The Way We Were (归去来)

Timing and Subtitles Brought to you by the Can We Go Back? Team @ Viki

The Way We Were

Episode 8

Professor. I'm here to say goodbye.

I asked the international student office for leave.

I will fly back to China, two days after tomorrow.

Leave so soon? Not going to apply for suspension right now?

I already submitted my application.

I'll send the hospital document from China.

Why not ask your family to get the documents and send it to you?

So you can leave the US with a suspension certificate?

Are you so anxious to see your mother?

I saw my mother lying in an ICU in a video call.

I can't wait one more minute.

I want to go back as soon as possible.

Xiao. I completely understand your feelings.

Don't be too sad.

Take good care of your mother.

And I wish her to get well soon.

Thank you.

Professor Anderson.

Nora, you can come back later this afternoon.

No problem. Sorry for disturbing you two.

Xiao. I hope you can come back to continue your study here

as soon as possible. Once your mother is getting better,

try not to drop out, ok?

Standord is my dream. I won't give it up. I promise.

That's a deal.

Thank you, professor Anderson.

Goodbye. - Goodbye.

Monica. I will check out early.

Can you give me back the rest of the rent?

Why are you moving out?

You can't just move in with a boyfriend so soon.

I am not in a relationship.

Something happened in my family. I have to go back.

I am leaving in two days.

You don't have to move out just because you're going back to China.

Are you not coming back?

It's a possibility.

So something big happened in your family?

My parents got in a car accident. Even though their lives are not in danger now,

the recovery will be a long process.

My god. Xiao Qing.

I don't know what to say.

I'm so sorry.

It should be me who says sorry.

At this time, I should tell my parents I'm sorry.

My parents are diligent working class.

My father's job...

...can be called a government employee.

Salary is not much. But he has the power to control other people's life and death,

he receives a lot of offers for grey income.

You have no idea how many times I witnessed my father shut them out.

But I didn't understand when I was little.

One time, someone sent something to us. I liked it and I wanted it.

I grabbed it and wouldn't let go.

After the guests left, my father beat me up.

I hated him for a long time after that.

I couldn't understand why something was given to us and I liked it,

I don't steal or rob, why couldn't I have it?

I didn't realise until I grew up...

...that I should be thankful to my father.

Our family gets to live in peace and conscience for so many years,

because he insisted to reject the bribes.

My mother is the main breadwinner in our family.

All of the tuition and allowances for my study...

was paid with the money my mother made on the side by tutoring music students.

The money I spend now was all made through class after class.

Sometimes, she had to work for 8 straight hours.

My parents are like the two important parts of my vehicle.

One is the steering wheel,

and the other is the engine.

I was confident.

I thought I was good enough, because I worked hard enough.

But this accident made me see something.

My superiority has always been my parents' burden.

My opportunities were based on their sacrifices.

I thought I climbed up the ladder by myself.

But every step I took,

there was my parents cheering me on and helping me out.

At this time, if I still only think about myself,

I'm just too selfish.

I can't let them not enjoy themselves for me.

They can't travel. They can't take a break.

They can't even get sick.

Before I leave, I will pack my things and store them with you.

If I decide to drop out, I have to ask you to mail them to me.

No problem.

Thank you, Monica.

Xiao Qing, actually, you can look at it this way.

Actually, with parents like yours,

with a family like yours.

And you get to think about and care about them. It's lucky.

But it's so far away.

I am so anxious. Is this still lucky?

You can relax, if you don't worry about anyone...

and you don't worry about anyone. Try it.

Like me. Good thing I have booze and pretty boys.

Excuse me, where is the elevator?

just behinds you, take the corridor. Okay, thank you

My pleasure

Shu Che

Shu Che

Hi Shu Che

Did you arrive at the apartment yet?

Not yet

What? You did not go visit my mom?

I have to do something in school so I'm unable to leave.

If I end early, I will go visit your mom

It's okay, take your time.

Don't let this get in your way.

Last night call, you said that your mom was upset

What happened?

I will tell you in details later when we meet in person.

Are you still in school? In class?

Yeah, we have a break right now and I just came out to call to check things up.

Then if I finished early

I will go see your mom and I'll let you know

See you tonight

Yeah, see you tonight

Bye

Before we discuss Su Che and Miao Ying's marriage...

do you know what I would say first?

I know.

It's my fault. I neglected it when I was dealing with this matter.

I helped out your career.

Yet you're here wrecking my family.

I didn't expect things would escalate like this.

If I knew, I would never let her...

Enough. I don't want to talk about it again.

This time I'm here in the US,

there is one more purpose, aside from the kids stuff.

This was caused by you.

So you need to give me an answer.

No matter how you do it,

you have to take care of this as soon as possible.

Make that woman disappear from my life forever.

Relax. I will stay on top of this.

I can tell Miao Ying that it's too early to get married.

But you want me to object like this in front of Shu Che,

he would suspect our relations and our intentions.

I tried last night. I couldn't convince him.

Because I have no good reasons to object their marriage.

All of us want them to be together soon.

Miao Ying is the daughter in law I had in mind for a long time.

I hope they get married soon too.

We have no other options.

I always have this feeling...

that we would stand in the way of their happiness this time.

Don't think it like that. It's just temporary.

How could we stop them?

There's only one way.

What?

If they can't get married this time,

it can't be because of our objection.

It can only be Miao Ying rejecting Shu Che.

How could Miao Ying turn down Shu Che?

Let her know everything.

You're saying you need to tell her our relations and our plans?

Tell her everything. That way she will know that her relationship with Shu Che will affect the whole situation.

She will know that their marriage is not only their own business.

Is that too risky?

Would Miao Ying tell Shu Che that?

No. I know my daughter well.

All of her life, she tries to put herself in other people's shoes.

She's a good kid who thinks about everyone.

She never puts herself first.

She never...

acted out or be disobedient.

So, I have confidence in what kind of decision Miao Ying would make.

When do you plan on telling her?

When I have to.

Why are you here?

What's going on? Are you really going back?

I heard your roommate say that your mother was in a car accident. Is it serious?

She will live, but she's still in the ICU.

She will have to go through a long recovery process even after she's out of the hospital.

Last time I was here you were crying. Was it because of this?

When are you leaving? - The day after tomorrow.

What time? I'll drive you.

No need. I will call an Uber.

No problem. I will drive you. What time?

I can look it up even if you don't tell me.

How long are you planning to stay back at home?

I don't know.

When do you plan to come back? - There's no plan.

So you're thinking about not coming back?

Possibly.

But does your mother need your company when she gets better?

You can come back and continue your study.

I don't want to keep talking about this.

I don't want to turn into someone who complains all the time.

None of your problems look like big deals to me.

Is money an issue for you?

My father said as long as something can be solved with money, it's not a big deal.

Why didn't you ask for our help?

Ask Shu Che to set you up with some work on the campus. I can also introduce you to some part time jobs.

I can loan you money and pay for your tuition.

Are you done?