《拉薩情書》

第二十二章、唐夢影和安妮的正面對決
01
湯懷民回到家裡，坐在客廳沙發上，臉色凝重。
愛玉端來一杯檸檬愛玉：「先消消火吧！大哥」
「安妮呢？」懷民問。
愛玉姆指往後指說：「大嫂正在洗澡。」
羅桑和美蘭聽見講話聲，走出臥房。
羅桑關切問：「唐家人怎麼說？」
懷民神情沮喪說：「唐爸正在氣頭上，夢影不肯接受我的道歉。」
羅桑說：「意料得到，唐雲飛這大老闆，向來就是財大氣粗。」
美蘭勸著說：「你不要這樣說雲飛，起碼他對你從來沒大小聲過。」
羅桑不以為然說：「我沒冤枉他啊！我親眼見識過他對底下人大聲斥喝。」
美蘭憂心問：「懷民，唐家明天會上山來吧？」
懷民點頭，一臉茫然。
「安妮說她想和唐家人會面，你的意思呢？」美蘭接著說：「你拿個主意吧！」
懷民考慮了一下說：「就依安妮的意思吧！」

02
臥房裡，懷民負手，來回踱步，顯得焦躁不安。
安妮招手說：「你來我身邊坐著，懷民！」
懷民走到床邊，坐下來，安妮摟著他的肩膀。
「沒有什麼過不了的難關！」安妮接著說：「誠心誠意跟夢影道歉，她會接受的。」
「今天，我被她爸罵成豬頭」懷民又說：「夢影竟然想用筆錢打發妳！」
安妮平心靜氣和說：「我能理解，有錢人的思維，可是，我不會接受這種思維。」
懷民一臉委屈說：「本來，我是誠心去道歉的，可是…」
安妮順著話尾說：「可是對方不但不領情，還惡狠狠地罵你。」
懷民點頭說：「嗯！」
「那就讓他們罵吧！他們受到莫大委屈，總須要適時獲得宣洩啊！」
懷民感動說：「安妮，妳真的很善良！」
「我不過是易地而處，站在他們的立場思考而已。」安妮微笑說：「除非，你又改變心意，不然誰也不能把你從我身邊帶走。」
懷民轉過身，環抱安妮說：「安妮，妳是我的真命天女，我不會讓妳離開的！」
安妮扮個鬼臉說：「小男生！你可別把我當小妹妹哄喔！」
懷民笑了，很有默契撒嬌說：「小男生不敢啦！大姐姐。」

03
唐雲飛夫妻和女兒夢影，三人的房車來到湯家門口，湯家夫妻和懷民聞聲出來相迎。
美蘭和羅桑都有充份的心理準備，原以為唐家來興師問罪，夫妻倆肯定橫眉豎眼，出乎意料地夫妻倆臉上掛著禮貌的笑顏，美蘭和羅桑對看一眼，心中儘管滿是疑問，臉上嘴裡仍是熱絡親切。
美蘭親切說：「雅雲、雲飛，進來屋裡，進來坐。」
夢影望著懷民，眼底透著一份哀怨，但她清楚，此行的勝敗關鍵不在懷民，而是那個橫刀奪愛的女人安妮。
兩家人進到客廳，各坐一邊。愛玉端來一盤飲料。
趙雅雲首先打破沉默：「美蘭姐姐、羅桑姐夫，咱們兩家人一直很親密，夢影和懷民還很小時，我們就結成親家定了婚約。夢影這ㄚ頭可能被我寵壞了，以致長大後懷民嫌棄她。說來慚愧啊！這是我做母親的沒盡到教養責任…」
趙雅雲的哀兵姿態出乎意料，美蘭偷瞄羅桑一眼，發覺羅桑同樣一臉迷惑，美蘭連忙說：「雅雲妹妹千萬別這樣說，夢影這孩子性情溫馴、氣質優雅，一直深得我心，可惜懷民沒這福氣啊！」
唐雲飛心平氣和說：「姐姐、姐夫，俗話說人不癡狂枉少年，就當是懷民一時迷失，這些夢影都會包容的，我們願意跟那位安妮懇談，請她放懷民一馬，即使必須付出可觀的代價。」
這時，一直在房裡旁聽的安妮走出來，對著唐家夫妻說：「兩位長輩，我是安妮，我並無意偷聽你們的談話，道義上我有必要出來面對你們和夢影。」
唐氏夫妻和夢影見到安妮，盯著安妮打量，他們不只被安妮成熟嫵媚的外表，更被她的冷靜和理性應對震懾住。
「妳就是安妮？」趙雅雲心頭一懍，暗想：「這女孩的氣質和談吐，簡直就跟我年輕時同個模樣啊！」
安妮接著說：「對於夢影，我必須誠懇表達歉意，我介入了她和懷民間，兩小無猜的感情，儘管我事前並不知情，但夢影因而受到傷害是事實，除了誠懇的致歉，我找不出別的方式來彌補我無心造成的傷害。」
