The Hater and the Player

Chapter 48

| Something along the way of "what?" and "why now?" |

Mid-Autumn festival ended with a smile, soon, we were already packing our clothes to return to City A. Grandma gave us a lot of gifts and foods that'll probably be stuck in the refrigerator for a long time.

It's been a long time since we visited grandma and only when we met her that we do feel the longing. The harvest moon is brightest; every festival homesickness multiplies, it has indeed made us long for her since Waigong has already passed away three years ago.

Grandma didn't want the life in the city, she wants to be in her hometown and continues to live in their house. Fortunately, she have someone to look out for, our distant relatives and that made us respect her wishes.

Some of my unknown relatives came up to me and wished for Ming Chen's autograph which he gave the moment we returned from our date. Luckily, no one knew that an A-list actor came here, on one has posted anything about him and for that, I had finally managed to relax.

"Visit me whenever the two of you are free" grandma pointed to me while I nodded repeatedly. "You, go and find a decent woman to marry! Don't be attracting bees and butterflies like you always do!" She turned to my brother.

"Grandma!" He said with an exasperated tone, as if he was too tired to hear this type of words.

"Don't grandma me you stinky boy! Do what I say! Don't even come back here if you haven't find anyone!" She threatened while I had a full blown laugh at grandma's words.

Since the time grandma knew of Ming Chen, she has been nagging my brother to settle down. It's worse than my mother's and my brother wanted nothing but to leave this house. He has gotten thin just from the constant nagging and threats from grandma, he couldn't even sleep in fear of dreaming of grandma marrying him to someone he doesn't know.

"Ma, don't worry, I'll find him a suitable woman. Be careful and eat well, drink your medicine and please do not drink alcohol"

"This silly girl, I have the strength of an ox, I don't need those bitter medicines!" She argued in disgust that made mom frown.

"Mom, the bitter the medicine the better it is!"

Then the two of them glared at each other, sparks flying out creating a fire beneath their eyes.

My brother and I got away, we do not want to be mixed in their fight. Just by looking at the scene delivers shivers in our spine. Those two dragon lady can literally chew us out and spit our bones back, so no, we do not want to be there.

Then my mother shut her eyes and pinch her forehead before sighing. It seems like she had raised the white flag here while my grandma returned as the winner.

"Just one.... no more than that" my grandma snorted but nodded either way.

The four of us left after hauling our things away. My brother drove us here since his car is more bigger than mine, he calls his car his precious baby and I almost vomited.

I looked back and saw the town getting far away from my sight until it was just a shade in the background. Memories of me and my brother playing with the neighbors, my mother and grandmother fighting over alcohol while my father tries to separate them, the moment that I met my relatives, those who I have not remember and now, Ming Chen.

Memories that spans from my childhood ended with the memory of Ming Chen and I looking towards each other with a knowing smile.

Ai, this week was filled with memories that I will surely cherish.

...

School starts today and that means no more vacation. I woke up five in the morning and got ready, breakfast was already served as I hauled everything in my desk. Some of them were gifts and ornaments that I bought in my hometown, others were food that were given by my grandma.

Mom greets me a good morning, dad smiles as he continued to read his newspaper, my brother still in his room catching up on his sleep.

Another normal day has appeared, I got my keys and wave goodbye at my parents before driving all the way to my work.

Students greeted me along the way, teachers from every department came up with a smile and promised stories and gifts from their hometown. Everyone was happy when I showed up with sweets made by my grandma, although it's just a piece, everyone had one and the room was filled with smiles and thank you.

I went to my first class and started another day. It was by no means exciting but it was tiring in a sense. Students were brimming with stories from their friends while I pick an activity for them to do.

Time passed by in a blur and it's already time to leave. I put every gifts on a bag that I already prepared. I didn't wait for Shu Jian since she have another extracurricular activities to do in her other club. Besides, Ming Chen hasn't finished filming and won't be taking me home.

I left the office and was about to get on my car when a sudden tap from my shoulder made me look behind me.

It was an old man, his eyes remind me of Shu Jian and Ming Chen but I didn't comment in it. He was alone, looking at me with his piercing eyes while stare blankly at him before snapping from my daze.

"Sir? Is something the matter?" I said politely while I waited for his response.

He looks like those rich men from TV, he was well maintained for his age and I can only blush in shame from thinking of Ming Chen's look in the future. He would surely look like this man in front of me.

"Are you Hu Feng Mian?" He suddenly ask, then I figured that he must be one of the students relative.

"I am, are you-"

"Then I hope you can come to the Hao estate-" he said then look at his watch then continued. " -right now"

I was bewildered for a second before a sudden shout made the two of us flinch together. It was Shu Jian and what she just uttered at that moment mortified me.

She called this man that I was admiring before as her dad.

Oh f*ck!

Notes:

• The harvest moon is brightest; every festival homesickness multiplies, meaning familial longing is greatest in China on its traditional family reunion festivals, like Mid-Autumn, the harvest moon festival.
• Wàigōng, meaning yourmaternal grandfather.
• The bitter taste is the most common one found among medicinal herb ingredients, especially among the plant materials. It has been suggested that the bitter taste is generally unpleasant because it warns of potentially toxic ingredients.

***
They met! They met people! Argh!!!! It's Feng Mian's turn now to meet the parents! Waaaaa!

Let's see how she'll cope in tomorrow's chapter okay? Anyways, thank you everyone! Stay safe as always okay?!

Please do VOTE. COMMENT. SHARE.

Thank you!