CHRISTINA HANSON'S PROMOTION DIARY

Chapter 8: Old Christmas

It all started with Christina's first days at Colombia University. Like other young Americans, Christina also left her beloved home in California to come to New York to study. Although her decision was initially unpopular with her father, he believes there are still many prestigious universities in California. The day he took her to visit the Colombian university was also the day she heard him speak the most, but no words reached her ears. Christina could never forget her father's words as he entered the gates of Colombia University. Christina's father looked at her intently and then asked: "Christina, maybe I'm not as sharp as before, but I forgot what major you plan to study?"

Christina looked into her father's open eyes and smiled: "I already told you about home. I just love Business Administration. I want to be an entrepreneur.”

Christina's father laughed and imitated her voice: “I just love Business Administration. As far as I know, California State University still offers this course.”

Christina looked at her father and then looked a little grumpy: “But I'd rather be in New York than California. More than eighteen years in Cali makes me very tired. I want to change the environment. You are no longer a baby bird in the nest. It's time for you to take off and fly away."

As soon as Christina said that, her father didn't say another word during the trip, her stupid ego also silenced her. And from there, Christina's little wings flew away, leaving an endless void between them. Christina's father rarely visited her during college. Therefore, Christina gradually no longer had any sympathy for the appearance of her father whenever he appeared. Although Agatha tries to be the bridge between father and daughter, all her efforts seem vain. She felt helpless in the face of her family's plight.

Then one day, Christina returned to California for winter break to spend Christmas with her family. Since she entered university, the family reunion atmosphere has become cold, superficial, and cliché. At times, Agatha felt suffocated by the behavior of Christina and her father. At the Christmas Eve party, Agatha is always the one who inspires endless stories. She said: “How is New York these days? If you like, you can stay in the dorm with friends. Experience student life, my dear daughter. Knowing a few guys, for example, so many things to do.”

Without looking at Agatha, Christina devoured her food: “I don't like playing with those frivolous young men. They're just crazy about stupid drugs or hot dances in bed. Do you feel that they are right for you? Besides, I have a job. I just want to make the most of this vacation before putting all my heart into work.”

As soon as Christina said this, her parents stopped eating and stared at her. Agatha happily and excitedly asked, “You got a job? Mom is very proud of you. Tell me about it."

“I'm an intern at Morverick Corporation. Although it is only a company under the Group, the salary is quite good, and I have learned a lot.” Christina gave Agatha a rare smile. But when Agatha heard the news about Morverick Corporation, her face turned pale. Christina noticed a strange change in Agatha, and she was just about to ask when her father said: “Stop working there. It's not a good place for you. There are so many group companies. Why did you choose to stay there?”

Christina stood up. She quickly wiped her mouth with a towel and loudly said: "Wherever you like to work, where you go to university is up to you. Don't interfere in your child's life. No one has that right, not even my father.”

Agatha was taken aback by Christina's words. Just as she interrupted a tense father-daughter conversation, Christina left. Her father stopped Agatha, not allowing her to chase her. Christina's footsteps got faster and faster, but as soon as she stood in front of the door, she sagged again. Christina thought her parents would dissuade her. However, only Christina remained in the void, helpless. Christina felt so alone in her own home for the first time in her life. She clenched her fists, letting her anger and ego swallow her whole.

Christina told herself this would be the last time she set foot in this house. She didn't understand why her father was so stubborn in forcing her life to go his way. Christina once believed in her decision to return home for Christmas. But in the end, her decision turned out to be something very wrong and worthy of being forgotten. Christina's tears rolled down her cheeks as she sped down the snow-covered road outside despite the artificial snow the whole neighborhood had created together. Christina sobbed in the car: “Why was I so stupid to come back here? I will never come back here again. I realized that he would never change his selfishness and love to control other people's lives."

Christina recalls arguments from childhood to adulthood between her and her father. They were things that seemed unimportant to her. But they caused quite deep wounds for her. The memory made her eyes sting. However, Christina did not know that her parents were also crying with torment inside the house she had just abandoned.

Since then, Christina never returned home to spend Christmas with her parents. It was not until her last year of college that she reconnected with her parents, but she refused to return despite her mother's suggestions and tried all sorts of ways. Also, on the last day of the year, at that time, Christina Hanson was both preparing for the graduation exams and racing against time to complete the report on schedule for Morverick's company. Although Marcel meant to remind her to focus on studying for the exam, she didn't want to disturb others because the projects she was in charge of were quite tricky, only she knew the statistics.

Christina Hanson has never felt such tremendous pressure. Her whole day had to pass in such complete silence that no one dared disturb her. Christina Hanson was studying in the library and reporting for the company when suddenly her phone vibrated. Her father called and said that he and his mother were going to New York. Both of them wanted to take care of Christina Hanson while she was studying for college entrance exams, but she didn't want her parents to worry about these things.

Especially when the relationship between her and her parents could not return to normal, their care and concern made her even more awkward. Anyway, Christina Hanson's parents still had a lot of work to do in California, so she refused and advised them to stay home and not go to New York.

Christina Hanson repeatedly stressed over the phone that she was okay. However, they informed her that they were preparing to board the plane at the airport and told her not to buy anything because they had brought everything from California to New York. Christina Hanson couldn't help it, so she told them to call her when they got out of the airport. Christina was happy and worried when she heard that her parents had moved to New York.

Glad that she hasn't been reunited for a long time, she is worried because she doesn't know if it will be inconvenient in the following days. She also knows that her relationship with her father is no longer as comfortable as before. More than five hours later, Christina Hanson carefully completed the report and signed up to borrow some reference books to take home to continue studying for the exam. Christina Hanson needed to prepare a few things for her parents, so she dropped into a quick shop and returned.

Later that night, Christina Hanson received a call from her parents that they were coming. When Christina came home from the school library, she didn't rest for fear of oversleeping. She took a taxi to the airport to pick up her parents. As soon as she saw two parents carrying a bunch of luggage, she was also disgruntled. Christina rented a villa. Initially, all the rooms were filled with tenants. But gradually, everyone left this place, and in the end, only Christina remained. She was fortunate to rent a room through a brokerage company. Of course, up to this point, after more than four years of renting, she had not met the owner of this villa.

In the afternoon, she cleaned the room on the ground floor for her parents to stay temporarily during this time. Agatha was all too familiar with Christina's meticulous personality. In the early days, his grandparents were relatively unfamiliar with the way of life in New York. Both woke up quite early, feeling that the food here is quite expensive compared to California. Christina had to remind her parents many times so they wouldn't be harsh towards everyone.

Christina Hanson's father has always boasted that prices in California are much softer and more affordable than in New York. When Christina heard that, she could only sigh without refuting. She didn't want another argument with him. The next night, Agatha asked Christina's father to go to the supermarket to buy some things. Only she and Christina remained at home. Agatha just sat next to her and watched her focus on the computer screen. She was a little uncomfortable, so she stopped and directly asked Agatha: "Is there something you want to tell me?"

Agatha smiled, nodding. She ran her hand through Christina's blond hair. Agatha's eyes shone with a strange emotion that Christina had never seen: “Once upon a time, I was just a child who asked to follow my mother to the supermarket. Everything went by so fast, like the blink of an eye. I am afraid that I will lose my daughter.”