懷民起身說：「該道歉的人是我！安妮沒有錯，夢影也沒有對不起我，是我重新做出了選擇，導致今天這個局面，我願意向唐家爸媽和夢影深深道歉！我辜負了你們對我的厚愛！」懷民說完，面向唐氏夫妻和唐夢影深深三鞠躬。
夢影說：「懷民，我想和安妮私下懇談，你同意嗎？」
懷民轉頭望著安妮，安妮微笑說：「我也想和妳談，我們到外面去嗎？」
夢影點頭說：「嗯，安妮請移駕。」
趙雅雲望著安妮離去的背影，心情冷掉半截，暗想：「這安妮如此精明幹練，夢影根本不是她的對手啊！」

4
兩個女人一前一後走出湯家，兩人沿著小柏油路並肩走著穿過部落。
「安妮，中學以前，我們家還住在這裡，這裡雖然建設落後，但雞犬相聞，人們過著日出而做、日落而息的規律生活，感覺就是個與世無爭的世外桃源。」
安妮附和說：「的確，這裡的生活環境貼近大自然相當幽靜，這裡的人們似乎都樂天知命，生活步調舒緩，充份享受著平淡生活裡的樂趣。」
「安妮，妳知道嗎？以前，每天我和懷民、愛玉一起上下學，一起採茶採咖啡豆，一起去森林裡採摘愛玉果和野菜、去溪流裡撈魚蝦，我一直認為，這就是快樂和幸福。」
安妮娓娓道來：「嗯！比起妳的童年，夢影，我的童年乏善可陳，我是隻被養在籠子裡的金絲雀，除了一架鋼琴和一屋子的書籍，讀書、彈琴、上教堂等於我生活的全部，我沒有一起成長的童伴，同學們認為我祖母是個會使用魔法的女巫，他們不敢接近我，不敢來我家裡。夏令營、冬令營和各種旅行，他們都勸我不要報名參加。在他們的心目中，我跟我祖母一樣，是個神秘且不懷好意的女巫，似乎接近我就會給他們帶來意外和災難。」
夢影聽著，對安妮的遭遇感到不可思議問：「難道妳都沒有同齡的朋友嗎？」
「我一直獨來獨往，這情況直到高中，才有兩個同班女生，她們跟我不住同一個社區，我們三個雖然談得來，其實交情沒有很熱絡，大部分時間各自忙著社團活動、交男朋友和申請大學入學。」
「妳都沒修過戀愛學分嗎？」夢影懷疑問：「以妳的外表條件，男生不可能不被妳吸引吧？」
安妮微笑說：「的確有過幾個男生送花、寫信給我，但是當時我根本沒有想談戀愛、結婚成家的念頭，而且也不想把談戀愛、同居當成生活調劑。妳或許聽過，在白人為主的開放型社會裡，談戀愛、同居一直是主導兩性關係的主流思潮；如果我不想結婚成家，只想談戀愛、同居，那麼我會是男生們趨之若鶩的對象，因為我不會給他們任何壓力，他們也不必為我負擔任何道義上的責任。」
夢影說：「聽妳這麼說，我相信妳是個潔身自愛的女孩。」
安妮苦笑說：「或許妳應該說，我是特立獨行的怪咖吧！」
「可是，妳為什麼會讓湯懷民接近妳呢？」夢影單刀直入地問：「妳不是說妳一直抱著不婚的念頭？」
「這過程真的相當神奇，在拉薩八角井街上，當時我在一個擺設藏密佛像畫的畫攤前，欣賞那些畫作。我看中意兩幅畫，發現其中那個文成公主長像跟我神似，當懷民靠近我，我又驚訝發現，那幅松贊干布的畫像，五官簡直和懷民如出一轍，這兩種巧合，引起我的強烈好奇。我想買下那兩幅畫，老闆說那是非賣品，懷民跟那老闆交涉，隨即拿了那兩幅畫送給我，懷民陪我逛街，說那兩幅佛像畫是他臨摩的，還強調說我的五官很像畫裡的文成公主，……。」兩女往村外走去。
「我們去湯家咖啡園走走。」夢影說：「那咖啡園原本是我爸經營的。」
「我正想去那裡呢！」安妮微笑說：「後來，在小昭寺，我們遇見一個老喇嘛，他突然來我們面前向我們雙手合十行禮，指著懷民說他是松贊干布，而我是文成公主輪回轉世…。」
夢影插話說：「安妮，我想起來了，懷民跟我說他在日月潭水社碼頭邊上，遇見一個老喇嘛，對懷民說他是松贊干布轉世，然後懷民就突然改變主意，跟我說不陪我去巴黎學美術，他想去西藏。我推想，這兩個喇嘛應該是同一人。」
