The Broken Marriage of Xi Lei Hua

Chapter 4

Xi Lei Hua's smile was renowned in her town; they said it could even stun Yama himself.

And that smile belonged solely to her beloved Mo Gun Tei.

"Ling Jie, why are you more excited than me?" Lei Hua asked softly, closing the book she had been reading. She was naturally a timid girl, which made the boys in town perpetually admire her.

"Lei Hua, Lei Hua! Mo Gun Tei is back, and he's with Qing Yu!" Ling Ling joyfully exclaimed, prompting Lei Hua to laugh softly.

Lei Hua greeted Qing Yu with a soft "Hello" as she sat beside her. It had been a year since the Mo family spent their summer in this town, and Lei Hua had been yearning for Gun Tei ever since.

"Hi, Jiejie," Qing Yu cheerfully greeted her, causing Lei Hua's heart to tremble. Qing Yu was a sweet girl, and everything Gun Tei liked, she liked too.

"Where is Mo Gun Tei?" Ling Ling asked Qing Yu.

"Gege is inside; he went to the kitchen to fetch some fruits."

"I better go then," Lei Hua said. She never wanted to talk to him face-to-face because she knew she would only embarrass herself.

"Mei Mei," Ling Ling complained, pouting. "You'll never have a chance with him if you do that."

"Jiejie, I'm only 15 years old; I only admire him," Lei Hua replied, making Ling Ling sigh.

"Barely a woman, yet your father flaunts you to the tigers to satisfy his personal needs."

"Jie, the men I talk to wouldn't harm me; I'm merely a companion to them," Lei Hua explained tenderly, causing Ling Ling's heartache.

"How can you be Xi Chi Lu's daughter? How can a man like that deserve a daughter like you?"

"Papa loves me, but he loves his work more," Lei Hua defended her father. People said he was ruthless and unfeeling toward his daughter, but the truth was different. Lei Hua willingly sought out those "men" to learn from them, and they happily helped her. At fifteen, she was brilliant and could be a valuable asset in the future.

"Papa," she greeted Xi Chi Lu.

"My daughter," Chi Lu happily said, kissing her forehead. This girl was a glimpse of a bright future, and he was proud of her.

"I learned a lot from Mr. Johnson, Papa. He said he's willing to work with you."

"Good girl! What did I do to have such a brilliant daughter like you? Tomorrow, we'll leave for City X, and you'll start working there as soon as possible. The company is waiting for you."

"But, Papa, it's still early; there are two weeks left before summer ends. I haven't even glimpsed Mo Gun Tei yet."

Since she would start working with her Papa, she wouldn't be able to come back to this town. Lei Hua treasured these last moments in the place where she learned what love was.

"If you have time next summer, you can come back," Chi Lu assured her.

But she never did come back.