Chapter 2, Memory, Beijing, Snow
Xiao Yu's full attention was immediately drawn to him. It was the first time he had heard someone mention news about his father; in his previous life, the term "father" had always been a blank.
Where could anyone compare to your lewdness and depravity! A few people answered in unison.
The two returned home to find clothes and daily necessities for Xiao Yu, and then got back into the car. Pang Guishan had not yet had the chance to start the engine. Two black Mercedes-Benz 560s slowly drove up in front of the car, effectively blocking the path of Pang Guishan's Santana.
Shang Wu unexpectedly treated Xiao Yu to a meal. As soon as Xiao Yu saw the Hongxing Erguotou on the table, he couldn't help but feel a shiver run down his spine. Although it had been several days since the last incident, the mere thought of alcohol made him feel nauseous from the bottom of his heart
Pang Guishan was shouting incessantly from a distance, making it evident how exceptionally important he was to Fang Xiaoyun
Fang Xiaoyun suddenly grasped Zhuang Xiaoyuan's arm: "Lawyer Zhuang... I beg you, just pretend that nothing has happened, do not harass my son, do not disturb my peace..." Zhuang Xiaoyuan gently freed himself from Fang Xiaoyun's grip, leaned close to her ear, and whispered something. Fang Xiaoyun's face instantly turned pale. Zhuang Xiaoyuan patted her shoulder: "The path is chosen by oneself; you must be very cautious..."
Xiao Yu, Tang Liang, Qi San, and Tie Dan were sitting together on the dam of the Ming Tombs Reservoir, each of their faces flushed red by the cold wind, and two bottles of Erguotou were already nearly empty. A gust of lake wind blew by, and Tang Liang couldn't help but sneeze. He rubbed his nose vigorously and said, "Xiao Yu, are you out of your mind? Calling us out here on such a cold day, what are you thinking?"
The screen suddenly cut off, and Zhuang Xiaoyuan quietly looked at Fang Xiaoyun, whose face was streaked with tears: "This video was recorded a week ago, and Chairman Xiao passed away in the early hours of yesterday." Fang Xiaoyun covered her face and nodded.
Zhuang Xiaoyuan smiled and said, "I’m sorry, but I’m afraid this matter is beyond our control. Xiao Yu is almost twenty years old; as an adult, he should be able to make his own decisions." He paused for a moment and added, "For the sake of your son's future, you should consider his perspective more!"
A hint of disgust flickered in Xiao Yu's gaze, as the image of a short, plump, somewhat balding government official surfaced in his mind. Every time this official saw him, his face would break into a full, fleshy grin, and his small eyes would immediately disappear into the folds of fat. In the mere three encounters Xiao Yu had with him, he surprisingly never managed to see the official's eyes clearly.
Fang Xiaoyun finally opened the car door, adjusting her emotions as she approached Pang Guishan: "Guishan... he is a friend from my past, and I would like to speak with him privately." Pang Guishan seemed to sense something unusual and shouted, "Xiaoyun, you don't need to be afraid; if it comes to worst, I will call the police!" Before Fang Xiaoyun could respond, a middle-aged man had already approached: "Mr. Pang, please rest assured. My surname is Zhuang, and my given name is Xiaoyuan. I am a lawyer, and my understanding of the law is deeper than that of most people."
Xiao Yu picked up a piece of braised beef and stuffed it into his mouth: "I am going to Taiwan tomorrow!" Several pairs of eyes turned towards Xiao Yu simultaneously, and then they all burst into laughter. Qi San, while laughing, rubbed his belly: "You are going to Taiwan? I am going to the United States!"
Only Zhuang Xiaoyuan and Fang Xiaoyun remained in the car, and Fang Xiaoyun anxiously twisted her fingers. Zhuang Xiaoyuan opened his portable laptop, and soon the LCD screen displayed the image of a slender man. Fang Xiaoyun's finger movements suddenly halted, and her body became somewhat stiff.
Xiao Yu glanced at the time; it was already 9 PM. He stood up to take his leave: "Fifth Brother, I have some matters to attend to tonight, so I must leave first!" Shang Wu nodded: "Alright! We'll invite you to hang out another day." As Xiao Yu nodded, his gaze turned towards Shang Xiao Yue: "If you think of me, just give me a call! No matter if it's climbing a mountain of knives or crossing a sea of fire, I will forge ahead!" Shang Xiao Yue's face turned slightly red; she shot Xiao Yu a fierce glare and quickly averted her gaze.