「這部份我就不那麼清楚了。」安妮接著說：「後來，我跟父親去到納木措湖探訪當地牧民，我在湖邊漫步時，再度巧遇懷民，懷民又跟我提起我是文成公主轉世，他是松贊干布轉世，這一世我們要再結連理。隨後，我見到牧民隊的首領丹增老族長，他跟那個小昭寺喇嘛一樣，見到我竟然下跪膜拜，讓我驚訝到說不出話來。」
夢影聽完，不怎麼以為然地問：「於是，妳就開始相信輪迴轉世和姻緣命定這種迷信說法？」
「我認為這不是迷信！其實，在當時我仍半信半疑，直到我和父親發現，我們父女一直在尋找的傳家寶物，一卷老祖宗留下的情詩手跡，竟然是由懷民的父親所保存，我父親認為這是天意，是佛祖的安排，於是作主把我許配給懷民，要我陪他回來台灣，一起接手保管那份手卷。」
「唉…聽妳說完這故事」夢影淒然說：「我真的不知該說些什麼！」
安妮歉然說：「我無意間介入了妳和懷民，讓妳受到傷害，絕對不是我的本意。」
夢影忿恨說：「其實，懷民很可惡，他不該隱瞞妳，他是我未婚夫的身份，去接近妳招惹妳！同時又隱瞞我，他已經跟妳在美國註冊登記結婚的事實，他同時兩邊欺騙我們，他應該要為他的行為受到譴責！」
安妮緩頰說：「妳說的有部分是真實的！懷民陪我回到加州，他先在公園擺攤畫人像畫，原本我們的計劃是他幫我完成博士論文後，一起回西藏做研究工作，然後才結婚。但是原來的計劃有了變化，我接受指導教授的建議，取得博士學位後留在母校教書，我的考量是懷民能就近在我母校讀研究所，我希望他能繼續進修，提升自身的專業能力。為了方便他留下來進修，於是我拉著他去註冊登記結婚，取得長期居留權。登記完那晚，懷民才突然向我提起妳，說妳是他青梅竹馬一起成長的女友，妳對他一直很好，可是他覺得將來跟妳共組家庭，他會活得很不自在，因為妳有很強的事業心，而他不想當個商人，只想過自在、簡單的生活。」「懷民跟我說過同樣的話，那時他還在日月潭邊擺人像畫攤時。」夢影神情悽然說：「可是他不應該拿這些當理由，就想擺脫我！如果他願意跟我說清楚，我不會勉強他跟著我一起經營飯店，我會尊重他的選擇，因為我深愛他！」
「這部份懷民跟我說過，當時我要他一定要出來面對妳，把話說清楚。他答應了，說妳正在法國巴黎讀書，等將來跟妳見面，就會主動跟妳說清楚。幾個月後我懷孕，意外地從他的筆電收件夾裡，看到那封妳寫給他的電子信，從信裡我發現妳正在找他，妳信末的署名是他的未婚妻，我發覺事態嚴重，於是我對他施壓，要求他在妳生日前，跟我回來台灣一起面對妳…。整過事情的經過就是這樣。」
兩人走進湯家咖啡園，唐夢影問：「安妮，我想問妳，如果我們倆的身份交換，妳是唐夢影，妳會怎麼做？」
安妮想了一下說：「我尊重懷民的選擇，如果他堅決求去，我會要他跟我誠懇道歉。」
唐夢影語調蒼涼地問：「我跟他二十幾年的感情，難道就只值一個道歉嗎？」
安妮語氣堅定說：「懷民的確應該向妳誠懇道歉，對妳心存內疚！」
夢影突然厲聲大叫：「我才不要他的道歉！不要道歉！」
夢影的情緒似乎就要潰堤，她淚水奪眶而出，哭泣說：「我要他回到我身邊，每天當我醒來，看得到他摸得到他，一如以往那樣，我為他準備早餐餐盒，送他出門去，中午時帶著便當去湖邊，看著他吃便當，陪著他說話…」
「夢影…」安妮伸手摟住夢影肩膀：「妳明知道，這些已經回不去了！」
「回的去的！」夢影惡狠狠地推開安妮的手：「只要妳肯放手！懷民，懷民一定會回到我身邊的！」
安妮被夢影的情緒反應驚嚇到，愣了半晌：「好吧！妳若能說服懷民，讓他親口告訴我，要我離開他，我就會立馬走人」
夢影拿手帕抹去臉上淚水，搖著頭說：「妳明知我沒辦法說服懷民啊！他的心思都在妳身上。」
