Chapter 430: Sending Flowers
Mi Aili’s editor was named Deng Fuqiang. He was in his thirties and was also a senior editor at the editorial department. After Chen Xi’s accidental death, the chief editor had thought of training him to take over his position. When Chen Xi was still at the editorial department, his light was covered, and at most he could only be the second-in-command. Now that Chen Xi was gone, his say in the editorial department was the greatest.
Yu Linna also knew this person. She had also seen him at the editorial department. He was a very capable person. Yu Linna had also wondered why such a capable person had not dared to take on the role of editor for her and Zhao Yuyan after Chen Xi had left the editorial department. According to him, he was not confident that he could lead these two great gods.
But now her editor was Qian Jiaxuan. There was nothing more to be said. That editor still had a lot to learn.
“Editor Deng, hello.”
“Shion-sensei, hello.”
Deng Fuqiang slightly nodded, greeted her, and then pulled Mi Aili, who was trying to run away.
“Mi Xi-sensei, it’s about time you gave me this month’s manuscript.”
“Ya, this… Brother Qiang, it’s not that… I have writer’s block. I’ll definitely give it to you in a few days.”
“You said the same thing last month.”
“I’m not in a good state. I urgently need to get back in the state!”
“You said the same thing the month before last.”
“Actually, my manuscript is finished, but I’m revising it. I’ll definitely give it to you after I’m done.”
“You said the same thing the month before last.”
“…”
For some reason, Yu Linna felt that this Mi Aili was a bit strong. Yes, Yu Linna saw the shadow of the former Zhao Yuyan. Yes, that procrastinating king. Could it be that all the champions of the New Talent Award had the bad habit of procrastinating?
“Mi Xi-sensei, as a fellow champion of the New Talent Award, why don’t you learn from your senior?”
“It’s fine, because Air-sensei also likes to hold it until the end like me. Because the last moment to unleash a big move is the best!”
“I understand. I’ll have to cut off your internet before you hand in your manuscript.”
“I shouldn’t have agreed to your request to have a key to my house in the first place!”
These two had a really good relationship.
Yu Linna was reminded of the shadow of the former Chen Xi and Zhao Yuyan.
Watching the two of them bickering and chatting with each other, shouting as if there was no one else around, just like an elder treating a junior, Yu Linna felt very familiar.
(“Sister Chen! I’ll definitely hand in my manuscript to you! Please, just let me finish this team fight!”)
(“Just this once. After you’re done, you’ll write the manuscript for me immediately.”)
(“Wuwuwu, Sister Chen, please don’t cut off my internet! I promise I won’t procrastinate on my manuscript anymore.”)
(“I’m already being merciful by not locking you in a hotel and cutting off your internet.”)
It was really similar, almost a carbon copy…
Yu Linna began to miss Chen Xi.
She missed that former editor.
Her new editor, Qian Jiaxuan, although she was also a good person, she was not Chen Xi after all and could not replace her position. But sometimes, she really missed Chen Xi, missed the days with her.
“What’s wrong, Shion-sensei?”
“Huh? It’s nothing, nothing. I was just thinking of some old things. It’s no big deal.”
“Shion-sensei, as a senior, I hope you can take Mi Xi-sensei under your wing.”
“Well, actually, she’s also quite good, really.”
Yu Linna looked at her junior, Mi Aili, who was sitting on the sofa with a pained expression. Besides saying some superficial words, what else could she say? Although this person was said to be her junior, in fact, her age was even older than hers. To be called “senior” by her was quite strange.
…
Staying at Mi Aili’s house, Yu Linna had temporarily decided to stay for a while. After all, the outside world was still too chaotic. If she wasn’t careful, she would be recognized by her fans. She wanted to wait until a little later before she went out.
Just as Yu Linna’s news was flying all over the country, An Xiayue, who was far abroad, didn’t know anything because she wasn’t on Weibo. She had rarely been on Weibo since she had returned to California. Even if she wanted to chat, she would at most find Tang Yumeng to chat, and it would only be a sentence or two. Tang Yumeng was busy with work and hadn’t chatted with her much. So An Xiayue was just enjoying her vacation in America with peace of mind.
She still had many friends in America. Many of her friends had gone on to become actors, or to do work related to film and television. An Xiayue, or rather, Yu Xiayue, she had been acting in America for many years, and her school was also a professional actor training school. Although her acting skills were not particularly outstanding in Hollywood, compared to her home country, China, she could really be considered “old and mature.”
“Mom, when are you coming over?”
“I have something to do. I’ll go later. You go first. You’ve bought the flowers, right?”
“I have.”
“That’s good.”
After a short phone call with her mother, Yu Xiayue held the flowers and left the house by herself. Originally, she had planned to go out with her mother, but her mother, probably for psychological reasons, had not come with her.
Actually, it was like this every year. Every time at this time, her mother would procrastinate in all sorts of ways, hem and haw, and make all sorts of excuses, just not wanting to go. But Yu Xiayue also understood, because for Catherine, this was a matter she still did not want to face.