Fang Xiao and Tu Shuyun felt a surge of excitement in their hearts, and they leaned a little closer to Pang Guishan, who awkwardly wrapped his arms around her slender waist
Shang Xiaoyue's voice sounded somewhat hesitant, likely because Xiao Yu's response left her feeling a bit at a loss. After a long pause, she finally spoke: "I... the car has stalled... I tried calling my brother, but I couldn't get through..." A faint smile appeared at the corner of Xiao Yu's lips; he could tell that Shang Xiaoyue was clearly making excuses.
Xiao Yu stood up holding the empty wine bottle and threw it forcefully towards the distant water surface, the glass tracing a bright silver line under the winter sun. Only after the bottle completely submerged did he turn back: "I have no idea what kind of person he is!" Tang Liang suddenly noticed two glistening points in Xiao Yu's eyes. One by one, they stood up and embraced Xiao Yu in the middle: "Take care!" Xiao Yu felt a slight sting in his nose, and only after the bottle had fully disappeared beneath the water did he turn back: "I have no idea what kind of person he is!" Tang Liang suddenly noticed two glistening points in Xiao Yu's eyes. One by one, they stood up and embraced Xiao Yu in the middle: "Take care!" Xiao Yu felt a slight sting in his nose, and he redirected his gaze towards the distance: "Come on! It's not a life-and-death separation, why make it so heavy! This time, we plan to go rescue our class sisters who are suffering in dire straits, planting the flag of socialism in every corner of Taiwan."
He then began to run wildly around the 400-meter track on campus, the snow growing heavier, yet his speed increasing. Finally, he slipped and fell heavily onto the snow-covered ground. The layer of snow was thin, but the ground was frozen hard, and he felt a deep, penetrating pain in the areas where his body had been impacted. ... However, Xiao Yu felt much more at ease in his heart. He lay sprawled on the track in a star shape, gazing at the snowflakes that continued to drift and fall from the sky, and a faint smile finally appeared at the corners of his lips
Xiao Yu's gaze dimmed slightly due to this question; he nearly impulsively hung up the phone. After a long silence, he finally said, "Sister Yun... it's me"
When Fang Xiaoyun saw Xiao Yu, he was still running laps in the stadium. From his staggering footsteps, it was evident that his stamina was on the verge of exhaustion. Zhuang Xiaoyuan watched the young man in the distance with great interest and meaningfully remarked: "Fatigue is the best relaxation for him"
Zhuang Xiaoyuan smiled faintly, took a sip of coffee, and began to recount the origins of everything: "Your father is named Xiao Dinghan, a businessman from Taiwan. Your mother can confirm all of this..." He turned to Fang Xiaoyun, who nodded in agreement.
This winter night in Beijing is exceptionally quiet, and people have long entered their dreams along with the swirling snowflakes. However, Xiao Yu remains unable to sleep, his gaze fixed on the window, his mind racing with thoughts. He never imagined that his life would undergo such a tremendous change; he does have a sense of nostalgia for this land where he was born and raised. Yet, as he grows older, he increasingly yearns to break free from his current life. Perhaps a brief departure could truly alter his fate and everything else. He never imagined that his life would undergo such a tremendous change; he does have a sense of nostalgia for this land where he was born and raised. Yet, as he grows older, he increasingly yearns to break free from his current life. Perhaps a brief departure could truly alter his fate and everything else.
As Shang Wu finished speaking, a punch had already been thrown towards Xiao Yu's jaw. His speed was extremely fast, clearly indicating rigorous training. Xiao Yu leaned back to evade the punch, stepping back with his right foot to create distance from Shang Wu. Shang Wu was slightly shorter than Xiao Yu, making closer distances more advantageous for him. Shang Wu unleashed five consecutive punches, all of which Xiao Yu dodged with his agile footwork. It was only then that Shang Wu began to reassess his opponent. Xiao Yu was constantly evading within the space, waiting for an opportunity. Shang Wu unleashed five consecutive punches again, and Xiao Yu dodged them all with his nimble movements. It was only then that Shang Wu began to reassess his opponent. Xiao Yu was continuously evading within the space, waiting for an opportunity.
