The air is windy here. The weather is good. Fresh breezes of wind are touching my face. It's the eighth of November, 2025. After all, this is Shanghai, and its weather is just like you can taste every flavor of ice cream at the shop.
"Zhao Shiza, we are going to have breakfast in the canteen. Do you wanna join us?"
A voice came asking me this. Whose voice could it be other than my dearest Wang Ruoxi?
"Yes, you all can go. I don't feel like eating breakfast. Not in the mood. You all can enjoy."
"Ok, but wear warm clothes if you go out, ok?"
I replied, "Okay, stop being my Mama."
Then everything went silent. The room got colder with that silence. The word Mama in itself carries so many heavy emotions. It has been 3 years since I came here to Shanghai. She never talked to me, she never called me. I never went back home during any vacations because she didn't want to see my face. I haven't heard her voice. The voice I am craving for. Mama.
I started crying. Something in my heart is missing without her. Only Bàba and Xin Xin call me every day, but she never joins the call. Why? Am I a bad daughter? Did I do something unforgivable?
My heart still wants answers for some questions, but I know I'll never get them.
The morning breakfast time slowly turned into midnight. I controlled my emotions and started working on my assignment.
The door suddenly opened. Wang Ruoxi came in and hugged me from behind.
"Zhao Shiza, did you complete the assignment that Professor Zhang Ruotang gave us?"
"Yes."
"Then please do mine also," she asked in her baby voice, the way she always does so I can't say no to her.
"I am already working on your assignment. It's about to be completed. Don't worry."
"But tell me, why did you choose this major, Art and Design, in Shanghai University, when you didn't even have interest in this subject?"
"Oh please, stop asking me. How could I leave you alone in a city where you didn't know anyone? You know what, Zhao Shiza, you are too pretty to be left alone in a different city. So I came here for you, to protect you."
I know she is lying. I know she came because she loves me so much. But she will never say that to me.
Thank you for coming here for me, for not leaving me alone... I said that only inside my heart.
"Shiza, did you eat something? Tell me," she asked.
But I ignored the question and instead asked, "Where were your friends?"
"Oh, they went to their dorms. They need to prepare some project for their subjects."
"Ooo."
"Stop changing the topic, Shiza. Tell me, did you eat anything?"
"Yes, I ate scrambled eggs with tomatoes."
"Okay… okay..."
But I know I am lying. Today also, nothing changed. From the past 5 years, I am in my third year of my major, but one thing remains the same: my escaping door, my calmness in my storm, my love for him.
You saved me today, scrambled eggs with tomatoes.
I have never eaten them in my whole life, but they are your favorite. And you cook them so well. I just used that excuse here. I saw in one of your birthday lives on Weibo, where you were cooking scrambled eggs with tomatoes and chicken fry with soy sauce and your favorite noodles.
Now all of these have become my favorite too.
But I have only tried the noodles. The other two, I haven't tasted yet. But if life goes smoothly, I will definitely try them in my future.
My thoughts broke when I saw Ruoxi had fallen asleep on her bed. So I took my phone from my table and opened Weibo. And there he was. He posted something new. He posts rarely, but whatever he posts, I like.
He has become an ambassador for some food item.
Oh, I will definitely eat it too whenever I get a chance.
I smiled seeing him wearing a maroon jacket with a black T-shirt. He looked even more handsome. I liked his post, closed Weibo, and put my phone on silent.
Her assignment was completed. Now I am going to sleep too. Tomorrow we have morning classes and we need to submit this assignment to Professor Zhang Ruotang.
I turned off the lights and went to sleep, as tomorrow is going to be an important day for me....