Another father-son fight

"Morning." After Uma got up in the morning, she saw Charlize sitting on the sofa reading the newspaper and politely greeted her.

"Morning." Charlize looked up from the newspaper and gave Uma a friendly smile.

Uma noticed Charlize's friendly smile, and as a woman, she keenly sensed the genuine and sincere friendliness behind that smile. It was really strange. Uma had met Charlize a few times before, but Charlize had never shown her any friendliness. In fact, Uma had once thought that Charlize liked Hugo, which made her jealous. Although she later denied this possibility herself, today's attitude was something that had never happened before.

Uma wanted to explore the specific reason behind this change because women understand women, and Charlize's change couldn't be without reason. But then Uma thought about it and suppressed her curiosity. Regardless of the reason, it was great that Charlize could show kindness towards her now. Uma knew that Hugo, Charlize, Alex, and their friends had a good relationship, and she didn't want to be excluded from Hugo's circle of friends. So, the current situation was indeed idyllic.

"I'm really sorry about last night, having you all wait upstairs for the surprise I prepared." Uma paused her steps slightly and expressed her apology kindly.

Charlize put down the newspaper and looked politely at Uma. "Oh, it's nothing, just upstairs."

In fact, Charlize still didn't like Uma, not because Uma had done anything wrong, nor because of the smooth development between Uma and Hugo. It was simply because the energies between women didn't align. She didn't dislike Uma, but it didn't mean she could peacefully coexist with her. However, after last night's events, Charlize knew that Uma and Hugo had taken their relationship further, even though they didn't know if they were officially dating. So, she felt the need to fulfill her duties as a friend.

As a friend, especially a friend of the opposite sex, being overly concerned about the other person's love life could easily make girls jealous and cause unnecessary misunderstandings. Similarly, making inappropriate comments about a friend's girlfriend also depended on the situation. Otherwise, it could trigger a minefield for the friend and lead to an unpleasant situation, ultimately damaging the friendship.

Now, Hugo and Uma were in a positive and progressing relationship, whether it was deepening love or just the beginning. Either way, Charlize knew she didn't need to express too many opinions, especially when Hugo didn't ask for her advice. Showing appropriate friendliness and refraining from interference was the wisest choice.

Therefore, Charlize set aside her unfriendliness and expressed basic respect and appropriate kindness towards Uma.

Uma received Charlize's friendliness. She had initially wanted to have a conversation, but she realized it was impossible because the energy between her and Charlize was off. That's how it was when it came to making friends among girls. So, in the end, Uma just smiled at Charlize, nodded, and quickly walked to the kitchen to make coffee. She then returned to Hugo's room, carrying the coffee.

Charlize looked at the corridor leading to Hugo's room and was momentarily dazed. Then she regained her focus and resumed reading the newspaper. When Karl came downstairs to call her, she quickly got up and prepared to go to the film set. Today, Charlize wasn't going to be late. She had prepared herself early and even had time to read the newspaper.

Uma didn't stay much longer either and soon started to freshen up and prepare to leave. Hugo hugged the blanket, climbed onto the bed, and pitifully said, "Can't you stay a little longer?"

Uma turned around and saw Hugo's pitiful expression, his mouth slightly downturned, and his narrow peach blossom eyes watery and filled with innocent grievances. It was truly heart-wrenching. Uma sat back on the edge of the bed and gently scratched Hugo's nose with her finger. "I have to go home for Christmas, you know."

Hugo hugged the blanket and made a couple of muffled sounds, "Can't you stay one more day?"

Seeing this man acting like a five-year-old, Uma couldn't help but chuckle and leaned down to plant a kiss on his forehead. "The plane tickets to New York are not easy to come by. It's Christmas, you know." Uma's father was a professor at Columbia University, and her whole family was settled in New York. Uma came to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career.

Hugo bit his lip and muttered something like "We can drive," but Uma couldn't hear clearly. However, looking at Hugo's childish and adorable appearance, her smile blossomed. "I'm not staying away forever. I'll be back after Christmas. We can celebrate the New Year together this year."

Only then did Hugo realize that 1992 was coming to an end, and his first year in Los Angeles was about to turn a page. Thinking about it, he became more serious, lifted his head, and lightly nibbled on Uma's lip. "Stay a few more days at home and spend time with your family."

"Now you want me to come back earlier?" Uma chuckled.

"Wait until you come back, and then I'll deal with you," Hugo whispered softly.

"What about you? Aren't you going home for Christmas?" Uma asked with a smile at the corner of her mouth.

Hugo paused for a moment, then replied with a seemingly ambiguous statement, "My home is not in New York, no need to rush." After saying that, Hugo kissed Uma's lips directly, swallowing the rest of his words.

Soon, both of them felt their breath quickening. Uma quickly stopped Hugo, saying, "We can't continue this, or I'll really be late."

This time, Hugo didn't stop her. He let go and watched as Uma straightened her clothes. Then he escorted her out, looking at the empty hallway. His eyes widened, and the festive atmosphere of Christmas finally enveloped him.

Over the next two days, Alex, Karl, and Joseph all returned home one after another. Hugo's newly made friends, Neil and Pepe, also went back home. Los Angeles suddenly seemed like a deserted city overnight, reminding Hugo of what it was like during the Lunar New Year in Shanghai.

After much consideration, Hugo decided to call his father again. Although his plan to go home for Thanksgiving was vetoed, this was Christmas, and perhaps things would be different, wouldn't they?

The phone rang twice before it was picked up. Adam's gruff and weathered voice came through, "Adam Lancaster speaking."

"Hey, Dad, it's me, Hugo." Hugo tried to make his voice sound more relaxed. "How have you been lately? Is everything okay?"

"Haven't dropped dead yet." After just one sentence, Adam was already impatient. "What's the matter? Hurry up and speak. Didn't you say last time that your job is going well? What's wrong now?"

At least he still remembered what Hugo had said during their last phone call. This gave Hugo a little confidence. "Oh, no, it's not about work..."

"So?" Adam rudely interrupted Hugo's words, but Hugo was used to it. That was Adam's style. "Tomorrow is Christmas, and I want to come home and see you."

"You want to come back? For what? There's nothing here." Adam's rough voice sounded like a bellows next to a fireplace, rough and creaky.

Faced with Adam's words, Hugo suddenly felt powerless. He was certain that his father didn't want him to come home, perhaps worried that they wouldn't have anything to talk about as father and son. If even communication over the phone was difficult, Hugo could only imagine how awkward it would be in person. "You're my father. I just want to spend Christmas with you. What's wrong with that?"

This time, Adam fell silent and didn't respond immediately. He just breathed quietly, and the heavy breathing was clearly audible through the phone. Just as Hugo was about to say something else, Adam's voice came through. "You're an adult now. You have the right to make decisions. Can I stop you if you want to come back? Of course not. I just think you don't need to come back. It doesn't make any sense at all."

Adam's style of speaking was easily infuriating, and Hugo wasn't someone who got angry easily. But he didn't know if it was because Adam's words were hurtful or because he had already taken on the role of a son. When speaking among family members, they always spoke without restraint, so Hugo also became angry. "What do you mean? What do you mean by saying it doesn't make any sense? It's Christmas!"

"Don't shout at me. I can hear you!" Adam shouted angrily, making Hugo's ears ring. "Our family doesn't have any Christmas traditions. If you want to celebrate a holiday, you can go celebrate the Jewish holidays like your mother. Christmas? I won't cook for you, and I won't prepare any gifts for you. So what?"

This was the first time Hugo had heard Adam mention his mother, and it was a fact that Hugo didn't know. His mother was Jewish? Or had Jewish heritage?

But Hugo didn't have the inclination to think further. He could only continue to follow Adam's words and speak, "So, according to you, we shouldn't see each other anymore? Not on Thanksgiving, not on Christmas? So, what are you planning? To sever ties with me?"

"Don't blame everything on me! Don't!" Adam's voice was filled with anger. "You know that all of this is your choice. You chose to leave me, leave home, and go to damn Los Angeles. You chose to become some actor without wanting to work hard. You don't want to come home, even on holidays or make a phone call. You know all of this! So, don't get angry at me just because you've achieved a little success. Don't be like your mother, weak and incapable, but holding onto useless dreams. You don't know anything except blaming others, don't!"

Hugo was left breathless by Adam's barrage of words, but Adam still wasn't finished. "So, if you want to come back, it's your freedom, but I won't go out of my way to accommodate you. So... damn Christmas, damn it all!"

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