Tang Liang's eyes sparkled with envy: "Brothers! I support you. When you are rescuing the sisters of the Taiwanese class, if you happen to be too busy, don't forget to call me up!"
Xiao Yu did not show much sorrow; indeed, this father, whom he had never met, was far too unfamiliar to him. Zhuang Xiaoyuan continued, "Mr. Xiao has been married twice, but he has never had any offspring. You are his only legitimate heir"
Xiao Yu shook his head, his expression appearing quite indifferent: "I’m sorry! I am not interested in anything you have said!" Zhuang Xiaoyuan laughed out loud, turning the screen of his notebook towards Xiao Yu: "Do you know how much inheritance you are about to receive?"
Xiao Yu remained silent until the sound of the door closing echoed, at which point he let out a long sigh
Xiao Yu had long noticed his mother's presence, yet he continued to make his way along the runway to stand before her. The people beside his mother were unfamiliar to him, and there was no need for him to engage with them.
When you see this film, I may no longer be in this world... I increasingly feel... how lonely I am... For many years, I have not dared to inquire about your news... Because I... I do not expect your forgiveness for you and your child... I only hope... that you can forget me... and start your own life... I do not expect your forgiveness for you and your child... I only hope... that you can forget me... and start your own life...
Ms. Fang! I would like to speak with you!" The voice of the middle-aged man sounded very polite. Fang Xiaoyun slowly rolled down the car window: "I’m sorry, I don’t know you at all, and I don’t think we have any need to converse!"
Xiaoyun ... ... hello ... ... I am Xiao Dinghan ... ... '' He began to cough violently, and it took a long time for him to calm down, gently shaking a lucky star pendant in his hand: `` Do you still remember ... ... it ... ... '' Fang Xiaoyun started to cry silently, while Zhuang Xiaoyuan quietly observed every change in Fang Xiaoyun.
Zhuang Xiaoyuan timely added: "Mr. Xiao passed away in the early hours of yesterday. He was aware of your existence only half a month ago!"
For some unknown reason, Shang Wu suddenly burst into laughter, and Xiao Yu was initially taken aback, but soon joined in the hearty laughter.
Fang Xiaoyun's eyes flickered for a moment, and she felt a surge of warmth within her. The man before her was undoubtedly a good person; everything he did for her was sincere, devoid of any pretense.
Xiao Yu smiled and patted him on the shoulder: "Little rascal! Do you have grand ambitions?"
Zhuang Xiaoyuan sighed: "The chairman's will indeed does not mention you, but I still need to inform you that the chairman's assets, including real estate, bonds, stocks, and various investments, total several hundred billion New Taiwan dollars, and the sole heir to all these assets is your son—Xiao Yu"
And I! Tie Dan was afraid of pulling him down
Pang Guishan could discern the hostility in Xiao Yu's tone. He slowly walked to Xiao Yu's side, and Xiao Yu instinctively stepped aside, deliberately creating distance between them.
"No matter what, you won't be away for long. Today, the brothers will make sure you have a great time!" Qi San said loudly
Fang Xiaoyun seemed to be struck down by an invisible force, her body leaning against the cushion of the sofa, experiencing an indescribable sense of exhaustion. She had never imagined that her son had no attachment to her whatsoever.
Novosibirsk Ice Rink
Zhuang Xiaoyuan's eyes darted around, and in an instant, he grasped the rift between mother and son. He removed his gloves and extended his hand: "I am Zhuang Xiaoyuan, your father's lawyer!" His opening statement was brief, yet it effectively struck at the heart of Xiao Yu.
Xiao Yu had been lingering in front of the public phone for a full twenty minutes, the IC card in his palm already heated from his grip. This had almost become an indispensable part of his life. Every weekend, he found himself hesitating between 'staying at school' and 'returning home.' Since enrolling in the open university, he had rarely communicated with his mother, never revealing his mobile number or the address of his rented accommodation to her.
Fang Xiaoyun's eyes widened suddenly, and her ample bosom began to heave violently.
