Another stormy night in Green Hill, a luxury high classed town which laid a few distance apart from the main City, Taipen. Everything then was in darkness, as the beautiful landscapes were all covered in the angry shadow of the night. Spreading now and then, a few horrific thunder shots and lightning to disturb the calming atmosphere.
The strong wind from the North blew passed a cold air that would make anyone hair to stand up just because of the shivery chill.
July was always a stormy month as the people lived in Green Hill had to prepare for a lot of thundering and lightning night, such as this one. But the only household, which lay above the highest hill in the town, would be the only one that captured most of the action beneath the mystery of darkness. Most of people in the town all knew the story, but they were never allowed to say a word about it.
Another big “BANG”, another heavy thunder stroke from the thick clouded sky, and a while later a sharp lighting flashed right across the upstairs main bedroom as a big man suddenly awoke with fright, as he puffed, and looked around in the dark room.
Lao da Tung tried to release his tightened heart by breathing more rapidly, as he turned over and observed his wife, Da Lien, who was still in her peaceful sleep.
Slowly he frowned a big sighed and dropped his body back on the bed, trying to catch back his needed sleep.
But, just then, between the sound of the big winds rushing through the bushes and the sound of thunder striking down. There was a soft music played by a violin could be heard. Lao Da sat up immediately due to the haunting sound.
-“Who is that?” He thought out, while looked around in caution. Reluctantly, he began to step down from the bed, to follow the music.
Yes, no doubt, it was the sound of a violin. Lao Da got curious more to the music, as he wobbly wrapped on his night rob on top of his pajamas. Just then, a cold wind managed to squeak in from the shut window and ran a tour around his body, finally hit straight to his spine, Lao Da began to shiver more.
-No one in this house can play any music accepted for “her”! … As when the reminder of “Her” Lao da found this heart began to beat faster and his step began to tremble. But willingly as a strong stubborn man, he would not let anyone scare him, especially some one that no longer existed.
So determinedly, Lao da pushed himself out of the bedroom, as he entered into the corridor, began the searching on where the mysterious music was actually come from.
It was from “her” room, as his heart began to pound on faster, while facing with the dark bedroom, at the end of the corridor, where the music was clearly coming from. An empty bedroom, with everyone excepted for Lao Da himself were all abandoned from coming to the room, after she pasted away!
-“It couldn’t be her!” He whispered out, trying to console himself that there was no such thing as “ghost”.
Reaching up to the light switch, Lao Da used hist finger to turn on some light. But more shock was brought to him, as the light turned on, immediately the bowl broken, brought back the whole corridor into darkness.
Lao Da once again began to tremble, as he turned in puzzled, deciding whether to go on with the search or just turn back to the bedroom.
Just then, the haunting and captivated sound from the violin occurred again, as Lao Da tented his body, leading backward to the wall, slowly patted dry on his sweaty forehead, he tried to gain back the confident.
-If she really is back, then I want to see her! He made up his will, and started to take another forward step along the lively corridor, heading toward the small bedroom at the end.
The music became clearer by every nearer step, showing a definite sign that the end bedroom was still alive.
Lao Da by now, could fell the muscles in him had became harden, as he shivery put one hand out on the knock to open the door. The old wooden door slowly creaked opened, making a little dry sound showing that it hadn’t been use for a while. Lao Da took a deep breath to confront himself, while listening carefully that the music was still playing.
Finally, he pushed the door fully opened, at the same time when his eyes suddenly widened in fear and amazed. When the door was expanding, it also showed the exact figure of “her”, the bar singer dressing in a favorite traditional dress. It was the imagined that once captured Lao da’s heart and brought a lot of into the calming White Mansion.
But there she was, just standing so quietly, her hair had grown longer, her skin had turned paler, but in front of his eyes, her beauty still shone just like the old days. She stood still never noticed his present, her eyes were softly watching down on a little girl sitting at the desk, who was the one playing the violin in her hands.
A big lighting ray flashed through to the window, and her imaged at the same time disappeared, leaving back the empty air. The soft melody from the little instrument was still playing by the little fourteen years old girl, who was sitting in front of the small desk with a little old yellow touch shining on her music book.
Lao Da eyes were then raging with fire as the recognized the little girl's familiar figure.
-XIAO WEI…! He yelled out to his youngest daughter, who immediately jumped out with a big shock, as she shakily turned over to face with her strictness father, mouth dropped open but she didn’t know how to defend for herself.
-What are doing here? Why are you playing that stupid thing! Lao Da continued on, being very cross with his daughter’s action, hiding him to learn music, and now she was even dare enough, to invade into the bedroom, where everyone were banded from coming in, and especially herself.
-Sorry! …..father!…Xiao Wei replied in her unstable voice and like a quick possum, she rushed down the violin on the desk, she ran straight past her father out of the door, and darted all the way downstairs to her bedroom, without turning back her head.
Xiao Wei closed the door to her bedroom, as soon as she got inside. There was no lock on the door, so she jumped herself on the bed, neatly covered in the big blanket and laid there nervously. Wishing desperately for the angry father not to come after her later to punish her, for not listening to him.
Lao Da Tung was fuming with anger, as he watched Xiao Wei little figure, escaping downstairs. He was ready to run after her, just then another big thunder hammed down on the roof, add in with another ray of lighting sparkled outside the grumpy night. The window from the back bedroom suddenly flung opened letting in a big force of cold airs flowing through the corridor, and aiming to hit at Lao Da’s body.
Lao Da paused back in awareness, as he felt the ghastly wind blowing from his back, to his body. And then his feet suddenly gone norm, it liked as if someone was holding it back from him. Stopping him to move.
“Give me back my child!” A haunting, uneven trembling voice of a lady spoke out to Lao Da’s mind.
With the mysterious force, Lao Da had to stand back without any control over his own body, except for sweating uncontrollable, as he felt his hand became sticky.
-You’re never get it! He replied, crumbly in the mean voice. Took in another deep breath, he turned back from the corridor to face with the dark bedroom.
-You’re never get it, Hong Wei! N…E…V…E…R!
============================
Seven years later,
Under the shining rays of a bright day, the dark blue Four wheels Toyota, was speeding up to the tallest hill in Green Hill, passing the fabulous landscape of nature.
The driver was smiling happily on the chance to meet back with his younger master, after a long three years apart.
-Alec! Look up there, the White House on top of the hill. It’s ours. Jorder spoke out proudly from the back seat, as he excitingly pointed his finger to the window, showing at the first appearance of his family big and famous white mansion on the hill.
Alec, a good friend of Jorder, who was also sitting at the back seat gasped in amazed as he followed the direction pointed from Jorder to recognize of the beautiful mansion.
-Wow! It’s truly more beautiful then what you described Jor! You’re so lucky. Alec showed a little envy in his compliment, but it was more like a joke.
-Yeah! You haven’t heard the full story yet! Jorder replied as if it was a warning, but Alec didn’t took much notices, as his eyes were too busy viewing the outstanding scenery of the new place that he’s going to stay in during the first month settled back in Taiwan.
Jorder got bored with his friend, so quickly he leaded forward to the driver.
-Lao Khan. Is my father home? He asked.
-Answer you Shao ye! Lao ye had been out on a business trip since weeks. Ta Khan, the driver carefully answered in the usual polite manner that he been followed all his life while working for the Tung family.
On hearing the reply, Jorder frowned back to his seat.
-So much for the welcoming of the only son, after three years apart! He sighed, looking out of the window.
-Shao ye, please don’t sigh, Lao fu ren is still at home waiting anxiously for you!
Jorder relaxed softly with a smile. He was just acting out a bit, because truly he was very relief on hearing his father, the strictly commander of the house, was not home. So it’ll decrease the pressure for Alec, the new guest in the house. And Jorder himself can also spend more free, easy and fun time with his lovely mother, and his undefeated sister, Vicki.
-How is Xiao Wei! Jorder looked up to Lao Khan again, who strangely turned to a depression stage.
Trying the best to steady the steering wheel, Lao Khan slowly replied in regrets.
-Xiao jie, already moved out of the house!
-“WHAT”!! Jorder cried out in horrible shock that caught back a sudden tension in Alec, as he turned over to his friend.
-Jor! What’s the matter! Alec asked, realized he was lost with what ever that were been discussing.
But there was no time for Lao Khan to expand on the news, when their car already reached to the iron front gate of the Mansion. After a single horn, a little servant boy ran out and opened the big gate, making ways to the car to drive through.
It’s took another few minutes for the car to follow the driveway, around the big fountain garden, in its slow speed, and finally pulled over at the huge entrance doorway.
Jorder and Alec both surprisingly turned quite since the car entered into the gate. They were glued to their window side, watching at the view of a place which he had missed so much in the pasted few years. And the other one was breathless to the amazing scenery that he just saw for the first time.
But due to the motion of the stopping car, that awoke both young men. They slowly opened the doors and walked out of the car from two different sides.
Immediately, for the first time when Alec looked up directly to view the full picture of the White Mansion, his face turned in to more starlet, and wonder in fury.
Even known, it was the first time he
came back to Taiwan in fifteen long years. It was the first time in his
life that he visited the small elegant town called "Green Hill”.
But, somehow, this particular White Mansion appeared to be very familiar
to Alec, as if he had once been here, but he just couldn’t remember
when.
