*Picking up where we left off*
"Grandma! Grandpa! You're here!" the little girl said gleefully, running toward them, and they both wrapped their arms around her, wishing their granddaughter happy birthday. "Was this the surprise?" Yue asked her mother. Shancai smiled and nodded, then added with a hint of mischief in her voice, "Well only one of the surprises. I have a few more up my sleeve, but first let's drop off their luggage at the house, okay?" Yue nodded, took her grandfather's hand, and began to pull him out of the building and toward the parking lot.
"We've missed you. How have you been?" queried Shancai's mother as they walked together. "We've been doing fine. Work's been hectic, but Yue has been doing well in school, she's such a smart girl," Shancai answered immediately, not wanting to worry her mother about anything going on in her life. Dong Zhang Li didn't buy it, so she pressed on "Are you sure you're all right, Shancai? You look so tired." Shancai flinched at her mother's observation, but quickly schooled her facial expression, putting her mask back in place. "I'll manage, the same way I always have. I'm Shancai, the weed, remember?" she said in cheery tone. However, Shancai's mother saw right through her false cheeriness. She wasn't stupid; she knew exactly how much Shancai was hurting. Even after all this time, the mere mention of Daoming Si caused her daughter's eyes to go duller, a deep sadness flickering in them, but Shancai always managed to keep herself composed, so her mother was unable to pry further. Sighing with resignation, Shancai's mother decided to let the topic be, at least for the time being. After all, they wanted Yue to have the happiest birthday of her life. It was the least she deserved.
The car ride back to Shancai's home was spent catching up on how life was going for Shancai's parents back in Shanghai, how her friends had been doing, and other small talk. Shancai listened as her mother told that Qing He and Li Zhen had gotten married and were expecting, and Xiaoyou had moved away after getting engaged, so they didn't know much about her nowadays. Shancai felt a tiny prick of sadness at she listened to the tidbits of her friends' lives; how she missed them. She'd broken off contact with them when she left China, only telling her parents to pass along the message that she had to go and would be unreachable. She'd felt a bit guilty that she'd left them hanging with no explanation, but at the time, fear had controlled her every move. Shancai's weak spot had always been the people she loved, and her greatest love was her child, so she only did what she thought was best for her.
Once they'd arrived back at the house, Shancai and her parents made quick work of unloading the luggage and getting it inside, then they all got back into the car. "YueYue, put on the blindfold again." Shancai directed her. "What why?" she whined "Can't you just tell me where we're going, Mama? Pleeeeease?" Yue shot her mother her best puppy dog eyes.
Shancai shook her head and gestured at the blindfold in Yue's hands, a silent order. Yue grumbled under her breath, but did as told. This time, the car ride proved to be much longer, and Yue fell asleep halfway. When they'd arrived at their destination, Shancai and her parents roused Yue. "We're here, c'mon, let's get going." Shancai's father carried the little girl just until the entrance. "Please can I look now?" begged Yue. Shancai stepped behind her daughter and carefully undid the blindfold, pulling the piece of cloth away from Yue's eyes. Yue squinted as her vision adjusted to the sunlight, and then squealed in excitement. She'd been brought to an amusement park, and she couldn't wait to try out as many rides as she could. It was rare that she was able to come to one, so she was determined to make the most of it.
For Shancai, amusement parks brought her bittersweet memories of the double date fiasco she and Ah Si had had with Xiaoyou and her asshole of a boyfriend. Part of it had been very sweet and funny, like how Ah Si nearly knocked out an "ghost" in that haunted house, and how he'd almost kissed her after, had they not been interrupted by that asshole and Xiaoyou. Shancai halted her thoughts immediately when she heard her daughter shriek. Stupid woman, can't you stay focused for a few minutes, she slapped her cheeks in order to clear her head. Pushing all else aside, Shancai said to herself, "I will enjoy myself today, for Yue's sake." So she did, following Yue on the rides that caught the young girl's attention. Even it meant she felt a tad dizzy after a while.
*5 hours later*
After Yue had had her fill of rollercoasters and such at the amusement park and they grabbed some refreshments and snacks from the vendor's cart, the family decided to go home. Yue was getting a piggyback ride from her grandfather. "You're getting so big, soon I won't be able to carry you. I'm not the strong, young man I once was," Dong Da Nian said as he struggled under the weight of his granddaughter. Shancai stifled a snicker at her father's words. She knew Yue wasn't heavy and that her dad was just getting old. "Put her down or give her to me," Shancai suggested. "No," Yue protested, clinging to her grandfather, "I want to ride piggyback with Grandpa." "Do you doubt my strength?" Da Nian said in mock offense, "I'll show you just how strong I can be." He adjusted Yue on his back and continued to trudge forward. Sometimes, my girl can be such a brat, Shancai thought as she let out an exasperated sigh, following them closely behind.