「那就對了！」安妮按奈說：「妳何不退一步想，當不成夫妻，也可以是好朋友啊！」
「我做不到！我不能接受我的未婚夫，變成妳的老公，而我只能當他是好朋友！」夢影隨即懇求說：「安妮，求妳放了懷民吧！妳一個人照樣可以活得很好，不是嗎？」
安妮態度堅定說：「不可能，我不可能違背我對懷民的婚姻承諾！」
「我可以給妳一筆錢，安頓妳們母子往後的生活，甚至，如果妳不想那孩子拖累妳，我願意領養他，視他如己出，安妮！」唐夢影終於掀出底牌，這是她手裡最後的一張牌，但是她早有預感，安妮不會接受。
「夢影，我不是個見錢眼開的女人！不會為了金錢而出賣自己的伴侶，我想換成妳是我，妳同樣不會為金錢而做出任何讓步。」
夢影沉默了！她覺得自己已經被掏空腑臟，像個充氣娃娃，此刻已無力挽回這份感情，可是她不服氣，不想就此認輸…。
兩人默默走在結實纍纍的咖啡園，雙方勝負已分。

05
目送唐家的房車離開後，湯家四口人總算鬆了一口氣。這時，安妮徐徐走回來。
愛玉湊上去問：「大嫂，妳怎麼說服夢影姐的？」
安妮神秘地微笑說：「只道歉，不讓步。」
愛玉聽得似懂非懂，湯家倆佬當然懂得，湯美蘭說：「我們虧欠唐家，是該表達歉意。」
羅桑說：「雅雲和雲飛今天的反應，的確有些反常。」
湯美蘭微笑說：「剛開始我也覺得很反常，後來仔細想想，這應該是雅雲的主意，她仍念舊情，不願意跟我們撕破臉。」
羅桑欣慰地說：「也是啦！人情留一線，日後好相見，都幾十年的老朋友了。」
安妮牽起懷民的手，湊到懷民耳邊小聲說：「但願夢影真的能放下，要不然往後我們恐怕不得安寧。」
懷民意會說：「我懂妳的意思，我們還是得提防著。」
羅桑笑著問：「你們倆在嘀嘀咕咕喔！」
安妮微笑說：「我提醒他，該去給帶回來的蘋果和櫻桃樹苗，找個地方讓它們落腳。」
「說得也是！」懷民搔頭傻笑問：「老爸，你那塊菜園地，能不能撥一半給我？」
「我就說嘛！你大老遠帶這批樹苗回來，果然是要打我菜園的主意。」
湯美蘭凸臭他說：「你的菜園？平常不都是我在耕作？懷民，你要種果樹，就拿去用吧！留一半給我就夠了。」

Chapter 22 – Tang Mengying and Annie Face Off
01
Huaimin returned home, sitting on the living room sofa, face solemn.
Aiyu brought him a cup of lemon aiyu jelly: “Calm down, big brother.”
“Where’s Annie?” Huaimin asked.
Aiyu gestured: “She’s taking a shower.”
Luo Sang and Meilan came out of the bedroom.
“How did the Tang family respond?” Luo Sang asked.
Huaimin looked dejected: “Father was angry. Mengying wouldn’t accept my apology.”
“Expected. Tang Yunfei is always brash and wealthy,” Luo Sang said.
“Don’t say that. At least he never raised his voice at you,” Meilan advised.
“I didn’t accuse him. I’ve seen him yell at subordinates,” Luo Sang replied.
