99

Annie entered the study carrying the admission notice sent by the university’s Language Center. The laptop on the desk was still open, and its email window had not been closed. She placed the letter on the desk and unexpectedly noticed an email in Huaimin’s inbox bearing the name “Mengying.” Curious, Annie clicked it open.

Huaimin, where are you? Your younger sister told me over the phone that you brought a new girlfriend back to Taiwan and then went with her to California in the United States. You changed your heart just like that. You really are a frightening person!

I, Tang Mengying, am studying in Paris all by myself. Although men around me have taken the initiative to ask me out, I have never felt attracted to any of them, nor have I ever dated any man. What about you? You went to Tibet for just one year and fell in love with someone else! Dont give me those specious excuses about "reincarnation" or "destiny in love." I, Mengying, have always maintained my virtue and never done anything to betray you. Heaven itself can bear witness to the sincerity of my heart!

Why dont you come back to Taiwan? Lets arrange a time for our two families to sit down and have a serious discussion. Whatever dissatisfaction or demands you have concerning me, I will deeply reflect on them and do my best to meet your expectations. But I will never accept those absurd reasons you gave me before.

Physically and emotionally exhausted,

Your fiancée, Tang Mengying

By the Seine River, Paris

March 20, 2016

P.S. April 1 is not only April Fools Day but also my birthday. I hope you will appear in front of me at Sun Moon Lake that day.

After reading the email, Annies originally joyful mood instantly froze into a ball of ice and plunged to the depths. She needed to find somewhere to clear her troubled thoughts and warm her heart again.

Annie left a note and an ultrasound printout on the desk, put on her coat, and walked out of the house.

As she walked along the sidewalk beside the main street, the cool evening breeze blew directly against her. Fallen leaves swirled beneath the streetlights, and she could feel the strong presence of autumn.

"Where should I go to clear my head?" Annie murmured to herself. "Sit in a café and stare into space? Im not the one who caused this mess. Why should I make myself suffer? Maybe I should go shopping at a supermarket instead and buy some food and daily necessities."

100

Tang Huaimin had just driven his car back to the house. Through the car window, he noticed that the lights inside were off and couldnt help wondering, "Annie didnt tell me she was going out unexpectedly."

Huaimin quickly got out of the car empty-handed. He casually pulled a long wooden stick from the flowerbed beside the entrance, held it in his right hand, and approached the front door. He tugged at the doorknob and glanced at the doors and windows. There were no signs of damage or forced entry.

Huaimin took out his keys and unlocked the door. Holding the stick, he pushed open the door and entered the living room. He switched on the lights and checked to make sure no intruder had broken in.

He first went into the bedroom but found no sign of Annie. Then he walked into the study, where he saw the note Annie had left on the desk, along with the email from Tang Mengying that had been opened. Beside them was the ultrasound printout. Huaimin picked it up and read the information printed at the top.

"Gestational age: 6 weeks;

Fetal sex: Unknown;

Fetal development: Normal;

Potential genetic disorders: Pending examination."

Huaimins hands trembled as he picked up the note Annie had left.

"Huaimin:

My mind is terribly unsettled. Ive gone out to find somewhere to clear my head. Dont worry about me. I wont do anything foolish.

Love,

Annie"

How could Huaimin not worry? He immediately took out his cell phone and called Annie, but her phone was switched off.

Huaimin took a deep breath and struggled to remain calm. He stared at the email Mengying had sent on the laptop screen. His hands gradually clenched into fists, and he was overwhelmed with regret and frustration.

101

When Li Jianhua received Tang Huaimins phone call, he took out a five-dollar bill and placed it on the dining table. He had barely eaten two dumplings from his plate before getting up and leaving in a hurry.

The two men met at the main entrance of the University of California, Berkeley. Tang Huaimin looked flustered.

"Professor, where do you think Annie might have gone?"

"Let me think. Just let me think..." Li Jianhua crossed his left arm over his chest, rested his right hand against his chin, and paced back and forth in circles. "The nearby cafés? The campus library? The pond? Heres what well do! Lets split up and look for her. Ill search the campus, and you ride your bicycle around the nearby streets, especially the cafés and fast-food restaurants. Well meet back here in an hour. Whoever finds her first should call the other on their cell phone."

