A Love Letter from Lhasa 22

Chapter 21: The Couple Returns to Taiwan to Face Tang Mengying

01
At the Tang family restaurant in Dabang, Alishan, the family had breakfast around the table.
“Annie, go to Taoyuan Airport to pick up your brother and Annie,” Losang said.
“For gas and meal allowance, two thousand,” Ai-Yu held up two fingers.
“Robbing a bank?” Losang said. “We already calculated your wage, and now meal allowance?”
“Dad, it’s a three-and-a-half-hour drive one-way to Taoyuan Airport!” Ai-Yu pouted.
Meilan worried: “Don’t fuss, but I’m concerned how Huaimin will face Mengying…”
Losang sighed: “What can you do? It’s done. Just apologize sincerely.”
Meilan: “He left his childhood sweetheart and went all the way to Tibet for a foreign girl. What possessed him?”
Losang, sternly: “Don’t complain in front of them!”
Ai-Yu: “Mom, the sister-in-law is pregnant. Wish them well. It’s his choice; later he won’t blame you.”
Losang: “See, even your daughter is wiser than you.”

02
On the highway south, Huaimin drove, with Annie and Ai-Yu chatting in the back.
“Sis-in-law, is it a boy or girl?”
“Too early, 8 weeks. Usually 15–20 weeks.”
“First child, do you hope for a son or daughter?”
“Either is fine,” Annie smiled.
“Better a daughter, to care for siblings. Unlike my brother, often away, leaving work and farm chores to me,” Ai-Yu subtly jabbed at her brother.
Huaimin: “Boys are meant to go out and explore.”
Annie: “Really? Let’s switch. I go out, you stay home as a laborer.”
Ai-Yu: “Stop fighting, rare for you siblings to meet.”
Ai-Yu admired: “Your house is beautiful! Front and back yard, heater. The photos you sent, I shared with classmates.”
Annie: “Come visit anytime.”
“Want to, but parents won’t allow it.”

Passing the Nantou interchange:
“Huaimin, I’ll drop you at the local interchange. You take Annie back to Alishan.”
“Where are you going?” Annie guessed he’d go to Sun Moon Lake.
“To Sun Moon Lake, face Mengying and her parents directly.”
Annie: “Aren’t we going together?”
“Alone is easier to control.”
Annie insisted: “No! I want to see Mengying.”
Huaimin: “You’ll only complicate things.”
Ai-Yu: “Sister-in-law, let him handle it first. I understand his intention.”
Annie worried: “What if she clings to him?”
Ai-Yu: “Mengying is reasonable; don’t worry.”

03
At Sun Moon Lake, Shuishe Pier boardwalk, Huaimin tried to calm Tang Mengying, who crossed her arms, face pale.
“But you didn’t mention that lama’s prophecy—you’d meet that woman in Tibet! So I didn’t force you to marry me, go to Tibet with me… she wouldn’t have intruded.”
“You were angry; I didn’t get a chance to say…”
“Huaimin!” Mengying jabbed his chest repeatedly: “You betrayed me, broke our engagement. I won’t forgive you—ever!”
“Huaimin: I don’t expect forgiveness, but it’s done. We can’t start over.”
“Then I’ll negotiate with her—offer money to make her leave!”
Huaimin raised his voice: “Mengying, do you think money controls everyone?”
“Of course not, but my dad is rich—it’s not my fault. You use it as an excuse to call me controlling!”
“Mengying, haven’t you changed? You’ve always wanted to dominate me, insisting your intentions are for my good…”
Mengying, tearful, countered: “Wasn’t it for you? I made you manager at our hotel, respected your wishes at the pier, cared for you daily. I offered my money to go to Paris with you. Everything I did—wasn’t it for you? When did I force you? Do you have a conscience?” Tears streamed as she covered her mouth and cried.
“Don’t, Mengying. I owe you. You’re a good girl. I’m not worthy,” Huaimin softened, embraced her, stroking her hair.

04
In the Tang family mansion’s living room, the decor was lavish and magnificent, yet the atmosphere felt unusually heavy.
Tang Huaimin sat opposite the Tang family, like a criminal undergoing interrogation by Tang Yunfei and Zhao Yayun.

“Aimin! You’ve been raised under my watchful eyes. You’ve always cared for Mengying. Even as a child, you told me you would marry Mengying when you grew up. I remember all those moments clearly,” Zhao Yayun appealed emotionally. She continued, “Ever since you were little, I’ve treated you as my future son-in-law. Your mother and I took turns making lunch for you to take to school, mending your clothes and stockings. I never spared any care for you!”

