Chapter 39 Crimson Red Lan Jia's vision went black, and she completely lost consciousness...
Ten-year-old Lan Jia was full of worries. With her two thin, slender legs crossed, she irritably flipped through a comic book.
She sighed, plotting how to skip her piano lesson in two hours and sneak off to the aquarium with Qiao Zimu.
Although her parents doted on her, they didn't neglect her education at all, paying extra attention to her academic studies and extracurricular skills, leaving her no room to refuse. From a very young age, they meticulously planned her life, selecting a whole host of activities for her to learn, including equestrianism, skiing, painting, and violin.
The couple disagreed on her training plan and argued repeatedly. In the end, they even called Meng Cenjun, who was in the United States, to act as her judge.
The couple had complete peace of mind with their steady and composed eldest son, cherishing him like a precious gift from heaven, and were satisfied with everything about him. As they reached middle age, their physical functions and energy declined like a landslide, and they gradually developed a need for support, learning to seek the opinions of their younger generation.
At that time, Meng Cenjun was already pursuing her master's degree, spending all her time in the laboratory, extremely busy. In between, she would reply with just one sentence: "I will follow my sister's preferences and wishes in everything." She was already used to the quarrels of the Yi couple over the years, and her skill in handling water was so refined that she had become adept and proficient.
The pressure was on Lan Jia. When their eyes met, she nervously swallowed and said in a weak voice, "Then I'll practice piano and painting..."
The piano was Mom's choice; she praised her for her long, slender fingers, saying they were perfect for playing the keys. Painting was Dad's preference, because Grandma was a professor of Western art, and he had been exposed to it since childhood, feeling he had a knack for it.
That should satisfy both of them, right?
To prevent them from arguing all day, young Lan Jia had no choice but to agree.
Whether it can be done or not is another matter entirely.
She was alright at drawing, but she had absolutely no musical talent. The piano bench was like a furnace, scorching her bottom, and she would become restless after at most fifteen minutes. One day, when Ms. Yi took the time to check on her progress, the piano teacher smiled rather reluctantly: "Miss Yi does have talent, but she's a bit too playful."
Hearing the teacher's dishonest words, Lan Jia felt indignant. She hoped that she would tell Ms. Yi the truth: "This child is hopeless and cannot be taught. Send her back as soon as possible." Since it was Lan Jia who had asked to learn the subject, even if she didn't like it, she couldn't give up halfway. So she hoped every day that someone would speak up for her, but unfortunately, she never got her wish.
Lan Jia thought that Ms. Yi's hourly wage was probably so high that no one could refuse it. In order to get this job, anyone would have kept her firmly on the piano bench.
She laid the brightly colored comic book flat on her face, looking utterly dejected, and as she breathed in and out, a knocking sound came from the door.
"Enter."
Hearing her listless tone, Mr. Yi asked with a smile, "Who made you unhappy, my darling Lan Jia?"
"It's nothing, Dad." The book slid down, and she saw him in a suit. She asked, "It's the weekend, are you still going to work?"
"There's a ribbon-cutting ceremony I need to attend," Mr. Yi said with a smile, but with a hint of mystery. Lan Jia's birthday was approaching, and he and Han Zhen had been preparing for a long time, setting up a toy company as a gift for her. He absolutely had to be there for the opening ceremony today.
When Lan Jia heard it was about business, she gave a dismissive "Oh," showing no interest whatsoever; she'd never been cut out for this kind of thing. However, thinking about the aquarium invitation later, her mind started racing again, and she tentatively asked, "What about Mom? Is she coming too?"
"Your mother has a headache, so don't bother her. Zhang Ma will accompany you to your piano lesson later, don't forget."
They still wanted her to go to class. Lan Jia's throat tightened, and she didn't dare say she didn't want to go, feeling like she was swallowing a bitter pill.
Mr. Yi left, and Lan Jia hesitated in her room, becoming more and more anxious. With a bitter face, she decided to try to coax Ms. Yi into giving her a day off.
The bedroom door was ajar, and she cautiously peeked inside. The bed was empty, but she could hear intermittent voices coming from inside. Her gaze followed the sound and she saw Ms. Yi curled up on the sofa, talking on the phone. Her light pink silk nightgown was wrinkled, and her hair was a mess of curly hair.
"What exactly do you want? We've been estranged for so many years, why are you coming to see me again?"
"Do I have to remind you again? I have a family and children now, and I'm living a happy and fulfilling life. Please stop disturbing my life, okay?"
"Haven't you been crazy enough all these years? Can't you just settle down and live a normal life?"
"Do you have to force me like you always have?" Ms. Yi grabbed her hair, nearly collapsing in despair.
"Madman! Madman!"
"Mom?" Lan Jia called out to her in a daze.
Ms. Yi turned around in a panic and saw that it was her youngest daughter. She quickly wiped away the tears on her face.
After hanging up the phone, she got up and walked over. "What's wrong, honey? Did you take the medicine I put by your bedside?"
Lan Jia knew she was deliberately changing the subject, but she still stubbornly asked, "Mom, why are you crying?"