Fang Xiaoyun silently nodded, then shook her head again. Pang Guishan seemed to sense her hesitation: "Don't worry, I'll drive you there. I'll wait for you at the school gate"
After Xiao Yu and his martial arts siblings broke up, he went straight to school. To his surprise, the entire campus was empty. It was then that Xiao Yu remembered today was the weekend. Most of the students at the Open University were from the city, and at this time, most of them had gone home. Xiao Yu wandered around, but none of his close friends remained. A sense of indescribable loneliness filled his heart. He suddenly recalled that the last time he went home was sixty days ago. Although the distance from home to school was merely twelve kilometers, he still felt that this distance seemed so far and long. Perhaps it was time to make a phone call home.
He then added, "If you are willing to accept this father, we can set off for Taipei within two days. Mr. Xiao's greatest wish is to have a biological son by his side to see him off in his final moments!" Xiao Yu glanced at Fang Xiaoyun again, and his lips tightened stubbornly as he said, "I can respond to you right now; I will board the flight with you on time!"
"A classmate invited me to play cards tonight, but I won't be going back!" Xiao Yu's tone became stiff.
Yun Jie is not his sister. Xiao Yu remembers that when he was young, he used to call her "Mom," but as he grew older, she began to avoid this title, as if fearing that it would bring inconvenience to her life. Although everyone knows she is his mother, Xiao Yu noticed her unease. At the age of twelve, he started calling her Yun Jie, and that day happened to be her thirtieth birthday, as if she had found a secret to preserving her youth. Although everyone knows she is his mother, Xiao Yu noticed her unease. At the age of twelve, he started calling her Yun Jie, and that day happened to be her thirtieth birthday, as if she had found a secret to preserving her youth.
Xiao Yu keenly sensed something, his eyes filled with anger. It seemed that the day his mother had been waiting for had finally arrived. He roared almost viciously: "What does his proposal have to do with me? I am not his father, and he is not my son. If you want to celebrate, go do it yourselves!" He slammed the phone down heavily on the receiver. Turning around, he saw two sophomore girls whispering in his direction.
Xiao Yu ran his fingers through his hair and said, "Don't mention it, even I am confused. Out of nowhere, I have an old man from Taiwan claiming that I should go there to inherit a fortune!" Tang Liang's eyes lit up, "That's great! A windfall..." Qi San quickly nudged him, and Tang Liang suddenly remembered that it was Xiao Yu's father who had passed away, promptly shutting his mouth.
"Xiao Yu, you must come back tonight. Uncle Pang has proposed to me..." Her voice surprisingly became a bit shy
Hello! Is this Xiao Yu? A girl's voice came through the phone, and Xiao Yu immediately recognized it as Shang Xiao Yue. He cleared his throat before responding, "It's me! Is there something you need?"
Pang Guishan tightly wrapped Fang Xiaoyun in his arms and suddenly said: "Why don't we go to the school to find him? It's so cold... Xiaoyu should also put on a couple more layers of clothing..."
Xiao Yu pressed his lips together firmly, and at that moment, his phone suddenly rang
Xiao Yu ... ... I have something very important ... ... to tell you ... ... " Fang Xiaoyun's voice was weak and hoarse
Alright, wait for me at the door; I will arrive in half an hour!" After Xiao Yu hung up the phone, he turned around to see his friends making funny faces at him
Shang Wu let out a cry of pain as he grabbed Xiao Yu's arms, driving his knee into Xiao Yu's lower abdomen. Xiao Yu mirrored the action, and their knees collided, causing both to grimace in pain. Xiao Yu entwined his right leg between Shang Wu's legs to prevent him from making another move. They immediately lost their balance and fell to the floor with a thud. Xiao Yu forcefully freed his right hand and landed a punch on Shang Wu's face. Shang Wu raised his elbow and struck Xiao Yu in the solar plexus. The two rolled on the ground, grappling for a full ten minutes, both ending up bruised and battered, their strength nearly depleted, gasping for breath.
"When will you be back?" Pang Guishan asked softly
Fang Xiaoyun widened her eyes and said word by word: "No! Xiaoyu has no relationship with Xiao Dinghan; he will not inherit any estate"
I understand, in fact, you didn't need to come and tell me in person! Xiao Yu's tone was filled with defiance
Fang Xiaoyun suddenly felt an indescribable sorrow in her heart. If she had not witnessed her son venting in this manner, she would have thought that Xiao Yu was simply playing cards and chatting with classmates in the dormitory. Perhaps she truly did not understand her son well enough; the pain he harbored within, related to his studies and books, was far greater than she could have ever imagined.
