At first, Zhang Liling seemed confused and had to pause to think about it first.
But then, when she remembered that it's been a few days since she last logged in on her social media handle, she released a soft sigh.
"I'm sorry Mum, I have been a bit busy for a few days now. Is everything okay? What did you send to me?" She asked with a worry laced in her voice.
Since she heard her mother's voice after taking her call, she could sense that something was wrong and couldn't help but be a bit anxious.
The thought of telling her about her first date and her potential son-in-law when she saw her caller ID, flew past her mind as soon as she heard her voice.
Song Jujing who was calling sitting in bed with a piece of report in her right hand. Sighed. Her countenance seemed calmer which was weird.
That report she held in her hand was something to be worried about, but she was not. Her expression was contrary to what was writing.
Hearing her daughter's response, her deep breath let out into the phone before her soft tone came up, "I don't think there will be a need for you to take a look at it since I have called."
Now, Zhang Liling had something to be worried about. As each second passed without her mother saying anything related to what was wrong with her, the more she became scared.
"Mum, please can you tell me what is wrong? Did you lose your job? Did you lose any of your close friends? Please talk to me, I am very worried over here."
Zhang Liling was restless as her heart thundered in her chest. Her brows were furrowed and drew closer. Her thin lips were pressed together as the corner tugged downwards.
Something was wrong, and she could tell.
Song Jujing looked like she was in a dilemma to say what was on her mind.
She would have preferred if she had seen the message she sent to her and things would have been easier for her but unfortunately, that was not so.
After a few seconds, her supple lips parted as she revealed.
"Liling, I booked you a flight to Paris by 10 am tomorrow."
"What!!" Zhang Liling exclaimed as she immediately shot up from the bed in shock.
Bringing her phone to her face, she turned on the handsfree mode so she could hear properly, but she was still holding unto the phone.
"Why would you book me a flight without my permission?" Zhang Liling half-shouted. She was very angry with her mother's actions.
Why would she do that without talking to her about it? If this was about coming down to Paris to live with her, then it was not going to work.
She had told her time without numbers about wanting to permanently reside in City S. Then why would she continue insisting based on her selfish interest?
Some days ago, Song Jujing had congratulated her on getting a place at Fang Group for her internship.
Zhang Liling had thought everything about relocating back to Paris was over after that day, but who knew she still had it in mind?
How could she book her a flight without her permission and then come to tell her about it?
Song Jujing ignored the anger in her tone and continued, "Please pack up your most important things."
There was nothing she could do about her anger or try to pacify. Also, she didn't have the energy to stay longer with her on phone.
"Mum!" Zhang Liling shouted into the phone furiously.
Her entire face was contoured in a tight from now as her brows interlocked.
She looked very pissed that she forgot her manners to her mother.
At her mother's provocation, she had forgotten the right way to speak to her elders, including her whom she loved so much.
There was a long silence. After screaming, Zhang Liling remained calm while waiting for her mother to explain what she meant.
'Mum, I don't know how long I can continue to contain my anger. Don't make me lose it.' She thought to herself in annoyance.
What she knew, was that she was never going back to Paris.
After a few seconds of silence between the mother and daughter, what followed next was the sniffing sound coming from song Jujing's end.
Then without warning, the sound of cries followed, resounding from the other end, which shocked and frightened Zhang Liling at the same time.
She felt her nerves tense as her anger changed back to worry. Her eyes widened in her sockets as she paced around her room.
"Mum, what happened? Is something wrong? Can you please say something?" she asked one after the other without giving breaks in between.
Song Jujing put down the paper in her hand to wipe the tears that were streaming from her eyes and down to her cheeks.
Zhang Liling looked anxious as she gave her time to calm down a little before speaking.
"Mum, calm down and talk to me, I'm here waiting patiently."
Song Jujing nodded but recalling that she couldn't see her, she let her lips utter 'mmm'
Her entire face was red and scrunched up. Her eyes were already puffy just from the little crying. And if Zhang Liling was here, she would have felt more guilty than she already was.
"I- I have a report f-from the d-doctor that says I-I have 1 year left to live." Song Jujing's raspy voice announced as his gaze settled on the paper she had picked up from her side.
"What?!" Zhang Liling exclaimed in shock as her breathing ragged in her lungs. "Mum, w-what a-are you t-talking about?" She stuttered in disbelief.
She couldn't believe her ears and wanted her mother to speak up again just in case she didn't hear clearly the first time.
'What's mum saying? I saw her almost 3 weeks ago, she looked healthy and more beautiful.' She thought to herself.
Song Jujing didn't want to repeat her words because she could feel her heart was in serious pain.
When she got this report 4 days ago from the doctor after going for a medical checkup due to a little discomfort, she had been shocked and devastated.
She couldn't believe that she would have that kind of deadly illness. She has always lived a healthy lifestyle, so how could she have cancer?
It took her 2 more days after wallowing in her sorrows to send the message across to Liling because she didn't dare to speak to her on phone.
She was afraid of seeing her daughter break down over the phone when she was not there with her.
Ignoring her question, she continued, "I know it's selfish of me to ask you to come over to Paris because I don't want to spend my last days in the city that broke me. But it is my greatest wish for you to be by my side."
"M-Mum… M-Mum…" Zhang Liling's soft voice uttered as she sniffed between words.
Tears welled up in her eyes as her knees gave way. Kneeling on the floor, a single tear rolled down her cheeks.
Unable to control the pain, shock, and discomfort that welled inside her as she felt her throat closing up, tears streaked down from both eyes.
This news from her mother was very disheartening, and she didn't know how she would cope.
Soon, her loud wails were heard over the phone.
Song Jujing felt her heart breaking into pieces.
Pain and anguish were all her heart and soul knew now.
"M-Mum… I-I'm sorry." Zhang Liling apologized amidst tears.
She was feeling very terrible for acting up earlier. She didn't even want to think about the direction of her mother is at fault.
It was true that if she had first mentioned about her condition before talking about the flight ticket she booked, she wouldn't have reacted that way.
But she was far too guilty to think of who was right or wrong.
Song Jujing shook her head as tears freely flowed from her teary eyes. "No, there is nothing to be sorry about. It's all my fault."
Letting out heavy breathing into the phone, she wiped the tears that continuously streamed down her eyes. "I should have explained things to you before talking about Paris despite knowing how much you don't want to relocate, although it's not what I meant."
"No, Mum, don't say that…" Zhang Liling's muffled voice was heard as she covered her quivering lips.
Zhang Liling was still conversing emotionally with her mother when she heard the knocks on her door.
The next thing that followed was the worried voice of the housekeeper. "Miss Zhang, are you okay?"
Zhang Liling tilted her head to her left side to glance at the door. Being aware of the situation she was in, both with her mother's health, and her location, she released a deep breath first before speaking into the phone.
"Mum, please hold on, I will call you back in a minute."
Song Jujing did not know what was going over at the other end. She thought her daughter was trying to comport herself, hence, she reluctantly agreed to let her have a few minutes to herself.
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