But unnoticed to Alec, lying behind the familiar White Mansion, laid a
secret, that’s waiting for him, only him to come in and open the door to
what happened in the past.
Even known, it was the first time he came back to Taiwan in fifteen long years. It was the first time in his life that he visited the small elegant town called "Green Hill”. But, somehow, this particular White Mansion appeared to be very familiar to Alec, as if he had once been here, but he just couldn’t remember when.
Jorder on the other side was quickly greeted by his longing mother. Mrs Da who ran hurriedly down the steps and leaned forward to hug on her long time departed son to show how much she missed him.
-Xiao Ying, Oh, you’re finally
came home, my dear boy, how much you grown over the three years. Mrs Da
cried out, as reunion tears started to swells up in her motherhood eyes.
-Mama, I missed you too! I missed you so much! Jorder was sharing the same
emotion stage. Since he was small, his mother was always the one who given
him so much cares and loves. Over the three years alone in a new country,
there were countless nights, where Jorder would lay in bed quietly wishing
just to see the kindling face from his mother.
Alec was captured and touched by the mother and son bonding, he stood quietly down the steps to view at the moving picture. Mrs Da was the first one to recognize the young enchanting man who been standing silently in one side. Hesitantly she broke out from the hug to her son, and turned over to Alec.
-Sorry! Mrs Da politely apologized while drying the happy tears on her cheek. Just then her eyes turned into a sudden shock, when the image of the young man, standing in front of her appeared clearer. Oh My God! You Peng! She gasped out in fears, in disbelieve, while Alec watched on in fury wondering what was the Lady boss of the house just called him.
On hearing his mother’s alerting, Jorder also remembered of his lost friend.
-Mama! This is who I been telling you about, my best mate over in Cali, Alec Su! Showing a motion by his hand for Alec to move forward on the steps, Jorder turned to his friend and continued on the introduction. Alec this is my dear mother.!
-Nice to meet you Mrs Da. Alec graciously stepped forward to greet the lovely mother of his friend that he heard about so much.
But Mrs Da was froze, as her furious eyes kept pacing on Alec, looking carefully at his eyes, his face, his smile and even the familiar voice.
-Mother, are you okay? Jorder gently shake her body, noticing at his mother’s stranger reaction. But then Mrs Da finally snapped out.
-Uh..Sorry, Hello…Alec! She greeted him with a warm smile, while stepping down to have a closer view. “It was exactly him!” She thought in wonder. But then reality raised as she abruptly turned back to her son. Xiao Ying, why don’t you take Alec inside for a little rest, or show him around the house. I’ll asked Sen-Er to bring your suitcases into your rooms.
-Yes, Ma! Jorder excitingly replied, while pulling on Alec shirt for him to walk forward. He had been waiting for this moment, where he could show off his extravagance mansion in front of his friend.
Alec quickly ran up the stair leading to the main room with Jorder, not forgetting to give a little mannerly bow to Mrs Da, who was still watching at him closely.
The moment the two boys ran up to the house, Mrs Da immediately turned back to Lao Khan who just showed to Sen-Er, the servants those suitcases that needs to be taken inside the house.
-Lao Khen, do you see…She does not need to speak out the full queries, when Lao Khen rapidly nodded to it.
-Lao fu ren, I was in the same shock as you were, the first time I saw him. Really there is no different! Lao Khen supported in.
=================================
After following behind the girl servant Sen-Er, to the guest’s room, which was in the middle of the corridor, where it’s going to be Alec’s room for the first month. Jorder left the servant alone to put his stuffs in his own room, down the stair, while he pulled Alec along the corridor starting for the inspiring tour.
-Alec, over the left side of your bedroom is my father study room, which is also the library in the house, and beside that is my parent’s bedroom! Jorder began as Alec and him was still standing outside the guest’s room.
-Wow, you had a library at home? Alec gasped out in wonder.
-Yeap, a small one, but when I was going to school over here, for most of mine assignment research, I always come to there first! They then started to move on to the right side, in opposite direction. Along the corridor was a few glass windows, allowing the prefect views from the above down to the Tung’s family backyard garden… Alec, look down there, that is the three sides swing that I been telling you about. Vicki and I used to have a fight every night after dinner for whom to go on the swing first.
Alec followed after the pointing, as he amazed of the freshening view. The backyard was as big as the front yard, in one side was a rocky little waterfall to a small pond. But what Jorder was showing was an ancient yet techniques’ looking three sides swing. From that Jorder had told to Alec, the swing moved around in circle, instead of up and down like the normal type.
Moving along they went slowly, as Jorder continue on the introduction to the forth bathroom on the stair, a game room of the family which recently was renovated by a larger window looking to the backyard. A storeroom and the last room at the corridor.
-What is that room there? Alec asked out of curious when they reached to the last room at the corridor, where Jorder was planning to pull him downstairs without presenting the last room.
-This is…Jorder puzzled, it was not because he didn’t want to show what was in the room. But because he was not allowed to know what was in that room, which most of the time was locked, excepted for when his father is home. It’s another storeroom, but we hardly use it. Jorder finalized, hopefully it can covered Alec’s curiosity for now.
And breathing out slightly, it worked, as Alec stopped on his wonder at the last room and followed to down stair. From the stair it would lead straight to the opened living room, where Jorder once again found back his excitement and move on again.
-Ah, this is our living room, big enough for another three bedrooms right? Our left you have the bar there, in the right is the dining section, the kitchen is just behind there, the laundry also beside that, but we don’t go there often, I think you know why! A little snobby sense passing in this last sentence, as Jorder playfully gave Yu Peng a winked. The living room also had a big door in glass coming out to the backyard garden. Alec looked on, and yes there was a thick invisible glass wall, bringing the nature side of the backyard into the family dining room.
Following that, Jorder pulled on Alec to the left where they stepped in a glowing hallway with little crafted electric lantern shining along the way, bringing on the elegant olden time, and in the hallway were a series of doors coming to different rooms of the family.
-Alec, that room next to the backyard is used to be my study room, I’m not sure what is it now. Next to it is my bedroom, coming to the front is the bathroom. And at last my sister’s bedroom. She’s lucky, her bedroom had the window viewed to the front yard. Where my study viewed to the backyard.
Alec was still traveling in astonishment feelings, as he observed every room. When coming to the last room, he was about to pop a question, asking, “where is Jorder’s sister?” But then his beeper started to ring.
-There is a phone in my room come in there, I know it’s from Shana, right! Jorder left out a teasing look, as Alec quickly gave a revenging punch and ran straight to Jorder bedroom, since he doesn’t want to keep his girlfriend, who was still in California waiting too long.
As the break, Jorder walked back out to the living, where he met his mother for further discussion on the family matter.
-How is your friend? Mrs Da kindly asked out, as she helped Sen-Er organised the dinner table.
-He’s fine, Mama, can I ask you something? Jorder queried, while walking over to his mother in the dining room.
-Yes, darling, what is it? Answered back openly by Mrs Da.
-I heard Xiao Wei moved out of the house? Jorder urgently spoken out what had been rousing inside of him since Lao Khan opened the topic.
Mrs Da let out a little sighed hearing the question as she pulled out a chair and sat down, showing her son to follow.
-Yes, Xiao Wei left about a year ago! She sank back reluctantly on thinking of her daughter who left the house since she was still very young.
-Why ma? And how come no one tells me? Jorder asked back in more queries.
-You’re father didn’t want to disturb your study that’s why he ordered for no one to let you know! Mrs Da continued on to give her son more details. Xiao Wei was chosen in the Music Academy of Taiwan.!
On hearing the news, Jorder lighted up in starlet. He knew that his sister was very attracted to music, but to be picked in the Academy of the city, it was very honorable.
-That’s great ma! He gasped up in cheering, but slowly he noticed the unhappy expression on his mother concerning face as he quickly sat down and asked on. What’s wrong ma? Father didn’t like it.
Painfully Mrs Da nodded, as she pursued on the story.
-Yes Xiao Wei got in a big fight with your father, and finally she was very determine to accept the offer and that when she left the house and move down to the city where she can follow her study. Your father refused to support for her, so Xiao Wei had to look after herself.
-That’s terrible ma, Why must father had to be so strict to her. I mean what is so bad about music.? Jorder spoke out in dispute.
-You’re father had his own point, you will never understand.! Mrs Da consoled her son on his uncivil thought.
So a moment of debating, Jorder finally turned back to his mother.
-So have you heard about Xiao Wei, how is she doing in the city?
By then Mrs Da finally relief for a smile as she lay one hand on her son’s shoulder.
-She’s fine, plus she was just here this morning!
-Really? Ma? Jorder brightened back in confusion.
-Yes, she is on holiday, so she was coming by to see me. I told her that your father was not home, and she agreed to come here and stay with me for a few weeks! Mrs Da reviewed blissfully
Jorder was no lesser cheering on the news, as she showed it by jumping up with bright smile.
-Oh, so when will she be here…?
Before Mrs Da could answer, the little servant Sen-Er stepped in but politely disturb the conversation.
-Please, Lao Fu Ren, Xiao jie is on the phone.
-Hah, talking about spiritual coincident. I’ll go and talk to her mother. Jorder offered as Mrs Da nodded in agreement.
-Shao Ye, she’s in line 2! The servant advised as she stepped forward leading the young master to the main telephone in the living room.
