Chapter 59: It’s Nice To See You Again
Hanging up the phone, Scarlett felt as though she had just been warmly embraced. But her thoughts was interrupted by a student who came over to invite them to the football pitch.
When they arrived, they saw all the students of the school were gathering there, and the principal was standing in the front making a big announcement that they are going to have their own library and gymnasium by next year. Students were all excited to hear this good news, and everyone was cheering loudly.Original from NôvelDrama.Org.
It turned out that the special fund for developing education in ill-conditioned areas also covered the fees for building supporting facilities like libraries and gym.
Since the good news came two days before the teachers were getting ready to leave the school, a big farewell party was arranged for them. They invited many students to join the party, and some of them prepared delicious dishes and dedicated gifts to the teachers they liked most. They wished each other the best. What had initially been an exciting and joyful party ended in a stream of tearful goodbyes? It would soon be time for the teachers to leave the village, the school, and the children they had come to cherish and love as their own.
***
Finally, the day came. “Hey, listen. Don’t cry, and we will definitely meet again.” Scarlett handed a tissue to Alice as they prepared to leave. Alice was too sad to mind the stale smell and wept on Scarlett’s shoulder when they got on the small bus.
Scarlett looked at the retreating landscape. In the distance, the children were getting smaller and smaller until they finally became invisible. Scarlett began to cry, tears streaming down her face. Looking back at the last thirty days, it was like a dream– a beautiful dream where every single moment was worth treasuring.
When they got off the train after a few hours, the bus that had been sent to pick them all up had arrived. Everyone seemed to have left their sadness behind. Quickly, they were discussing which restaurant they wanted to go to so they could eat a big, gluttonous feast. Everyone had adapted well to life in the poor village, but their switch back to life in the metropolis was completely seamless.
In the interim, Scarlett received a call. Hurriedly, she bid farewell to her friends.
“You are not coming with us?” Alice looked sad to hear that Scarlett was going to leave her all alone with the boys.
Scarlett shook her head lightly and said. “I’m sorry, babe. But my dad sent someone to pick me up, and he’s already arrived. I don’t want to keep him waiting, so I should head out. Don’t worry though, we go to the same school! We’ll hang out whenever you want, okay? I’ll see you soon!”
“Alright, take care, Scarlett. I’ll see you later!” Alice wiped the tears on her face and said goodbye to Scarlett.
“Bye, everyone, take care! See you around!” Scarlett waved goodbye to Alice and everyone else and then walked out of the station.
Scarlett didn’t walk many steps when Uncle Williams, Francis’s private driver, came up to help her with her luggage.
“It’s been a while, Uncle Williams!” Scarlett said with a sweet smile on her face.
“It has, hasn’t it? It’s nice to see you again, Scarlett!”
They walked to Francis’s limo, and Williams walked to the truck to put down Scarlett’s luggage. Before Scarlett got into the car, he came over and whispered to her, “Mr. Sandler is in something of a mood. Be careful.”
Scarlett nodded upon hearing his warning and then got inside the car.
Francis turned his head to her, gave her a quick glance, and then turned around to stare out of the window instead.
Scarlett took the initiative to apologize, “I’m so sorry, Francis. I know I was completely wrong this time. I should’ve told you before I made the decision to go to Manbuca, and I shouldn’t have left without informing you… I had actually come to say goodbye to you. Still, at that time, you were in Beijing for business…But alright, I don’t want to make excuses for my behavior…I’m sorry. I really am.”
Scarlett kept looking at Francis when she apologized, but Francis didn’t look back or react. He just closed his eyes and did not say anything. Scarlett got frustrated because she felt it was unprecedentedly difficult to ease the situation this time.
Francis remained silent all the way back to the villa. When they got into the house, the housekeeper immediately sensed the unusually awkward atmosphere between Mr. Sandler and Scarlett and postponed the big welcome dinner.
Francis went straight upstairs to his study, and Scarlett followed. He took off his jacket and threw it on the back of the sofa. He sat in the center of the sofa and then lifted his chin to gesture to Scarlett to sit down.
Scarlett didn’t move. She felt like a criminal waiting for her death penalty. Francis didn’t force her to sit down. “Scarlett, I only have one question for you. Did you run away from me because you got… bored? Tired? Or sick of our relationship?” Francis threw the heavy words lightly, but the impact was just powerful enough to disarm Scarlett and make her surrender.
“We’re in a relationship, and I’m your man. It seems like you’ve never had this recognition in your heart.” Expectedly, Scarlett was shocked. She couldn’t say a word, partly because Francis’s words were just so poignant.
She kept silent for a long time, long enough for Francis to reflect on his own words. He was wondering whether he had laid it on too thick and thought that he should soften his tone just a little bit.
But Scarlett suddenly moved and came over to him. She sat down next to Francis and then took off her shoes, curling up next to him on the sofa. She was about to say something. But she didn’t put it directly, she adjusted her posture by resting her head on Francis’s chest and putting her arms around his waist.