Rebirth: Looking Back in a Sudden Realization - Chapter 17

Back at the hotel, Shao Yiner busied herself in the kitchen as usual.

“Mom, I’m back.” Shao Chuyan took off her shoes and signaled Lu Linlang to come inside.

“Why are you so late today? This won’t do — I should buy you a phone. Yanyan, should we hire a driver? It’s inconvenient to get to school otherwise.” Shao Yiner said as she carried a freshly cooked dish of sweet-and-sour pork from the kitchen and set it on the table, looking up: “Is this your classmate? Come in, quickly.”

“Mom, this is Lu Linlang. We sit together.” Shao Chuyan introduced her.

“Linlang?” Shao Yiner suddenly remembered and exclaimed happily: “You’re Lao Lu’s daughter, Linlang?”

“Hello, Aunt Shao. Sorry to trouble you.” Lu Linlang bowed politely.

“Trouble? Nonsense — this is wonderful! I didn’t expect you two to be deskmates. Come on, wash your hands and eat.” Shao Yiner beamed.

Shao Yiner had learned cooking for a year so her daughter would eat well — knife work, plating, and everything — she studied it all systematically. Cooking for her daughter every day was her happiest time. To celebrate her daughter’s first day of high school, the dishes on the table were all Shao Chuyan’s favorites: celery with lily bulbs, sweet-and-sour pork, steamed prawns, braised lion’s head meatballs, and a pot of cordyceps chicken soup.

Shao Chuyan inhaled the aroma happily and helped Lu Linlang sit down.

“Here, Linlang, have some more.” Shao Yiner placed a meatball into Lu Linlang’s bowl.

“Thank you, Auntie.” Lu Linlang showed good manners, very different from the rough tomboy image she sometimes displayed.

“Nonsense, don’t be so polite! I used to hold you when you were little — you were only this tall.” Shao Yiner gestured with her hand.

Hearing that the families were old acquaintances made Lu Linlang think of the slap she gave Shao Chuyan yesterday; she blushed and smiled shyly.

“Mom, can Linlang stay with us for a while?” Shao Chuyan asked, raising an eyebrow at her mother to silently urge agreement.

“Of course! But has her mother been informed?” Shao Yiner inclined her chin, thinking they should get parental consent.

“I’ll call her later.” Lu Linlang lowered her head.

Shao Chuyan signaled her mother not to ask further, and mother and daughter reached an understanding.

After dinner, Shao Chuyan led Lu Linlang to the guest room. The guest room was a standard hotel suite with its own bathroom and no extra decoration.

“Linlang, you’ll stay in this room for now. The pajamas in the wardrobe are new. But we haven’t prepared your other clothes and toiletries — let’s go buy some later, okay?” Shao Chuyan asked.

“Okay — sorry to trouble you and Auntie.” Lu Linlang nodded; she was accepting help for the first time and felt a bit uncomfortable.

“Don’t be polite.”

Shao Chuyan narrowed her eyes and noticed that this little girl wasn’t as brazen as she often acted; deep down she was quite well-bred. Maybe the roughness was just a protective shell. Shao Chuyan sighed inwardly — every family has its troubles.

“Shall we go?” Shao Yiner had already changed; the weather was getting cooler and she wore a black long-sleeve shirt paired with jeans.

Shao Chuyan and Lu Linlang, still in their uniforms, followed Shao Yiner out of the hotel.

The Four Seasons hotel was well located — the nearest mall was only two blocks away. The three women strolled over.

Shao Chuyan and Lu Linlang weren’t very familiar and neither was talkative; although they didn’t chat much, there was no awkwardness.

At the mall, Shao Yiner bought daily necessities at the supermarket and then bought a whole set of autumn clothes for Lu Linlang from head to toe — three of each item so she could change easily.

“Linlang, if you see anything you like, tell Auntie — consider it a welcome gift!” Shao Yiner said affectionately. “Yanyan, did you see anything you like?” she asked her daughter excitedly.

Shao Chuyan shook her head, her mind on getting her clothing business started.

From the moment she entered the mall she had been studying the shops: which brands were mainstream, this season’s color palettes and styles, even the sales assistants’ manners and the counter displays — mentally taking notes for future research.