"All right, Professor!"

Huaimin immediately got on his bicycle and began systematically searching the streets.

Tang Huaimin rode around the streets outside the university district twice. He searched more than a dozen cafés and small restaurants, as well as two fast-food restaurants, but still couldnt find her.

Meanwhile, Li Jianhua searched every corner of the campus as thoroughly as if he were combing the ground with a fine-toothed comb. He also failed to find her.

An hour later, the two men returned to the university entrance.

Huaimin asked anxiously, "Should we call the police, Professor?"

"Lets wait a little longer! If your wife really intends to leave home, calling the police wont help!" Li Jianhua then asked, "What exactly happened between you two?"

Huaimin scratched his forehead awkwardly and said, "I forgot to shut down my laptop, and Annie accidentally discovered an email from my ex-girlfriend."

"What a coincidence!" Li Jianhua said with a wry smile. "How could you be so careless? The most difficult thing to deal with is when a woman discovers that you might be cheating on her or carrying on an affair behind her back. Are you still in contact with your ex-girlfriend?"

"Yes. We exchange emails occasionally."

"So youre still keeping the connection alive, are you? Thats definitely a major taboo!"

Huaimin hurried to explain, "Professor, theres no lingering attachment between us! After I left Taiwan for Tibet early last year, I never saw her again."

"If thats the case, Annies reaction this time is indeed a little over the top!" Li Jianhua continued, "Annie is a very guarded person. She doesnt actively socialize much with people in the department. But I know her well. Shes cold on the outside but warm on the inside. When it comes to friendship and personal relationships, shes very earnest and single-minded. Once she accepts someone as a friend, she treats that person with genuine sincerity."

"I know. Ive been with Annie for an entire year."

Li Jianhua said, "Heres what well do. Go home and wait for Annie. If she doesnt come back all night, Ill go with you to the police station tomorrow morning to report her missing."

102

Tang Huaimin rode his bicycle home. From a distance, he saw that the living room lights were on, and at last, the anxiety weighing on his heart eased.

Huaimin wheeled his bicycle into the courtyard and opened the door. He saw dinner laid out on the dining table, while the sound of running water came from the bathroom.

Tang Huaimin sat at the dining table with his arms folded across his chest, sulking and looking thoroughly displeased with himself.

A little while later, Annie came into the living room wearing a bathrobe, with a towel wrapped around her head.

"You havent eaten yet, have you? I was waiting for you to come back so we could have dinner!"

Huaimin stood up, his face still drawn, and said, "You nearly scared me into having a heart attack!"

Annie remained perfectly calm. "I went to the supermarket to clear my head and bought some food and daily necessities."

Huaimin said, "The professor and I spent an hour looking for you all over the university district and the surrounding streets."

"Why were you so nervous? Im not some inexperienced little girl who cant take care of herself." Annie continued, "Ive booked a plane ticket online. Ill be flying to Taipei on the thirtieth."

"Flying to Taipei? Why didnt you discuss it with me beforehand?"

"Isnt that exactly what Im doing now? Sooner or later, youll have to face Tang Mengying. We need to bring this complicated love triangle to an end as soon as possible."

"I told you Im willing to face Tang! But I dont want you getting involved. That will only make things more complicated."

"Huaimin, didnt I also tell you that I wanted to face your ex-girlfriend together with you? Ill go back with you. If youre having second thoughts or change your mind, at least Ill have an answer."

Huaimin was displeased by what he heard. Raising his voice, he retorted, "An answer? What do you mean by that?"

Annie calmly replied, "The child in my womb can grow up without a father!"

"What do you take me for, Annie?" Huaimin was clearly angered by her composure.

"For a long time during my childhood, I didnt have a father." Annie turned away and wiped her tears. "So Ive prepared myself mentally to let you make a new choice..."

Huaimin suppressed his anger and laughed coldly. "Hahaha! What is this? Have I suddenly become the heartless, unfaithful man in some Taiwanese eight oclock soap opera?"

