Chapter 36: The Note

Sylvia pulled the door back further, signaling for Xiu Ling to come in. As she walked over the threshold, Sylvia added, answering her previous question, "Both grandma and dad are at the company, and mom is in the living room."

Xiu Ling noted the young woman did not mention the whereabouts of Mrs. Xiu and the bad feeling that settled in the pit of her heart intensified.

She took slow deliberate steps towards the living room and when she saw her best friend sitting on the sofa with a paper the size of a small notepad in her fingers, her heart relaxed slightly. At least Joann would be there for her, whatever the tragedy was.

However, the anxiety returned when Joann turned to her and Xiu Ling saw the grim expression on her best friend's face.

Xiu Ling's lips fell open and even though there were a million questions on her mind, it felt as if she had lost the power of speech. She was afraid of asking any question because she was afraid of hearing the answer.

Seeing the question on her friend's face, Joann said apropos to nothing, "She has left."

Even though Joann did not specify who that 'she' referred to, it could not have been anyone else other than Mrs. Xiu.

'Why?' was the question that crowded Xiu Ling's mind. She stood there completely motionless as if all of her focus had been directed to solving that question and she had lost the ability to do anything else. At least the fear in her heart had started to dissipate, nothing bad had happened to her mother. However, it was quickly replaced by an overload of confusion, 'Why would mother commit to something like this? It makes no sense. What is her reasoning?'

She would have continued to stand there dumbly to crack this question open if not for Sylvia's hand on her arm. The young woman urged her forward towards the sofa, "Auntie Xiu Ling, why don't you sit down? I am sure mom will explain the situation for you."

Sylvia led Xiu Ling to the seat next to her mother. As Joann scooted over to create more space for her friend, she shared a look with Sylvia. The latter nodded imperceptibly before shuffling away to the kitchen to give Xiu Ling and Joann their privacy.

Joann took Xiu Ling's hand in hers and she began, "Xiu Ling, Auntie Xiu only meant to do what is the best for you."

Xiu Ling nodded rather robotically like she only did that because it was the appropriate response to give.

Joann picked up where she left off, "When Xu Jing woke up this morning, Auntie Xiu was already gone. She had left at the first ray of dawn with her belongings and this note is the only thing she has left behind.

"It is meant for you. Here, it will explain everything," Joann said as she handed the piece of white paper to Xiu Ling.

Xiu Ling accepted the piece of paper and the sight of her mother's familiar handwriting did make her feel better. And she began to read.

'Xiu Ling, I am so sorry to leave on such a short notice but after a whole night of consideration, I have come to this decision.

'Furthermore, I regret that we are unable to say goodbye in person because that means that I am not able to explain my decision to you personally. Therefore, hopefully, this note will be able to suffice.

'Xiu Ling, you are a mother now and as a mother myself, I know how willing we are to sacrifice everything for the sake of our children. What I am trying to say is that I understand should you make the choice to stay with Lin Xi.

'However, you do not need to worry about making that choice. I do not have the heart to place that weight over your shoulders. Again, I am sorry for unwittingly leading you towards this horrible choice and I am going to try my best to fix it.

'Xiu Ling, mother is going home. I miss the countryside and it has been so long since I have breathed the country fresh air. Do not feel indebted towards me, this is a decision I have come to on my own. On top of that, do not worry about me, I promise to take care of myself so in return, you have to make sure that you take good care of yourself as well as Lin Xi.

'There is no need to come after me, after all, we can still talk on the phone, right? In fact, give me a call when you are free and update me on that precious son of yours.

'Xiu Ling, do your best and persevere. No matter what, know that mother is proud of you.'

That was the end of the note.

Xiu Ling was teary-eyed when she was done. In the end, her mother knew about the ultimatum Mrs. Lin had placed before her, and she had decided to remove herself from the picture so Xiu Ling could stay together with Lin Xi.

Xiu Ling had sacrificed herself for her son and now Mrs. Xiu was sacrificing herself for her daughter.

Joann pulled Xiu Ling into a comforting hug and she commented, "Auntie Xiu left early in the morning, before you arrived probably because she wanted to make it as easy as possible for you. She did not want you to convince her otherwise or be there in person when she left. She wanted to spare you the pain of separation as much as she could."

To be perfectly honest, Xiu Ling did not know what to feel at that moment. There was a cocktail of emotions she was experiencing. She was angry, sad, touched, and relieved. Angry because her mother had decided upon such a crucial decision without even consulting her; sad because her mother had left; touched because her mother was willing to do this for her and relieved because the weight of the decision had been taken off her hands.

When everything was said and done, Xiu Ling sighed and she whispered a thanks to her mother in her heart.