c7 (1/2)
昨天 by 風弄 Chapter 7
Yesterday by Feng Nong
I can only be grateful that Hong Kong is a major airport with many scheduled flights. I immediately asked for the fastest ticket to return to France. While waiting for the plane I was still afraid that YuJiang would come. Right now I'm terrified of this person, even Hong Kong, his birthplace, has turned into a place of horrendous terror. After experiencing this matter only now do I really understand the saying there is a heaven beyond the highest heavens, a person beyond this person. Before, papa had taught me all sorts of things, saying that I was arrogant and love to act smart. As it turns out, each and every word is true.
Once I deplaned, I decided not to call the driver but hailed a cab and told him the address. When I saw the familiar building from a distance, only then did my ice-cold body start to warm-up a little. Once she caught sight of the car, the Filipino maid hurriedly took the umbrella to shade me while opening up the gate for me and greeted me in fluent English. It was only then that I felt that I have finally returned home. I heaved a big sigh of relief. Once in the main door, a few domestics came to greet me and carry my suitcase.
We are after call Chinese, even if we live in France, at this moment mother was sitting at the mahjong table. Once she caught sight of me, she surprisedly said:
”Why didn't you tell us you were coming back?” She stopped playing mahjong and stood up to come over and give me a hug.
”Ma .... ” I said miserably, the feelings of having been wronged bubbling up to my throat. But there were still a few ladies from prominent families waiting for my mom by the mahjong table in the hall, so I was forced to endure. Looks like I still have not grown up, still the pampered and spoilt only son.
”Aiya! ShengSheng, what happened to your face?” Mom, who was starting to think that I was acting spoilt, immediately exclaimed when she raised her head and saw my forehead. She anxiously stroked my face. Her well maintained soft and smooth finger cautiously and distressfully stroked my cut, immediately letting me feel warm inside. One's own parents is really always the best in the whole world. I forced a smile:
”Ma, it's nothing. It's only a small scar. Once covered by my hair, it can no longer be seen.” Actually the scar is not considered small, definitely won't be completely covered. In the end, it's also considered disfigured. I tried to coax mom but mom's tears started to increase:
”How can this be OK? How can this child not know how to treasure oneself? One playful excursion and this is the result. I also wonder why your dad agreed to let you go by yourself to Hong Kong. Couldn't you have just stayed at home where all is perfectly well? I looked after you so carefully, ten over years and not a single scratch, today ........... ” Mom's words were even more than her tears. I don't know whether to laugh or cry, supposedly I was the one to be consoled but now I can't help but come up with ways to console mom.
”ShengSheng is back?” Dad comes down from the second floor.
”Pa.” Dad walked up to me and furrowed his brows.
”Why are you crying? You shouldn't pamper your child. Ai, loving mother spoiling her child.” He turned around and caught sight of the scar on my forehead and suddenly froze on the spot. I touched on this lightly on the phone but it looks like he did not expect it to be so damaging. Dad looked at me with an understanding and distressed look but still words of rebuke came out of his mouth:
”I told you to study properly and you still insisted to go to Hong Kong for holiday. And what type of shenanigans were you up to such that you ended up like this?” He then stamped his foot saying: ”Why are you still not quickly going to take a bath? You're sweating all over.” Ai, my old man, at all times still wanting to keep up appearances. I was reluctant to part with mom's tearful and woeful face but I hung down my head and went upstairs. Mom wiped her tears and summoned the domestic:
”Aunty w.a.n.g, help young master with the bath water!” She continued with her bombardment of dad. ”It's all your fault! Look at ShengSheng's face, what are you going to do now? If it was not for you ....... ” Before I entered my room, I heard dad ordering people: