Chapter 34 Start all over again
"Tell me I'm not dreaming. That's it's you, FeiFei," said her mother as she sobbed.
"It is me Mom. I missed you so much," Li Fei answered. After so long, they parted and Li Mei examined her from top to bottom. "Are you okay? How did you escape? Are you hungry? Why did they cut your hair? You look so thin," she said in one go. Li Mei knew how her daughter cherished her long hair.
"I didn't escape mother, I got released on remission. Where's Dad?" she asked. "On remission?!!! How come?" she was still in confusion. "I was surprised as well Mom. Is Dad home?" she asked once again. "Yes. He's in the bedroom. Come my dear you must be hungry," she said as she led her to the dinning room. Li Fei sat with her as the maid served them food. "FeiFei, I'm so happy you came back to us. Why didn't you inform us such that we come for you? We tried everything we could to get you out of that place. We visited you almost every day but they couldn't let us see you," she said. "Mom, I know everything. Tell me, how did you end up in this place? Why did you leave our home?" she asked. "It's a long story FeiFei but first eat. We will explain everything," She promised.
"....and that's how we ended up here. We decided to sell the house because of the debts that kept accumulating. We also reduced the maids and remained with only three and the butler," Li Bao her father told her.
"But you shouldn't worry FeiFei, we are going to deal with this and go back to our house soon," Li Mei assured her. Sighing, she looked at her father and asked," How are you feeling right now Dad?" Due to the stress, Li Bao had been diagnosed with high blood pressure and most of the times, he was sick.
"I'm fine Li Fei, I'm even better that I've seen you. Forgive me for failing to protect you, but I swear that I will do everything this time to keep you safe."
"You don't have to feel bad about what happened. Life in prison wasn't that hard," she said trying to make them feel better. A while later, Li Fei asked for her mother's phone and in it, she got Caihong's number then called him informing him that she was home sending him the address as well. She decided to use this chance to see her friends as well because she didn't know when Jin Liwei will allow her to move again. Luckily, Caihong had gotten Liling's number and he immediately informed her since they have been searching for her together.
As Li Fei continued to talk to her parents, Liling was the first to reach. "FeiFei, how are you? How did that man treat you? Did he hurt you?" she asked the moment she saw Li Fei. "Which man FeiFei?" her mother asked immediately. "She meant some guard in prison. Mom, Dad meet Liling, the one I told you about. Liling, these are my parents," she said. "Liling, thanks for taking care of our FeiFei ," Li Mei said. "You shouldn't thank me at all Ma'am. I consider myself lucky to have met her," she said.
As the four were immersed in the conversation, Caihong also arrived. "Oh! Caihong is here," Liling was the first one to see him. They all glanced at him and Li Fei stood up to go welcome him but he hugged her tightly instead. Her parents gave themselves a look before looking at them again. When he left her, he asked," Li Fei how are you? Did he do something to you?" She signalled for him to keep quiet and led him to where the rest were. "Mom, Dad this is doctor Caihong. The one who used to assist me with the phone and a very good friend of mine. Caihong, these are my parents," she said but Caihong somehow wasn't satisfied with the introduction. "Thank you so much Caihong for helping our daughter. We will always be grateful to you guys," said Li Mei.
After having lunch, Caihong asked Li Fei to step outside with him such that they could talk for a moment which she accepted. "Li Fei, tell me, did he hurt you?" he asked as soon as they reached. "Not really at least not yet," she said. "That's a relief. I looked for you everywhere. Li Fei, I have a suggestion. Come with me to Shenzhen for a week and from there, we shall go to America to start all over again because I know Jin Liwei won't leave you alone," he said.
Li Fei didn't know what to say to him because first, she had never thought of leaving China permanently and two, they didn't have a relationship as such.
Politely, she said," Caihong, thank you for everything you did for me but I can't accept your proposal." "Why? If it's your parents then we can take them along," he said.
Breathing out, she said," Honestly, I've never thought of leaving China and I don't think I'm ready for it. I also still have a lot to figure out." "I will be there with you during every step of the way. What is so hard?" he asked. "Caihong, I'm not yet freed by Mr Jin Liwei. He gave me just today to see my parents and he expects me in Shanghai tomorrow," she said thinking that she could get him off her back by telling him the truth.
"Let's leave China tomorrow then. I can arrange for everything today and tonight," he insisted. "And you think we can hide from him forever? Listen, I don't want to bring pain to my parents once again. I will stay at his house if it's where he wants me," she said. On getting back inside, Li Fei found her mother instructing the maid to properly organize her room and she wondered how she was going to break the news to her that she wasn't staying. She went to the room and checked in her belongings then found her ATM card and engagement ring. It was then her mother came to find her and sat down on the bed.
Sitting next to her Mom, she gave her the card and said," Mom, there's some money on this card. You can use it for anything you want." "I can't do that. This is your money Li Fei. I know how hard you've worked for it," she said.