Chapter 56 [VIP]
The blazing, bright sunlight was obscured by a dark cloud, and the coconut trees turned from emerald green to deep green.
Wen Zhiyu's expression remained unchanged, but his hands in his pockets clenched tightly, and veins bulged from the back of his hand to the section of his wrist not covered by his shirt sleeve. "I'm sure I'm not very good at interpersonal communication. But since I've seen you, I should still say hello."
Han Shu ruffled his wet hair angrily. "Didn't I say 'later'? And it's one thing for you to give me a heads-up, but what makes you think you can decide for me to go to Beicheng?"
"When my aunt asked, I told her the truth—"
"Wen Zhiyu, how can you be so self-righteous?" Han Shu snatched the towel from around her neck and flung it away forcefully. "Yes, we're dating, but it's been less than two months. How can you just spout off about such a major life event? Is this something you can just decide to do?"
Wen Zhiyu's calm facade crumbled slightly. He stepped forward to take Han Shu's hand, but was immediately shaken off. His expression changed several times, his brows furrowing into a deep frown. "It's not up to me. I'll listen to you. Whatever you want, I'll do."
"You say you'll listen, but did you listen today?!" Han Shu's tone rose sharply. "Where I live and where I go in the future are issues that my mother and I need to discuss and resolve. You have no right to interfere!"
Wen Zhiyu lowered his eyes, gave a self-deprecating smile, and said, "Not qualified?"
"You're not qualified!" Han Shu felt the coffee she drank that morning churning in her stomach, then rising to her chest, making it hard for her to breathe. She didn't want to repeat these meaningless, already settled words, so she walked towards the showerhead by the pool.
Behind him, Wen Zhiyu asked softly, "Han Shu, haven't you thought about our future?"
Han Shu stopped in his tracks, incredulous. "What did you say?"
“Isn’t that right?” Wen Zhiyu chuckled. “You came to Hainan Island for travel, you rented a long-term place to learn surfing, and you stayed for the club. I’m just like—an insignificant interlude.”
"That's pointless of you to say that!" Han Shu pushed him. "I don't want to argue with you. Let's talk about it after my mom goes back to Beicheng."
"This time you're waiting for Auntie to leave, next time will you be waiting for me to leave?"
"I didn't say I was leaving, can you stop having these delusions of persecution?" Han Shu said irritably. "I'm really exhausted lately, the club has completely worn me out. Just focus on writing your book, and don't worry about anything else, okay?"
Wen Zhiyu tilted his head, his jaw tense and stiff. "You won't let me interfere in club matters, and you won't allow me to offer my opinion on your own affairs. Am I still your boyfriend? What are we, anyway?"
Overwhelmed by a wave of grievance, Han Shu bit her lip so hard it turned white. After a long while, she asked in a trembling voice, "Is that how you understand it? You think I'm not serious about this relationship and that I'm just playing with you?"
“…Isn’t that right?” Wen Zhiyu closed his eyes, trying his best to resist the urge to look at her.
"Fine...fine!" Han Shu took a deep breath and said coldly, "Then I have nothing more to say."
She turned and left without hesitation or lingering.
After rinsing off in the sand, taking a shower, and changing clothes, they took Ms. Xu back to the city.
"This place is pretty good, you should try it." Han Shu ladled a bowl of chicken soup for Xu Ying.
"That expression...did you two have a fight?" Xu Ying picked up her spoon, took a sip, and nodded. "It's alright."
"No," Han Shu forced a smile, "I just wanted to talk to you about serious business."
"Okay, go ahead." Xu Ying tucked her hair behind her ear, crossed her arms, and leaned back in her chair.
From childhood to adulthood, Han Shu had seen Xu Ying make this expression countless times, and had been subjected to harsh criticism in this situation countless times.
She was nervous.
Under Xu Ying's watchful gaze, Han Shu took several large gulps of tea, pondered for a moment, and then slowly spoke, "Mom, let me introduce my club to you first."
This is a story that is neither too long nor too short.
A repressed and constrained girl impulsively left her familiar environment to go to an island to relax. Originally, it was just to clear her head and step out of her comfort zone. Unexpectedly, in the process of overcoming fears and difficulties, she fell in love with the sport, the lifestyle, and found a direction she wanted to strive for.
Although the area ahead was still shrouded in mist, and the faint lights that appeared were unclear whether they were bright sunlight or the source of a trap, she was still willing to take the risk.
"I really like who I am now, walking the path I've chosen and bearing the consequences of my choices." Han Shu clenched her thumb with four fingers, leaning forward unconsciously. "Maybe this choice seems naive and unrealistic to you and Dad, but what's wrong with being naive? Who says people have to do the right thing? And who sets the standard for what's right? I'm 25 this year, my life has just begun, and for better or for worse, I don't regret it... Mom, I don't ask you to understand me, I just ask for some space and time, okay?"
Xu Ying remained silent for a very long time, so long that Han Shu thought she wouldn't speak again, but she chuckled softly, "Okay."
"Huh?" Han Shu's eyes widened.
"Are you going to be dragged home?"
“…No, not really,” Han Shu muttered. “It’s just a feeling that you and my dad are willing…”
"Yes, we think it's unreliable and don't want to support you in doing these unreliable things." "But as long as it's enough."
This time, Han Shu was completely stunned.
She couldn't remember the last time she and her daughter had such a calm and peaceful conversation.