“Will the Tang family come tomorrow?” Meilan worried.
Huaimin nodded, looking puzzled.
“Annie wants to meet them. What do you think?” Meilan asked.
Huaimin thought: “Let’s follow Annie’s wishes.”
________________________________________
02
In the bedroom, Huaimin paced anxiously.
Annie beckoned: “Sit with me, Huaimin.”
Huaimin sat on the bed; Annie wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
“No difficulty is insurmountable!” Annie said. “Sincerely apologize to Mengying, she will accept it.”
“I was scolded like a pig today by her dad,” Huaimin said. “Mengying even tried to use money to dismiss you!”
Annie calmly said: “I understand the mindset of wealthy people, but I won’t accept it.”
“I went to apologize sincerely, but…” Huaimin murmured.
“...But they not only refused to accept, they cursed you,” Annie finished.
Huaimin nodded: “Yes.”
“Let them scold. They need to vent!”
Huaimin felt touched: “Annie, you’re so kind!”
“I just see things from their perspective,” Annie smiled. “Unless you change your mind, no one can take you from me.”
Huaimin turned to hug her: “You’re my true love. I won’t let you go!”
Annie made a face: “Don’t treat me like a little girl!”
Huaimin laughed: “I dare not, big sister.”
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03
Tang Yunfei, Zhao Yayun, and Mengying arrived at the Tang residence. The Tang family and Huaimin came out to greet them.
Meilan and Luo Sang were prepared. They expected anger, yet the Tang couple smiled politely.
Meilan invited warmly: “Yayun, Yunfei, come in, sit.”
Mengying looked at Huaimin, sorrow in her eyes. She knew the key to success lay not in Huaimin but in the woman who took him away, Annie.
The families sat on opposite sides; Aiyu brought drinks.
Zhao Yayun broke the silence: “Meilan, Luo Sang, our families have been close. Mengying and Huaimin’s engagement was agreed on long ago. Mengying may have been spoiled, so Huaimin turned away. I’m ashamed. As a mother, I failed in education…”
Yayun’s submissive posture surprised Meilan. She glanced at Luo Sang, who was equally puzzled.
Meilan quickly said: “Yayun, don’t say that. Mengying is gentle and elegant. She’s always been dear to me. Huaimin just doesn’t have the fortune.”
Tang Yunfei calmly said: “Everyone is young and foolish. Let’s assume Huaimin made a mistake. Mengying will forgive. We are willing to talk to Annie and ask her to let Huaimin go, even at a high cost.”
At this moment, Annie, who had been listening, stepped out: “Elders, I’m Annie. I did not intend to eavesdrop, but morally I must face you and Mengying.”
The Tang family and Mengying were struck not only by her mature charm but also by her composure and rationality.
“You’re Annie?” Zhao Yayun thought. “Her demeanor is just like mine at her age!”
Annie continued: “I sincerely apologize to Mengying. I interfered with her and Huaimin’s childhood love. Even though I didn’t know in advance, it hurt Mengying. I can only apologize sincerely.”
Huaimin stood: “I should apologize! Annie did nothing wrong. Mengying did nothing wrong. I made choices that led to this. I apologize deeply to you and Mengying!” He bowed three times deeply.
Mengying said: “Huaimin, I want to speak with Annie privately. Do you agree?”
Huaimin looked at Annie; she smiled: “I want to talk too. Shall we go outside?”
Mengying nodded: “Yes, please, Annie.”
Zhao Yayun watched Annie leave, her mood darkening. “Annie is so clever. Mengying is no match for her.”
4
The two women walked out of the Tang residence, one after the other, strolling side by side along the narrow asphalt road that wound through the village.
“Annie, before middle school, our family still lived here. Although the infrastructure was underdeveloped, you could hear the chickens and dogs, and people lived in a rhythm of sunrise to sunset. It felt like a tranquil, secluded paradise, untouched by the world.”
Annie nodded in agreement. “Indeed, life here is very close to nature and remarkably peaceful. The villagers seem content and accepting of their fate. They live at a relaxed pace, fully enjoying the pleasures of a simple life.”
“Annie, you know? Back then, I used to walk to school every day with Huaimin and Aiyu, picking tea and coffee beans together, collecting aiyu fruit and wild vegetables in the forest, and catching fish and shrimp in the streams. I always thought that this was happiness and joy.”
