Father

"Please stop doing that..."

"Stop doing what?" he asked innocently, remaining oblivious.

"Breathing in my ear."

"Why?"

"... It tickles."

Yang Mu burst out laughing. Her ear was so sensitive that a thought suddenly flashed through his mind. /What would her reaction be like if I bit her earlobe?/

But as soon as it came, he dismissed it. Yang Mu realized he was beginning to have such weird and unusual thoughts affecting his rational mind.

He had never been like this before. Maybe it was a side effect of his affection for her. In the first place, when did his curiosity turn to affection?

And he still hasn't figured out why she was familiar. But he wouldn't push it. The answer will naturally come to him.

"We're here."

The deep colors of the estate brought a string of memories from his mind.

An iron wrought gate with visible rust already appearing. The traditional house that just reeked of ancient history with imposing pillars. Especially the two worn out dragon statues just beside the large front door.

"Thanks again for walking me home. I'll treat you to sixth avenue next time."

Sixth avenue was the closest place where one could find all sorts of entertainment. From bowling to karaoke, you could never go bored. Money was also not a problem, as most of the owners provided affordable prices for students such as themselves.

"No problem. It's late so you better go inside."

Jiang Shen nodded as she parted ways from him.

Just before she opened the front door, his voice made her turn around.

"Shen!"

She tilted her head in confusion.

"Good luck tomorrow!"

Jiang Shen nodded as she went inside.

When she remembered that it would Monday the next day, she inwardly groaned in response. The idea that she had to explain herself in front of an audience just to salvage her own reputation made her lazy.

Could she not do it? She could, but then many people would scold and nag her till the end of time if she didn't do it.

"Welcome back."

Jiang Mei had been waiting for her since the early afternoon in the main hall while she occupied herself with a cook book.

"I'm home."

She removed her shoes and neatly placed them on the shoe rack, planning to head straight to her room without another word.

"Wait a minute."

Another groan almost escaped her lips, but she still turned around to face her aunt.

"Yes, aunt?"

"I heard from you friend what happened."

"You mean—"

"Yes, the rumors."

Jiang Shen sighed. She did not want them to know, exactly because she didn't want them to meddle nor involve themselves.

"Don't worry. I have it under control. By tomorrow afternoon the rumors will be gone and it'll be like nothing has happened. Did grandfather ask you this? Because if he did then don't worry becau—"

"Xiao Shen."

Her firm voice made her stop in her tracks. The words she wanted to say had died in her throat before she had the chance to say it. But it was also a good thing she didn't. Unless she wanted someone to be angry.

"I'm not worried about our family's reputation."

"... Then...?"

Jiang Mei looked tired as she relaxed her posture.

"Come here."

"Why?"

"Come on."

"Fine."

Jiang Shen approached her in small steps. Will she be scolded again? Or preached? Maybe both? To her surprise, Jiang Mei's long arms pulled her into a hug.

The warmth of another person invading her personal space made her stiffen.

"I hope you're okay," her aunt whispered.

She sounded sincere as she caressed her head in a loving manner. Jiang Shen relaxed when she realized that she wasn't going to be scolded.

"I'm fine, aunt."

"That's what you say but I always see you coming home exhausted. You usually pay strict attention to your posture, but when you get home you'd slouch, which i'm guessing is because you'd been too stiff. Your grandfather is still confined in his own courtyard, so you don't have to worry about him finding out about this. I also haven't told your father."

When she mentioned her father, Jiang Shen looked awkward as she shuffled her feet, breaking away from the hug.

"Uhm... how is he...? Father—"

"He's doing fine."

"Ah— that's good."

She hadn't talked to her father properly since her birthday. Although they sometimes exchanged a few words here and there, the conversation never seemed to last for more than a few minutes.

It was especially so since her mother had left. She felt pity for her father, but she also couldn't abandon her mother. A position that had conflicted her and the cause of her stress.

"He wanted to talk to you."

She looked up from her feet, when she unconsciously fiddled with her earlobe again, an action she had made into a little habit since young whenever she was anxious.

"What do you mean?"

"You're already a grownup. And you'll be going to college soon. I think he wants to plan your college with you. From what I know he's been saving up a lot of money."

"Father... did... ?"

Jiang Mei didn't look like she was lying. Nor did she have any reason to.

It was just that in all her years, her father hadn't shown much concern for her nor did he made it a point to pamper her — unlike her younger sister. It was even a miracle she did not develop an inferiority complex.

Not that she wanted to. She loved her little sister. While she occasionally taught her a variety of subjects, the two sisters would occasionally bond over a session of language.

So it came as a surprise to her that her father had made her the priority. But it was also reasonable when you thought about it, for it was also his duty to plan for his daughter's future.

"Don't worry, he's making it up to you now. Give him a chance."

She was going to — and it wasn't like she previously didn't want to. She nodded in a daze before slightly swaying to her room.