It had been so many years, but she was still unable to face reality.
“Belia, are you going to send flowers today?”
“Yes, Carrie.”
“Is your mother still not going with you this year?”
“Mmm, she said she’ll be late. My dad has work this year, so he said he’ll go back in a few days.”
“Just like last year.”
When she was chatting with her friend on the phone, Yu Xiayue helplessly talked about this matter. Every year at this time, she would go by herself. To have her parents accompany her, this kind of thing was really a luxury. When she was little, her parents would take her with them. Later, when she grew up, they gradually stopped taking her, and she had come by herself more often.
“Is Linda coming?”
“She said she will.”
“Alright then. I’ll find you later. You can go with Linda!”
Hanging up the phone, Yu Xiayue walked alone on the road, having arranged to meet with Linda. After seeing the other party, the two of them hugged. Linda held her small hand and went with her in the direction of the cemetery.
“Hey, Belia, I’ve specially set aside a day to accompany you. You have to thank me properly.”
“I will. I’ll treat you to a cheeseburger.”
“Oh, that’s really great. I like it.”
The two girls smiled and walked forward in that direction.
This private cemetery had been bought by Yu Xiayue’s father. It was a lush meadow with only a small, simple stone tablet. Yu Xiayue had once told her father to have it renovated, but her father had never done so and had still kept this small stone tablet. Perhaps it was because he couldn’t get over it psychologically.
Yu Xiayue squatted down, placed the flowers on it, and gently stroked this stone tablet, a wry smile on her face. So many years had passed in a flash.
“What’s wrong, Belia?”
“Nothing, just a little moved by the scene.”
“Don’t be like that. She will be sad if she sees you in heaven.”
“But I sometimes really think, if only she could have grown up with me.”
Touching this stone tablet, Yu Xiayue said with a sigh, her tone full of regret.
On the tombstone was an English name, and a Chinese name was also specially carved on it. This was Yu Xiayue’s younger sister, who had not grown up with her and had passed away early.
“Nana… is really a nostalgic name. To me.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I was just saying a few words.”
Yu Xiayue’s younger sister had been alive in this world for many years, but she had not grown up much before she was gone. Although her family had quickly reported it to the police, in the end, what they had found was a child’s skeleton, and also the amulet she had carried since birth. When the police had told them that this skeleton was her younger sister’s, her mother had had a mental breakdown on the spot. From then on, she had washed her face with tears, crying day and night. Although Yu Xiayue was still young at that time, the impression was very deep.
Later, because of her heartache, Catherine had slowly faded out of Hollywood and had lost her career ambition. To her, to lose a child who had not been raised must have been very painful. And as a mother, she must have felt very guilty.
These years, every time it was time to send flowers, Catherine would always find all sorts of excuses to avoid it, always saying she would come later but actually never coming. Every time, it was her father who would bring her back with him, but she never wanted to come and see.
Because this was a really very painful thing. To see the grave of a daughter who had been born but had passed away without being raised, for a mother, was really too cruel.
“Hey, Belia, do you regret it?”
“A little.”
“Do you think it was because you didn’t watch her?”
“Mmm.”
“That’s not your fault. It’s the fault of those bad people.”
“Maybe. But the one who is in pain is not just my mom and dad, but also me. Just like my mom can’t forgive herself, actually, I also feel that I have a responsibility.”
She squatted on the ground, hugged her knees, and buried her head inside, as if she were hiding from reality.
Her younger sister, the younger sister who had only been by her side for a short time. If she were still alive, she would probably be 19 by now. If only she were still here.
She, Yu Xiayue, had only been a big sister for so long, just one night, and she had become an only child again. It was really ironic. This kind of result, she didn’t want it at all.
But this was reality after all. No matter what, this was reality. So many years had passed, and Yu Xiayue had long since accepted it.
“Alright, Linda. The flowers have been sent. Let’s go.”
“Aren’t you going to say something, to your younger sister?”
“Mmm, say what… I think she will know. Let’s go.”
“Alright then, let’s go eat a cheeseburger.”
After sending the flowers, Yu Xiayue did not stay here for too long. She had been coming here for years and was used to it. Rather than saying too much here, it was better to move forward with this regret. She wanted to be like her mother and leave her own mark on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She wanted to persist in her own dream, with everyone’s wishes.
The dead leaves were swept away by the wind, not leaving a single trace. They came gently, and left gently.
Yu Xiayue gently wiped away the things at the corner of her eyes, and went with Linda to buy a cheeseburger. After eating, she planned to go and find her father. Her father had been busy with work all along and had not been willing to come back for a bit. It was almost the New Year. At this time last year, they were all about to prepare to go back to their home country.
“Dad, when are you coming back? Aren’t you taking Mom to send flowers?”
“Mmm, it’s about that time. Alright, I’ll be back in a few days.”
“Come back early.”
“Of course, my dear.”
Yu Xiayue walked on the road, the wind blowing her blonde hair. She slowly disappeared into the sea of people.
