After I Was Gone, Mr. Song Said He Loved Me - Chapter 23 - Song Yu Accompanies Me Home
Song Yu drove fast on our way back, speeding whenever there were no cameras in sight.
I felt grateful and touched by his actions.
I had thought it would take an hour to get to Xin Ze, but Song Yu managed to shave off twenty minutes.
My family lives in a fishing village beneath Xin Ze Town, nestled between mountains and the sea. Although there are asphalt roads, they are poorly maintained and, due to the humidity, many sections are cracked and covered with sand and dirt.
From a distance, the road looked like a chain of potholes, large connected to small.
When we reached Xin Ze Town, it was already past seven in the evening. I suggested that Song Yu stay in a hotel in the town while I took a rickshaw back to the village.
Song Yu paused thoughtfully before asking, “Is there a problem? Is it inconvenient?”
He had misunderstood, and I quickly clarified, “No, President Song, my home is in the countryside. The roads are uneven and there are no streetlights. I’m worried about your car…”
Although I don’t have a driver’s license and can’t drive, I know about cars, especially luxury ones.
His Cullinan, worth tens of millions, would definitely suffer on the muddy and sandy road near my home.
“A road that even a Cullinan can’t handle-do we need a tank to get there?” Song Yu smiled at me. “Don’t worry, any damage to the car is on me.”
I hesitated for a moment but eventually agreed.
Following my directions, Song Yu drove the Cullinan through the challenging muddy and sandy road.
Fortunately, it was an off-road vehicle. Although there were some hidden potholes, it didn’t get stuck.
Though slow, we safely reached my old home-the fishing village.
Once in the village, I advised him to park the vehicle at the village entrance, as the roads inside were too narrow for such a large SUV.
Heeding my advice, Song Yu parked next to the pond at the entrance.
I thanked him sincerely and reminded him to drive slowly on his way back before opening the car door to get out.
I thought he would turn back, but instead, he also unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car.
I stood there, puzzled.
He straightened his suit and smiled calmly, “I’ll walk you home.”
“Ah?” I was stunned and quickly declined, “There’s no need, President Song. I can go by myself.”
“I drove you home; it’s my responsibility to make sure you’re safe. What if your dad locks you up and feeds you to the fish?”
His words warmed my heart. It had been almost a year since I last went home, and though I was nervous, knowing my parents-staunch fishermen with traditional views-I feared Song Yu might get a poor impression of them.
“Also, you don’t have to call me President Song when we’re outside. Just use my name.”
“But, President Song, my dad…”
“Call me by my name.”
I blushed, recalling the last time he asked me to call him by his name-it had been in a different, more intimate setting.
“Song… Song Yu,” I stuttered.
“Come on, don’t overthink it. Let’s go see your grandfather soon.”
Song Yu walked over to me and placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, squeezing it gently. My anxious heart settled instantly, as if his presence made the upcoming confrontations less daunting.
I nodded vigorously and led him through the cleanest paths to my house.
As we reached the front gate, many relatives had already gathered, all looking somber.
Perhaps because it was completely dark and I now looked like someone from the big city, they didn’t recognize me.
I hesitated outside, not daring to enter.
“Let’s go,” Song Yu whispered.
I took a deep breath and entered the yard, only to see two of my father’s friends leaving the house, wiping tears and shaking their heads. My heart sank, and then I heard heart-wrenching cries from inside.
Tears streamed down my face as I rushed inside, murmuring, “Grandpa, grandpa…”
The small house was crowded with relatives. Parting the crowd, I saw a straw mat on the concrete floor with my grandfather lying motionless on it, his features peaceful as if asleep.
“Grandpa! Grandpa!” I kneeled on the ground, tears blurring my vision.
“Why did you come back? Who let him back in?” My father initially startled, then grabbed my collar and dragged me outside.
Relatives tried to intervene, and my mother held back my father, but he was relentless, cursing, “You still have the nerve to come back? Why didn’t you die out there?”
“Dad, please let me see grandpa, I beg you.”
My mother tugged at my father’s arm, pleading for him not to argue in front of my grandfather’s body. My father pushed her aside, cursing both her and me, “Get out of the way, damn it, it’s all your fault.”
“Our Bai Family might not be wealthy, but we’ve been tough men of the sea for generations, not like this disgrace.”
His words were harsh, but my desperation to be near my grandfather overrode my dwindling self-esteem.
“Dad, I’m begging you, let me see grandpa,” I cried, struggling against his grip.
Grandpa was only a few meters away, and I knew he had been waiting for me.
Despite my pleas, my father’s anger only grew, and he raised his hand to slap me.
I kneeled, not dodging, hoping it might appease him enough to let me see my grandfather.
But the expected pain never came. Looking up, I saw Song Yu had entered the room at some point and caught my father’s hand mid-air.
“Who are you?” My father glared at Song Yu.
“Song Yu?” I uttered in shock.
My father glanced between Song Yu and me, his face twisting with anger, his words more vicious.
“Oh, got some guts outside, huh? Brought someone to confront your own father?”
I was at a loss, worried about provoking my father further and offending Song Yu.
“President Song…” I looked at him, pleading in my eyes, hoping he would avoid conflict.
Song Yu glanced at me, hesitated, and then let go of my father’s wrist.
My father stepped back, sizing up Song Yu, then turned his anger back on me.
“This home doesn’t welcome you. Take your guest and leave immediately.”
Though my father’s tone was harsh, his bluster had lessened, perhaps due to Song Yu’s presence.