How shameless, such a lewd expression!
"Are you serious? I'm not joking!" Xiao Yu shouted. The three of them were taken aback, as Xiao Yu's expression did not seem to indicate that he was lying. They exchanged glances, and Tie Dan cautiously asked, "Da Yu, please clarify, what exactly is going on?"
"Sister Yun, what brings you here?" Xiao Yu forced a smile on his face. Fang Xiaoyun's eyes were slightly moist; for many years, she had been evading the various aspects of her past, even shunning the title of 'mother.' Yet today, she suddenly realized how foolish and ignorant she had been.
"Never seen a man!" Xiao Yu clenched his fists, his eyes reddening with anger. The two girls quickly lowered their heads and hurried towards the cafeteria, while a sense of satisfaction after venting welled up in Xiao Yu's heart
Pang Guishan felt that something was amiss; he wanted to push forward but was sandwiched in between two burly men
Yesterday, I accompanied your mother to Wangfujing to buy you some clothes, and you should change into them when you leave tomorrow..." Pang Guishan's voice unexpectedly choked up a bit as he rubbed the cigarette in his hand, and Xiao Yu nodded.
Your mother actually cares for you very much, but she is not good at expressing it. She has always wanted to escape from the past...
I have never seen him!" Xiao Yu's voice was loud, filled with dissatisfaction and hostility. Fang Xiaoyun's eyes were already red; she bit her lower lip: "Because he... doesn't even know... of your existence... I lost track of him two months into my pregnancy..."
Shang Wu smiled mysteriously and said, "Don't be afraid, I’m just here to thank you for helping my sister retrieve her phone today. I have no intention of getting you drunk!" Xiao Yu, somewhat embarrassed by his insight into his thoughts, replied, "It's not that I'm afraid, it's just that the effects of the alcohol from that day haven't worn off yet." Shang Wu shook his head and said, "Alright! Let's not mention what happened that day again; we can consider it a case of not knowing each other before."
Pang Guishan pressed the horn in annoyance, but the other party showed little reaction. He turned to Fang Xiaoyun and smiled: "I'll go down and take a look"
Pang Guishan pointed to the car behind him. The middle-aged man smiled but did not respond, walking directly to Fang Xiaoyun's car window. He gently tapped on the window with his palm, shaking a shiny pendant between his fingers, and then immediately grasped the pendant in his hand.
Shang Wu stumbled back two steps after being kicked by Xiao Yu, but comparatively, Xiao Yu suffered greater damage. The area beneath a person's ribs is one of the most vulnerable parts of the body, and Xiao Yu bent down in pain. Shang Wu gave him no chance to catch his breath and charged at him again. In this unfavorable situation, Xiao Yu had no other choice; he endured the pain and charged forward, deflecting Shang Wu's incoming punches with his hands, and then crashed heavily into Shang Wu's chest.
The door of the first Mercedes-Benz opened, and two burly men in black trench coats accompanied a middle-aged man in his fifties or sixties as he stepped out of the car. The middle-aged man was of short stature, dressed in a well-tailored blue suit. His hair and beard had a slight yellowish tint, and his gaunt face was perpetually adorned with a smile
Xiao Yu! Why haven't you come back yet? Uncle Pang is still waiting for us to go out for dinner together
He faintly heard the soft sobbing from the next room; it was his mother's voice. A pang of sadness welled up in his heart, and just as he was about to go over to offer some words of comfort, he heard a man's voice rise. Xiao Yu frowned in disgust; it seemed that Pang Guishan, under the guise of concern, had not left.
Everything returned to calm once again, and soon a series of footsteps could be heard. The door to Xiao Yu's room was politely knocked on. Pang Guishan's plump head poked through the crack of the door: "Xiao Yu... may I come in?" "The door is not locked!" Xiao Yu did not even turn his head.
Fang Xiaoyun nodded vigorously, her tears finally streaming down uncontrollably. For some reason, she suddenly felt that her son no longer belonged to her...
