Chapter 148: Awakening of Consciousness (5)
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
From the video, Lu Jia’er saw that Guo Yan heaved a long sigh. “I chose to compromise for the sake of my husband and considering that I am the daughter-in-law. I just hope that a positive result can be generated from my compromise!”
Lu Jia’er replied, “There will be a positive result. Things are going toward the right direction now!”
Guo Yan nodded. “I hope so!”
Lu Jia’er smiled. “As a matter of fact, in your mind, Professor Li’s attitude toward this issue is what matters. Currently, he is working with you to better your relationship with your mother-in-law. But you cannot rush those things. I want to say congratulations on the front that your relationship with your husband has been recovered!”
“That is all thanks to you, Professor Lu!” Guo Yan said.
“I just suggested you talk things out. What really improves your relationship is the emotional connection basis you shared with Doctor Li.” Lu Jia’er shared her insight.
“Yes. I have tried to adopt a positive attitude in my relationship with my mother-in-law for the reason that I can tell that he still cares about me!” Guo Yan stated.
“You are more optimistic now compared to when I first met you in Thailand. That change is clear!” Lu Jia’er shared her observation.
“Well, harmony brings wealth. I have the sense that many things are moving along more smoothly since the relationship between me and my husband bettered. A couple of days ago, I was chatting with my husband. What he said inspired. It is not any one individual’s responsibility that our family has descended into such a bad situation. Everyone has made his or her share of mistakes. Since I was pregnant with Qiqi, I have been staying at home without going back to work. My social circle became narrow and I became detached with the society, which made me quite sensitive. No matter how considerate my husband was, I would always find flaws. I would vent my anger on him and he had been swallowing the tension. When my mother-in-law noted this, naturally, she would be worried about her son. Over time, the depression everyone was harboring grew more and more serious. Over the recent two years, the depression burst out completely.”
“It is nice that you can face those problems and analyze the issues.” Lu Jia’er gave Guo Yan a compliment.
“Alas, people are always polite to strangers but not so much with our families. We always think that families will not leave and will always be by our side. My mother-in-law must have developed those ideas after witnessing so many fights between me and my husband. Truth be told, if I were in her place, I would probably have done the same thing!” Guo Yan exclaimed.
Lu Jia’er agreed. “You are right. Most people are polite and patient to strangers but can lose temper with families. To put it in psychological terms, it means that, unconsciously, we have overly high expectations of our families. We always believe that families should be the ones that understand us and support us the most. Of course, since it is family, there is more understanding and support between each other indeed. That being said, when it comes to certain matters, we may not receive complete understanding or full support. But we don’t always remember this factor when we are with our families. We can become unbridled. Since our relationship with our families are the most intimate of all, we are in a safer and more inclusive environment. For a large group of people, when they are wronged or in tension and cannot let go of such negativity outside, they will go back home to vent their anxiety. It is a natural thing, only that if there is no follow-up conversation after such venting, the other party can feel insecure or depressed. There will be a wall in each other’s heart. Eventually, such venting can backfire. As such, the conflicts in a family will escalate.”
Guo Yan went on. “Professor Lu, you are right. Now that I look back at the past, this is what has happened. It is because of the disputes between me and my husband, my mother-in-law began to have those ideas. Gradually, she tended to go to the extreme. Professor Lu, I no longer feel so depressed and it is thanks to psychological counseling. However, I think my mother-in-law is still quite depressed. My husband and I were talking about finding her a psychiatrist for psychological counseling!”
Lu Jia’er could not help but smile. “That is a good idea. But for the senior members, family’s care is more important!”
“Professor Lu, I will heed your advice. I will let myself accept my mother-in-law again!” Guo Yan agreed.
“Guo Yan, you have been outstanding!” Luo Jia’er praised her.
A trace of a smile climbed to Guo Yan’s face. “Thank you, Professor Lu.”
The psychological counseling session was coming to an end. Lu Jia’er was hesitating but in order to seek proof, she let out her question eventually. “Guo Yan, do you have pictures of us in Thailand in your phone?”
“Yes, I do!” Guo Yan gave an affirmative answer.
“I accidentally formatted my phone. I lost all the pictures!” Lu Jia’er tried to explain.
“I can send you the pictures. But I don’t have many with you in it. I don’t suppose you and Ace liked being photographed!” Guo Yan said.
Lu Jia’er admitted with a faint smile. “Indeed, I don’t like my photos taken!”
