บท 6: Unpleasant memories

In the present time, Jade is looking at her grandma's face and observing the rise and fall of her chest with every breath that she took. Jade can feel that Mama Lu might not make it through the night. Her breath was getting more and more shallow but her expression is so serene and at peace. Jade could not imagine her life without this woman in her life. She might even end up institutionalised by her unloving parents who believes that she is just born stupid and crazy. She cringed at the thoughts of spending time with her other family members without Mama Lu's presence. This thoughts brought back unpleasant childhood memories.

Occasionally, her parents would bring her siblings over to Matriarch Lu's mansion to curry favour with the Matriach. Master Lu knows that his mother would never pass the business empire to him or his younger sister. The reason being he is too lacking in the business world. He holds a position in the company but was not trusted with any important decisions, it is only in name position. His sister on the other hand, just couldn't be bothered. Her relationship with Matriach Lu was never harmonious due to her rebellious nature, seeking for attention or maybe more of hungry for love but due to managing business Matriarch Lu did not have much time to spare. Matriach Lu thought that as long as she could provide them with a good life they would understand her sacrifices. Only after when her feet has been cemented concretely in the business world that she realised that she was so wrong. By that time, they had grown up and she could not make up to them her absence during their childhood causing interactions between them were typical of strangers than family. Her daughter cut ties with them as soon as she got married to a rich Englishman, She did not want anything to do with the affairs at the company because that cost her the lack of maternal love.

Hence, after careful deliberation, Master Lu had to make his mother notice his eldest son, Chris Lu Shi Peng as the next heir. Chris is two years younger than Jade and is Matriarch's Lu first grandson. After Chris was born, a year later April Lu Mei Xin, was brought into this world. The arrival of April brought real joy to Madam Lu because she now has a daughter that she can dote on and love. She feels contented that her family is now finally complete.

Feng Shi Ran, the current Madam Lu truly believes in her heart that Jade is demoness. Hence, Madam Lu's attitude towards Jade never changed over the years and she never put any effort to try and understand that daughter of hers. Her behaviour towards Jade was naturally picked up by her two other children. Since they were young, their mind had been poisoned by their mother's views regarding Jade. When they asked their mother why Jade stays with their grandma instead of with them. She would first explained that Jade is abnormal since birth despite looking normal. The arrival of Chris caused Jade to reveal her true crazy self because at such young age Jade was jealous of Chris's arrival. Madam Lu even told them that Jade is such a hateful child because at such young age she wanted to harm Chris. Therefore, she was taken away by Matriach Lu for disciplining. However, over the years, Matriach Lu has been bewitched by Jade, and that is why their grandma do not pay much attention to them.

We cannot really blame Madam Lu for being such a horrible mother because these views are what she truly believes.

With these understanding, how could the two not blame Jade for the lack of love from their grandma? They rarely see a sincere smile from the Matriach to them but occasionally they can see the look of affection in the Matriach eyes towards Jade and that made these foolish kids angry and felt wronged plus it does not help that Jade has Asperger's and she is not warm and not friendly when she saw them. To them, Jade acts arrogant because she has the protection of their grandma, a powerful lady in business.

Chinese New Year and coincidentally it coincide with Jade's 7th birthday. The Matriach decided to hold a small family gathering to celebrate New Year and Jade's birthday. Feng Shi Ran on the other hand, decided to invite influential families for the double celebration. She made all the arrangements without informing the Matriach. Madam Lu was gleeful with her preparations. She wanted to introduce her two angels, five and four years old respectively, during this dinner banquet to the influential family hoping to secure early betrothal for the two. At the same time, she wanted the world to know that her eldest daughter is a fool and abnormal. Master Lu agrees with this arrangement because he wanted to secure Chris as the young heir to the Lu empire throne. He was getting uneasy because he could see how Matriach pampers and wait upon Jade. He absolutely could not comprehend his own mother's behaviour. In fact, the little boy in him was jealous because he did not know his mother has this side of her and was angry that he did receive this sort of affection from her. He could not fathom why Jade is special in his mother's eyes.