-Wow, since did we get line 2? Jorder friskily played on the joke, as he anxiously chased over to the phone planning the big teasing on his long time no see sister.
Mrs Da still relaxed at the dinning, she watched at her son fighting on the phone with his sister. Thoughts then came past, as she remembered of the family situation in the last two decays. How much Xiao Wei had grown up to be like. And the fury that she had on the new guest of the family. “Is that fate?” She thought redeeming her mind in wonder, what if her husband come home and see Alec. How would he react?
================================
Alec laid back on his bed trying to settle in, it was well passed midnight, but somehow he just couldn’t find the right pressure to sleep. Maybe it was the first night coming back to Taiwan, or the first night staying in Green Hill, or the first night sleeping in the Tung’s Mansion. Something just so hard to consulate as his mind keeps thinking of a lot of things. Suddenly he heard the front door down stair opened, and Lao Khan’s voice greeting somebody.
-Xiao Jie, Lao fu ren has been waiting for you!
Then another soft female voice, but because she was whispering, Alec couldn’t work out what had been discussing. Lifting up to the head of his bed, Alec took a view at the digital clock lying above him. It was 2 o’clock in the morning and the Tung still have people coming home. “This is a strange household!” He let out a little grin on the silly thought, and pulled up the blanket to cover his face, forcing the urgent sleep.
But was he never aware of it? Of a white shadow flooding on top of the ceiling, watching at him closely, like if it wanted to recognize his figure, his familiar face more closely.
==========================
Dawn was just coming, as the sky was still in the brightening blue
background. Alec began to stir on his bed, as he disturbingly awoke to a
soft music.
-Gosh! It’s only six. He frowned, while looking up to the clock. He was planning to get some more sleep, when that music appeared to sound more clearer.
It was a soft violin tune that attracted any curious mind, just like Alec.
-Who would play music in this early of the morning? Alec thought out, while stepping down from his bed, planning for an early exploring trip.
=========================
The music was definitely coming from down stair, Alec took a closer recognition after coming out of his room, and so he decided, stepping down on the steps.
And there she stood beside the glass wall, facing to the backyard, with the small violin laying on her left shoulder, while her right arm was controlling the stalk for its to move in rhythms with the attached string, letting out the melancholy captivating music.
Alec was entrancing by the unusual image, appearing in front of him. The young lady, was in her early twenty, she had a short modern hair cut, wearing a silky thin pajamas, even know her music was playing out constantly, yet her eyes were closing most of the time. Maybe that was just a way to let your soul flow with the music. The common phrase that Alec used to hear.
His eyes were studying the picture so much, that the focus on his step at the stair was loosen, and in the last minute, Alec almost trip over, making a disquieting sound as the young lady immediately jumped out in shock.
Hastily, she turned back to the stair where the noises just came from that instant minute before. And there she saw a strange man looking at her in the same furious eyes.
-Who are you? She abruptly asked out. While after the disbursing moment, she finally took a careful glance at his image. A strange person yet he appeared to be very familiar.
“Did I know her somewhere?” Alec wondered in his mind, while turning his head from side to side watching in concentration at the picture of the young lady he just met. But a strange feeling arouse as if they had known each other before.
23 years ago,
In the seldom night, within an early morning of the 70 in Taiwan’s capital city, at the busy nightclub, which had just closed to end another packed night. Almost every customer, every workers of the place had left the bar, except for a few security men and some of the cleaning staffs who were fixing up the left over mess in the place.
It was Hong Wei first night at work. She was born into a wealthy business family. But unlike other fortune kids, Hong Wei could not live in the comfy life as everyone had thought. By sixteen Her father had to claim Bankrupted after a fell down from the stocks market, but then blundering he died from a sudden heart attack. To paint the picture more worst, Hong Wei’s mother also pasted away after 2 years of trying to cope with life where there was nothing. Hong Wei was throw out the street when she was eighteen to suffer with a strange unknown society that she had never learn about. Then to get money for her mother funeral, Hone Wei had to sell herself in to one of the popular nightclub in the city, starting in the new critical life as a cleaner servant.
-“Hone Wei, all the customers had left. You go to the main show room and clean up in there!” The Cleaner leader ordered as Hong Wei quietly picked up the bucket of cold water with a smelly cloth on her order hand, she approached to the show room.
While rousing around the empty area, she had thought it was her and herself in the main room. This was the place where a few hours ago, it would had covered with flashing colourful lights. Loud sound of active music and complicating voices of high class people who were spending money to enjoy themselves.
Yet now, everything was just
solemnly quiet, like Hong Wei sorrowful expression written on her face.
Since the sudden past away of both her parents, after all the debts
scandal had slowly drained out the youthful, lively emotion in her.
Silently, Hong Wei moved on with her job, as she put down the water bucket
on the ground, and began to put the chairs back in their right order.
A music tone suddenly arouse, it was the steady notes from a piano that
Hong Wei was hearing. From little single notes, and quickly everything
combined as its picked up into a rhythm of melody.
Hong Wei looked up in fury, senses soon indicated to her that the music was coming out within the room. It was from the stage at one side of the room. Curious enough, she approached her steps soundlessly on the wooden stairs leading to the stage. And by eyes she saw the fully furnished piano, where the clearer melody was coming from. Still hooking on fully in wonder, Home Wei moved herself closer to one side of the stage, wanting to see who was it, or what was it which playing the music.
And eventually there she saw him. A
certificate looking young man during his twenty, wearing a round pair of
glasses to add in the educational image. His hair was neatly combed in
shining ointment, which highlighted more the picture of the classy elegant
man.
He dressed in a formal black suit, with white shirt underneath and a
simple tied. He was sitting there, beside the piano, eyes closing showing
his feelings was bounding to the music that were playing out from his soft
and even fingers.
Hong Wei was amazed at it was the first young man she ever saw except for those old and grumpy looking men who used to chase after her for the money of the debts. She was still watching at him closely, until her attraction abruptly got cut off, as the man stopped on playing the music, he opened his shining eyes and was in the same shocking surprised looking at the young simple girl, who was standing just a distance away from him.
She may appeared to be messy in the worn out and dirty outfit, when her long hair was braided into two uneven lines, dropping down from her shoulder. But on her face, the alluring beauty was still showing clearly through those black sparkling round eyes, those trendy pink cheeks and the full rosy lips, which were opened out gasping in some air of fear.
-Who are you? The man promptly asked the question, looking at the young girl who he just saw for the first time in the bar.
-Me? Hong Wei gasped back, but then a quick moment her conscious regained as she softly answered. My name is Hong Wei, the new cleaner girl.
On hearing the response. The young man quickly stood up from his seat by the piano and quickly collected all his paper works on the instrument, thinking how he was in the way of somebody’s work.
-Sorry! He replied hastily gathered all his stuff. I was disturbing your job, sorry I was just practicing my new song and I guessed I got carry away. The man explained himself, when Hong Wei stood still, she widened her eyes observing his rushing action and wonder.
-No, you didn’t disturb me! She answered at last…I like your song, you can keep practice, my work is down there. Showing her fingers to the messy area down the stage, as Hong Wei quickly moved herself away from his sight, until she caught his voice was yelling behind her.
-Um excuse me, may I know your name miss!
A soft and polite phrase, which Hong Wei had long haven’t heard anyone acted so nicely to her, confusingly she turned back and replied in the same soft tone.
-Um…Hong Wei, I already said it!
-Sorry I missed it before! The young man friendly replied back, as he made up a silly face to support for his mindless action just then. And you can call me You Peng. I’m the music composer in the band play for his club. He introduced, as Hong Wei was still standing apart from a distance, but her mind was capturing every detail carefully. So then You Peng continued. I’m writing up a new song, can I use this time to practice?
-Please do! Hong Wei answered back with all pleasure and at the same time, catching another full smile of his, which was indicating directed to her. As the innocent mind, she quickly walked away pretended as if she hadn’t noticed it. I better get back to work.
You Peng, stood still on the stage as he watched from behind the figure of the small girl walking back to the area where a numbers of works are waiting for her to complete. Letting out a little sigh, feeling pity for the small person, but soon You Peng came back to his piano, spread out again all the paper notes, and once more started on the newly written tone. Usually it was himself listening to his work, but that night, there was another person, slightly admired for his talents. It was how they first met.
============================================
23 years later, at Green Hill, in the Tung’s family white Mansion.
The music was definitely coming from down stair, Alec took a closer recognition after coming out of his room, and so he decided, stepping down on the steps.
And there she stood beside the glass wall, facing to the backyard, with the small violin laying by her left shoulder, while her right arm was controlling the stalk for its to move in rhythms with the attached string, letting out the melancholy captivating music.
Alec was entrancing by the unusual image, appearing in front of him. The young lady, was in her early twenty, she had a short modern hair cut, wearing a silky thin pajamas, even know her music was playing out constantly, yet her eyes were closing most of the time. Maybe that was just a way: “to let your soul flows with the music”. The common phrase that Alec used to hear.
His eyes was studying the picture so much, that the focus on his step at the stair was loosen, and in the last minute, Alec almost trip, making a disquieting sound as the young lady immediately jumped out in shock.
Hastily, she turned back to the stair where the noises just came from that instant minute before. And there she saw a strange man looking at her in the same furious eyes.
