Chapter 3 Mind or Not

Now, I embark on my journey back to the homeland. In the last two years of university, my dad suddenly decided to transfer me back to study in China.The pain and scars from earlier years have been mostly smoothed out by the passage of time.Even though I had been living in the beautiful country, mixing with my friends in loud parties and nightclubs, I wasn't entirely unproductive.At least, I've become a lot stronger inside.I no longer hold grudges against the absence of family or seek out a mother's love in others.My dad is rich and generous, and he's never been stingy with me. Since he's willing to give me a comfortable and affluent life, why shouldn't I cherish it?As for why he suddenly decided to send me back to study in China, I guess he's worried I'll find a foreign boyfriend and settle down in America, leaving him without anyone to care for him in his old age.At the baggage claim, people bustled about.I got a message from "Big Brother": "I'm waiting for you at International Arrivals."Sure enough, as soon as I stepped out of the airport with my big suitcase, I saw his familiar face, which seemed like it would never fade into the crowd.He walked toward me with long strides, his body exuding the kind of steadiness and strength that only years of consistent exercise could shape—wide shoulders and a narrow waist. He walked with a certain allure, and I even felt a subtle sense of pressure.Had I been away from home so long that I forgot what a handsome Asian man looked like? I felt a slight flutter in my heart as I watched him approach.I wasn't sure if he had just finished a meeting or was trying to make a statement about our reunion, but today he was dressed in a meticulously tailored shirt and business suit.The precise tailoring of the suit clung perfectly to his body, and the white shirt and dark-colored suit overlapped beautifully, making him seem destined to walk through the bustling airport.It had been more than a year since I'd seen him. His already reserved aura had only deepened, now shrouded in an almost unreadable quality.Thinking about it, it's been several years since Shen Ji Bai took over the family business, and now he's the president of a well-known company in China. He's far ahead of me in age, experience, wealth, and social savvy, so it's no wonder I can't read him.Strangely, though, standing next to him, I didn't feel the slightest sense of distance or any feelings of being overlooked. There wasn't even the slight awkwardness one might expect after such a long time apart.He has always been kind to me, his gentleness and politeness seemingly etched into his very bones.No wonder he's Lin Ayi's son.Since he tutored me in middle school during the summer holidays, no matter how many mistakes I made, he always remained patient, calm, and never once grew impatient. Even when I kept messing up problems he had already explained, he would just frown slightly, then quickly give in with a resigned "Jiang Li, think about it again."It was during that time, under his guidance, that I began learning to face things by thinking independently instead of avoiding them.Now, back in the present, at the airport, his driver eagerly came over to take my luggage cart.This wasn't the first time Shen Ji Bai had picked me up. Maybe he was used to my over-the-top appearance whenever I came home from abroad, but seeing me today in a plain black sweatshirt with no makeup, he seemed a bit surprised."Didn't sleep well on the plane?" he asked quietly."No, I slept all the way," I replied carelessly, even hopping a few steps to prove I was full of energy. "Bro, I just wanted to go visit Lin Ayi first."He paused for a moment, given that over the years, I had never actively brought up visiting Lin Ayi's grave during my return trips.After a while, he said, "Okay."The car stopped at the cemetery, and the familiar inscription on the tombstone briefly recounted Lin Ayi's life.Over the years, I had secretly come to touch it countless times.Standing in front of the quiet tombstone, I spoke softly to it, letting the suppressed thoughts and fears inside me spill out like long-settled dust that was gently swept away.Yet, as I completed my bow and slowly rose, my long-repressed tears finally burst forth uncontrollably, hot and unrelenting.These tears carried the warmth of my heart, burning and sincere.Lin Ayi, the one who once vowed to always be by my side, said she would serve and take care of me when I grew up... Now, I've truly grown up.Thank you for giving me all the hope in my life. Though you left later, you still shone brightly in my life.Shen Ji Bai stood silently by, his expression unreadable in my blurry vision.On the way back, he suddenly spoke, "I'm sorry, I wasn't home enough back then, and I neglected your feelings."I pretended not to care, laughing loudly, "Haha, it's not your fault. I wasn't brave enough, and that's why I missed giving Lin Ayi a final farewell... Actually, after the funeral, when you went back to the UK, I often sat outside your house after school. I didn't even know who I was waiting for, but I just liked being there. Isn't that a bit crazy...?"I tried to keep a dramatic smile on my face, but it didn't reach my eyes, and my eyelids were already turning red.He sighed softly, his voice gentle, "Then this time, we won't go back to that sad place."These years, both of our families had moved out of the old house in the city center. The land price had skyrocketed, but because it was the Shen family's ancestral home, which had been passed down through generations, no matter how much anyone offered, Shen Ji Bai would never sell it. It was now kept in perfect condition, with someone taking care of it regularly.We got out of the car, and in front of us stood a detached villa located on the mountainside in the suburbs. The irregular, multi-level design of the house made it exude a modern flair, a creation from a renowned designer. The villa was nestled in a carefully manicured forest, with a large open lawn and garden in front, making it appear hidden and noble from a distance.I would be staying here for a while.I really don't understand my dad. He urgently called me back to China, but now he's gone abroad.Even though he's overseas and still worried I might get into trouble with my friends, he arranged for Shen Ji Bai to supervise me.It's funny; Shen Ji Bai's temperament is so good, he surely won't mind, right?