“Auntie, you’ve all treated me so well. I’ve never forgotten it. But my fate with Annie… it’s predestined…” Huaimin hadn’t even finished speaking when Tang Yunfei exploded with anger.

“I’m listening to nonsense, you brat! Do you know what ‘predestined fate’ means? You use that as an excuse to dodge me and your aunt, to deceive your fiancée! How did you become so cold, so heartless and unfilial?”

“Uncle! I’m sorry! I really don’t want to hurt Mengying!” Huaimin hung his head, ashamed and scolded.

Nearby, Tang Mengying’s eyes shimmered with tears. Watching Huaimin being scolded by her father, she felt a pang of pity, yet thinking of Huaimin insisting on leaving, she was also filled with grief and anger.

Zhao Yayun said earnestly, “Is that the right way? Huaimin, you should follow Mengying to Paris for your studies. Our families will take care of the aftermath.”

Huaimin lifted his head. “No, Auntie. I can’t do that. Annie and the child in her womb need me!”

Tang Yunfei, seeing Huaimin refusing both pressure and persuasion, became furious, flaring his eyes and pointing as he shouted, “Damn you, boy! This mess you made yourself, and we’re willing to help clean up. Don’t you know gratitude!”

Zhao Yayun pressed his shoulder gently, advising, “Sir, don’t curse. We are managing the aftermath. Don’t make things worse.”

Tang Guanghua watched the scene, terrified, his face pale green; he had never seen his father so out of control.

Zhao Yayun said, “Tomorrow, our whole family will go to Alishan. Both families will sit down calmly and communicate.”

“Communicate my ass! Haven’t you seen this brat? He refuses to admit fault!” Tang Yunfei was still enraged.

“Sir, I’ll handle this! Mengying, take Huaimin to the bus station. Tomorrow at noon, we’ll meet at the Tang residence in Alishan,” Zhao Yayun decided firmly.

After Mengying and Huaimin left, Zhao Yayun scolded her husband gently: “Sir, can you stay calm? Even if the younger generation makes a huge mistake, you shouldn’t curse like that. It’s unbecoming of a senior.”

“I didn’t hit him. I was already polite! What’s this about ‘senior’ or not!” Tang Yunfei, hands on hips, still fuming.

Zhao Yayun warned, “Tomorrow at the Tang residence, don’t act on impulse. Or I’ll openly confront you. Just saying it in advance, got it?”

Knowing his wife well, Yunfei realized she responded better to gentleness than force, so he calmed down. “Alright! I’ll try to control my temper.”

She continued earnestly: “This trip to Alishan is to solve Mengying’s problem, not to confront the Tang family. Do you understand where the real issue lies?”

“Isn’t it just to make Huaimin leave that woman?” Yunfei asked.

Zhao Yayun analyzed calmly: “Huaimin has already legally married that woman in the U.S., and she’s pregnant. Do you think he’d willingly leave her? Frankly, even Meilan and Luo Sang, who sympathize with Mengying, wouldn’t stand up for her.”

“But our families had a prior engagement with the Tang family!” Yunfei protested.

“I’ve thought about it carefully. That was only a verbal agreement between parents. Legally, it has no binding power. Even if Mengyun and Huaimin had a prior engagement ceremony, the Tang family could still retract later.”

“Wife, you mean… we’re screwed against the Tang family?”

“Mind your words, Tang Dong,” Zhao Yayun shot her husband a sharp look. “We may have very little leverage here.”

“That brat takes advantage of my daughter’s feelings, ruins her love, then walks away, and we can do nothing!” Yunfei gradually understood the situation, feeling frustrated.

“If Huaimin had taken advantage of Mengying, we could have confronted the Tang family on the grounds that he abandoned her. But there’s no such record from childhood to now.”

Yunfei doubted: “Are you sure Mengying was never taken advantage of?”

“She’s my daughter. I’d know if anything happened. Huaimin’s character is trustworthy,” Yayun explained. “So tomorrow, when we visit the Tang family, we can’t show arrogance. The more sincere we are, the harder it is for Meilan and Luo Sang to resist, which benefits Mengying. Even if we don’t get what we want, at least the Tang family will save face.”

“If we don’t get what we want, it’s a total loss. Where’s the face in that?” Yunfei asked.

Yayun countered: “Hey, Tang, don’t play dumb with me!”

Yunfei remembered his ex-wife, Su Meimei, and awkwardly said: “We agreed not to bring up old matters, but you…”

“I’m just reminding you. Back then, your ex-wife asked for an outrageous amount. If not for my mother’s decisiveness to pay $1 million as alimony, she wouldn’t have let you go and signed the divorce,” Yayun reminded.