Lu Linlang, carrying a pile of clothes, tugged Shao Chuyan’s sleeve: “Chuyan, I’ll have my mom pay you back.”

“No need, haha — my mom said it’s a welcome gift. She’s a born shopaholic; if she can’t shop she gets bored,” Shao Chuyan laughed — she knew her mother well.

“Then can you ask Auntie not to tell my dad?” Lu Linlang lowered her voice.

Shao Chuyan glanced, surprised: “You’re worried your dad will worry?”

Lu Linlang put on a stubborn face: “No — I just don’t want to embarrass him. He’ll say my mom deserved it.” Her childish pout looked very adorable to Shao Chuyan.

Shao Chuyan wanted to pinch the 14-year-old’s cheek and said, “Okay, okay — we won’t tell him. Don’t make Linlang look bad in front of Mr. Lu, ok?”

Lu Linlang nodded guiltily, thinking it odd that although she was older and taller than Chuyan, she was being coddled like a child.

That night, when it seemed the kids were about to sleep, Shao Yiner brought two glasses of warm milk to her daughter’s room.

“Yanyan, you’ve been having nightmares lately. Drink some milk to calm down — you’ll sleep better.” Shao Yiner handed one cup to Shao Chuyan with a doting look.

Shao Chuyan took a sip, then eyed the other cup: “Is that for Linlang?”

“Yes.” Shao Yiner nodded. “I’ll bring it to her and chat a bit. You get some rest.”

Shao Chuyan inwardly thought, “She’s older than me,” but outwardly obediently said, “Okay.”

Lu Linlang might have been asleep; Shao Chuyan knocked twice and heard nothing. When she opened the door she heard water running — Linlang was showering. She placed the milk on the table and was about to leave just as Lu Linlang switched off the tap and padded out in wet slippers.

“Chuyan?”

Lu Linlang, hair wrapped and wearing a bathrobe, stood behind her.

“My mom made you some milk. Drink it and get some rest.” Shao Chuyan smiled and turned.

“Oh, thanks.” Lu Linlang seemed relieved.

“Okay, I’ll leave now.” Seeing Linlang’s wary expression, Shao Chuyan decided to go.

“Chuyan… I just don’t like being too close to people. Don’t take it personally.” Lu Linlang realized she’d made Chuyan feel awkward.

“It’s okay. I don’t quite like it either.”

“Mm.”

After a pause Lu Linlang asked softly, “Chuyan, do you think karma exists?” Her voice was low but carried a faint hardness.

“Do you mean you want revenge on your stepfather?” Chuyan looked up, her eyes clear.

Lu Linlang bit her lip, eyes flitting anxiously: “I didn’t plan it, but I want to protect my mom. He treated us like that — he should pay!” She inhaled, calming herself, then added sadly, “But he’s an adult with power. If I knew some ruthless people, maybe they could help.”

She lifted her chin and the small vermilion mole under her eye moved with the expression.

“What kind of ruthless people do you mean?”

“Hitmen? Thugs? I don’t know.” Lu Linlang looked bewildered.

Shao Chuyan couldn’t help smiling: “Those people you mentioned aren’t really that ruthless.”

“Yeah, I know. The ones who look fierce aren’t really dangerous — a little money or influence can control them,” Lu Linlang said from experience.

“Lu Linlang, why don’t you rely on yourself?” Shao Chuyan asked gently.

“Me?” Lu Linlang shook her head. She had thought of it but despaired: “I’m so young — even if I’m fierce, I’m just a fourteen-year-old girl. I don’t know what I could do.”

“How about… I help you?” Shao Chuyan offered.

“You?” Lu Linlang stared at the cute-looking girl in disbelief: “You’re younger than me — what can you do?”

“We can follow him, find his weakness, and force him to divorce!” Shao Chuyan’s mouth curled; her dark eyes made her small face look pale and determined.

Lu Linlang hesitated but, for some reason, watching Chuyan gave her unconsciously a sense of trust in her ability.

“Okay.” Lu Linlang nodded seriously.

“All right, stop thinking. Drink the milk and sleep early.” Shao Chuyan patted Lu Linlang’s hand and left the guest room.

Standing at the door after closing it, Shao Chuyan thought: Lu Linlang, it seems we were meant to meet. Since I can’t find my own enemy, I’ll practice on yours first!