Annie recounted, “Hmm! Compared to your childhood, Mengying, mine was rather dull. I was like a canary in a cage. Besides a piano and a room full of books, reading, playing the piano, and attending church were my entire life. I had no peers to grow up with. My classmates believed my grandmother was a witch who practiced magic; they dared not approach me or visit our home. Summer camps, winter camps, and various trips—they all advised me not to join. In their minds, my grandmother and I were mysterious, ill-intentioned witches. Being near me seemed to bring them misfortune and disaster.”
Mengying listened, astonished, and asked, “So you didn’t have friends your own age at all?”
“I was always alone. This continued until high school, when I had two classmates, but they didn’t live in the same community. Although the three of us got along, we weren’t particularly close. Most of the time, we were busy with club activities, dating, or applying for college.”
“You never took any ‘love credits’?” Mengying asked skeptically. “With your looks, it’s impossible that boys wouldn’t be attracted to you.”
Annie smiled. “A few boys did send me flowers and letters, but at the time, I had no desire to date or marry, nor did I want dating or cohabitation to be just a pastime. You might have heard that in open, predominantly white societies, dating and cohabitation have always been the mainstream ideology governing relationships between men and women. If I didn’t want to marry, only wanted to date and cohabit, I would have been the ideal target for boys—they wouldn’t feel pressured or morally responsible for me.”
Mengying said, “Hearing this, I believe you’re a girl who values her integrity.”
Annie smiled bitterly. “Perhaps you should say I’m an eccentric who does things my own way!”
“But why did you let Tang Huaimin get close to you?” Mengying asked directly. “You said you always had no intention of marrying.”
“The whole process was really quite miraculous,” Annie said. “On Lhasa’s Bajiangjing Street, I was admiring paintings of Vajrayana Buddhist statues at a street stall. Two paintings caught my eye, and I noticed that the portrait of Princess Wencheng resembled me. When Huaimin approached, I was surprised to see that the portrait of Songtsen Gampo resembled him exactly. These coincidences sparked my curiosity. I wanted to buy the two paintings, but the owner said they weren’t for sale. Huaimin negotiated with him and then gave me the paintings. Huaimin accompanied me on the walk, saying the two Buddhist paintings were his own copies, and emphasized that my features resembled Princess Wencheng…” The two women walked out of the village.
“Let’s go to the Tang family coffee plantation,” Mengying said. “That coffee plantation was originally run by my father.”
“I was just thinking of going there!” Annie smiled. “Later, at Xiao Zhao Temple, we met an old lama who suddenly approached, joined his hands in a gesture of respect, and pointed at Huaimin, saying he was the reincarnation of Songtsen Gampo, and I was Princess Wencheng reincarnated…”
Mengying interjected, “Annie, I remember. Huaimin told me that at the Shuishe Pier in Sun Moon Lake, an old lama told him he was the reincarnation of Songtsen Gampo. Then Huaimin suddenly changed his mind and told me he didn’t want to go to Paris to study art, but wanted to go to Tibet. I guess these two lamas must have been the same person.”
“I’m not entirely sure about that part,” Annie continued. “Later, when my father and I went to visit local herders at Namtso Lake, I walked along the shore and ran into Huaimin again. He told me again that I was Princess Wencheng reincarnated, and he was Songtsen Gampo reincarnated. This life, we were destined to be together. Later, I met Danzen, the elder of the herder team, who, like the lama at Xiao Zhao Temple, knelt and worshiped me upon seeing me. I was stunned into silence.”
Mengying, somewhat skeptical, asked, “So you started believing in reincarnation and predestined love?”
“I don’t consider it superstition! At that time, I was still half in doubt. Until my father and I discovered that the family heirloom we had been searching for—a scroll of ancient poetry—was actually preserved by Huaimin’s father. My father believed it was divine providence, Buddha’s arrangement, and arranged for me to marry Huaimin and accompany him back to Taiwan to take care of the scroll.”
“Sigh… after hearing your story,” Mengying said sadly, “I really don’t know what to say.”
Annie apologized, “I never intended to come between you and Huaimin or hurt you.”
Mengying said angrily, “Huaimin is detestable. He shouldn’t have hidden from you that he was my fiancé while approaching you! He also concealed the fact that he registered marriage with you in the U.S.—he deceived both of us. He should be condemned for his actions!”
