The Jacket

"Xiao Xu, come over to our house today and eat dinner. We haven't seen you for so long." Fu Jing Mei says as her hand is still on Ling Xu's.

Ling Xu hesitates. She wants to decline because she has been all alone for four years with only Mei Yi. She forgot what eating dinner was like with a family.

"I brought an art piece for you." Fu Heng says and stares at Ling Xu.

"Huh?" Ling Xu heard what he said, but isn't sure if she heard it wrong.

Fu Jing Mei looks at the two kids, and forms a smile on her face.

At last, Ling Xu agrees to go eat dinner at their house. She calls Mei Yi, but Mei Yi told her that she won't be going. After a few words with Mei Yi, Ling Xu got in Fu Heng's car to get back to their house.

Ling Xu sat at the back with Fu Jing Mei, and a type of nervousness arose inside of Ling Xu.

Whenever Ling Xu gets nervous or scared, her hands and feet always get cold. It's only early October, and the weather outside is still pretty warm.

Fu Jing Mei noticed her uneasiness, and touched her hand.

"Xiao Xu, are you okay? Why is your hand so cold?"

"I'm fine. Maybe it's just cold," as Ling Xu saids with a smile. She doesn't want to say that she's nervous because she doesn't know why she's nervous.

Fu Heng looked at her through the rear view mirror, and saw her pale face.

"Here," as Fu Heng hands over his jacket.

Ling Xu looks at him shockingly. But took it anyway.

"Thanks."

Fu Jing Mei looks at his own son.

"I never knew that you were a gentleman," as his mom teases him.

Ling Xu wore his jacket, and she could smell his scent from it. She doesn't know why, but it gives her this reassuring feeling. Slowly her hands don't feel that cold.

Fu Jing Mei takes Ling Xu's hand as they head into the house. Ling Xu came here before, and she took a look at the wall near the staircase. The drawing is still there.

Fu Heng noticed where Ling Xu was looking and a warm smile came on his face.

"You're mom told us to wipe it away, but Heng Er said to leave it," as Fu Jing Mei tells Ling Xu.

When Ling Xu was younger, she was very mischievous. She would draw and paint on every white wall she sees. That day when she went to Fu Heng's house, Ling Xu didn't plan on drawing on their wall because she knows that it's not right to do it in other people's house. But Fu Heng drags her to the white wall behind the staircase, and gives her a crayon.

"Draw," as he said.

Little Ling Xu looks at him with blinking eyes. Fu Heng watches her as she didn't take the crayon from him, so he decided to start first. Slowly, Ling Xu took the crayon and drew with him too.

A ten years old and a five years old starts to draw and laugh.

Ling Xu stood there as her memories started to come back. Suddenly, Fu Heng grabs her by the wrist and takes her upstairs to his room.

"Where are you taking Xiao Xu!" as Fu Jing Mei said.

"Don't worry. I won't kidnap her!"

"Why are you bringing me up here?" Ling Xu asks and looks up to him.

Fu Heng walks over to his table and grabs a rectangular box.

"Here. I told you that I got you a painting."

Ling Xu looks down at the box he's holding. She thought that he was just saying it, so she can agree to come and eat dinner with them.

"You don't want it?" as Fu Heng looks at her not taking it.

Ling Xu reaches for the box, and opens it. She unraveled the painting, and it's a chinese painting. She then looks down at the artist's name.

"Xu Yuan."

This is her father's painting. Her father is also a painter, but not many people know about it. Many people want to buy his painting, but he doesn't sell it to people that easily.

And the name Xu Yuan means her and her mother. 'Xu' comes from her name Ling Xu and 'Yuan' comes from her mother's name "Ru Yuan."

"How did you have this?" as Ling Xu asks while trying to hold back her tears.

Fu Heng walks up to her and wipes the tears on her face. "This painting was given by your father. He gave this to me the day before I left B City."

"Why are you giving this to me?" as Ling Xu asks him. It's not that she doesn't want it, but she thought that he might want to keep it.

"You don't want it? If you don't then I can take it back." After saying it, Fu Heng went to reach for it but Ling Xu push his hand away.

"Who said I don't want it." She holds it tightly in her hand, and stares at him.

Fu Heng gives a small laugh, and ruffles her hair.

"Let's go back down before my mom really thinks I kidnapped you."

Ling Xu knows that he's joking, but Ling Xu couldn't help but smile.

They walked downstairs, and saw Fu Jing Mei already help setting the table. Fu Jing Mei looked at Ling Xu and saw her eyes red.

Without asking, Fu Jing Mei walks up and slaps her son's arm. "Did you bully Ling Xu?" as she asks him. Fu Heng's head suddenly raised so many question marks. "When did I bully her? It'll be more like if she bullies me."

Ling Xu couldn't help but let out a smile. "Auntie Fu, he didn't bully me. I just got emotional when he gave my dad's painting to me."

Fu Jing Mei nods, and then gives a side death stare to Fu Heng. "You wash the dishes today," and walks to the dining table with Ling Xu.

Fu Heng, very innocent, stands there watching both of the women walking away.

'What did I do?' as Fu Heng asks himself.