A Love Letter from Lhasa 34

Chapter 33: Personnel Arrangements Before Leaving Shanghai

01
In the pursuit of near perfection, unexpected flaws are almost inevitable, often bringing regret.

Just as Tang Huaimin’s career was about to take off, he was diagnosed with early-stage stage II lung adenocarcinoma.

Tang Huaimin hardly smoked. Only when his mood was extremely bad or he felt at a loss did he remember the pack of cigarettes in his shirt pocket. Over time, the cigarettes had absorbed the sweat and body odor of his body.

Since leaving Lhasa in Tibet, he had often experienced chest tightness and a persistent cough that could last several to more than ten minutes before sleep. Not wanting to disturb Annie, he always tried to cover his mouth and nose with a quilt.

After arriving in Shanghai, his coughing worsened. Annie repeatedly urged him to go to the hospital, but he was haunted by fear, reluctant to know the truth.

Annie pleaded: "You can’t go on like this, Huaimin! Don’t delay any longer. Go to the hospital for a proper checkup."

"I’m fine. It’s just a lingering cold," Huaimin resisted in his heart, thinking, "If it really is a serious illness, life and death are fated. I can only accept whatever comes…"

Until the most recent management meeting, when he stood up and spoke just a few words before suddenly coughing violently. Annie handed him some tissues, Emily placed a cup of warm water on his desk, but before he could finish, fresh blood spurted from his mouth and nose, staining the tabletop. Eisenhower and several other men quickly stood and helped support him, while Annie called an ambulance.

02
A group of managers and Tang Mengying drove to the hospital emergency room. After emergency treatment and stopping the bleeding, a CT scan was performed. The preliminary diagnosis was lung adenocarcinoma. Subsequent biopsy confirmed it was early-stage stage II. The news was a thunderbolt, nearly breaking the hearts of the three women.

The doctor analyzed: "With the latest targeted therapy, he could survive another year. Without it, he may only have six months."

Annie refused to hide the truth from Tang Huaimin. She let him make his own choice. Treatment would confine him to the hospital, and she knew Huaimins temperament: even facing imminent death, he wanted to live with dignity.

In the hospital bed, after a bout of coughing, Huaimin weakly said: "Annie, I want you to come with me, back to Lhasa."

Annie asked in confusion: "Your condition requires staying here. This hospital has the most advanced medical equipment and facilities."

Huaimin asked: "Annie, do you remember three years ago at Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, when I took you to see the murals of Songtsen Gampo and Princess Wencheng?"

Annie nodded: "Yes! An old lama said you were the reincarnation of King Songtsen Gampo, and I was Princess Wencheng reincarnated. In this life, we were destined to be husband and wife."

"The lama, Sonam, also predicted that I would face this calamity. He told me to find him when it happens; he will help me through it."

Annie worried: "Even if the lama predicted it, how can he cure your cancer?"

"I will travel all the way back to Lhasa, and with you fulfill our union. Even if Sonam cannot cure my illness, I must return to Lhasa to meet him, just as he guided me at Sun Moon Lake back then."

Convinced by Huaimin, Annie said: "Alright. Once the targeted therapy finishes a stage, I’ll accompany you back to Lhasa."

"And the old family parchment of my ancestor Tsangyang Gyatso we keep in Alishan—I want to donate it to Xiaozhao Temple. After all, we will grow old and die, but this scroll deserves a better home."

Annie hesitated: "That scroll is a Tsangyang family heirloom. We should get my father Zaxi’s permission first."

"We’ll go back to Alishan, bring the scroll to Zaxi. If he insists against donation, we return it to him."

Annie was moved: "Huaimin, I understand your concern… you fear you may not survive this calamity…"

03
Old Hall received Eisenhower’s call and rushed to Shanghai to the hospital bedside.

Emily and Tang Mengying could feel the kind, silver-haired elder’s natural sorrow and regret as he looked at Huaimin.

"Sir, thank you for coming to see me," Huaimin said weakly.