Annie softened her tone. “Part of what you say is true. Huaimin accompanied me back to California and set up a street stall painting portraits. Our plan was originally for him to help me complete my Ph.D., then return to Tibet for research, and only after that marry. But the plan changed. Following my advisor’s suggestion, after earning my Ph.D., I stayed at my alma mater to teach. I wanted Huaimin to study nearby for his graduate work to enhance his professional skills. To facilitate this, I persuaded him to register our marriage for long-term residence. That night, he told me about you—his childhood sweetheart—and said that although you had always been good to him, he could not envision a future with you because of your strong career ambitions. He didn’t want to be a businessman; he wanted a simple life.”
“Huaimin told me the same thing when he was at the portrait stall near Sun Moon Lake,” Mengying said sadly. “But he shouldn’t have used that as an excuse to abandon me. If he had been honest, I wouldn’t have forced him to run the hotel with me. I would have respected his choice because I truly loved him!”
“Part of that, Huaimin told me. I insisted he face you and clarify things. He promised, saying you were studying in Paris and would explain when he met you. A few months later, I got pregnant. I accidentally saw an email you sent him in his laptop inbox, revealing you were looking for him and signed as his fiancée. Realizing the gravity, I pressured him to face you in Taiwan before your birthday. That’s how everything unfolded.”
The two walked into the Tang family coffee plantation. Mengying asked, “Annie, if our identities were reversed and you were Tang Mengying, what would you do?”
Annie thought for a moment. “I’d respect Huaimin’s choice. If he insisted on leaving, I would ask for a sincere apology.”
Mengying asked in a desolate tone, “Does twenty-plus years of our relationship only deserve an apology?”
Annie said firmly, “Huaimin should sincerely apologize and feel guilty.”
Mengying suddenly shouted, “I don’t want his apology! I don’t want an apology!” Tears streamed down her face as she cried, “I want him back. Every day when I wake, I want to see him, touch him as before. I want to prepare his breakfast, send him off, bring lunch to the lake, watch him eat, talk to him…”
“Mengying…” Annie put her arm around her. “You know… that’s all in the past.”
“It can come back!” Mengying pushed Annie away fiercely. “If you’d just let go! Huaimin would come back to me!”
Annie was stunned by Mengying’s reaction. “Alright! If you can convince Huaimin to tell me to leave him, I will go immediately.”
Mengying wiped her tears with a handkerchief. “You know I can’t convince him! His heart is with you.”
“That’s exactly it!” Annie said. “Why not step back and think—if you can’t be his wife, you can still be a good friend.”
“I can’t! I cannot accept my fiancé becoming your husband while I am just a friend!” Mengying pleaded. “Annie, please let Huaimin go! You can live well on your own, can’t you?”
Annie firmly said, “Impossible. I cannot break my marriage promise to Huaimin.”
“I can give you money to support you and your child. If you don’t want the child to be a burden, I will adopt him as my own!” Mengying finally laid her last card, though she suspected Annie would refuse.
“Dreamying, I am not a woman driven by money. I will not sell my partner for money. If you were in my place, you wouldn’t compromise for money either.”
Mengying fell silent, feeling drained, powerless to reclaim her love. The two walked quietly through the abundant coffee plantation, their fates sealed.
________________________________________
5
After seeing the Tang family’s car leave, the four Tang family members finally breathed a sigh of relief. Annie slowly walked back.
Aiyu approached, asking, “Sister-in-law, how did you persuade Mengying?”
Annie smiled mysteriously. “Just an apology. No concessions.”
Aiyu barely understood, but the Tang family got it. Tang Meilan said, “We owe the Tang family; it’s right to express our apology.”
Losang said, “Yayun and Yunfei’s reactions today were unusual.”
Tang Meilan smiled. “At first, I thought so too, but on second thought, it must have been Yayun’s idea. She still has feelings and doesn’t want a rift with us.”
Losang was relieved. “Indeed! Leave a bit of face—good for future encounters. We’ve been friends for decades.”
Annie held Huaimin’s hand, whispering, “I hope Mengying really lets go; otherwise, we won’t have peace.”
Huaimin understood, “I know. We must remain cautious.”
Losang laughed, “You two whispering again?”
Annie smiled. “I reminded him to find a place for the apple and cherry saplings we brought back.”
“That’s true!” Huaimin scratched his head. “Dad, can I have half your garden?”
“I knew it! You brought the saplings just to claim my garden.”
Tang Meilan scolded him, “Your garden? I usually do the work! Huaimin, if you want to plant fruit trees, go ahead. Half is enough for me.”