We went to a private room at the Peninsula Hotel for dinner. As soon as I entered, I saw a middle-aged man of average height but with an impressive presence, and a graceful woman in a blue cheongsam, her figure bearing the marks of time.
“Mr. Rong, it’s been a long time!” Shane Yu greeted us as she entered. She generously pulled me to sit down with her.
“Mr. Yu, I booked the hotel a week in advance when I heard you were coming. Please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality!”
“Mr. Rong, there’s no need for such formalities!” Shane Yu said with a gentle smile.
“And who is this beautiful lady beside you?” Mr. Rong asked curiously.
“My wife, Sharon Yao,” Shane Yu said, pulling my hand closer and introducing her with a smile.
“Hello, Mr. Rong!” I greeted her politely.
“What a perfect couple!” President Rong exclaimed.
“I’ve come to give you some gifts. I brought some century-old ginseng and deer antler blood tonics. They’re all specialties from Northeast China,” Shane Yu introduced, as Assistant Liu presented the gifts.
“Thank you so much, President Yu!” President Rong said calmly, a smile playing on his lips.
The dinner was very pleasant. President Rong and his wife were very harmonious, chatting about how they’d been childhood sweethearts for over thirty years and were still deeply in love!
I couldn’t help but think, this is what true love looks like!
Just before finishing our meal, President Rong thoughtfully asked, “President Yu, would you like me to arrange something for you later?”
“No need, I’ll just take my wife for a leisurely stroll!” Shane Yu declined with a smile.
“A young couple like you should enjoy a relaxing stroll!” President Rong’s wife said with a smile.
After dinner, Shane Yu took me to Victoria Harbour.
“Wow! It’s so beautiful!” I exclaimed, stunned by the night view.
Shane Yu hugged me from behind. “Do you like it here?”
“Yes!” I nodded.
Shane Yu gently kissed my forehead. “We can come here often, as long as you like it.”
He then took me shopping. To my surprise, Shane Yu communicated entirely in English in Hong Kong, with perfect pronunciation and fluent speech.
Shane Yu saw a Chanel bag and asked if I liked it. I said it was pretty! He swiped his card right away.
I glanced at the bag; it cost over 80,000 HKD.
He then took me to look at clothes. Shane Yu asked if there was anything I liked, but I shook my head. “I have enough clothes!”
He didn’t listen to me and started helping me choose clothes. He picked up a white long dress and said it was nice. I nodded, thinking it looked good too. Shane Yu asked the sales assistant for my size, and then picked out several other clothes and dresses for me to try on.
After I tried them on, Shane Yu kept praising how beautiful I looked, saying every single one suited me perfectly. Then we went to pay.
Seeing the exorbitant prices, Shane Yu swiped his card without hesitation, completely unconcerned about the cost.
I said a little embarrassedly, “That’s enough, Shane Yu, you don’t need to buy me any more clothes and bags, we already have plenty at home!”
Shane Yu smiled and said, “Okay! I’ll go buy a few outfits later too.”
We went to a designer suit store, and Shane Yu went inside and started trying on suits.
Shane Yu’s handsome features and powerful aura made him look exceptionally dashing in the custom-made suits. Each suit he wore exuded a different charm, giving him a striking appearance!
The sales staff were all captivated by Shane Yu’s good looks and couldn’t help but come up to compliment him.
Shane Yu turned around, smiled at me, and asked, “Is your man handsome?”
I nodded and sincerely replied, “Very handsome!”
Shane Yu nodded in satisfaction and said to the shop assistant in English, “Pack up everything I just tried on, just pay by card!”
As we walked out, I said, “I want to buy a gift for my classmate.”
“Okay, let’s go to the gift shop later!”
I saw film cameras, model buses, and Hong Kong Police Station teddy bears and police dog plush toys.
I took pictures and sent them to a group chat of six, asking them what gifts they wanted.
They all chose the dog plush toys without hesitation, and I bought all the different styles.
Tank Gu didn’t say anything; I bought him a police station teddy bear plush toy.
(I must say, Hong Kong was really expensive; back then, a bottle of mineral water cost 10 HKD.) That evening, in the hotel, there were huge floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of Hong Kong’s nightscape.
I leaned against Shane Yu, feeling his warmth.
Shane Yu poured me a glass of red wine, and after I took a small sip, he leaned down and kissed me in his arms.
…On New Year’s Eve, the sound of firecrackers boomed like thunder! Shane Yu had hung large red lanterns outside and set off firecrackers and double-bangs; the deafening explosions of the double-bangs were like the earth splitting open!
My second wife and I sat together watching the Spring Festival Gala skits. The Spring Festival Gala back then was much more exciting than it is now; it was like a joyous feast, completely captivating! Shirley Xiu held her son in her arms, her face beaming with happiness.
I looked at my second wife’s child, Isaac Yu. He’ll be six years old after the New Year, and he looks a lot like Yu Sheng! His features were strikingly handsome, and despite his young age, he was very active and a bit mischievous.
Isaac Yu ran to me with his toy car, tugging at my clothes, and said in his childish voice, “Sister! You’re the prettiest person I’ve ever seen!”
I smiled and patted his head gently, saying, “You’re so good at making your sister happy!”
“Don’t call me sister, call me Auntie!” My second wife, Shirley Xiu, immediately corrected me.
“It’s okay, the child can call me whatever he wants!” I smiled, like a blooming flower.
“If Shane Yu hears this, he’ll get scolded,” my second wife gently reminded me.
“Then call me Auntie!”
I didn’t dare pinch Shane Yu’s cheek, but gently pinched her son’s little face, like stroking a cute kitten. Her son smiled innocently, full of childlike energy!
“Auntie, will you come often?” Isaac Yu asked excitedly, showing his little teeth, like a bright star.
“I guess so!” I said dejectedly, my heart feeling like it was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand. My heart was filled with thoughts of home; this was the first time I’d spent Chinese New Year away from my parents.
“Sharon, Isaac Yu, come down!” Shane Yu called to me and his son from the villa entrance.
I took his son’s little hand and we went downstairs, like a light butterfly. “Coming!”
“Daddy!” Isaac Yu ran to Shane Yu immediately, like a joyful little bird, rushing into his arms. Shane Yu knelt down and patted his son’s head, his eyes full of affection.
Shane Yu handed me and Isaac Yu the fireworks he was holding. They sparkled like colorful shooting stars, shimmering with a dreamlike light.
“I’ll take you to set off fireworks!” Shane Yu looked at us tenderly, his smile like a warm spring breeze.
Shane Yu happily lit the fireworks, the flames bursting forth instantly, colorful starlight scattering like raindrops.
His eyes reflected my image, and he laughed joyfully. The fireworks shimmered with delightful light, as if he were holding the entire universe in his hands.
Isaac Yu chased and played with Shane Yu, holding lit fireworks. Shane Yu ran ahead, his son chasing and playing behind him.
Their laughter echoed in the air, the dazzling light of the fireworks illuminating our faces.
Shane Yu ran over and hugged me tightly, kissing my lips passionately.
Isaac Yu beside him cried out, “I want Daddy to hug me too!”
