297 Farewell Party
“On rent maybe, “An Xiulan responded. “But I’m not sure. You know that I live with a housemate.”
“Oh, your influencer friend, “Chloe nodded her head. “Ask her if she would like to move to another place. She is living there just for you, right? Now that you are going back, won’t she move from there?”
“Never call Yaoyao an influencer, she likes to be called a fashion icon, “An Xiulan smiled. “About her moving out, I’m not sure. She has several properties in Boston that she put on rent.”
“Your friend is weird, “Chloe shook her head.” Why would she live with you if she has her own house?”
An Xiulan didn’t reply because it was not her story to tell.
Seven years ago, when An Xiulan moved into the house near the university, she was missing home-cooked meals. She tried many authentic Chinese restaurants but she was never satisfied. In the end, she put out an advertisement where she would only rent a room to a Chinese girl who knew how to cook. Many people thought that the advertisement was a fraud as the rent was too less for the property mentioned but after six months, a girl came to her doorstep, asking for renting the room.
The girl was no one else but Jiang Yao, the same girl she met around three years ago at that time in the Miss Sunshine contest. They had parted on a sour note but when An Xiulan saw the condition Jiang Yao was in, she couldn’t refuse.
At twenty-one and recently divorced from an abusive husband, Jiang Yao took shelter in An Xiulan’s house. Seven years have passed since then and the rest is history.
When An Xiulan went home after lunch with Chloe, she saw Jiang Yao shooting some content videos, looking as beautiful as she was almost ten years ago, if not more now. Goddess Yao was what fans used to call her and she was still very much the same goddess.
When Jiang Yao completed shooting her videos, she looked at her friend and announced, “I broke up with Zack, the asshole.”
“Oh, what did he do?” An Xiulan asked nonchalantly.
“He said I’m an influencer! How dare he? Had he not seen my pictures in Vogue?” Jiang Yao thundered.
“He was your longest-serving boyfriend until this date, “An Xiulan commented. “Seven days and 15 hours. Nice.”
“Thank you, baby girl, “Jiang Yao smiled widely at her. “At least, I have a couple of boyfriends but what about you? If I didn’t know Vance was a fifty years old man, I would have thought you were having an affair with him.’
“People still think I’m having an affair with him to get a promotion, “An Xiulan shrugged.
“How dare they? Have they not seen you? How perfect you are!” Jiang Yao was angry at those nonsense people. Her baby girl was the purest and most beautiful girl alive. How dare they talk back about her?
“I resigned, ” An Xiulan dropped the bomb.
“What?” Jiang Yao asked, shocked. “Don’t tell me you are going back. Xiuxiu, America is much better.” She held her shudders and made her look at her pitiful face, “You can’t leave me alone here. What will I do alone here?”
“Get a life. Learn to live alone. I can’t be with you forever.” An Xiulan shrugged and walked to the other side.
“Don’t leave me, “Jiang Yao cried and wiped her tears.
“Aish, you are even more dramatic than me, “An Xiulan said and hugged her. “Come on, I invited my friends for a farewell meal.”
“Are you cooking?” Jiang Yao raised her brow.
“You know I can’t, “An Xiulan answered. “Cooking is the next thing I’m gonna learn when I go home.”
“Stay away from my kitchen until you are here. Don’t burn it again, “Jiang Yao scoffed. An Xiulan was a terrible cook. No matter how much she taught her the basics of cooking, the girl was unable to grasp it. Apart from using the microwave to warm cooked food, the girl couldn’t do a single thing.
“By the way, Chloe asked me to rent out the house to you. Do you want a housemate?” An Xiulan asked.
“How cruel. Do I not pay the rent on time that you are throwing me out?” Jiang Yao thundered. “I’m not moving out.”
“Then, how about I sell the house to you?” An Xiulan asked.
“I’m broke, “Jiang Yao muttered.
“Liar. I got you a great settlement number from your ex, “An Xiulan reminded her. “Didn’t you invest in some brands? Oh yeah, you invested in the JY brand a few years back? I thought you were getting a good return.”
Jiang Yao just sulked and didn’t say anything. Then, she went to the kitchen to make food for the ‘friends’ who were coming. She was moody and angry. She couldn’t imagine living in this house alone. Her only friends and family were leaving her alone. Was she being dramatic? She didn’t know. As an orphan, she was never treated with love and care. But for the last seven years, An Xiulan was her only family. The person who loved and cared for her for who she was. Now that her friend/family dropped the news that she was returning home, Jiang Yao found herself sad and miserable.
An Xiulan cleaned the house that Jiang Yao messed up while the latter was cooking. Before their friends could come, the house was cleaned, the dinner was ready and the dining table was set. She changed into an olive-coloured summer dress with a halter neck. Her waist-length dark hair was straightened and she kept it open.
When the bell rang, An Xiulan quickly ran to open the door. She saw a handsome man dressed in a blue suit holding a wine bottle and gently staring at her with a soft smile playing on his lips.
“You look gorgeous, “The man whispered and gave her a hug. “Like always. Congratulations for clearing the bar exam.”