Li Fei realized that days were moving so fast and she wondered if it was because she was going to confess the truth to her mother. She knew convincing her was going to be so hard but she just wished she understood.
It was on a Friday night when she was talking to Jin Liwei on phone. "I can feel your nervousness," he said. "Yes. I'm very nervous," she said. "I understand. But... what will happen if she doesn't accept?" he asked. "I really don't know because I don't think I can leave without her consent," she said. When he didn't reply, she said," But I will do everything within my power to make her agree." He took a while to say,"Okay. Tell me whatever she says." She agreed although she doubted she will do it. As she was still talking on phone, Zhan came in with a cup of tea and placed it on the table. Looking at her, Li Fei mouthed a thank you and picked up the cup to take a sip on it. She had been bringing tea and snacks to her room several times such that when the time comes, it would be easier.
...
Finally, it was the long awaited day of revealing the truth to her mother. The three were having dinner when Li Mei asked," I have taken long without hearing from Jianyu. Is he alright?"
"Yes. He's alright," replied Li Jiang. "Tell him to spare some time and come have dinner with us," she said. "I will be sure to inform him. It's just like there has been a lot of work at the company recently." "Okay." After the dinner, their mother left and Li Jiang looked at Li Fei to say," I guess it's time." She felt her heart pound in her chest and she said,"I will first use the bathroom. I will be right back." "Relax. I will be waiting for you in her bedroom," he said to which she nodded and rushed to her room.
Coming out of the bathroom, she started pacing back and forth in the bedroom and she realized that she was trembling. Should she perhaps postpone it? But no, she was doing it today and get done with it.
She took several deep breaths and decided to rehearse on how she was going to break the news to her.
'Mom, I really have something important to tell you. You remember the boyfriend I told you about, no. That won't work,' she stopped that and started another one,' Mom, I had a conversation with Dad one day before he left us. He asked me to prioritize my happiness and it's what I'm going to do. No, this also won't do." She clutched her hair and wondered what the right words to use were. Still coming up with what to say, the door opened and she felt her heart pound in her chest. Was it her mother? Could it be that Li Jiang told her already? She relaxed when she saw that it was a maid who had come in.
Zhan smiled on seeing her and said," Ms Li Fei, I baked some cookies and made orange juice for you. I hope you like it." She placed the tray on the table and Li Fei replied," Thank you." Nodding her head, she left the room but left the door slightly ajar so that she could be able to peek inside.
It was then that Li Fei's phone rang and she walked to where it was. "How is everything going?" asked Jin Liwei. "Not yet. I'm going just now," she replied. "Relax. Remember that I'm just a call away incase anything happens," he said and she walked towards the table then picked up the glass of juice that was brought for her. Raising it to her lips, she took a few sips before putting it back. "Thank you. I think I should go now. Jiang must be waiting for me," she said and when the call ended, she got the juice and gulped the entire glass. She didn't know if she was feeling thirsty because of nervousness. Looking at the cookies, she picked one and took a bite, finding them to be incredibly delicious. When she finished eating the whole of it, she realized that she ate quite a lot these past days. Not minding it, she ate three more before standing up to leave.
The moment Zhan saw this, she fled away and went to her room then picked her already packed things to leave. She had been wise enough to pack them in trash bags such that it wouldn't be a problem passing by the guards at the gate.
Li Jiang waited for Li Fei to come but she wasn't anywhere to be seen. "You're getting me worried Jiang. What do you want to talk about?" Li Mei asked. "I was waiting for Li Fei to reach but it seems she will take long. The thing is mother, I believe that Li Fei has gone through a lot," he said and she replied," I believe the same too."
"Ah, you know that she's in love with someone, don't you?" he asked. Confused, she said," I knew that she loved someone but now she's engaged. Why do you ask?" "Uhm, I know the man and he actually came to meet me," he said. "Ohh, that is surprising because I wanted to meet him but it never happened," she said. "Well, we talked and he seemed to be serious about her," he said.
"It's too late. She's already engaged," she stated. "But we shouldn't ignore the fact that Li Fei doesn't love Jianyu but him," he said. She thought before asking," Who's he?"
Li Jiang realized that Li Fei wasn't coming and said," I think she will be the one to tell you about him. I will go check on her."
She looked at his retreating figure remaining confused.
Li Jiang knocked on Li Fei's door before pushing it open and on going inside, she wasn't there.
He walked to the bathroom door and knocked then called her name but got no response. He concluded that she wasn't in and left to look for her elsewhere.