Pang Guishan set down a bag of clothes in his hand, then lit a cigarette. He was not good with words, and every time he spoke, he relied on the help of cigarettes: "Your mother is very sad; she is reluctant to part with you..." Xiao Yu gently coughed, and Pang Guishan quickly extinguished the cigarette.
I will definitely return!" Xiao Yu's response seemed both an answer and a prevarication
As the lights on campus were about to be turned off, the students remaining at school began to walk towards the dormitories in small groups. Xiao Yu quickly picked up the phone, covering half of his face with the receiver.
A pure white snowflake floated down from the sky, heralding the arrival of the first weekend of December in Beijing. Xiao Yu looked up, took a deep breath, and exhaled a thick cloud of white mist, as if to expel all the displeasure and anger from his heart.
He extended his hand in an inviting gesture, signaling Fang Xiaoyun to enter his Mercedes-Benz 560. He then turned back to Mr. Pang Guishan and said, "Mr. Pang, I will borrow Miss Fang for ten minutes; I assure you it will not take too long."
"I do not wish to hear you discuss matters concerning my mother and me!" Xiao Yu interrupted Pang Guishan rudely. Pang Guishan, feeling somewhat awkward, touched his forehead and began to take his leave: "I should be going as well. I will come over tomorrow morning to help you pack your things!"
The repeated failed attacks caused Shang Wu to lose considerable stamina, and he discerned Xiao Yu's intentions. The pace of Shang Wu's attacks began to slow down, and after several probing attempts, the distance between the two started to close.
There were not many customers in the café, and the interior was very warm. The orange-red lighting softened the contours of everything. Xiao Yu held a steaming cup of coffee in both hands, yet his gaze remained fixed on Zhuang Xiaoyuan's face
Xiao Yu's gaze was drawn to the numbers on the screen, and he looked at Zhuang Xiaoyuan in disbelief. Zhuang Xiaoyuan nodded and said, "Rest assured... I wouldn't be so bored as to transfer from Taipei to Beijing in the cold!"
He finally got through to the home phone. On the other end of the line, there was first a series of intermittent giggles, and then he heard a familiar voice: "Who is it?"
Where are you? I will be there shortly
"Hey! If you are tired from fighting, just stand up and take a break!" Shang Xiaoyue, with a cheerful smile, appeared in front of them holding two bottles of cola. Xiao Yu was the first to release Shang Wu's collar, and Shang Wu weakly rolled to the side, gasping for breath as he said, "Damn it... I'll beat you to death later..." Xiao Yu, panting, sat up and replied, "Why wait until later... If you have the guts, come at me now..." Although both of them spoke defiantly, neither showed any intention of making a move.
Fang Xiaoyun also witnessed the first snowfall of winter. However, just as she glanced at the sky, Pang Guishan carefully held up a large umbrella for her, then placed the handle of the umbrella into Fang Xiaoyun's hand. Without even looking, Fang Xiaoyun knew his next move would undoubtedly be to take off his windbreaker and drape it over her.
Xiao Yu took the initiative to strike first; he raised his leg and kicked towards Shang Wu's groin. Surprisingly, Shang Wu showed no intention of dodging, instead stepping forward to the right. As a result, Xiao Yu's attack shifted to his hip, while at the same time, his left fist shot towards Xiao Yu's ribs like lightning
The middle-aged man smiled slightly, his fingers gently tapping the edge of the car window twice, and he spoke at a steady pace: "You indeed do not recognize me, but everything I am about to tell you will concern your fate and your son's future!" Fang Xiaoyun's lips began to tremble slightly, and an indescribable pain appeared in her eyes.
Shang Xiaoyue seemed to be in a good mood, staying with the two of them until Shang Wu reminded her: "Xiaoyue, why don't you head back first, so that Mom won't worry again." Shang Xiaoyue pouted: "Why should I go back first? Mom's complaints are endless, I really can't stand it!"
Be careful
Zhuang Xiaoyuan retrieved a copy of a document from the computer: "Before the chairman passed away, he summoned five prominent lawyers to finalize his will..." Fang Xiaoyun raised her head and waved her hand, saying: "Thank you for coming all this way to inform me... I have no interest in his will at all"
Since this is the case, why is he coming back to find me now