Chapter 1: New Home
March, Spring. They say Spring is the season of rebirth, the season of a new beginning. One can say, Spring is definitely a new start for An Jia.
Bed nicely done, clothes pack inside an old leather suitcase, it was An Jia's favorite. The only remaining memories of both her parents. An Jia who is still formally dressed in funeral attires sits on the cold wooden floor next to the window holding tight onto her family portrait. The funeral was over four days ago yet she was still in the same outfit. Blood-shut eyes, her tears dried up and the only remains were the crusts.
It was a bright sunny afternoon in March, no clouds in the sky yet her life at the moment seems so cloudy and dark. She had just lost her beloved parents due to a plane crash coming back home from Hubei.
An Jia tightens her grip on the portrait as she took one last glance around her home. Her only relative, An Suyan, has decided to take her in. An Suyan believed it is best to look after An Jia during her time of hardship.
An Jia puts her feelings aside, grabs her belongings and walks downstairs. Pausing her steps at the front door of her home, she turns around and bow done politely before saying, "Take care of yourself."
While waiting for her departure she receives a call from an unknown number.
"Hello. An Jia speaking."
The man behind the line was startled. He has not seen her for such a long time yet just by her tone, she has matured so much.
"Jia'er, this is your uncle, Gu Rongguang. How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine uncle Rongguang. I'm just waiting to board the plane."
"Okay, I just want to call and let you know since I'll be working late, your aunt will come pick you up at the airport instead…" He paused momentarily. "… Jia'er, you remember your aunt, right?"
An Jia thought for a moment before replying, "Hmm."
"That's great. Break time is over so I'm heading back to my station. I'll see you at home."
An Jia hummed again before hanging up the phone. 'Home', the word sound so foreign to her now.
"All passengers for flight 2803 heading to Guangdong, please get ready to board the plane."
An Jia was in a dazed until the announcement, broadcasting over the speakers brought her back. She grabs the suitcase sitting beside her and walk up to the attendant showing her the ticket and passport. A couple hours have passed before she steps foot on land again. An Jia walks out from the arrival gate along with other people who had shared the plane with her. With only her carry-on luggage, she made her way out to look for her aunt.
"Jia'er! My Jia'er!"
An Jia heard someone calling her name and tried to search around for the person. In front of her was a bright and giddily elder woman, waving her hand side to side. An Jia finally realize it was her aunt and made her way pulling her luggage in one hand and the other holding onto the stuff teddy bear.
"Oh my! My little Jia'er! You have grown so big and pretty!"
"Aunty Suyan have not change at all, you still look young as I remember."
"Of course, with the help of cosmetics nowadays."
An Suyan pulls An Jia in for a hug. An Suyan knew that An Jia is having a rough time and so the best she could offer is a hug full of warmth.
"Oh! I almost forgot." An Suyan looks around at every corner of the airport. "Before we got, we need to find that little rascal of mine first."
"Little rascal?" An Jia was a little confused. "You mean—"
"GU LIANG!" An Suyan's voice echos throughout the who airport, vibrating the ground. Before An Jia could out her mind together she was pulled by the hand and obediently follow her aunt. For a slight moment, An Jia felt a familiar warmth in her hand, she feels at home, welcomed.
An Suyan kept on screaming yet An Jia did not seem bothered or embarrassed by it. It was like she was used to her aunt's personality. An Suyan was such a positive person, one could only feel at ease with her.
The two made their way to the entrance, and An Jia notice sitting at the end of the seat was a young boy. He was probably listening to music or playing video games.
"Do you not hear me call you?" An Suyan quickly pulls off the earbuds from her son's ear.
"Ah, Ma! These are my expensive earbuds. Be careful with it!" He was a little rude and shout back to An Suyan.
"Is this how I taught you?!"
Gu Liang who was about to ignored his mother almost put the ear piece back into his ear heard his mother said, "You remember An Jia, right?"
Gu Liang rolled his eyes, "What kind of jiejie carries a teddy bear? So immature."
An Suyan smack the back of her son's head. She honestly does not know where he gets his attitude from.
The ride back to An Suyan's place was quiet and peaceful. It was her first time in a big city and every scene she sees looks beautiful. She notices all the tall buildings, the people walking, the trees to the birds. It was definitely Spring.
