Without much talk, I said goodbye and left.
My mom was dazed, flustered, not knowing
what to say.
My dad wasn’t calm either; seeing me leave,
he quickly said, “Ashley? You’ve grown up.
No, you haven’t grown taller, but you’ve
become prettier.”
“Pretty” was a vague and sometimes even
simplistic word.
But I didn’t refute it; I.just smiled and
continued to leave.
My dad seemed strangely panicked and
quickly looked at my mom.
く
My mom finally reacted, running to grab my hand. “Ashley, don’t rush to leave; I’ll cook for
you… I’ll call your brother!”
She held my hand tightly and called Ethan.
I frowned, saying I was busy and had to go.
“How busy can you be? You haven’t been
home in three years; I can’t let you leave.” My
mom joked, trying to sound relaxed.
As if we had always been close mother and
daughter.
But we were never close, so the atmosphere
wasn’t relaxed; it was tense.
But the call was made to Ethan.
He was incredibly busy at work and
expressed his displeasure as soon as he
answered. “Mom, I’m dying of work. I said I
wouldn’t go to Jessica’s performance; I’ll get
her a Hermès bag as an apology, okay?”
He thought my mother wanted him to watch
Jessica’s performance.
<
He probably nad been asked numerous times
before.
My mom was displeased. “What are you
yelling for? Ashley’s back, come home
quickly, let’s have dinner as a family!”
There was a sudden silence on the other end. Ethan only snorted after a while. “She has the
nerve to come back? Sulking for three years, and now she’s over it?”
He always thought I was sulking.
I listened quietly.
Ethan continued, “I’m busy; I’m not coming back!”
He hung up.
But soon, his sports car appeared.
While being held back by my parents, I met
Ethan.
The moment our eyes met, the furious Ethan
froze, his steps stopping.
He looked at me suspiciously.
طحصر
لمليحمل عنصصناصلييملمم
I looked at my watch, calculating if I could
catch the last high–speed train.
The atmosphere remained strange and tense. The neglected Jessica suddenly ran to Ethan, clinging to his arm and acting cute. “Brother, you’re finally back. I’m so angry; our school rigged the competition, preventing me from advancing, how unfair!”
Ethan didn’t say anything, still looking at me. Jessica pursed her lips, her eyes showing a hint of panic.
But she still sweetly chided, “Brother, look at me, do you like my makeup today?”
Ethan ignored her, asking me, “Ashley, did
you have plastic surgery?”
“Nonsense, what are you saying? Ashley has a natural face; I can recognize her!” My mom
scolded, trying to liven up the atmosphere.
My dad glared at Ethan. “If you can’t speak
properly, shut up. Ashley has become more
く
refined from reading.”
He was proud. “It’s thanks to our Zhou family
genes, gentle and elegant. She will definitely
achieve great things in the future!”
He laughed happily.
But I didn’t laugh.
I just felt bored.
So I looked at my mom again. “It’s almost six
o’clock; I really won’t catch the last train; I
have to go.”
Saying that, I let go of her hand.
She froze, her hands not knowing where to
put.
I dragged my luggage, walking out the door
step by step.
Ethan’s expression changed, finally snorting
unhappily and watching me disappear from
his sight.
12
I returned to the South.
<
This vacation was over.
I started my intense training and frantic
studying again.
My life was just beginning; graduate school was just the start; I still needed to pursue a doctorate, study abroad, become a lecturer, and then a professor!
Step by step, going far away, letting that
small village disappear behind me forever! In my three years of master’s study, I successfully published four papers in top academic journals and successfully applied for a doctoral degree at a prestigious overseas university.
On the day I left for abroad, my mentor gave me a ride, patted me on the shoulder, and
said he was waiting for me to return and
become a professor.
I smiled.
Being a professor wasn’t easy; it still required
cc
<
Deiny a professor wash easy; it sum requireu
years of effort.
But it was fine; what I lacked most was not
effort.
After seeing off my mentor, I checked the
time, preparing to enter the departure lounge,
but I saw three familiar figures.
My parents and brother.
After years of separation, they had aged
considerably.
