The air in the apartment was thick, heavy with the scent of pine and something far more oppressive: unspoken duty. The apartment itself was Li na and Guo yu's pride—minimalist, bathed in the soft, urban glow of the city at dusk. But tonight, that modern clarity was spoiled by the presence of a relic: a small, ceramic rice bowl, placed precisely in the center of the wooden table. It was Mei's, brought specifically from Beijing, a silent reminder of home.
Mei picked at the last of her dinner. She had cooked tonight, an elaborate spread of dishes that Guo Yu and Li Na loved, though she herself ate little. The dumplings sat, plump and perfectly folded, but untouched between Guo Yu and Mei, a miniature, edible DMZ.
"You work too hard, Li Na," Mei said, her voice softer than the fabric of her silk blouse, but sharp enough to cut the silence."All this travel, the deadlines ..... Is this Happiness?" Guo Yu's hand instantly found hers beneath the table, a silent plea for calm.She shot him a quick, grateful glance, recognizing his warning and finding the strength to compose herself before giving her mother a measured reply.
"It's our stress, Mama. It's building something. And yes." Li Na's voice was firm, almost defensive. "It is."
"Mei," Guo Yu began, leaning forward slightly, his elbows resting on the table. "Li Na is a brilliant designer. She breathes life into her projects. I see the light in her eyes when she talks about her work. To ask her to Stress less is to dim that light" Should I just switch off her ambition entirely? ( He chuckles lightly.)
Mei kept her eyes fixed on him, her lips curved in a faint, sad smile. She nodded slowly, acknowledging his words, but refusing to accept their premise.
"The light in her eyes used to shine when she was home," Mei murmured, the mention of China acting like a gravitational pull.
"With her father. With her family. This life here… this job in this foreign city. It is a good life, a successful one.It is what I sacrificed for, yes -so she could be free. But a wife's place, Guo Yu, a daughter's place, it is about more than two incomes and two careers. It is about family first. It's about building a secure stable foundation, being ready for the children that will join the family."
She paused, looking directly at Li Na, the love in her eyes fighting a losing battle against the weight of her conviction.
"I have given you your freedom, Li Na, I have. But now it is time to choose the right freedom. The one that lasts. The one that honors the blood you carry." Mei's hand drifted to the untouched rice bowl. "This apartment is beautiful. But it is not home."
Li Na's breath hitched. She felt a familiar burn of frustration, a tight knot forming in her chest.
"Mama," Li Na pleaded, her voice cracking slightly, "I am happy here! This is my home now. Guo yu is my home. I love him. How can you say this is temporary?"
"Love passes, daughter," Mei said, her voice dropping to a low , Love passes, daughter," Mei said, her voice dropping to a low, sorrowful tone that was devastatingly effective. "Duty lasts. You come back with me next week. To Beijing. We will figure it out."
Li Na pushed her chair back with a scrape that shattered the solemn atmosphere. The tension had finally become too much, releasing a sharp burst of pain and resentment.
Guo Yu was on his feet instantly, moving with a protective swiftness that belied his calm demeanor. He put a gentle, steadying hand on Li Na's arm.
"We need to clear the table," Guo Yu said softly, looking at the untouched food. He spoke the sentence not as an order, but as a plea for a return to mundane reality. "Li na your tired you should get some rest".
Li Na nodded mutely, biting back fresh tears, and rushed out of the dining room.
Guo Yu turned back to Mei. His face was no longer that of the polite son-in-law, but was now filled with the quiet, unwavering conviction of a devoted husband.Guo Yu turned back to Mei. His face was no longer that of the polite son-in-law, but was now filled with the quiet, unwavering conviction of a devoted husband. He stared at her, his expression holding the powerful certainty of a father or protector—someone who was about to deliver a painful truth, not to defeat her, but to make her truly see what was best for Li Na. He knew that the only way to challenge her rigid worldview was to appeal directly to the fierce, genuine maternal love that fueled her motive.
Guo Yu began stacking plates quietly, keeping his voice carefully low and imbued with genuine concern.
"You know, I worry about her, Mei," he said, not meeting her eyes, but carefully placing a dish in the sink. "When she gets this upset, her hands shake. Her sleep is completely affected. If she doesn't get enough rest, she can't concentrate. Her work, which you know is so important to her, suffers."
He paused, finally looking at Mei. Her noble composure was momentarily replaced by raw maternal worry.
"And if she worries about our arguments," Guo Yu continued, his voice barely a whisper, "if she thinks this stress is affecting the family... it will only affect her health more. And that, Mei, is all that matters to me. Her peace. Please." He gestured vaguely toward the living room where Li Na had gone. "Let's just… be calm. For Li Na."
Mei stared at him. She recognized —he was diverting her fire, appealing not to her conviction about tradition, but to her deeper, softer instinct as a mother. He was right; the thought of Li Na suffering was intolerable. Her noble principles could wait, but her daughter's health could not.
Mei slowly sat back down, the argument receding, momentarily replaced by a terrible fear. She looked at the abandoned rice bowl, the symbol of the home she wanted Li Na to return to, and found herself worrying not about tradition, but about the fragile sound of her daughter's tears.