay there for a long time, and I hope you can continue to take care of her.”

Twain was stunned for a moment. He looked at Tenório and saw that the other man also smiled and looked at him.

”Is this a father's request?”

Tenório did not answer; he just kept smiling.

”Then, I promise.”

”Thank you, Tony. You're a good man. I knew it from the first moment I saw you...”

Twain made a face. It was one thing to seen as a good person by Shania, but now Shania's father thought so too. Am I really a good person? It doesn't seem right. What have I done to show that I'm a good guy?

At that point, Shania and her mother came back. They seemed to have taken a long time to go the restroom. ”What are you talking about?” Shania was in a good mood. She bounced and sat beside her mother and looked at Twain and her father opposite her.

”I'm ratting you out, saying that you're disobedient.” Twain said fiercely. The conversation just now had made him open up more in front of Shania's parents.

Shania sniffed, but stole a glance at her father's expression at the same time. When she saw that her father's face was full of smiles, she put her heart at ease.

When Tenório saw that everyone was seated, he turned over an object on the table that was shaped like a common toothpick holder which Tang En often saw at restaurants in China. The originally red color on one side had flipped over to green.

Soon after, a waiter came with a long-forked skewer of meat.

”Jordie must have taken you to a Brazilian barbecue, but I guarantee that this is the most authentic.” Tenório smiled and pointed at the waiter.

※※※

The holiday in Brazil was very enjoyable. Especially after the conversation with Mr. Tenório, Twain felt that he had a much better impression of Shania's father.

Before, he always thought that Mr. Bruce Tenório, who was busy with work all the time, was too cold towards Shania and that there seemed to be no father and daughter relationship. Since he and Shania were on the same side, he was naturally uncomfortable to see Shania being neglected. But after that conversation, Twain knew he still cared very much about what Shania thought. That was why Shania's parents were happy to see their daughter together with him all the time.

However, the way fathers expressed their feelings might cause their children to misunderstand. They were often not as revealing and expressive as mothers. Their love, no matter how much, could only be kept within.

Twain recalled the scene of the two of them at his doorstep in Nottingham waiting for Shania. The conduct of the two parents fit well with their respective roles. Her mother was anxious and desperate and her father was calm and collected, not forgetting to show his authority.

He smiled.

”Uncle Tony, what are you smirking about?”

Twain rolled his eyes. ”Cheeky.”

His vacation was very short, but Shania's holiday was still very long. Twain had to return to England to deal with the matters in the club. A one-week holiday might not be enough to release him from the strain and pressure since the last season, but he did not want to throw his time away on personal relaxation. There were still a lot of important matters waiting for him at the club. The players' renewal contracts, the introduction of new players, the transfer of existing players… All of that required his decisions.

Therefore, today was the day that his holiday had come to an end in Brazil. He was going to fly back to England to start work and would bid farewell to Shania, who would continue her stay with her parents in Brazil.

Since Shania's parents were as busy as usual, only Shania came to send him off. But this could be the send-off Twain had hoped for.

Looking at Shania, who was waiting beside him for the boarding, Twain reminisced about the happy times of that week and was suddenly a little reluctant. He had to find a way to divert his attention.

”Shania, I think your father... um, is quite nice.”

”Yes.” Shania nodded, ”I've always liked my dad very much.”

”Do you like him and fear him as well?” said Twain with a grin.

Shania scowled at Twain. ”I don't know why. Even though I spent more time with my mother growing up, I'm closer to my dad. I'm very happy whenever I see my dad. But he always looks so serious to me.”

Ah, daddy issues.

Twain cleared his throat, ”That's because you were still young. Now that you think about it, your dad doesn't look at you with a straight face anymore, does he?”

”It's because I haven't been in Brazil for a long time.” Shania grinned. ”And you're here with me, so he doesn't dare give me that look!”

Tang En thought of his childhood. If relatives and friends came to visit, he could act up a little more and misbehave without worrying about being punished by his parents. The adults called him the jester, playing and acting up all the time. If there were no visitors, he would not dare to act up. Shania was similar to himself at that time. She might be catching up to him in height, but she was still a child.

He expected that Shania would behave more obediently at home after his departure today.

When he thought of that, Twain again felt that Shania was a little pitiful, and he felt reluctant to go. He had circled back to the same mood.

The airport announcer began to inform the passengers for the flight from Rio de Janeiro to London to start boarding. Shania looked up at the ceiling of the airport hall and seemed to search for the place where the announcement had been sent from.

”Shania...” Seeing her like that, Twain said hoarsely, ”I'm leaving.”

Shania glanced down and her face lit up with a smile, ”All right, Uncle Tony. Goodbye.”

”Goodbye, Shania.”

In the end, neither of them moved.

”I'm really going.”

”Okay, Uncle Tony. Remember to call me when you get there.” Shania made a telephone receiver gesture with her hand next to her ear.

After a brief silence, the announcement came overhead again. The sweet female voice sounded particularly unpleasant to Twain. He looked up and took a deep breath. ”Shania, if you... well, if you feel alone and bored in Brazil, just go back to England earlier.”

He had not expected Shania to smile and decline Twain's kindness. ”I want to stay here with them for the rest of my holiday.”

”Ah...” Twain was somewhat disappointed. But soon he realized that that was impolite. So he immediately bent down to pick up his suitcase.

Just as he put his hand on the suitcase handle, he heard Shania say, ”But when I'm bored, I'll call you. Don't turn off your cellphone! If I can't get hold of you when I'm bored, I won't spare you when I get back to England!”

”Hey, when do you ever see me turn off my cellphone? I don't even turn it off when I sleep. I'll be on call 24/7!” Twain grabbed the handle and straightened up. His heart suddenly felt lightened. Ah, what beautiful weather, so full of sunshine…

”I'm really leaving this time, Shania. I'm really happy that I got to be with you in Brazil for the holiday; happier than when I led the team to qualify for the UEFA Champions League qualifier. Thank you.”

Twain pulled his luggage and turned to walk away as Shania was still gently waving behind his back.

”Thank you too, Uncle Tony.”