Chapter 826 Born Queen
When the food was served, Song Xin'ai, clipped a piece of braised chicken for Xiang Weimin, "Son, eat more." Then she picked some Mapo Tofu for Xiang Wai and added, "You too, Violet."
Xiang Wai looked at the Mapo Tofu she picked for her and went momentarily silent. It was actually one of her favorite dishes. In fact, she already noticed that most of the dishes on the table were favorites of her and Xiang Weimin. But she couldn't believe it for a moment. After all, in her impression, their mother was too estranged and knew nothing about them.
But perhaps, after meeting Raelle, she had a new understanding of her mother. It wasn't that her mother didn't care about them. It's just that she had her own way of showing her concern. Just like she purposely called them for her birthday just so she could give the recovery medicine to Xiang Weimin. Xiang Wai might not have noticed this if she had been stuck in her own thoughts like before.
However, now because of Raelle and Hyson, she was learning to pay attention to smaller details that she always overlooked.
She actually couldn't believe that there was no awkwardness between the three of them when they were chatting earlier. She had never seemed to have such a comfortable talk with her mother. Because she was always high on emotions and wanted to hurt her mother.
"Violet? Why aren't you eating? Did your taste change?"
Xiang Wai shook her head, "No, it's still the same." She looked up at her mother, "Mom, can you not call me Violet? I don't like that name."
Song Xin'ai was taken aback. This was the first time she was hearing about this. She didn't respond for a moment. She licked her lips and put down her chopsticks. She picked up the glass of water and slowly took a sip. She seemed lost as her finger traced the rim of the glass. Her lips parted and she told her, "Violets were the first flower your father gave to me."
Xiang Wai's eyes widened when she heard that. She was dumbfounded. "What?"
Song Xin'ai met her gaze and nodded her head, "He picked them up from his mother's garden. They were very beautiful. And held a very special meaning to us. That's why I named you Violet. You're our eldest daughter, you're always very special to us."
"Why didn't you tell me that?"
"You never asked," replied Song Xin'ai. "Oh, and you never mentioned that you don't like me calling you Violet. If you had, I wouldn't do it. It's my mistake for not noticing. I'm sorry."
"I didn't like you calling me Violet because I thought there was no meaning behind the name," said Xiang Wai.
Song Xin'ai went silent and so did Xiang Wai. There had been a very long silence long existing between the mother and daughter. But for the first time, they both realized how this silence was actually hiding too much between them. Since both of them didn't know how to talk, the distance between them grew bigger and bigger with time.
Song Xin'ai turned to Xiang Weimin who was eating in silence as if their situation had nothing to do with him. She asked him straightforwardly, "Son, do you also have some misunderstandings about your mother? Is that why you avoid meeting me?"
"I have no misunderstanding," replied Xiang Weimin calmly. "I just don't like your family. They always want to shove a girl next to me. So, I avoid you. If we are close, they'd try to use you to get to me. Now that we look like we don't have a good relationship, they can't force you with filial piety. After all, if you're the one talking about blind dates, I'd have to give in. No matter what kind of a relationship we have, you're my mother."
Song Xin'ai looked at her son's calm face as he continued to eat and felt like she was seeing an image of her ex-husband. Indeed, their son was really like his father.
"You don't have to worry about that," assured Song Xin'ai. "I'll never let any of them interfere in your personal life. Your freedom is yours. I won't even allow myself to take that freedom from you." She looked at Xiang Wai and added, "The same goes for you, Wai. No matter what you want to do, I'll be here to support you."
"Your family already interfered though," muttered Xiang Weimin to himself.
"What did you say, Ge?"
"Nothing," Xiang Weimin shook his head and didn't explain himself. It's been years, he didn't feel like mentioning it to them right now. Especially since this felt like the most comfortable meal they had shared in years. It was already rare for any of them to gather because of the nature of their work. So, this was indeed a rare occasion.
"Did your grandfather forgive your father?" asked Song Xin'ai.
"Seems like it," answered Xiang Wai.
Song Xin'ai nodded her head and smiled in relief, "Good for him." She took a pause and added, "How is your relationship with Chenchen? I mean, Chenyan?"
"Aunt is a fine lady!" commented Xiang Wai.
Song Xin'ai nodded her head, "That she sure is."
"You agree?" asked Xiang Wai.
"I can never disagree with that," replied Song Xin'ai. "Let me tell you something, when I met her for the first time, I called her the Princess of the Xiang family. Do you know how she replied?"
"How?" Xiang Wai was really curious to know.
"She said, 'You can't call me a Princess! I'm not looking for a Prince. I'm a born Queen! I rule!'" Song Xin'ai chuckled at the memory and Xiang Wai was surprised. "Chenyan hated being treated as a Princess. She'll never let anyone call her that. But then again, she was really a Queen. And she still is."
"Aunt had been really frivolous all her life," remarked Xiang Wai.
"No, she is a very serious person," said Song Xin'ai.
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