Chen Rou Jiao put on her yellow hoodie and blue skinny jeans after the shower. Loosen her mid-length hair on her shoulder after wearing a minimal make up on her face.
She packed a luggage of clothes to bring to her hometown. She planned to spend a night there before finishing her proposal. After all, she hadn't meet her family for many months already. She even did not have time to celebrate Christmas due to her unending works.
Gathering with them shall be a bless since she was busy handling the project she worked on due to several demands by her client who was so picky that made her changed her proposal twice. For that specific client, a young lady with ridiculous demand, she had to rack her brain to find a suitable design for her client's cafe.
The first proposal, she made exactly like what the client requested on their meeting. Out of sudden, that client disagree with the pick of colour for the barista post because it was too bright. She wanted it to be a bit darker as suit to her cafe theme, classic library which she never mention it in their meeting.
Chen Rou Jiao stayed calm because it happened all the times when client disagreed with the design and as the designer, she should followed her client's demands. So she made another design, pouring everything her client wants but this time, the type of table used was not into her liking.
That young lady wanted round wooden table at the window side and square ones for the table near to the bookshelves. She condemned about the plant used and lighting, basically everything. Chen Rou Jiao was at a point wanted to drop this project, but because this client was the elite-class customer, willingly to pay a lot to her company, she had to keep going without making a fuss.
Chen Rou Jiao faced a lot of people like that client but the high-class lady was the worst. She hope, after this, she won't handle her demand anymore. Once was enough for her. She suffered mental and physical because this kind of people. Her mind couldn't function well till she even forgot about the holiday because of too immersed in finishing the proposal.
However, right now, she wanted to enjoy herself in her hometown with her family. Forget for a while about the nuisance project. Focused more to the food and the scenery in her hometown.
The fragrance of chicken stew made by her father, the fresh breeze in the morning in her hometown and of course, get together with her family.
Chen Rou Jiao put the luggage at the back seat of her car, then she took the driver seat and drove to her destination.
Now that she was on road in the busy day, she stucked in the traffic jam but luckily it's not bored her. She turned on her phone and played her favourite classic piano music and connect it to her car to listen clearly. Therefore, the traffic jam which took almost 20 minutes was nothing for her.
She enjoyed it especially when Mariage d'Amour by Richard Clayderman was played. The combination of piano and orchestra made the music sound special, and for Chen Rou Jiao the song was perfect. Made her fingers also actively moving like she played that piece herself. Her head swayed with her eyes closed.
She remembered at a time where she was once played Mariage d'Amour for an occasion for the elite. How delighted she was during that time, played the music in front of those people but now she was not able to touch any instruments. Thanks to her busy schedule.
She arrived at her hometown 10 minutes before the promised time. The place quite far from the main city but the development there was praiseworthy. The old houses and shops had been reconstructed for the better and safe environment in the past 10 years. Many accommodations provided for the people lived there.
She parked the car in front of the first double-storey building near to the main road. The first storey was the bakery own by her father, Chen Family Bakery and the second storey was their house. That building was there for almost 40 years but stood firm thanks to her father, Chen Zong who agreed to developer to reconstruct the whole building.
Chen Rou Jiao get out of the car casually as she was not rushing whatsoever. She breath in the air of her hometown, the place where she spent her youth with her family. She beamed happily as the place had changed for better.
Everything stores along with her father bakery was still there though they hadn't open their stores because of the holiday including her father's.
On normal days, the fragrant aroma from fresh baked of her father's significant bun would travelled through the neighbourhood, caught the attention of passersby and tourists. The sweet scent already hinted how delicious the bun was.
The memory of handling the customers everyday after school approached her mind and made her lips curled up. It was fun back in the days which she hope she could throw away everything right now to be able to create those memories again even for one day.
"Chen Rou Jiao, you've arrived!" A loud and happy voice behind her back made Chen Rou Jiao quickly turned around, with her expression brightened and a wide smile.
"Dad! I am home!" Chen Rou Jiao happily ran to her father who walked down the stairs which connected to the building in rush.
Chen Rou Jiao stood at the end of the stairs, waiting for her father to come down with her arms opened. Chen Zong in tears when he brought Chen Rou Jiao into his embraced.
"I miss you so much." he said while wiped his tears.
Chen Rou Jiao chuckled with the overreaction from Chen Zong. They released the hug and Chen Rou Jiao beam happily. "It just a few months, Dad. I also called you everyday, right?"
"You didn't call me, yesterday. I am a bit worry." his frowned expression increased the wrinkle on his charming face. Well, although Chen Zong was in his mid 50s, his handsomeness was still attracted the ladies in their neighbourhood, plus he maintain his strong body-build.
Chen Rou Jiao recalled she was too busy worked on the project until the time to call her father was slipped from her memory. Following on how her father sulking because of her neglience, she needs to make up of it ASAP if not, no happy meal for the next few weeks.
"I am sorry. I was too busy with my work, but I promise this will the last time." She give out her pinky swear with a wide and believable face. Only then her father believed her and smile but his sulky face still visible.
Chen Zong looked at his daughter's face, he realised something on her face thus he did not want to drag the matter deeper. He glad Chen Rou Jiao was here now and that's all matter. He showed a wide smile to her.
"Dad only care about his daughter, you should be proud, sis." A young man interrupted their reconcilation with his jokes.
Chen Rou Jiao and Chen Zong turned to the voice and the charming young man smiled genuinely at them, with his right hand in his pant pocket while walked down to them with the same stairs.
Chen Rou Jiao cheered. "Liang Shu! When did you arrived?" she quickly hug him first thing first when her younger brother stepped on the last stair.
"Last night." he replied calmly. Wrapped his arms around his older sister's shoulder. "How are you doing? Still with that nosy customer?" he asked after they being apart.
"Yup. The one and only. Made my life miserable." she chuckled.
Beside Chen Zong, Chen Rou Jiao also keep contact with her younger brother, Chen Liang Shu but only on weekend. They talked everything that happened their everyday life. That's how they treat their longing since Chen Liang Shu worked in City A for almost two years now as an uprising actor. The story of he became a celebrity from engineering student still made Chen Rou Jiao laughed.
"Then.."
"Enough. Enough. Let's talk inside, it's freezing out here." Chen Zong hurried his children to get inside.
"But my luggage,.."
"Don't worry bout that. A-Shu, get the luggage, bring it to your sister's room this instant." his police vibe came out and made his children laughed.
"Right away sir." Chen Liang Shu gave his father a respect, "please escort the important person safely, sir!" he jokingly laughed and ran to his sister car after Chen Rou Jiao handed him her car key.
"Now, Rou Jiao, let's go inside."
"Okay sir!" they finally laughed together, while quickly get inside their house.