Love Story Like Bubbles
After graduating from college, Cheng Hao was forcibly kept at home in the countryside by his parents, not allowed to venture out. He yelled at his parents, “Why did you let me go to college if you’re not letting me go out?”
His father, with a pipe in his mouth, calmly said, “Didn’t say you couldn’t go out, son. Get married, leave us an heir for the Cheng family, and you can go wherever you want.”
“Dad! I have someone I love, she’s a college graduate too, and very beautiful. If you want me to marry Erni from the village, I’d rather die,” Cheng Hao kicked over the stool in front of him in anger.
“What’s wrong with Erni? We wouldn’t have survived without her taking care of us while you were away. She has feelings for you,” his father tried to reason with him.
But to Cheng Hao, it was all a conspiracy. A scheming woman, tending to his parents so diligently, why? Just because he’s a college graduate. If he were a nobody, would she still be so hardworking?
However, Cheng Hao knew his father was a stubborn man. Once he decided something, it was set in stone. This troubled him greatly. Unable to persuade his parents, he thought of Erni.
Using the excuse of going to the restroom, he tried to find Erni, but as soon as he opened the door, he almost bumped into someone. To his surprise, it was Xu Liu, his girlfriend from college. “What… what are you doing here?”
Xu Liu, carrying her luggage, said displeased, “Why can’t I come? To see you, of course! You’ve been out of touch since you got back, wasn’t I worried?” She walked in, glanced around, and asked with disappointment, “Cheng Hao… you live in this rundown house?”
Before Cheng Hao could say anything, his father, annoyed, knocked his pipe against the floor to show his presence.
“Who’s this old man?” Xu Liu whispered.
Cheng Hao quickly signaled to her, “My dad!” meaning she should greet him.
But Xu Liu sat down on the only stool in the house, saying, “I’m so tired. Is there any water?” Seeing the dirty water jar, she waved her hand, “No! Do you have bottled water here?”
Hearing this, Cheng Hao’s father stood up, turned around, and walked out with his hands behind his back, slamming the door.
Xu Liu shrugged and stuck out her tongue at Cheng Hao’s father’s retreating figure. Cheng Hao had been attracted to her mischievous nature, but today, it felt particularly irritating, like discovering a fly in your soup after you’ve drunk it, leaving you with nothing but disgust.
He didn’t go to get her water; the nearest store was at least ten minutes away.
Seeing he wasn’t moving and there was no one else in the room, Xu Liu said, “I didn’t expect your living conditions to be so bad. How can anyone live here?”
Cheng Hao’s face turned pale. He didn’t know how to respond. If this place wasn’t fit for living, then what did that make his family? Yet, he couldn’t get angry; after all, she had traveled a long way to see him. How could he show her a bad attitude?
When Xu Liu saw he wasn’t speaking, she grabbed her luggage with a dark expression and said, “Why are you so unwelcoming? Fine! I’ll leave.” She started to storm out, and Cheng Hao hurriedly pulled her back. Half-angry, half-playful, she leaned into his arms, and they joked around for a while, soon making up.
At noon, Cheng Hao’s mother, dragging her sick leg, prepared a table full of dishes. Xu Liu sat at the table but couldn’t bring herself to eat, her face pale. Cheng Hao asked her what was wrong.
Covering her mouth, she felt nauseous and moved aside.
Cheng Hao immediately understood—she found their dishes and bowls dirty. He had grown up using them and never found them dirty.
Seeing her reaction, Cheng Hao couldn’t eat either. Holding her hand, he suggested going out to buy some food. As he turned, he saw his mother secretly wiping away tears and his father sitting at the table with a stern face.
His heart felt like it had been struck by a hammer, the pain making his whole body tremble.
Xu Liu couldn’t stay any longer. The house smelled like a pigsty, and the food looked like pig slop to her. If she had to marry into such a family, she’d rather die.
Before Cheng Hao could say anything, she grabbed her luggage and left in a hurry, not turning back despite his calls. Watching her retreating figure, Cheng Hao felt like he was seeing a beautiful, shiny bubble in the sunlight—no matter how beautiful, it would eventually burst. Reality was harsh and unforgiving.
Cheng Hao returned home disheartened. His parents were eating heartily, and Erni was massaging his mother’s back. The three of them were chatting and laughing, the earlier gloom completely gone.
Suddenly, Cheng Hao felt warmth. He didn’t eat but sat down and lit a cigarette. Through the drifting smoke, Erni smiled at him, looking unexpectedly beautiful. She wasn’t any less attractive than the city girls and had an added kindness.
Cheng Hao thought, since he couldn’t go against his father’s wishes, he might as well embrace them.
Thank you for reading! ” Sitestorys “