When they'd arrived home, Shancai and her mother grabbed the cake that Shancai had baked the previous day, and they all gathered round and sang "Happy birthday" to YueYue. "Make a wish, baby." her grandparents said in unison. Yue closed her eyes for a minute, then blew out the candles. "What did you wish for?" Shancai asked. Yue smiled at her mother and responded, "I can't tell you, or it won't come true." "I suppose that's right," Shancai said with a small laugh, "All right, I won't ask." Then she reached over and smeared some frosting on her daughter's nose. "But that's for not telling me," she added. "Mama!!!" Yue complained.
After the cake had been consumed and they'd cleaned up, Yue hugged the adults and retreated to her bedroom. Shancai and her mother sat at the table, drinking tea in peaceful silence, until Zhang Li broke it. "Has she ever asked about her father?" she asked in a quiet tone. Shancai flinched at the question. She took a deep breath and said "No, but I know that she wonders about him and that it won't be long until she does." Shancai's mother mulled over her daughter's words for a moment, and then asked her "What do you plan to do? Are you ready for when that time comes?" Shancai took a long sip of her tea, and sighed. "I don't know. I don't think I'll know what to say," she answered truthfully. Zhang Li shot her daughter a sympathetic look. She'd been through a lot over the past couple of years, and she didn't know how or if she could help her. Shancai cleared her throat and said "I'm going upstairs, and tuck Yue in for the night." Her mother only nodded in response, and Shancai took the stairs two at a time, hurrying to her room.
Closing the door, Shancai let a few lone tears escape. Why, oh why did it still hurt? It's been so long, and I wish this wound would heal shut and I could finally close that chapter of my life. Moonlight filtered in through the curtains, and shone beautifully on the meteor necklace. Shancai walked toward and took it in her hands. She remembered Daoming Si putting it on her, while butterflies were having a rave in her stomach. She remembered Yue once told her that it was her favorite piece of jewelry on her. She rarely wore it nowadays, yet it remained her most precious piece of jewelry. Maybe Yue should have it, Shancai thought. Her precious necklace for her precious daughter. With that, Shancai took the necklace in hand, and headed toward her daughter's bedroom door.
Shancai took a deep breath, and opened the door to YueYue's room. Yue looked up from her picture book when she heard her mother enter. She looked at her mother quizzically. "What is it, Mama?" she asked in a curious tone. "There's something that I want to give you. It's this," Shancai held up the meteor necklace so her daughter could get a clear look at it. Yue gasped softly, "Mama, it's so pretty." Shancai placed it in her daughter's hands and Yue studied it carefully, her small face alight with a smile. "Do you want to put it on?" her mother asked in a soft tone. Yue nodded excitedly and sat at her mother's feet while Shancai adjusted the necklace into place. Once it was secure around her neck, Yue reached up and touched it. "I love it so much." And she truly did. Along with being near the ocean, she loved watching the stars at night. She was still a kid, so whenever she saw a shooting star, she'd make wishes on them. Shancai offered her a daughter a small smile and said, "I'm happy you do." Yue gave a tiny yawn, rubbing her eyes, "Goodnight mom. Thank you." She hugged her mother tight. "Goodnight. Happy birthday, my moon." Shancai replied, returning her daughter's hug. Then she left back to her own room.
As soon as her mother had closed the door, Yue scrambled over to her window and looked out. She grasped the meteor pendant tight in her hands and made the same wish she had earlier, desperate for it to come true. "I wish that I can meet my papa, and that my mama will be happy again. Please." She squeezed her eyes shut and wished as hard as she could. "Pretty necklace." she whispered, and then went to bed, hoping she'd dream of happy families and the calming ocean waves.
Author's note
Hey y'all! Have another update. I'm gonna be 100% honest, this wasn't my favorite chapter to write, but I feel like the end was okay, and that my plot will move along soon enough. But please do tell me what you thought. Thanks for reading!
Thank you!
Gracias!
감사합니다!
ありがとう！
谢谢！
-monicacantwrite