61 The Persuasion 3 (2/2)
Of course, Sylvia knew the angle Xiu Ling was aiming for but she answered truthfully, ”I enjoy the new environment. The work feels fulfilling and I like my job.” Sylvia paused before adding, ”And thank you for not using the term, paparazzi, Auntie Xiu Ling. It means a lot.”
”Don't mention it.” Xiu Ling smiled. Right then, the waiter came to ask for Sylvia's order. The young woman ordered a glass of warm water.
After the waiter left, Xiu Ling continued, ”I am glad to hear that you are enjoying your new job. Finding an occupation that you enjoy in life is a very important and lucky thing. Many people get stuck in dead-end job that they hate but they cannot extricate themselves from it because they need the money to survive…”
Xiu Ling continued to make small talk but she kept the topic skirting around the elephant in the room. Oftentimes, the more one said one did not want to talk about it, the greater the influence it had on our heart and mind. Xiu Ling knew that and instead of breaching the topic directly, she was waiting for Sylvia to get around to it.
Eventually her plan paid off. When they were talking about the latest project that Sylvia was involved in, the young woman suddenly sighed and said, ”Auntie Xiu Ling, I truly enjoy my work. Why couldn't my mother see if from my perspective and give me her support?”
Sylvia smiled kindly like a grandmother as she reached for Sylvia's hand. ”Sylvia, I am not going to give you a long lecture on why. Instead I am just going to ask you one simple question.
”Why can't you see it from your mother's perspective and give her your support?
”Sylvia, you are a bright girl, I am sure you will understand.”
Xiu Ling patted the back of the young woman's palm before pulling back her arms. Xiu Ling did not repeat the same spiel she told Joann yesterday on Sylvia. Even though they shared an amiable relationship but Xiu Ling and Sylvia were not close friends of equal age like Xiu Ling and Joann were. Instead Xiu Ling was Sylvia's elder, if she had replicated the whole pitch she used with Joann on Xiu Ling, it would sound like a lecture and which young generation liked to be lectured by their seniors?
Therefore, Xiu Ling opted for this method instead. She felt it would be more productive than her lecturing Sylvia directly.
The waiter arrived and Xiu Ling leaned back in her seat.
Sylvia lowered her head, perhaps she felt ashamed or perhaps she needed to think. No matter which one it was, Xiu Ling was going to give her all the time she needed.
She needed Sylvia to be in the right frame of mind before she moved onto the second purpose of calling Sylvia out that day.
When sufficient time had passed, Xiu Ling cleared her throat to get Sylvia's attention. When the young woman raised her head, Xiu Ling said, ”Sylvia, I am going to tell you something I have not told anyone else, not even your mother. It is about your father.”