"Lets eat first. Were both hungry, and the baby must be hungry, too." Annie turned around, pulled out a chair, and sat down. "Help yourself to some rice! Its barley and millet rice that we grew ourselves."

Huaimin, however, continued to glare at her, his arms folded across his chest, standing motionless.

"My college classmate told me that old Hall thinks highly of you. You should seize the opportunity to gain experience at Disney," Annie said as she served herself some rice.

Huaimin still stood there like a wooden statue, completely unmoved.

Annie deliberately made a funny face and spoke in a commanding tone. "Young man, sit down and eat! Or do you expect your big sister to feed you one bite at a time?"

Annies teasing made Huaimin laugh. He could no longer keep up his stubborn act, so he finally sat down and picked up his bowl and chopsticks to serve himself some rice.

"I want to pursue further studies first." Huaimin was still angry, and his face stiffened again.

"Ive already thought this through for you. Continuing your education and working arent really in conflict. Youll just have to drive back and forth every day, which will be a little tiring." Annie placed a lamb chop in his bowl and said, "After I finish my dissertation defense, Ill need to concentrate on preparing for the babys arrival."

Huaimin spoke in a cold tone. "I feel like an ox with a nose rope tied around it, being led around by you."

"Hey, young man! Lets lay everything out in the open and make things clear. The main reason I accepted Uncles suggestion to stay in Berkeley and teach was to make it convenient for you to pursue further studies and earn your degree over the next few years! Otherwise, we could have returned to Tibet together. With my qualifications, I could find a senior research position or teach at a local university. But what about you? You would only be a contract research assistant at the Cultural Affairs Bureau. I dont want you to develop an inferiority complex in our married life. I want you to catch up with me as soon as possible. Do you understand why Im doing all this?"

Huaimin didnt answer. He raised his head and looked at Annies face. In truth, his attitude had already begun to soften.

"You have a talent for painting. Youre a thoroughbred, a horse capable of traveling a thousand miles. God has helped you find old Hall, the talent scout who recognizes your abilities. You should cherish this opportunity. Opportunities wont wait for you forever. Ive told you that I dont expect you to have extraordinary abilities or build some great enterprise. But I also dont want your talent to be buried beneath your romantic soul, leaving you to spend your entire life doing nothing remarkable."

Huaimin accepted his wifes goodwill. He understood Annies wish to see her husband achieve great things.

"All right," Huaimin said calmly. "Ill arrange a time to meet Mr. Hall tomorrow."

Annie smiled sweetly with satisfaction. "Ill go with you. Ive never been to Disneys headquarters. Itll be a good chance to see the place."

103

The young couple arrived at the headquarters of The Walt Disney Company in Burbank. Less than five minutes after their arrival was announced, old Hall and Johnson, the head of the animation department, came into the reception room.

Hall greeted them with a smile and took Tang Huaimins hands in his own.

"I had a feeling you would come to see me. My instincts are usually very accurate."

"This is my wife, Annie," Tang Huaimin said as he introduced her.

Hall shook Annies hand and said, "Your husband is a very talented man!"

Hall then introduced Johnson. "This is Johnson, the head of our animation department. He also teaches courses at Berkeley and its Long Beach campus."

Director Johnson said, "Mr. Tang, our company has always encouraged employees to pursue further education actively. We have long-standing training partnerships with several nearby universities. Now that we have a preliminary understanding of your situation, we can work together to find an appropriate arrangement that will allow you to continue your studies while working."

"Thank you, Mr. CEO and Director, for taking the trouble to make these arrangements for me." Tang Huaimin shook hands with Johnson.

Hall said, "Our company operates through a system of professional specialization. In the future, youll train alongside the production team in the animation department. The company will provide you with a series of training courses. Once you complete the training, youll become a full-fledged animator. Now, Ill have Johnson show the two of you around the company."

The young couple followed Johnson and toured the various departments in sequence, beginning with the company archives and museum.

The tour guide gave them a detailed explanation of the founding of Disney and its development through the different periods of its history...