In my memory, Xu Ying always had a cold face and would list all her faults.
"You raised me all these years, and this is how you talk to me?"
"I didn't even say anything, and you're already getting upset?"
"How old are you? Why are you still so immature?"
Countless cold and stern voices echoed in my mind.
That was her path of growth, the way she came from.
Xu Ying picked up her chopsticks again and slowly began to eat. "Shut your mouth, you silly thing."
"mom……"
Xu Ying smiled faintly, "These past few months, I've been to the hospital many times and seen many patients, and I've finally understood that saying. Teachers see many outstanding children, so they have high expectations for their own children. Doctors see many sick children, so their expectation for their own children is simply that they be healthy."
“That day, during my follow-up appointment, I ran into a sixteen-year-old high school student. She had depression and a thyroid tumor. In front of the doctor, her parents said, ‘How could you be so useless? You can’t do well in your studies, and now your health is failing you too.’ At that moment, I suddenly remembered how I criticized you when you took a sick leave from high school due to a cold… It really made me feel bad.”
Han Shu felt a lump in her throat and quickly closed her eyes to hold back her tears.
She still remembers how Xu Ying got so angry that she tore up her mock exam paper, saying, "You dropped more than a hundred places! You skipped class because of a little cold, are you giving up on yourself?! Don't tell anyone you're my daughter, I can't bear to see you like this!"
Xu Ying paused for a moment, then said, "The thyroid problem is a mood disorder. I've been through so much, and I really don't want the same thing to happen to my daughter. As long as this kind of life makes you happy, I have no objection."
Han Shu could no longer hold back and let her tears flow freely.
Some things have changed.
The long-standing worries drifted away like feathers, and my heart settled heavily on the ground.
Xu Ying's simple words gave Han Shu unprecedented courage and confidence.
After the mother and daughter finished their meal, they took a walk along the coconut palm promenade.
At this time, there are elderly men jogging, young people walking their dogs, and couples holding hands on dates.
Han Shu turned around to look at the young couple kissing, oblivious to everyone around them. The boy had a bag slung over one shoulder and was holding the girl's hand tightly. Their ears were redder than the setting sun.
"What, missing your boyfriend?" Xu Ying scoffed in her usual tone.
"No." Han Shu scratched his arm sheepishly. "Cough, let's go. There are mosquitoes."
Xu Ying glanced at her and said, "Do you think I don't know you? Just say what you have to say."
"Ahem." Han Shu licked his lips and stammered, "It's just... I'll definitely go back to see you and Dad often in the short term, but I haven't thought about the long term yet. Could you please not ask Wen Zhiyu to go back to Beicheng?"
Xu Ying frowned. "What's wrong? Is there something wrong with Beicheng?"
“He’s from Beicheng,” Han Shu said.
"Wouldn't that make things go more naturally?"
Han Shu grabbed Xu Ying's arm and said seriously, "Wen Zhiyu's upbringing is quite unique. His biological parents passed away unexpectedly when he was four years old, and he grew up in an orphanage. He chose to go to university and work in the south of the city to leave his past environment. The north of the city holds unpleasant memories for him, and I don't want him to suffer because of me."
Xu Ying was surprised and remained silent.
"Mom," Han Shu waved her hand, "He's very good, exceptionally good. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have been able to take so many first steps so bravely, and I wouldn't be as happy as I am now. I really love him, and I will definitely find a balance!"
Xu Ying took a flight early the next morning, and Han Shu escorted her all the way to the security checkpoint.
"Let's go back." Xu Ying took the travel bag.
Han Shu stepped forward and hugged Xu Ying's increasingly thin shoulders tightly. "Message me when you board the plane, and let me know when you land."
"Okay." Xu Ying waved her hand. "Do a good job, I'm leaving."
Do a good job.
Han Shu hailed a taxi back to the villa area. Her heart was pounding with excitement the whole way, almost leaping out of her throat. She desperately wanted to tell Wen Zhiyu that her parents had agreed to let her open the shop and she no longer needed to sneak around. Ms. Xu also tacitly accepted their relationship and stopped insisting on returning to Beicheng.
In the future, they can finally have a proper discussion about the future.
Han Shu unlocked the door with his fingerprint, changed his shoes, and rushed inside, shouting, "Wen Zhiyu? Wen Zhiyu!"
The first floor was quiet.
"Where is he? Still not up?"
Han Shu casually pulled open the living room curtains and windows, letting a gentle breeze drift into the room, and also into her open heart. Then she ran upstairs in a few strides, pushing open the bedroom door. "Wen Zhiyu, I have good news for you, I—"
The excited voice abruptly stopped.
It was already 10:30, and the bedroom curtains were still drawn tightly. In the darkness, she saw Wen Zhiyu huddled in the corner next to the sofa, his wrists resting on his bent knees, his body hunched over.
Hearing the noise, he raised his head, revealing bloodshot eyes.
The sunlight in the corridor couldn't penetrate the deep ink, nor could it dispel the bewilderment and helplessness between his brows.
Han Shu panicked. She immediately rushed over and grabbed his hand, "What's wrong?"
Wen Zhiyu's pupils seemed frozen in time, as he stared blankly at her for a long time. When he finally spoke, his voice was hoarse and dry, as if sanded smooth, "I'm sorry, it's all my fault. Can you please not leave me?"
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