-Who are you? She abruptly asked out. While after the disbursing moment, she finally took a careful glance at his image. A strange person yet he appeared to be very familiar.
“Did I know her somewhere?” Alec wondered in his mind, while turning his head from side to side watching in concentration at the picture of the young lady he just met. But a strange feeling arouse as if they had known each other before.
During that quiet recognising moment between the two, when they had not yet find a way to introduce themselves, a disturbing yawn called out, as Jorder who was still sleepily walked out from his room and approached closer to the stair way.
-Aiyah Vicki ah..He yawned. Can’t you practice your music another later time, people are still trying to get some sleep here! Jorder put out the complain at the same moment he spotted at Alec who was still standing at the stair. Alec! Did my sister music wake you up? Jorder asked out, while rubbing his eyes for a better image.
-Ge! Vicki abruptly called out as she walked pasted Alec from the stair and came closer by her brother’s side. You haven’t introduced.
-Huh? Jorder starlet, but soon snapped out from the lost world on remembering that Alec and Vicki had not met each other. So gave out another big yawn he sluggishly started the introduction. Oh, Alec this is my sister Vicki, at home we call her Xiao Wei. And Vicki, this is my friend Alec, he just came back to Taiwan and will be staying here for awhile.
By then both Vicki and Alec gave a slight frown on realizing the new person that they been hearing before from the only one Jorder, so stepping forward Alec and Vicki politely took in the traditional greeting.
-Nice to meet you…Alec puzzled, should he allow to call her by the name, he confused since the custom was not something he knew a lot about after fifteen years living in a Western Country.
-Hi! Please call me Vicki! She added in the empty space for him as Alec gently put up a smile, and Vicki replied in the same way.
Jorder was not a very smiley face, when he gathered up all the strength for another yawn.
-Alright guys! You all know each other now, so can you go back to our bed, please, or atleast less me to. Vicki stopped playing it until I got all my sleep. Jorder turned back for a scold at Vicki, when she quickly picked up her small instrument and agreed,
-Okey, I won’t play anymore, you guys can go and get that sleep, I have to get change as well. See ya later. Without waiting for anyone to wave goodbye, Vicki ran straight to her room with the violin on her hand.
Eventually then Jorder and Alec dismiss as each of them gone back to their bed hoping to catch up from the of missing sleep.
=========================================
By the full sunrise, Alec was fully awake as he quickly did the compulsory clean up, dressed up properly in his trouser and straight shirt. He opened the door and walked down the stair, at the same time, he saw Vicki was also dressed in her comfy Jean and T-shirt, who already at the dining room helping her mother setting up the breakfast.
-Morning Alec! How was your sleep! Mrs Da brightly asked out, as Alec entered the dinning room with big smile.
-Thank you Mrs Da, I slept well. He replied.
-Morning, um, can I call you Alec? Vicki asked back, she was more of a modern straight forward speaker rather then the typical quiet Chinese girl.
-Yes, please call me Alec! He replied in the same friendly way.
-Xiao Wei didn’t happen to disturb you by her late arriving last night and the early music this morning, did she? Mrs Da asked out, glancing a happily look to her daughter.
-Um no! Alec denied, as he witnessed Vicki winked a thanking smile at him. I didn’t notice much. Alec added on, watching at Mrs Da who couldn’t keep her eyes away from her daughter.
Since Vicki appeared, Mrs Da also looked more relax and cheerful then the day before. By their actions, Alec can understand they are two very close mother and daughter, except one thing is missing. And by the thought of it, it appeared.
Jorder gave a full body stretched
outside his room, as he joined in everybody in the dining area.
-Morning everybody! Jorder greeted, while couldn’t control for the last
yawn, even thought he had fully dressed up.
-Hah, finally the sleepy pig had awakened! Vicki called out deliberately to tease at her brother drowsy action.
By the torment, Jorder became fully awoke, as he glanced over his sister with a cheeky look.
-Don’t pick on me young lady! If it was not for you, playing music at 6 o’clock in the morning, disturbing everyone sleep, then I would be fully awoke hours ago. Jorder defend. But Vicki was not so easy to over come, so stick up her nose to him and continue with the challenge.
-Um, blaming it on me, so why I didn’t see Mama or Alec slept back like you, if it was not because you’re a sleepy pig, who’s never can got enough of it!
Jorder risen his eyes, stepped down his foot, as he warning as a chase and run would happen very soon. But undefeatable as she always liked, Vicki was already ran and hidden behind her mother back, preventing Jorder from coming closer.
Soon the room was filled in laughter from everyone as the moment of family reunited warmed up the whole family.
-Come on Alec! Let’s go inside. Jorder rushed on while Alec was reluctantly stepping on behind, while his eyes were still admiring at the front yard garden.
-No you go first, Jor! I’ll take a walk out here and then come in later! Alec offered as he gave Jorder’s back a push for him to move in first.
-Okey then, I’m going in first, and tell them to get dinner because I’m starving and you can stay out here as long as you like. But if you don’t come in, Vicki and I will properly take over your meal.
After finished the cheeky warning, Jorder turned himself backward and raced inside, while Alec looked on with a funny smile then turned back to take his walk as intended.
=======================================
-I’m home Mama, anything for dinner yet? Jorder called out with his big voice the moment he stepped inside but at the same time he was stopped by Vicki. Who was sitting on the big coach in the living room, attending to a phone call.
-Shrrrrrrrrr! She scolded out to her big brother and then whispered out the explanation. I’m on the phone.
But Jorder hit back to Vicki a furious look while she hastily turned back to the unfinished conversation at the phone.
-Okay, Jimmy! I got to go now, but try to come down soon, okay! After a blushing smile in reaction to the replied from the other line, Vicki could not care much about her brother who was watching at her every move. She lovingly gave a little kiss by sound to the speaker, before gently hang up the phone.
-Who is Jimmy? Jorder rushed over to her side in full curious expression while Vicki sheepishly moved over to one side, away from his grab.
-It’s no body concern you! She cheekily replied while turning away, hidden a blushing smile.
===========================
Step by step, breathing in the fresh air from the native garden, which was such different from the busy street and polluted environment where he been living during the young age. Alec was too captured by the peaceful atmosphere that carrying so much inspiration.
After a long walk surrounding the front yard it finally leaded Alec back to the front door where he started. By that time the sky had turn darker, the dimming purple background mixing in with the bluish clear sky, created a beautiful framework which bringing out the delicacy picture of the Big White Mansion.
Alec paused on his step again, he was taking another careful look of the house in general from the outside that appeared so familiar to him since the first look. Pacing through from the lower level to the upper part. Glancing carefully from room to room, from right to left until his eye paused back in surprise, looking at the last room on the left from the upper level where Jorder had mentioned so briefly that it was just a store room.
A quick flash in astonishment, when Alec blinked his eyes one more time cautiously before turning to look at the strange beautiful lady. Dressed in a pink traditional dress, she was standing silently by the widow of the store room, eyes glaring down to some point behind the hill.
-Vicki? Alec muttered out on recognizing the familiar face of Jorder's sister. What is she doing up there? He queried inward.
But eventually he relaxed, when understandingly it was Vicki’s house, and ofcourse she had the right to go anywhere in any room as she wanted. Beside, the storeroom was right above Vicki’s own bedroom, as they both have windows facing out to the front yard of the house. Smiling quietly, Alec slowly walked up the step, coming to the house.
============================
-Mama, Vicki got a boyfriend and she is not telling you! Jorder raced around the living area trying to get away from his raging sister who was chasing on behind.
-Shut up, Xiao Ying! She cried out impatiently scolding at her brother. Mama already knew! You silly!
-What? You told Mama but not me? What’s a good sister are you? And by the way, how dare you call my name like that.! Jorder rebutted back, still in the joyful move, as he moved his body shiftily near by the door planning for the escape.
-Because you’re making fun at me! Vicki frowned. When seeing her brother was stopping at the entranceway, she used all the strength and jump over the perfect aiming, hoping to could get to the target.
But Jorder was quicker when he moved his body away, leaving Vicki alone slamming downward, and lastly hit up to a person who just walked in the door. Alec got a fright of his life, seeing a body was falling toward his side, but instantly, he up out his arms to catch on the falling person, and there she land.
-Aiyah! Sorry! I didn’t mean it! Vicki cried out quickly, after noticed that she almost hurt the innocent.
-Vicki? Alec asked out in wonder, while his arm was steadily held on her waist. How can you come down here so quick? And you changed too? He asked out again, looking at the casual, blue Jean and a yellow top that she had on, compared to the pink traditional dress before.
-Alec? Are you alright? What are you saying? Vicki turned back the astounding look, and stood herself up straight away from his grab.
But before Alec could elaborate on his point, Mrs Da voice could be heard from the kitchen as she calling Vicki in to give a hand.
-Come in Mama! Vicki answered, and raced out to the kitchen.
Before Alec could reassure himself of what just happened, Jorder pulled on his shoulder as both men made their way to the backyard.
===========================
-Did something happen to you out there Alec? Jorder pondered out the question, while his face paced on to Alec a full concerning look.
-Uh? No…I just thought I saw Vicki upstairs when I was outside but a minute after that when I walked in the house, she was down stairs, I just wondering how she moved down so quickly. Alec replied, saying out what going on his mind, unnoticed as Jorder tending face.