Yunfei scratched his cheek, smiling wryly: “That’s ancient history! Why bring it up?”

“For you it’s history. For me, it’s fresh in my memory. Back then, you hid your married status to pursue me. Only after I got pregnant did you marry, and then everything came out. Worse, after divorcing Su, you secretly met with her and arranged her daughter to attend the same school as Mengying, so you could see both daughters. Don’t think I didn’t notice. I just pretended not to, to avoid awkwardness.”

Zhao Yayun had not only revealed old grievances but also Yunfei’s hidden strategies. Yunfei was shocked, face shifting between pale and green. He stammered: “So… you’ve been secretly watching me?”

“I didn’t expose you because I didn’t want you to embarrass yourself or get angry. I didn’t want to ruin your image as a good father in front of Mengying. Huaimin may have toyed with Mengying’s feelings, but he’s still a gentleman. How could I make things hard for him?” Yunfei was speechless and slumped onto the sofa, sulking.

Yayun sighed: “Last night, I thought maybe Mengying’s misfortune is your karmic retribution from past misdeeds, but it shouldn’t fall on her.”

Yunfei buried his face in his hands, pained: “Please, stop. Don’t say more…”

“Let me finish. Tomorrow, at the Tang residence, I plan to have Mengying negotiate privately with that woman, offering money to release Huaimin. If accepted, we’ll then discuss terms with her.”

Yunfei asked: “And if she refuses?”

Zhao Yayun was firm: “If she only responds to softness, it’s up to Mengying. If Mengying insists on taking Huaimin back, for her happiness, we’ll deal with her firmly.”

Yunfei warned: “Don’t let anyone get hurt! We’re respectable; we can’t make news headlines or appear on TV…”

Yayun confidently said: “It won’t come to that. Don’t worry.”

05
The car drove along the lakeside highway toward the bus station.
Tang Mengying, holding back tears, drove while occasionally dabbing at them with a handkerchief. Huaimin glanced at her, feeling a mix of emotions.

Mengying murmured: “Huaimin, how did it come to this? Why?”

Huaimin remained silent. “Predestined fate” was all he could say—a reason Mengying could not accept.

“From elementary school to university, I followed you everywhere. In high school, when you studied art, I gave up music to study with you. We held hands walking to and from school. Classmates envied me for having a childhood sweetheart, talented and handsome. I never doubted you’d turn your heart away from me…” Mengying’s sadness grew. Tears streamed down her face, and she parked by the roadside, burying her face in the steering wheel.

Huaimin leaned over, gently stroking her back: “Don’t do this, Mengying. I’ve let you down. You should find a good man to cherish you…”

06
The car arrived at the Tang family residence. Tang Meilan and Luo Sang heard the engine and came out.

“Annie, welcome home!” Luo Sang noticed the driver was not Huaimin. “Aiyu, where’s your brother?”

“He got off at the Minjian interchange. Said he’s going to Sun Moon Lake to see Sister Mengying.” Aiyu turned off the engine and opened the door.

Meilan asked: “Why didn’t Huaimin come back first?”

“He probably wants to communicate with Sister Mengying privately. He didn’t take my sister-in-law along.”

Luo Sang frowned: “The Tang family called yesterday. They were not polite. I’m afraid they won’t let this go.”

Meilan tugged at Luo Sang’s sleeve, giving him a knowing look. She waved kindly to Annie: “Come inside, let Mom see you.”

Once inside, Meilan eagerly asked: “How far along? Boy or girl?”

Aiyu smiled: “Mom, not that fast! Sister-in-law said eight weeks.”

Luo Sang asked: “Huaimin wrote in his email that you encouraged him to go to Disney?”

Annie smiled: “Yes. Huaimin met a benefactor, and Disney’s CEO recognized his talent. He’s preparing for graduate school while working as an intern animator in Disney’s animation department.”

Aiyu admired: “Big brother is amazing! To work at Disney as an animator.”

Luo Sang and Meilan exchanged glances. Meilan said: “Better than being some researcher in Tibet. He has a bright future!”

“I expect the Tang family will come to Alishan to demand explanations,” Luo Sang continued. “Aiyu, if they appear, take your sister-in-law out the back to the coffee garden.”

Aiyu looked at Annie, seeking her opinion.

“Dad, let me face the Tang family!” Annie calmly said. “I’ll endure.”

Meilan said: “We agree, don’t let you suffer!”

Annie said: “I don’t feel wronged! Face-to-face communication matters. I can endure. What can they really do?”

Meilan hesitated: “Wait for Huaimin to return. Let him decide, so he won’t blame us later.”