Matriach Lu had an unpleasant surprises when she saw her servants bustling around busily and hurriedly the morning of New Year. She became even more upset when a catering company came knocking on the door and started arranging 100 tables in her huge backyard. They were setting up lanterns and wrapping those ancient oak trees with strings of light. Next came some builders, building some sort of stage. Then sound technicians arrived with their gadgets to set up speakers, microphones and all. The frown on Matriach Lu was getting deeper by the minute. She was about to scream but it took every ounce of her willpower to stop because it would alarm Jade. Little did she know Jade was already agitated with all the activities going on in the usually peaceful manor. The presence of her siblings in her playroom did not do much to make the situation any better. They were glaring at her resentfully.

Jade could not understand what she did to offend them. She realised that their resentment towards her grew with every visit. Never once, she did anything to provoke them and she mostly stayed out of their sights and way. Never once she fought over toys and not to mention, their parents affections and love. She cursed the therapist silently for teaching her to read body language because sometimes ignorance is gold. It was such a predicament for Jade. She did not know what to do to ease the tension in the room. Finally, she decided that being ignorant is the best way forward. She took out her iPod and covered her ears with her headphones and pressed play. The music soothed her chaotic mind and at the same time drown out all the unwanted noise.

With that, she instantly forget the existence of the two in her playroom. Chris and April were discontent with Jade's behaviour. They seethed in anger and felt humiliated. Other kids always placed them on pedestal, on high grounds. Other kids will do anything to please them and this eldest sister of theirs just ignored them. April was the first one to make a move, she clutched a fist of Jade's hair and yanked her head. Chris then joined in the action, pulled off the headphones, grabbed the iPod and threw in on the ground. April without releasing Jade's hair, started stomping on the precious iPod.

The nanny that went to fetch water for the three kids was greeted with such a surprising scene that the tray she was holding slipped her fingers and the contents on the tray just fell to floor and sounds of glass shattering followed. Jade was screaming wildly and started to rock her body back and forth while her tiny hands covered her ears. Other maids came rushing and one of them tried to pry April's hands off Jade's hair. A clump of hair was pulled out from Jade's head in the process. Chris was mad that he could not continue to vent his anger on Jade when another maid grabbed him by his waist, and in the end his legs that was kicking Jade ended up kicking air instead.

Matriach Lu almost had a heart attack when she arrived at the scene. Master and Madam Lu who arrived at the same time already launched an attack on Jade verbally and physically. They were calling her names, a disgrace to the family and blaming her for their children actions. They even had the audacity to say Jade most likely refused to share leading to this series of events. Madam Lu gave slap to Jade's delicate face when she saw her taunts and verbal abuse was ignored. The slap left five finger prints mark on that fair smooth skin and caused an immediate swelling. The slap was hard that it caused Jade's ears to ring.

Another two servants came to restrain the so called adults. Jade scoffed in her heart, such wonderful family one have. Matriach Lu gave a sounding slap to Madam Lu and that made her stop cursing like a mad woman. Matriach Lu then glared at her son and that glare is all it takes for him to shut his mouth. Matriach Lu then stared icily at the two squirming children in the embrace of the maids. Her scary stare made them stop squirming and they made no more sounds. Matriach Lu then chased everyone out of the room. She then gave a call to her team of child experts to come immediately as this is an emergency.

Matriach Lu feared that this event may cause a deep scar in Jade's heart and cause a regression. She then picked up the iPod and passed it back to Jade and said "I'm sorry it's broken but I can get you a new one. I'll make all the noise go away. Is it okay? Can I give you a hug? My heart is breaking to see you like this. The last time you did this was.." "when I was three years old, the first time we met, Mama " Jade finished Matriach Lu's sentence with her voice devoid of any emotions. However, her gesture was the opposite as Jade opened her arms wide seeking for a hug from Matriach Lu.

Matriach Lu's eyes widened with surprised because this is the first time, Jade ever initiate contact and and did Jade just called her Mama? Tears started to pour down Matriach Lu's eyes. "It seems I am good at causing Mama to cry" Jade said in her melodious voice. "Silly girl" with that they embraced each other. This scene was the scene the team of experts stumbled upon and they were amazed and happy with Jade's progressed.