Chapter 107

Three years later.

Time flies, and it's Christmas Eve again. Early this morning, Los Angeles began to snow heavily. By noon, the ground was covered with a layer of white, making the already clean city look even more pristine and beautiful, and the snowflakes continued to fall.

I've been in New York for more than three whole years. Because of business, Pei Shi Yu also lives with me in New York. I think business is one aspect, but more than that, she wanted to accompany me.

This batch of goods was shipped from Shanghai Port and was originally scheduled to dock at New York Harbor. To reduce costs, it was unloaded in Los Angeles. Business has been tough these past few years, and many goods are consolidated to lower expenses. To reunite on Christmas Eve, I couldn't wait to rush to New York as soon as the goods were cleared.

The road conditions aren't good today. Even with the taxi driver's skill, the wheels still occasionally skid. Sitting in the car, I stared intently ahead, holding my breath, feeling particularly anxious...

At that moment, my cell phone suddenly rang. It was Pei Shi Yu. As I answered, a soft, sweet voice came through: "Daddy, are you back yet?"

Hearing this, my heart instantly warmed, and I replied, "Daddy is on his way back. It's snowing here. Is it snowing in New York?"

"It's not snowing here," Pei Shi Yu answered.

"The snow is really heavy here today. I'm rushing to the airport."

"If it's not safe, come back tomorrow," Pei Shi Yu said with concern.

"Tomorrow is Christmas. As long as flights aren't cancelled, I have to go back, no matter how difficult."

Suddenly, a childish voice piped up again: "Daddy, did you bring presents?"

I looked at the bag in my hand. A friend had just given me some Christmas trinkets, all very delicate: hats, scarves, clothes, everything.

"I did. I'll give them to you when I get home..."

"Goodbye, Daddy!" Before I could finish speaking, the call had ended.

Half a year after coming to New York, Pei Shi Yu gave birth to our daughter, Xiao Lai, a sweet and mischievous girl who I cherish with all my heart. She's the apple of our whole family's eye. Because Wang Rui and You Xiang both have boys, Xiao Lai has naturally become the only precious daughter in the family.

With a slow screech of brakes, the driver smoothly stopped the car at the airport departure platform. Because the drive was slow, the time of my purchased ticket was close to boarding. I paid and hurried inside.

The busy hall was repeating boarding calls for my flight. After completing the formalities and entering the gate, I breathed a sigh of relief. Just as I was about to turn off my phone, Wang Rui called...

"Merry Christmas!" I greeted as soon as I answered.

"What's so merry about it? Mom and Dad are fighting."

"With Dad?" I asked with a questioning tone.

"Of course."

"They're so old, what are they fighting about?"

"Don't know what's going on, they're already sleeping in separate rooms."

"Does Dad have a mistress?" That was my first reaction.

"Get out of here."

Wang Rui's usual way of speaking made me laugh. Then I said, "You should mediate. Weren't they very loving before?"

"Are you coming back for Chinese New Year this year?"

"Does it have something to do with their fighting?"

"Regardless of whether it does or not, you've been gone for so long. Don't you miss home at all?"

"My wife and child are here."

"Unfilial son."

"I have to board the plane, I don't have time to chat with you now. I'll call you again when I get home."

"Where did you go?"

"That batch of goods you sent was unloaded in Los Angeles. I just finished dealing with it today and now I'm going home."

"Then that's it for now."

"I'll call you when I get home."

After a brief exchange, I immediately hung up.

I boarded the plane and found that there weren't as many people as I expected. Perhaps it was because of the snow. I habitually stared outside. The snow was still falling, but it was clearly less heavy here than in downtown Los Angeles. However, the traces left on the runway were deeply imprinted. After the falling snowflakes landed, overlapping on the traces, they melted instantly.

For more than three years, because Pei Shi Yu has been by my side, I rarely miss home. It's only when the scenery evokes emotions that I occasionally think of Lin Hai and my mom, but Wang Rui's call seemed to disrupt my originally calm heart.

Last year, my grandfather passed away. It was quite sudden. At that time, I was extremely busy, having to go to school on one hand and taking care of business on the other, so I didn't have time to rush back. I just felt particularly sorry for my dad.

Staying in New York, the relationship between Pei Shi Yu and me has only grown stronger. Just like I thought at the beginning, we rely on each other. Especially the arrival of our child has added a lot of fun to our lives.

......

When the plane landed, it was already three in the afternoon New York time. Pei Shi Yu and Xiao Lai were already waiting at the arrival gate. I was carrying simple luggage and hadn't even gotten close when I heard Xiao Lai's excited voice: "Daddy... Daddy..."

I squatted down and picked her up, looking at Pei Shi Yu and saying, "Why are you shouting so loudly? Making it seem like other people don't have a daddy."

The child seemed to understand my words, and immediately pointed at me and said, "You are my daddy."

"No one is fighting with you," I kissed her cheek.

"Isn't her outgoing personality just like you?" Pei Shi Yu took my luggage and replied.

"Yeah, the bad parts are like me, the good parts are like you."

I stared at Xiao Lai and habitually sized her up again. Not only is her personality like me, but she also looks more like me, especially her eyes and eyebrows, which are exactly the same as mine. She inherited the best parts of me. Today, Pei Shi Yu dressed her up beautifully, a light pink little coat paired with a princess hairstyle. To me, I can't get enough of looking at her.

"Let's go," Pei Shi Yu urged, hooking her arm through mine.

"Did you come by taxi?"

"I drove."

Pei Shi Yu directly put the car keys into my pocket. Before getting in the car, I deliberately probed: "Time passes so quickly, another year."

"Didn't you used to say that you haven't graduated yet?"

I smiled and said, "Studying requires brains, but life passes by pretty fast."

"Did your mom call you?" Pei Shi Yu seemed to realize something.

"No, Wang Rui called me just now."

"Anything the matter?"

"Asked if I'm going back for Chinese New Year."

"Do you want to go back?" Pei Shi Yu asked as she opened the car door.

"Do you want to go back?" I didn't answer her directly.

"I plan to go back next year. There's another batch of goods arriving around the New Year."

"From Shanghai Port?"

"Yeah."

"Then we'll see when the time comes. Wang Rui wants me to go back."

"Then you should take Xiao Lai back, and take a look at your dad while you're at it."

Pei Shi Yu's words made me silent. Since going abroad, I've had very little contact with him. He doesn't seem to call me casually either. Even if the relationship has improved now, after all, for a long time we missed out on the normal way a father and son should interact.