"It's nothing, just a terrible headache. I'll take a painkiller and I'll be fine."
"Lan Jia, would you like to go out with Mom?"
Where to?
"How about we go see an old friend of mine, and then go to your favorite dessert shop?"
Her family has always been very strict with her eating sweets, but today they changed their minds. Although Lan Jia had some doubts, she was young and couldn't resist the temptation. And thinking that she didn't have to practice the piano, she readily agreed.
The mother and daughter quickly tidied up and left, driven to a private club on Songtao Road. Lan Jia swung her legs in the back seat, watching the shimmering scenery outside the window. In April, the fringe trees lining the road were in bloom, clusters of pure white blossoms like fluffy snowflakes.
Lan Jia had it all planned out: she wanted to eat a banana smoothie like Little Snow Mountain, topped with double chocolate sauce and garnished with a bright red cherry.
If her mother allowed it, she would also like a strawberry claffette and a pistachio madeleine. After some deliberation, Lan Jia glanced at Ms. Yi carefully. She saw that Ms. Yi's face was solemn and she seemed restless, as if she had gone through some intense struggle. Suddenly, she made up her mind and said, "Old Chen, turn the car around."
Hearing her mention another place name, Lan Jia asked in surprise, "Aren't we going to the dessert shop?"
"Sorry, baby, how about we play together another time? Let's go find your dad first."
"Going to the company? How boring." She pouted.
Ms. Yi did not respond to her and urged the driver to hurry up.
Lan Jia didn't understand; she only felt that adults' moods were unpredictable, changing their minds at the last minute after making promises. She threw a little tantrum, "When we get to the company later, can you have Uncle Chen take me to the aquarium? I don't want to go to my piano lesson today." Then, afraid of being too harsh and upsetting her, she weakly asked, "Is that okay, Mom?"
"We'll go to the aquarium another day; today, our family will stay together."
"Why?!" Her wishes were dashed, and she became anxious.
"Listen to me, Lan Jia." Ms. Yi's face was stern, her attitude leaving no room for argument.
Lan Jia felt stifled and turned away without saying a word. Fortunately, Yi's father hadn't been gone long; he called to tell him to wait, and despite rushing all the way, they made it in time.
As soon as the car came to a stop, Ms. Yi rushed out. Mr. Yi, who was in the car ahead, also got out, somewhat bewildered, upon seeing his wife and daughter arrive.
Why did you make this trip if you're not feeling well?
Before Yi's father could finish speaking, he was suddenly embraced by a large hug.
"What's wrong?" he asked his wife softly, noticing her red eyes and tenderly touching her face.
"I was worried about you..." His tone was clearly still shaken.
"I'm perfectly fine, nothing's wrong."
"Um……"
Lan Jia, sitting in the car, looked away, somewhat speechless. She was used to her parents' constant displays of affection. After a while, she glanced back and, seeing the two still clinging to each other, couldn't help but smile. Actually, she was happy. Her parents' love was the strongest glue holding their family together. Married for nearly twenty years, despite their occasional arguments, their love remained as strong as ever. Lan Jia never doubted that she had the happiest family in the world and firmly believed that they would continue to love each other as always.
She thought she would be happy for the rest of her life.
pity.
The family rode together to the ceremony venue, and then sent their driver, Uncle Chen, back first.
To give his wife and daughter more room, Mr. Yi moved to the front row and turned around to laugh at Lan Jia, saying, "Why are you still looking so sullen? Poor little princess."
"Yeah, now you're all happy, but I'm the most pitiful one. I can't go to the aquarium, and I can't eat the dessert I've been craving!" Lan Jia complained angrily.
"How about next weekend? Mom and Dad can take some time out of our schedules. We'll watch the dolphins with you in the morning, and then we'll go to a dessert shop in the afternoon. You can eat whatever you want."
Ms. Yi glanced at him, silently rebuking him for spoiling the child too much.
Mr. Yi smiled, as if to retort: "She's our only daughter, what's wrong with spoiling and loving her?"
The couple exchanged glances, locked in a battle of wills, before Ms. Yi finally gave in, feigning sternness as she said, "I can play with you for a day next week, but you skipped today's piano lesson and you have to make it up tomorrow."
"Oh my god!" Lan Jia was struck dumb as if by a bolt from the blue, and slumped off the back of her chair.
Is there anyone who will come to save her?
Seeing her deflated like a punctured balloon, the couple exchanged a knowing smile.
The car drove smoothly forward. Lan Jia leaned against the window, sullenly, silently praying to heaven. She would do anything to avoid tomorrow's piano lesson. A fever? A minor illness? Burning her finger with tea? Cutting her finger with a knife? Anything would do…
The next second, a huge, nuclear-explosion-like impact sound suddenly rang in my ears.
Lan Jia's vision went black, and she completely lost consciousness.
The author's note: The love story between parents is probably a classic tale of a child star defeating their childhood sweetheart.
Perhaps the side stories will include some tales of love from the previous generation. [Milk Tea]
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