“I will forward you the pictures!” Guo Yan promised.
“Okay, thank you!” Lu Jia’er said.
A few minutes later, Guo Yan sent Lu Jia’er the group pictures with her in them. When she received the pictures, once again, Lu Jia’er sunk into deep confusion.
She and Jin Xiangdong appeared in the same pictures and they appeared to be quite intimate.
Lu Jia’er did not think of herself as a frivolous girl. She would not allow anyone, other than her boyfriend, to put their arms around her waist in such an intimate manner.
Could it be that Jin Xiangdong was telling the truth when he said that he was her boyfriend?
But she had no recollection of him. All she remembered was the relationship between her and Ian.
What was going on? What on earth was happening?
Lu Jia’er then checked the WeChat moments of the members on the research team at BUA. Unfortunately, they did not frequently post WeChat moments and even if when they did, it was mostly news on AI development at BUA.
That night, Lu Jia’er lost sleep. So, Jin Xiangdong was right. She must wait for Ian to come back and confront him in person in order to acquire answers for her questions.
At 10 am the next day, Lu Jia’er arrived at the airport.
Ian stepped out with his luggage. When he saw Lu Jia’er, he stepped toward her with a brilliant smile. “This is such a big surprise!”
Lu Jia’er forced a smile but at the same time, she was inspecting the man in front of her, re-evaluating him.
“What are you looking at?” Ian asked, laughing, with Lu Jia’er staring at him.
“Nothing!” Lu Jia’er said with a lukewarm attitude.
“You seem to be out of spirits. Didn’t you sleep well last night?” Ian wondered.
“I am fine. Let’s go. I want to talk with you!” Said Lu Jia’er.
“It has been several days. Are you missing me too much?” Ian teased her with a smile.
Though Ian’s smile appeared to be natural, the micro-expressions could not lie. From them, Lu Jia’er picked up some clues. When Ian saw her, at first he was pleasantly surprised but then, he turned a bit scared.
Scared? What was he scared of?
Lu Jia’er was not shy when she was teased, not like what she used to be like. She just gave a trepid response. “I just stayed up late last night. Come on!”
On hearing this, Ian was still wearing that smile but inside, he was in fear and trembling.
He was right to feel this. When Lu Jia’er accompanied him back to his place, she sat down on his couch in the living room and took out a dozen pictures from her bag.
She fanned out the pictures and looked at Ian calmly. “Ian, can you tell me what is happening here?”
Before Ian came back, Michael gave him some instructions. Ian had been prepared mentally but still found those instructions hard to accept. Even so, he had to obey.
On the plane, he hardly had any rest. He had been contemplating this matter. Due to some private feelings, he violated the original Phantom Plan. He did want to make amends but at the same time, he was struggling inside. Nothing was happening the way he desired it to be.
Nothing could have been worse than dealing with the reality as soon as he came back. His entire mind was occupied by worry and panic.
Ian tried to hide his dismay. He reached out to the pictures and checked them. “Are those Photoshopped?”
“Photoshopped? That is your explanation?” Lu Jia’er stared at him.
“What kind of explanation are you expecting from me?” Ian looked right back at Lu Jia’er.
“I am not expecting anything. The point is what you said!” Lu Jia’er corrected Ian’s choice of words.
This Lu Jia’er here was not familiar. She looked at him as if he were a stranger. Ian found it depressing. “What if I don’t want to say?”
“Ian, I hope that you can give me a reasonable explanation. What has happened exactly?” Lu Jia’er was taking a tough stance.
Ian cast his sight at Lu Jia’er’s face and asked. “What have you discovered so far?”
“I didn’t find out about anything. I am waiting for you to give me an answer!” Lu Jia’er reiterated.
“Is it Jin Xiangdong that sent you to me for answers?” Ian questioned.
“Yes!” Lu Jia’er did not deny it.
Ian smiled at this answer. “This is just what he does to harass you. Do you really believe him?”
“Ian, you are smiling but there is bitterness in your smile. It implies that you are hiding something shady!” Lu Jia’er retorted.
“Bitterness!” Ian mumbled the word.
“Am I really your girlfriend?” Lu Jia’er asked, glaring at him.
This question deepened the bitterness in Ian’s expressions. He kept silent for a few seconds before he nodded with certainty. “Yes, you were my girlfriend!”
Ian did not feign the bitterness. His looks and tone were equally firm. He was not lying, which made Lu Jia’er all the more puzzled.