Slowly, both men sat down on the chairs under the shading area, as Jorder breathed out a frown and turned to Alec in a somber tone.
-Alec, you saw a Lady dressed in pink traditional dress, standing at the storeroom up stair right? Jorder asked out, he waited for Alec to nod and continued. And she looked like my sister, Vicki, right?
-So she is not Vicki? Alec put back the question in full surprised, he was so sure that the two of them had the same face and he never heard from Jorder that Vicki was a twin.
Jorder looked back inside the solemn house, and then turned back to Alec, one more time.
-I don’t want to scare you Alec, I thought these thing doesn’t exist anymore, but it seem like everything was the same.
-What are you saying, Jor? Alec pushed out the question, never he thought Jorder could acted so serious.
-The lady in the storeroom that you saw it’s not Vicki, she’s… I think …was my father mistress. And she died twenty years ago. The storeroom used to be her room, but since she pasted away father did not allow for anyone to come in except himself.
Alec listened on in fury and fears as his mouth dropped opened in disbelieve. But he had no argument to fight back since he saw the lady with his own eyes, standing by the window.
-So…she’s a ghost? Funny how, Alec found his voice became a little shaky when expressing the word ‘ghost’. He used to be a very independent soul, strong and doesn’t believe in the third world. He heard too any different version of spooky ghost stories but never takes anything as real, until this one. Jorder nodded, he too, expressed the same scaring face, as Alec asked on. Have you ever seen her?
-Um…once…When I was eight, Vicki was four, we were playing at the front yard and as I looked up the house, I saw her image by the window looking down at Vicki. Jorder retold the same story that he been forgotten. The three years away from home, he thought all the uncanny stories about the ghost in his house would disappear. But unfortunately, everything was till the same.
Alec turned back his eyes to the living room, where he saw Vicki was helping Mrs Da setting up the dinner table with a few other servants.
-But how did she die? And how come Vicki looked so much like her!? Alec asked out, turning back to Jorder, who was still watching inside the house.
-I don’t know, father never allow anyone to talk. I never notice that the lady looks like Vicki that much, because when I saw her, Vicki was only four. But other people told me that Vicki was the replication of her. Hong Wei?
-Hong Wei? Is that her name? Alec asked back, one more time a strange name he just heard yet it appeared so familiar in his mind, liked he had known a person with the same name before.
Jorder nodded to his friend, both of them stood up and started to make their way back into the dining room. On the way, he let out a small conclusion.
-And that is the only thing I known about her.
======================================
Night was once again coming around in the normal cycle, it was the second night for Alec in the white Mansion. After the ghost that he thought he saw, and the unfinished mystery that Jorder had told him about Hong Wei, Alec was captured by the details.
And it was also a good topic to discuss with his distance girlfriend Shana. But she was not very interested in ghost story, and thought that Alec had been tricked by his friend. Hanging up the phone, Alec turned to look at the clock on top of his bed before he turned off the light. It was just passed midnight when the light switched off, Alec gathered himself neatly in the thick blanket, until a sudden wind force blew through the closed window, making tree branches creaking by the glass surface. Alec used the blanket covered his face, to turn down all the disturbing sound, but then, he heard. That sound of violin saddened through the dark air.
“It can’t be Vicki playing in his hours of the night?” He thought out, but the seducing music was just playing louder, pulling on his curiosity as Alec finally spread out the blanket and found his step down the bed.
“I’m sure she can’t play her violin in his hours?” Alec thought out again, and this time he bravely opened the door and exited his room.
==========================
Everything was dark outside, but the music was clear in his head. A chilling wind rushed in his thin pajamas as Alec quickly rounded his arms to the front, rubbing against his body for some heat.
Yet the music was still there, and it was coming clearly from the last room at the corridor. Alec shivered as the thought of the Ghost story he just heard of a lady that lived in the end room and died. But fighting through the little fear, he determinedly wanted to prove with himself, that there is no such thing an undying spirit.
Willingly, he followed on the music, step by step walking through the dark corridor, but his mind was surely known where to find what he was after.
At last, he was there, in front of
the door, while the soft tone of the violin still playing out as loud as
ever. Swallowing a sticky plum in his throat, Alec was ready for the
experience of the lifetime as he turned the knock and pushed in the door.
The music immediately stopped, as the yellow touch on the table moved from
the unbalancing stand, but when it was about to roll down on the floor,
her hand caught at it tightly.
-Alec? What are you doing here? Vicki asked out from the table where she had been enjoying her music, until the door suddenly turned opened, which created a little shock in her.
-Vicki? Alec asked out, eyes expressed full astonishment, but truly he was relief when finding out it was only her, not some unknown person. What are you doing here?
-I was practicing my music! Did I disturb you? Vicki asked back, looking at him with her big round eyes.
-Why do you have to practice in this hour? Alec questioned back, turning a little annoying look as in two nights in a row he was consecutively disturb by her.
-Sorry, I thought no one hear me, that’s why I come up here! Vicki softly replied, on the thought she quickly packed up her instrument, ready to leave.
Alec sighed back in relax, by now he had a little chance to observe at the mysterious room, through the dimming light from Vicki’s single touch. The room was just as big as any other bedroom in the house. It filled with luxury furniture but covered in layers of dusts. Apart from that, it was like a studio of instrument with a lot of different type of music making thing. From little drum to a great big piano, which Vicki had used as her table. Curious just covered with furious, as Alec watched around more careful, until Vicki came and stood in front of him.
-Sorry again! She said, with the violin box in one hand, smiling for Alec’s forgiveness.
He placed a soft smile at her, and started to move in one side for her to leave first. But as both of the showing the sign to leave the quiet room. A haunting cry they heard, making their steps to pause, as both turned to each other in fury.
-“No….Let’s me out please….please…..!”
-Did you hear that? Vicki whispered back, as she stepped closer to Alec’s side.
-Hear what? He asked out in fury, trying to think it was just his imagination, but he can’t share the same imagination with Vicki.
-So you didn’t hear it? Vicki asked out more louder, as her eyes turned in nervous, thinking of the ghost story that she been warned many years ago, but never believe it.
Alec was holding by her shoulder, as the two of them compressed neatly in one corner beside the door, eyes watching almost everywhere.
-Hear the cry of the lady. Alec finally asked out, as Vicki jumped up at him in relief, at least she was not the only one.
-So you heard her too! Both exchange for a nod, until another disturbing sound that arouse their caution.
The sound of a palm from a hand tapping, hitting at a glass window. Alec and Vicki spread their eyes around for the strange sound, until they both land at the window looking out the front yard of the house. And the image, a black and white transparency picture, of a lady dressed in the olden traditional dress, face looking out the window, while her hand was banging against the glass, her hounding voice was crying out the most sorrow sound ever.
-Please….No….let me go….please…!
The reflection happened only within a blink of an eye, but it got both Alec and Vicki stood still as froze as ice. Never on earth had they prepared for such experience, but why must it come to them. With all the noises that were happening, why can’t anyone else in the house hear it except for them. But apart from all the questions and the fears, they most desperately need to know who was the lady, since they image only showed her back. But by her crying, she sounded like a very weak lady who needed a lot of helps.
-----------------------
Thick misty smokes arousing in the air, until a slight wind forced over clearing the blurry environment into a more clearer image of a piano shining on the front stage. Moving around to the player side, a picture of the sophisticated young musician composer was playing softly on his familiar note. “do-re-mi-fa-so-la-si”
Then a soft voice echoed out following the level of the music. Moving to a further angle, showed an image of a young glowing girl, with braised hair, in common or poor cloth, yet her voice was so rich so delighting as she raisin the vocal even higher, until the music note finally stopped.
-Hong Wei, you’re getting better! You Peng complimented as he stood up from the piano with the respectful, encouraging applause.
-Really? Hong Wei blushingly asked back, as she stepped in closer in front of him.
-Yes! You Peng solidly replied and brought up his hand for a slight touch on her shoulder. I think I haven’t obtained the wrong student! He cheekily teased as Hong Wei looked away with more blushing.
Knowing each other for almost the month now, since the first night Hong Wei started working at the Night bar. Being from new friend, You Peng quickly see the potential in singing from Hong Wei. She revealed that when her family was in the more wealthy stage, she was once taken various music classes, in piano and vocal technic. Her fantasy once was to be a professional singer on stage, but since the broke out of her family, Hong Wei soon shattered her dream down beneath the impossible line. Until she met You Peng who decided to open the door to music for her, and he will be the first one to taken her on those rocky steps.
-I think you’re will be very popular later, Hong Wei! You Peng spoke out as he came back to sit beside his piano.
-Really? Hong Wei continued on her amazement as she followed behind to stand closer to the piano. When seeing You Peng responded with a strong nod, Hong Wei moved in closer to sit by the piano next to him and replied in her cheerful tone. Then it would all the thanks to you shi fu!
Upon hearing the teasing tone, You Peng looked up decided to scold at her, but then he realised that they were so closed together only a little distance apart. Looking closely for the first time to review the attachment from one soul to another, both You Peng and Hong Wei were paused in wonder, while eyes were gazing to each other site. The feelings that were arousing in them were unexplainable. But it felt so soft, so passionate, and so bonding.