An Suyan was a stayed-at-home wife while Gu Rongguang works as an attorney for Ye Corporation. Their son, Gu Liang was in his last year of high school. Once may think that their family is rich but like her mother once told her, "We're all just middle-class citizens working to out food on the table."
An Jia was not sure if she consider her aunt and uncle as middle-class. They lived in a 3-story house and even have a chauffeur that drives them around; including a few servants that helps around the house. An Jia was thinking if her aunt and uncle was consider middle-class, then her family must have been the lowest-of-the-lowest class. They did not have any of this.
"I finished cleaning out a room on the top floor for you." An Suyan said sitting the luggage on the side of the room.
"I'm fine with anything. I'm not picky about my living style. I am already grateful that you and uncle has taken me in."
An Suyan grabs onto An Jia's hand and give it a little squeeze. "My parent only gave birth to my brother and I. Now that he's gone it is my responsibility to look after you." She patted An Jia lightly.
"Come on, let me show you your room."
Rosy flower wallpapers, white curtains and a well-made bed in the color of white; it was a room made specially for a girl.
"Aunty, I'm 26. Don't you think this room is a little too girly for me?"
"Of course not!" An Suyan proclaimed however the look in her eyes gentle when she looks at An Jia.
"In my eyes, you will always be my baby."
"My whole life I have always wanted a daughter but the Great Heavens only granted me a son. An annoying one too."
An Jia couldn't help but chuckle at her aunt's statement. She felt that her mother and aunt have similarities. An Jia's mother had always wanted a son, and were planning on having one but the incident happened. The thought made An Jia go quiet.
An Jia and her aunt were chit-chatting for a bit inside the new room. Later in the evening, they helped the servants in the kitchen preparing dinner. A thought came to her mind when she saw the harmony between her aunt and the servants; she had to make herself useful since she is now apart of the family. Suddenly,
"I'm home! Where is my baby girl?"
The loud commotion startled An Jia until she saw an elder man walking into the kitchen.
"My, my! Great aroma, two beautiful women. What more can I ask?" Gu Rongguang, An Jia's uncle place his briefcase and jacket on the counter and widely open his arms, "Come here. Give this old man a hug."
Gu Rongguang looks just like her dad. She was trying so hard not to think about past but at this moment, when he was welcoming her with open arms; she couldn't hide the tears.
An Jia buried herself in his embrace. She was 26 but yet at that moment she felt like a little girl who had lost something precious. An Jia no longer cared about her age, she missed the warmth of her father and her uncle was willing to give her that comfort.
After calming down, she continues to help set the dinner table. After seating herself down, An Jia realize something was missing. There were four people in this house yet there were only three set of plates and utensils.
"Gu Liang hardly join dinner, you can ignore him."
The dinner was fulfilling. The atmosphere was filled with warmth and comfort. He aunt and uncle did not make it awkward for her although this is the first time in their home. It was as they have been living together for a long time.
After dinner, An Jia helped cleared and cleaned up the table. She brewed a cup of tea and brought it to her uncle which he was in his study room, the image of her father appears in my mind the moment she opens the door. Her uncle reminds her so much of her father, always working even after work hours. She clears her throat to get his attention.
"Jia'er. What brings you here? It's late you should get some rest."
She sets the cup of tea on his work table, "I brought you some tea."
"Is there a lot of cases you're working on?"
Gu Rongguang was reviewing the last piece of information he received in regards to the current case he was assigned to. "I just have a few papers I need to go over."
"Do you find something you're interested in or did you want me to help you?" He took a sip of the tea.
"Actually, I was going to ask if I can tag along with you to work tomorrow?"
Gu Rongguang looked up at An Jia in surprised, "Do you want to work with me?"
"A while back I applied for the Accountant position with Ye Corporation, before the funeral I received an email confirmation to have my interview taken tomorrow."
"That's great news. We shall go together tomorrow then."
He gave An Jia a fatherly smile and continues to drink the cup of tea. She told him to rest early and excuse herself.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
xiangrikui
xiangrikui Hello, I'm kejibxx. I've been a silent reader for about over a year now. I enjoy writing short stories and poetry and this will be my first original novel on Webnovel.
I saw a forum for Writing Prompts Contest 61: Keywords-Betrayal; Courage; Discovery; Escape and thought I'll give it a try.
I know it's only the first chapter but I would like to hear your thought about it. I appreciate all the support.
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