"Is the food okay?"
"Yes, it is, thank you, father."
The following morning, Li Na's father had called to her to come with him and have breakfast at the Popular Diner in the downtown of Keelung city. Li Na's mother had the housekeeper chased away after she learned that she called Li Na a month ago, now she refused to cook for her father because of what transpired yesterday due to Li Na's arrival.
Li Na has woken up early since she tried to avoid any confrontation with her mother and walked down the hallway to take a shower before her father invited her out for breakfast. She picked a dress from her suitcase, knocking on her father's door at eight o'clock in the morning. Her father had told her to prepare herself this morning for they will be going together to have their breakfast at the nearby diner.
Seeing her father struggling to get out of his wheelchair without her help and standing with the help of the walking stick, the image of him as a strong tall man seems to overlap the one where he is now struggling to walk with his walking stick. Time has dealt with her father and it's not in a pretty way.
Despite his failure as a father and whatever failures he had been guilty of as a husband, he was a dedicated volunteer and very active in business life. In fact, he enjoyed an excellent reputation amongst the townsfolk of Keelung city, and his opinion was frequently sought after in all matters.
The accident has made him seem as if he has seen more than the world can offer, making him look wearied and tired.
As she braced her father into the car, Li Na was thankful that her mother was not around to berate and shout at her this morning.
To her father's credit, he and Li Na spent an enjoyable day together. The regulars at Keelung diner welcomed her gladly, and he was able to brag to them about how well she was doing in NTU and how she was one of the youngest female professors, Ph.D., in the science department.
He made her drive around town to see some of the new building projects, pointing out how The Xu building company had made Keelung grow even during her short absence.
Mr. Xu also made Li Na recount how she came to be engaged in a relationship with Lu Li Jun. After hearing it he gave his approval and encouraged Li Na to be careful not to allow it to become an unnecessary scandal since she's at the pinnacle of her career.
He also brought her to a huge and large building that was being built as a hospital for a postnatal health care center and he explained that it is mainly for mothers' who are dealing with depression before and after childbirth.
She realized that though late, her father is trying every possible means to correct his past mistake.
Afterward, they went to his company to introduce Li Na to his secretary and his business partners.
She later accompanied him to the golfing sports center, where she observed her father engage with his associates. Despite his minor handicap, she observed how her father assisted his friends in learning how to play in the golf course and right in the cup( a hole where the ball enters).
It was quite enjoyable, Li Na never thought that a day would come in her life where she would be able to enjoy her father's company to a large extent.
When it was over, Li Na handed him a drink, thus encouraging him to relax as her father went ahead and sat down with her. Finally sitting with his daughter, he looked at her and started.
"When you came back to Taipei and started teaching at NTU, I tried calling your phone but the call never went through, Why?"
"Dad, I had to change my phone contact before Chen was put to Jail. He started sending me creepy messages which made me change my phone contact" Li Na put down her orange juice on the chair nearby.
"Oh, really? I always wondered why my calls and messages never went through but Your mum always had a way to get through to you," Mr. Xu's voice was hesitant, he looked away and rubbed a finger over the tip of the cup and glanced at Li Na nervously.
"Yes, but I recall sending my phone number to your email at the same time I gave my new phone number to mother." Li Na gave him a dubious glance.
Mr. Xu murmured, guiltily looking aside, "I never checked it, I'm sorry."
Li Na inhaled deeply as she continued to stare at her father's face, it was a reminder of her father's habit of ignoring everything about her.
"I'll give you my new phone number," she says.
Mr. Xu smiled as Li Na gave him her phone number. "I appreciate it."
Then he began, his voice troubled. "I want you to be on the lookout until I have enough proof to put Chen Yinnan behind bars. He said he wasn't in Keelung city but was in Taipei the last time he spoke with your mother, but I don't trust him. I know he won't drive all the way out here right now, but it's better to be prepared. That's why I'm going to hire a security guard to keep an eye on you."
He keeps fiddling with the rope of his walking stick. "He appears pleasant and nice before I discover all this damaging material. When I went to see him in prison, he was really nice and merely stated that you had been deceived, as well as stating that he had a few documents that belonged to him. He didn't want to bother you, so I gave him your phone number and told him it was fine if he called you."
"I don't have anything of his! Even if I did, you can bet I wouldn't want to speak with him. Father, he's not a nice guy. Around you, he acts one way. And with me..." Li Na shook a little.
"Now I see and realize the foolishness of my ways. I'm concerned for your safety." Mr. Xu gently stroked Li Na on the head.
He began by shifting slightly and gathering his thoughts. "I know you've been depressed for some time, but this is different. I will do everything in my power to be a good father to you. I realize it's too late, but I'll make it up to you."
He urged Li Na by quickly standing up with the support of his stick. "Let's get home before your mother becomes enraged, and Li Na— I'd like to meet the boy who made you smile so vibrantly." Li Na reddened at her father's words, despite her reluctance to go home. She may be happy with her father's company, but she was not ready to face her mother at this time.
...........
Finally, alone, she saw that her iPhone chirped with an incoming text from Li-Jun; Hey! I'm here in Keelung city.
How's your day, I hope all is well with the situation with your parents?
I'll be expecting you this evening. This is the address of the hotel.
Have a great day.
Your Amazing Boyfriend, Li Jun. 😘
A few minutes later, Li Na sent Li Jun a text: My Amazing Boyfriend? I've missed you and I'm happy that you are here in my town. My father will love to meet you. I will tell you the details of what transpired between my parents, especially my father.
Looking forward to your call.
Yours, Li Na 😎
Li Na drifted into the kitchen, entirely unaware that her mother was in the room next to her, her mind completely consumed with Li Jun's message and the moments they would share tonight.
All the tears and trouble and the humiliation with her mother and Chen Yinnan were now forgotten. She'd waited and longed for this kind of bliss, and she was not going to allow anybody to make her mood capsize like a ship struck by a rainstorm.
Li Na devoted her full attention to preparing her lunch. She was just putting the Gua bao(Taiwanese Hamburger) into the oven when the phone to the house rang.
Her mother went to answer it and within seconds she seemed to berate the person on the other side of the call. Li Na felt sorry for the person.
After a few brief sentences that sounded work-related, she slammed the phone into its cradle and entered into her father's study before she disappeared upstairs a few minutes later completely ignoring Li Na. When she returned, Mrs. Xu had changed her dress as she moved to close the door behind her.
Li Na watched her mother back out of the driveway in her sleek car and drive away. She felt relieved that her mother ignored her.
She took the Gua bao out of the oven when the timer went off and savored the sweet, crispy aroma.
She wrapped the Gua bao and placed it in the refrigerator as she waited for it to cool. It'd last until tomorrow, and for lunch, she'd make a salad.
She heard the front door open and close around five minutes later. She hurriedly stood from her chair, attempting to put her book down and get the dish she had used for lunch.
"You are welcome back," she called to the hallway.
"I'm glad to hear that, Li - Li."
The dish slid through Li Na's fingers at the sound of that voice, breaking on the white and elegantly tiled floor beneath her.