Hesitantly clearing his throat to hit away the intimated thought, You Peng turned back to the motionless piano, as Hong Wei also filled with embarrassment as she stood up herself away to another side.
-Let’s practice again! You Peng advised, eyes pacing on his fingers at the piano not daring to look at her again.
-Okay! Hong Wei reluctantly replied, as she stood up straight trying to put her focus back on the music, not the passion thought between him and her.
And they moved on quietly within the silent atmosphere of the long night in the bar. Little notes of music flew through as Hong Wei performed the warm up excises with her voice by every single tune.
===============================
Vicki sat up from her bed realizing in sudden awoke to the feelings which carried from the characters in the dream to her real soul.
“What was that?” She wondered while tapping dry the sweats on her forehead.
Looking back outside, the first rising sun light had just shone through her window, Vicki slowly slipped down from her bed, while her mind was confusing between the pictures that she just saw before.
“Was it Alec and me?” She whispered out again, but follow a clear blink, she consoled herself it was just a dream. Unaware to her it was a dream based on what had factually happened.
==================================
Alec still struggled on his bed, turning left to right in frustration on the images that he just saw so clearly while asleep.
The lady was familiar enough, when he recognized her name was Hong Wei, the lady that Jorder had once mentioned, but the man, the gentleman beside her, it was…it was him. Or a person looked like him very much, only he appeared to look more matured and graduated then Alec a little bit.
==================================
-Vicki! Go and call you’re brother up for breakfast! Mrs Da advised, as Vicki obediently nodded and skipped her way to the hallway, and straight to Jorder’s bedroom.
-Wake up, Xiao Ying, you’re breakfast is ready, otherwise you will have nothing. She cried out with the normal playful loud voice and banging non-stop on the wooden door, creating a series of disturbing sounds.
-Xiao Wei! Stop it! Jorder sleepy voice called out of annoying from the inside as Vicki gave a loud laugh and turned back to the dining area.
On the way coming back to the living room, she met with him, Alec who was walking down from the upper level.
-Morning! Both said out simultaneously covering the spooky experience that they just had last night, followed by a strange dream about each other.
Eyes staring at each other in frustration and confusion, but almost felt like they were going to stay their forever if it was not for Mrs Da disruption called out.
-Morning Alec, come here and have some breakfast! She invited, as from the stair, Vicki was rushing in front of Alec as she walked over to take a seat beside her mother on the dinning table.
-Thank You Mrs Da! Alec politely greeted out as he followed behind Vicki to the table.
Just then Jorder opened his door a disturbing big yawn was let out as he stretched his body and moved over to the breakfast table.
-Morning mama, morning Alec! He cried still looking as sleepy with his pig’s eyes.
-Finally the pig awoke! Vicki teased out like everyday, as Jorder glanced back to her with an evil look and she returned to him a shifty smile.
-Sit down for your breakfast both of you! Mrs Da demanded out pointing toward Alec and Jorder who were standing by the table.
Reluctantly, Alec moved in first along side of the square table, but when he took down the seat, his eyes widened in starlet looking at Vicki who was sitting opposite to him. The two couldn’t say anything, but together they lower their view on to the attracting dish rather to look up at one another.
-How was your sleep Alec? Mrs Da asked out, when Alec was leading over for a piece of bread.
-Um…He puzzled pulling down on his seat, eyes casting over to Vicki’s side, who was busily feeding in the bread to her mouth non-stop. It’s was fine. Thank you Mrs Da. He firmly laid back on the reply, witnessing Vicki slight glance over his side. She sighed inward a little relief since Alec didn’t spoil the secret that she came into the bedroom upstairs. But offcourse he would never want to mention those details with anyone else. It will lead to that inexplicable cry in the middle of the night and the strange dream of the two persons whom looked alike to them.
-Do you guys have plans to go anywhere today? Mrs Da put out the attention question when realising everybody else were so quietly in their own world of carving for foods.
-No, I haven’t got any, mama! Jorder was the first one to answer with a mouth full of foods. As he swallowed them fast and look over to Alec’s site.
-Um, I may take a look around the town! Alec slowly looked up to the other direction, answering the question.
Slowly then their view turned back to Vicki, as she slurped up for a little orange juice and looked side way to her mother and answered.
-I want to go out and see an old friend.
================================================
Since Jorder was too lazy for walking around and refused to accompany by
Alec’s side with the trip around the town, Alec spent on the long walk
by himself.
Within the chilly morning of early winter, walking down from the top of the hill, the track was still covered in thick frost. Alec wrapped himself a cosy thick wool jacket as he slowly took the stroke downward, viewing the breath taking senary of the elegant town called “Green Hills”.
Suddenly a small wind rushed through from the cloudy air, making Alec to shift his direction, instead on going straight in the main road, Alec was turning into a smaller street, hoping the bushes surrounding would lessen the cold air.
Waveringly, his curious steps leaded him to a little old looking cottage lying under the hillside. Alec paused to observe the attraction scene. Sunlight was finally shining through, as in fury he saw an old looking man, with white hair indicating the elder group, his skinny little body was kneeling beside a simple grave, hands busily picking out the unwanted grass layers spreading on the old grave.
-Excuse me, sir! Alec politely called out, since the curiosity had won the battle as he came closer on the other side of the grave looking down to the old man. Do you live in here?
The man slowly looked up in infuriating, annoying how his daily activity got interrupted, something that the hometown people were well familiar that not to do. Irritatingly he looked up with those small eyes viewing at the young voice beside him.
-What do you want? The old man asked out in an old grumpy unwelcome sound, as he squeezed in his eyes even smaller fighting through the bright sunlight behind the young man’s back to see the person.
-I’m new here, and I like to get down to town can you show me the way. Alec continued on, despite how galling the old man may look like, but Alec confirmed himself that he hasn’t done anything wrong.
Frowning out a heavy sigh, the old man slowly gathered his strength pushing the support to stand up in his two weaken legs due to old age. He was willing to give the young irritating man a long talk until his eyes widened in disbelieve looking at the familiar face.
His thin lips trembled as his skinny shakily hands slowly moved up to cover away the sun so he could get the definite view at the young man.
-You…His voice quivering carrying with it a ton of emotion as he revised on the familiar face that once was so close to him. You Peng…
On noticing the old man changing reaction, Alec quickly turned confuse, listening to the two strange words that he man called out to him, Alec had thought it was just a basic misjudging.
-Sir, I’m looking for a way to get down town, can you please help me? Alec pressed on the question again, feeling unsure of the old person that he chosen to ask for direction.
But the old man couldn’t stop expressing out his shock, running a steady glance to Alec’s body up and down. He then blinked quickly to test if it was just his longing imagination.
-You so much alike, so much alike! He continued mumbled out those sentences that caused the furious in Alec to increase.
But before Alec had planning to say thank you and going to leave since he thought the man couldn’t be much help. Yet at that time the old man had shipped his weaken steps and approached closer by Alec’s side. Touching on his cheek running down on his shoulder. Alec was about to scream out from startled, when the old man couldn’t let go of him.
-You Peng, I can’t believe you’ve came back, You Peng! The man continued to cry out, as his fingers shakily fell on Alec’s face.
-Sir! Please, I’m not, you’re
misjudging me with someone else, please. Alec strangled back between the
confusion as he trying to un-do the man’s grab.
But no one known how come an old man can have such strong strength while
Alec was just tangling himself in more confusion. Until the third person
arrived, she called out for attention and ran over to turn the old man
away from Alec.
-Grandpa! Vicki cried, to get his attention back to her, while Alec widened his eyes again for more surprises.
-Hong Wei! You’re back as well! The old man cried out as he leaded over to give Vicki a tight hug.
Vicki followed as she covered the old man tightly smoothen the missing feeling that he been suffered for so long, yet slowly she still have to confirm herself again liked all the other time.
-Grandpa, I’m Xiao Wei lah, not Hong Wei!
-Vicki? Alec called out in stun, as Vicki indicated to him to stay calm until she settles everything.
-Xiao Wei? The old man recalled the
name in confusion as he broke out to look at Vicki more closely, but a
moment of realization, he finally recognized who she really was, and came
in to hug on her again… Oh Xiao Wei, look how much you grown, I
missed you so much.
-I missed you too, grandpa! Vicki cried out, feeling emotional tears going to bush out very soon, when she saw back an old friend.
Then promptly the old man broke away again, as he turned to the other side looking for Alec.
-Xiao Wei, let’s me tell you, You Peng had came back, he’s here! Strongly grabbed on Alec’s arm and pulled him in.
Vicki looked up at Alec, her eyes began to question him, when Alec returned with a lost look. Abruptly she turned over to the old man and brings his focus back to her.
-Grandpa, this is not You Peng. He’s a friend of my brother, named Alec!
-Uh? The old man gasped back in confusion, a person he thought he knew, now suddenly turned out to be a total stranger. Bewilderedly he slowly turned back his view on the old grave, and bent down continued picking up the grass from it.
Alec couldn’t stay silent no more, as Vicki was free, he dashed over, whispering to her the ranges of questions.
-Who is he? You known him? Is he really your grandpa?
Vicki turned to Alec an amusing look when seeing he was so anxious. Slowly she replied the questions one by one.
-People called him Lao Su! Yes, I known him, since I was small, I usually sneak out of the house to play with him, he always treat me very nice! And no, he’s not my grandpa, I called him that out of respect.
