"Is that so? It seems I remembered wrong," Mother Samptonās tone could hardly hide her disappointment.
Bright Sampton glanced at Jane Sampson, and although he knew she wasnāt telling the truth, he chose not to expose her. He thought that his sister must have her reasons for saying so, and as her younger brother, it wasnāt his place to meddle.
"But how come Iāve heard people inside the circle saying that you used to have a good relationship with Ms. Little? Every year on her birthday, if you couldnāt be there, youād always make a call or have someone deliver a gift to her?" Julie suddenly spoke up, directly questioning Jane Sampson, "Could it be that the people inside the circle are lying?"
"It was true back then, but as you said, that was in the past. How long has it been since I last took to the stage? Iāve long lost touch with those people inside the great courtyard," Jane Sampsonās acting was so convincing that she almost believed herself, let alone Julie who didnāt know her at all.
While speaking, Janeās face was filled with confusion and helplessness, "Mother knows that after my marriage I cut off almost all social contacts. Now I have only a few friends left, just those who grew up with me inside the great courtyard, where we can meet once a year to catch up and chat."
"Thatās true, the Black Family has many rules and surely wouldnāt like you younger ones running around outside all the time," Mother Sampton felt Janeās reasoning made a lot of sense. Before Janeās marriage, both Mother Sampton and Father Sampton had told her that life before and after marriage were different, and things you did before werenāt necessarily things you could do after.
Later, after her marriage, Jane had indeed stopped the socializing she used to engage in before her nuptials, a change that Father and Mother Sampton were quite satisfied with, seeing it as a sign of her obedience.
"Mom~" Julie tugged at Mother Samptonās sleeve, her voice tinged with an unhappy nasal tone.
The tacit understanding between mother and daughter was such that Mother Sampton immediately felt a rush of sympathy without needing Julie to say anything more; she turned to Jane and said, "Jane, Julieās show has a plan to invite the piano master Ms. Little, in light of her receiving an international award. They want to do an exclusive interview with Ms. Little. Could you talk to Ms. Little and see if she could spare some time for Julieās show?"
"Mom, Iām sorry, but I canāt help with that. I canāt make decisions on behalf of Ms. Little. Countless people all over the world want to interview Ms. Little, but sheās very low-key and never appears on any shows, so I donāt have the face to ask her," Jane Sampson refused sharply, then stood up.
She had lost her appetite for the lunch that lay before her.
"Also, Mom, about the shares you asked me to return last night, I will have Nina Rice draft a new formal contract for me when the time comes. Youāre right, it was originally yours, and I have no objections if you want to take it back," Jane picked up her purse from the living room sofa, "Iāve lost my appetite, Iām going back."
Jane Sampsonās displeasure was quite evident, and Mother Sampton was startled by the sudden outburst of emotion from Jane.
The Jane of the past had always been quiet and docile, speaking in gentle whispers and hardly ever using such a heavy tone with anyone.
Mother Samptonās first instinct was that Jane must be upset and stood up, intending to say she didnāt want the shares and to let Jane keep them.
But as she rose, her arm was caught by Julie, and looking down at her, those words suddenly could not be voiced.