People Talk

Sun Mei was so happy about her enrollment at UC Berkeley that she slept like a baby that night and had pleasant dreams about going to lectures with Yu Zan, Mr. Wu, Lily and Vivian. Although this made no sense whatsoever and Vivian was complaining about her extra duties in her dream, she still felt happy until the moment she woke up.

Unfortunately, this artificial happiness dissipated when she was awakened by a pair of loud voices yelling in the house.

Sun Mei got out of bed like a zombie and walked sleepily to her door. The voices were coming from downstairs. Worried that a thief or a murderer might be in the house, she strode down the hall quietly without changing out of her pajamas.

When she reached the top of the stairs, she realized that the voices were coming from the living room on the ground floor.

One of the voices, which was female, was saying, "You're paying for her tuition now? What's next? A house? Oh no, she's actually already shacking up with you!"

"What the hell are you talking about? Who told you that I'm paying for Sun Mei's tuition?" answered a male voice.

"I have friends at UC Berkeley."

"What kind of friends?"

"Students, professors, administrative staff… I work at a PR company, it's my job to know people!"

Sun Mei's eyes snapped open in horror.

It was Jenny Wu! Jenny Wu had found out that Mr. Wu had paid for her tuition and come to confront him about it!

"Would you lower your voice? Lily is still sleeping," said Mr. Wu in a lower tone, although he sounded extremely angry.

"I am aware, Charles! That's why I came so early. But, of course, you love to tell me what a bad mother I am! Wait until Lily finds out that you gave money that could have paid for her future college tuition so that your girlfriend can pretend she's educated!"

"For the last time, Sun Mei is not my girlfriend. But even if she was, it would still be none of your business what I do with my money!"

"This is my daughter's money, so it is my business!"

"Lily has everything she needs and she will go to a great college when that time comes. My love life will never mess with her future."

"So you are admitting that you have a love life!"

"No, I currently do not, but I am still young so I'm not ruling it out."

Jenny laughed loudly. "Why are you pretending? My colleague saw you two on a double date with another couple!"

Sun Mei froze before she realized what she was referring to.

She meant the lunch with Yu Zan and Parker Qin. That had not been a double date! That had hardly been half a date!

"I'm starting to think that this city is too small and indiscreet. I don't know who saw this so-called double date, but they obviously twisted the truth."

"That's what you say!"

"I don't care if you believe me, Jenny. However, from now on, I would like you to stay the hell away from my personal life. You are no longer a part of it."