Alec sighed a little, finally known who is the man, but confusions still were there.
-But why is he keeps calling me You Peng?
This time, Vicki turned to Alec with a starlet look, as if she was not even sure on how to answer. Excepted that she only can tell him what she knows.
-You Peng, he is his son! Pointing at the old grave beside where the old man was sitting. It’s the person under that grave.
Alec gasped out from shock to
horrify as his sight moved lower looking at the head of the grave, labeled
in three words “Su You Peng”. It was scary enough when a strange man
had misjudged him as his son, and now he was misjudging with a dead
person.
-Gosh, Alec! Vicki gasped out, blinking a few times to relax herself. Don’t come in so quiet like that, the place is too spooky already. She continued giving out a little blame to him, as Alec quickly said sorry. Why can’t you stay out there? Vicki asked on.
-No, if you come out there, then I will, I’m affair he’s going to jump up at me again. Alec frowned back.
Vicki gave a slight glance to him in amusement as she poured in some hot tea to the cup.
-I can’t relieve how chicken you are! She teased back, when lifting up the tea cup and walked outside.
-Off course after all that I see, I hear, and dream, who wouldn’t take caution. Alec mumbled back a few defendants for himself, yet quickly chased to the front room with Vicki.
---------------------------------------------
The old man was now had relaxed and stress free compared to the first moment when he saw Alec. Sitting quietly at the large table, he was looking through some old book.
-Grandpa! Have some tea! Vicki invited, as she politely passed the tea cup into his hand with a soft smile.
-Thank you, Xiao Wei! The man replied back steadily, which surprised Alec as he abruptly pulled on Vicki’s sleeve for some whispering.
-How come he is so normal now!
-Grandpa is not crazy, only sometime his emotion arouse when remembering of his lost son. But not such people around here like Grandpa because he’s always act very grumpy to other. So you’re the first one to come and see him in a while, so he was over reacting. Vicki softly whispered back a long explanation, which caught Lao Su's attention. He softly turned over to Alec, with the assuring smile.
-Don’t worry, I’m not going to scare you. Sit down…Lao Su uncertain, puzzling on recalling back the name of the new man he just met.
-Please call me Alec! Alec filled in, as he breathed out for him relent tension, and took a seat next to Vicki.
Vicki was another one to few relief when everything was over, just then, her eyes caught back on the big music book that Lao Su was looking at.
-Grandpa, what are you looking for? Her curiosity risen, as Alec too got wonder of the old man’s action.
-Oh nothing, you two can have a look. Lao Su smiled on as he deliberately passed the old worn out music book, to Alec and Vicki, watching closely on their reaction as they went through each paper.
It was a normal olden day music book, with nothing more special. The yellow skin covered the pages was to show it age was well over 20 years. Vicki turned through the pages with Alec looking on with a little disappointment, until she closed the book back on it cover page, that was where both of them caught attraction to a hand written note.
“ To my dearest love,
From your darling!
Hong Wei”
“Hong Wei” Alec repeated back the name out aloud in recognition of the similar name of a person he had heard before. Vicki didn’t notice his shocking reaction, but she was anxiously curious, and turned back to Lao Su for more question.
-Grandpa, Who is Hong Wei? Is it Grandma? She asked back with a cheeky tone, as Lao Su took back the music book, let out a little laugh on hearing Vicki’s comment.
-No, you silly! She was my daughter-in-law. Unofficial daughterin-law! He calmly replied, eyes watching by the front window which show the image of You Peng’s grave outside.
-She was You Peng’s wife? Vicki asked one, and Alec added in.
-What do you mean by unofficial, I though she was a mistress. But before Alec could finished his sentence, Lao Su strongly stood up and cut in.
-She was going to be my official daughter-in-law if it was not for that…! He paused back the sentence, when remembering Vicki was still sitting there, watching at him.
She finally stood up, and walked over beside Lao Su, expressed more fury.
-Wow, grandpa, Knowing you all this time, how come you never tell me about the story between your son and your daughter-in-law.
Lao Su turned this view back on Vicki to answer her query.
-Because it was not the right time, Xiao Wei!
-So can you tell us now! Alec pushed up for some eager, he was so attracted to the half opened story.
His eyes brighten with hope, as Lao Su glanced over Alec and Vicki, he eventually nodded, and walked himself with Vicki’s support back to the chair.
================================
“Long before, when I was living in the city I was a music teacher then, my wife died very early, leaving me with a son. He was You Peng. You Peng got a passion for music just like me, when 25, he got a job as a music composer for a band at one of the popular night bar in Taiwan. Our life was moving slowly, yet a little blankly, until one night, You Peng came home and told me about this little servant girl who just came to work at his bar. She was Hong Wei. Hong Wei came from a wealthy family, but her parents died in tragic, leaving Hong Wei to fall from the top of people to the bottom of the ground. But she admired You Peng’s music a lot, and soon, he too realized a full potential in her to be a singer. So they were staying together most of night, after work so he could practice for her voice, before telling her to the boss of the bar. But that night….”
================================
Hong Wei was cleaning up on of the private bedroom on the top floor of the bar, unnoticed that there was one customer still left lying openly on the bed in the room. Until she made her way up the bed, but it was too late when the man spotted the glistering beauty of her innocent. With the greedy bloods still boiling in side, he grabbed on to Hong Wei shirt and pulled her body on to the bed.
-Ah…what are you doing! Hong Wei cried out of horror when her body suddenly been forced to stay on the bed, please let me go….She began to beg straightaway.
But how can the monster let go of its prefect decoy, the fatty man just became more stronger as he pin down Hong Wei on the bed, hand unbuttoning her top, as Hong Wei risen her voice began to yell louder.
-Please no…Help me…let me go please! Hands struggling to keep her top together, while crying out, anxiously begging to be release.
But the man could not let go, he
managed to tear off a shoulder path of her top, leaving an attractive
white skin showing out, until Hong Wei quickly pulled it back.
He was watering, looking at her in full carving, like a wild tiger been
left in hunger for such a long time, and not it was the moment to enjoy
the nice meal. While Hong Wei was still moving, kicking trying to untangle
herself from the mess, until a sudden kick and the door flung opened.
-You stupid man, how many time I tell you not to go here, it nearly morning and yet you never want to come home. A big powering lady walked in as she used the strength of a wife, and pulled the man off Hong Wei. How dare you staying in here all night! She accused some more while pulling by his ear.
-Aiyah, honey sorry I was just…forgot the time…The man abruptly replied, trying to get his wife to lighten on her grab.
But the wife turned even more angrier, she pushed away her chubby husband to one side and started storming over to the bed, where Hong Wei’s still curving up in fear.
-You little bitch, trying to seduce my husband, my dare you! Without letting the poor girl to explain, one more time Hong Wei was physically attacked by a stronger force.
-Please listen…I’m not…please…Hone Wei pleaded out some more, while trying to cover herself under rapid hit like rain from the jealous house wife. But like water poured on a duck head. The envy lady never listened.
-You stupid bitch, stay away from my husband! She finally gotten over, and released Hong Wei’s bruised body back to the bed, as she turned around and kicked her husband out of the room.
Hong Wei was devastating, humiliating by the attacked, which caused more hurt to her innocent mind. Out of the weaken moment, after a long sob, she lift up her body and raced out of the bar, she ran as fast as she could, to get her mind away from the tormenting place, and to get her spirit away from the cruelty world.
===============================
The light blue sky of the early morning was still laid over as the background for a small lake within the City’s park. The hour was too early for anyone to come in, except for her lost mind. Hong Wei moved her steps promptly toward to water. There was nothing to consider nothing to linger on for life. A deepen sob, she wiped off her long draining tears and raced as fast as she could aiming blindly to the water.
But fortunately, when she reached to the water by her knees length, a strong arm had caught her from the back as he strongly pulled back both her body and her spirit.
-Hong Wei, please don’t! Don’t! You Peng cried out of concern. He was in the main dining room playing some music, when the incident occured, after hearing what was happening to Hong Wei, his heart tightened as he tried to race up to the room. But when he got there everything was empty, as Hong Wei had already ran out. So he had to chase after her.
-No, let’s me go!…Hong Wei struggled, as she was weeping in tears, trying to remove his grab on her waist.
-No Hong Wei! Don’t, please listen to me… You Peng tried harder, as he was planning to turn her over to look at him. But on the rushing moment, he lose her hand, and Hong Wei pushed on harder for the run, making You Peng to lost his balance, as her hand released, his body went falling back into the water.
On seeing You Peng had fallen to the water, Hong Wei turned around in fright and with no thinking she ran straight back to be with him.
-You Peng! I’m sorry, I’m so sorry! She cried out, kneeling down beside him, as both of their body was dipping under cold water, but either of them can feel the chill.
-Don’t worry, I’m alright! You Peng abruptly eased on her concern, as he used his dripping fingers to clear out he messy wet hair trends on her face.
Hong Wei finally soften, when emotional pouring down, she jumped back on his body for the comfort hug and sobbed out louder over his shoulder.
-Don’t cry, everything is over now, everything is over! You Peng consoled her, as his arms tightened around her waist, helping her to few as much secure as possible.
-I can’t take it anymore, I got nothing to hold on, nothing, except for humiliation and embarrassment. Hong Wei sobbed on with her howling voice describing her lost.