"Tang, I’m giving you an extended leave. Take good care of yourself," Hall said, holding Huaimin’s left hand, tears glimmering in his eyes.

"Huaimin: I have three requests. Please agree."

"Go ahead."

"First, let Sulimin take over as general manager of the branch. She is the perfect candidate for expanding the Greater China market. Second, let Emily and Tang Mengying execute the Greater China Project A4 animation film A Chinese Ghost Story. Third, release Greater China Project A3 animation The Love Monk Tsangyang Gyatso as soon as possible while I’m still alive."

Hall said: "I will consider the first request seriously. I agree to the second. I will do my best on the third. Tang, rest assured and recuperate."

Huaimin continued to persuade: "Director Su is capable. I have worked with her long enough to know she can handle this responsibility."

Hall sighed: "How did Su treat you before? Can you really forgive her?"

Huaimin earnestly said: "For the future growth of the company, I should put aside personal grievances. Sir, please give Director Su a chance."

"When back at headquarters, I’ll call Su for a meeting and reconsider. Rarely do I see you put the company before old grudges," Hall said movedly.

Tang Mengying, overhearing, felt both touched and ashamed: "If Sister Min could forgive Huaimin, why can’t I forgive him?"

04
At Disney California Headquarters, in the CEO’s office, Hall stood by the floor-to-ceiling window smoking a cigar.

Sulimin entered: "Sir, I’m Su."

"There’s a folder on my desk for you. Open it."

"Yes, sir!" Sulimin, suspicious, worried Hall might demote her after discovering the negative letter. She opened the folder. The document read clearly: Sulimin assigned to Shanghai branch as Deputy General Manager. She was momentarily confused.

Hall turned back, fixing his piercing gaze on her: "Do you know who gave you this opportunity?"

Quick-witted Sulimin immediately thought of Tang Huaimin, and ashamedly nodded: "I know, it’s Tang."

"You know how you treated Tang. Yet for the branch’s future, he set aside old grudges to recommend you for his position."

Sulimin cautiously asked: "Tang… promoted?"

"Tang is in the hospital, stage II lung cancer, probably won’t live long," Hall said, muscles twitching slightly. "The company is about to lose a key talent."

Sulimin was shocked: "How? What happened to Tang?"

"Cancer. It has spread." Hall extinguished his cigar. "You owe him an apology."

"S-sir…," Sulimin realized her shame, tears forming.

"The GM position is now open. You will work next to his desk," Hall waved. "Go to Shanghai and take over Tang’s duties immediately."

"Yes, sir…" Sulimin left, tears streaming down her face.

05
Annie and her son accompanied Tang Huaimin, flying from Hongqiao Airport to Taoyuan. Tang Aiyu, who had pre-arranged her leave from school, drove Huaimin’s car to Alishan to pick them up.

Back in the Dabong Tribe, aside from feeding sessions Annie handled herself, the rest of the time Aiyu and Meilan shared caring for little Jiazo.

In the Tang family living room, Tang Meilan held the baby: "Poor child. He doesn’t even know how to call ‘Dad’ yet."

Aiyu comforted her: "Mom, it’s fate. We can only do our best."

Meilan said to Annie: "It’s hard for you to give up your work in Shanghai to come back and care for Huaimin."

Annie: "Mom, Huaimin wants me to take the family heirloom scroll back to Lhasa with him."

Meilan: "That’s risky. He still needs treatment. Lhasa can’t compare with California or Taipei."

Annie: "It’s Huaimin’s choice. He wants to see an old lama in Lhasa. The local hospital can handle short-term follow-up."

Meilan had nothing more to say.

Aiyu: "Sister-in-law, we’ll take care of little Jiazo here. After you return from Tibet, when big brother’s condition is more stable, you’ll all go back to Shanghai."

Meilan: "Yes. You take care of Huaimin, no need to worry about the child."

Annie, with tears in her eyes: "Mom, Aiyu, thank you."