You Peng tightened his grab for the last time, and then released her body, forcing Hong Wei to look at him.
-Hong Wei! Listen! He pushed harder, while holding firmly on her hands. You have everything to live for, your dream, your future, I will bring you to the stage, and you will shine in there.
Brighten career was not convincing enough, as Hong Wei still shook her head on disbelieving. You Peng then moved on as he brought his warm hand to touch on her cold cheek.
-Hong Wei! And most of all, you have me! I promised, I will be with you on every step, through bad and through good.
Hong Wei blinked up her eyes in wonder, she was not sure that her dream of becoming a singer could turn to reality, and now she was not believing that You Peng was saying the truth.
Until he lifted up his body from the
water to kneel on his knees, both hand used to scoop up her face, You Peng
slowly pulled up Hong Wei, as he lowered his face and gently placed on her
lips for their first lip. Hong Wei had nothing to say, from sitting
lifelessly in the water, she was now drew up on her knees in responding to
his kiss. To verify that from those moments on, her life will change for
the better, beside him.
==============================================
-WOW…Vicki gasped out in amazement on hearing the most touching love story that she had never heard. They are so sweat! She cried out, and pulled on Lao Su’s hand. Grandpa, what’s happened next? Are Hong Wei and You Peng together.?
Lao Su laughed on bitterly, as he turned his eyes once more to the far away grave.
-You Peng took Hong Wei home to stay with us, when he made a deal with the club’s owner, that’s Hong Wei will replace the singer of the bar who just left, she will work her money from singing every night until she paid of her debts. And it was agreeable.
Alec was now became concern again, furious is no limit, as he finally put out the question which been yearning inside of him for ages.
-But I heard that Hong Wei was a mistress for the Da’s family!
-The Da? Vicki asked back, realizing it was her family name. You mean my family, Hong Wei was a mistress of my… Vicki asked on in lost when Lao Su filled in the missing space.
-Lao Da Tung! He clumsily said out, when received the same sudden look from Vicki so he quickly moved on. What happened next, you have to ask your family for the full version.
Vicki sank back in misty, as she turned over with Alec a wondering look.
==================================
By late in the afternoon, they walked their way together back in the house, yet minds were fully rounding in circle of the story they just heard.
-Do you think your mother will know the story? Alec asked out of fury, as he too was hoping for hear more details.
-I think so! Vicki replied, hand rubbing her chin in curious. I will ask her when we get back. Just then her sight paused back on a familiar black car parked at the driveway. Oh! No! She gasped out of sudden, when hesitating to go forward.
Alec on seeing her reluctant, turned over and asked more.
-What’s wrong Vicki?
Eyes were still pointing at the suspecting vehicle, she grunted out a few words displeasingly.
-Father is home!
Alec hadn’t thought through, logically, he thought a daughter would be more delightful in meeting her father.
Mrs Da hesitantly walked out from the kitchen, followed by Sen-Er with the tea tray on her hand.
-Lao ye! I didn’t know you come home today! Mrs Da spoke out in a little nervous, worry on how her husband will react on seeing Vicki was home and the new guest that he hasn’t met, but will be in shock if he see him, Alec.
Lao Da Tung sighed a big heavy breath, while coldly accepted the tea cup from his wife and grumpily in the old tone, he replied.
-I heard Xiao Ying is back, so I just want to see him!
Mrs Da frowned back in more frustration, but thanking god that both Alec and Vicki was not home at this time. Just then, Lao Khen walked out from the hall way, followed by Jorder, who tried to be brighten on seeing his father again, after three long years.
-Lao ye! I already called Shao ye out for you! Lao Khen politely reported back, while stepping over one side, for Jorder to walk forward by his father side.
-Father! Cried from the little boy, who had been separated from his father quiet a long time.
Lao Da Tung proudly stood up, patching on his only son’s shoulder, feeling conceited on how charming his son had turned out to be.
-How are you my boy? He finally spoke out, while Jorder helped him to sit back on the chair.
-Thank you father, I’m very well. Jorder made sure that he answered in the right manner required and moved to another chair next to his father. I’ve done my Bachelor Degree. So I can take over your place now. Jorder tried out a little playful tip, but then remember of the stricken father he used to has, Jorder lower his body watching for any strong reaction from the other side.
But luckily, Lao Da just laughed on out of his son naïve look, as he lead over and gave to Jorder, who was slightly relief, a pat on the head.
-My dear boy, ofcouse, I will give to everything I owned sooner or later.
Mrs Da was sitting on the other side, also smiled softly, on the cheering moment between her husband and their son, then she saw Jorder glancing to her with a little wink. Wondering what was the indication for, but she already saw Jorder moved in closer to kneel beside Lao Da’s feet.
-Father! I told you, I brought a friend here with me!
Mrs Da almost gasped out a stop sign for her son not to mention about Alec, but it was too late.
-Oh, really? Lao Da asked back in curiosity… Then where is he!
-Um, he’s gone out for a walk and should be back soon.! Jorder replied back, still smiling brightly, when seeing his father was in the good mood for today.
Within the room, only Mrs Da who was sitting down in the living and Lao Khen who just made his steps outside, could guess of what will happen when Lao Da recognised who was it that Alec had a replication of.
=================================
Outside the front gate, Vicki and Alec just reached to the steps under the door, as she stood back dawdling to walk in, until Alec had to tap her by the shoulder.
-Why aren’t you going inside? He asked out of fury, as Vicki quickly rushed on her steps.
Half way of the stair, she saw Lao Khen was walking out, so quickly she grabbed back his sleeve for some information.
-Lao Khen, is father inside?
Lao Khen smiled on seeing the tension face expressed by his little mistress, quickly he grabbed back her hand for some assuring.
-Xiao jie, don’t worry, Lao ye in a good mood today! Then he abruptly excused himself to walk downstairs, not forgetting to give Alec another warning look.
-Shall we go in? Alec pushed on again, innocently thinking it would be rude if he didn’t greet the big owner of the house.
Vicki sighed inward, and slowly pushed back the handle of her bag on her shoulder and strongly stepped inside. But as Alec looked down on the step, he realized that his shoes was untied so promptly he made to bent down attending to fix up the shoes strand, while Vicki kept walking inside, alone.
===========================================
-So Xiao Ying, You’re sure that you are fully confident now to work in the business. Lao Da Tung asked on, still enjoying the good chat with his son, while Mrs Da already moved over to the dinning table, to instruct the servant on how to set up the table, with the way her husband referred.
-Yes! Father, I promise not to make you disappointed. Jorder bravely answered back, and shared in the great laugh with his father.
Just in the middle of their laughs, was when the front door turned open, as Lao Da and Jorder together with Mrs Da by the dinning table turned to the door anxiously. She sighed a little seeing it was only Vicki whom walked in to the door. But on the different hand, Lao Da quickly curved up his face in tension, eyes looking away, not wanting to look at the familiar face of his daughter which carried so much memories, horrified memories, that he had been pushing away for the past 20 years.
-Father, Mother! Vicki reluctantly greeted, when observed her mother’s indication, telling her to move over to see her father.
Jorder stood up for more help when seeing Vicki’s hesitation, he walked over to pull on her sleeve, pulling her over to the living room area, and lastly put her to stand in front of their father.
-Father! Vicki is home on her holiday!.
Lao Du Tung grunted out a nosy irritating breath, while Vicki watched on in dissatisfaction. When decided to come home, she never thought she would be meeting with her father, since her mother assured that he had gone on a long business tour. Now seeing him again, viewing his arrogant expression was just boiling up the rebellion craving inside of her.
-So you finally decided to come home, finally understand that the support of home is the major spending that you always need in your life. Crossing his left leg on top of his right, Lao Da faced to the beyond point, away from Vicki’s sight, yet still acting in his full tough voice, covering the real fears that he had, when looking in her face.
Vicki stepped her feet, about to rebut when her mother came over to control her daughter’s anger, and Jorder was on the other side, telling Vicki to stay clam. Until the front door opened again, this time, Jorder, Vicki and Mrs Da turned straight to the door, looking at Alec who just walked inside.
-Ahh Alec, you’re home! Jorder cried out, and quickly ran over to Alec’s side. Pulling his dear friend inside to join with the family conversation hopefully thing would ease out the tension between Vicki and their father.
While Mrs Da closed her eyes and pray for the better as Jorder brought Alec to stand next to Vicki facing Lao Da Tung on his big chair.
-Father! This is my best mate over in Cali, Alec! Delightedly with the introduction as Jorder pushed Alec closer to Vicki so he could be viewable by Lao Da.
Vicki was about to move on another side, on seeing her brother was acting up again. But before she had the thought to walk away, Lao Da Tung already risen his head as he turned over, thinking to face with another young face of a friend of his son.
-YOU…. Eyes shooting in astonishment, when Jorder, Alec and Vicki on the other side were widened their eyes looking closer at the weird reaction from the man of the house.
Lao Da Tung began to shake after the moment of realisation, as his wife stepped in closer, giving the support from behind to her husband. She was also wondering in horror as slowly listen to her husband repeated of the fateful name.
-You Peng…Lao Da Tung called out softly, pointing his moving finger toward Alec. Acting fearfully as if he was standing in front of a ghost or two ghosts. You’re alive…?
-Father! Jorder found the necessary to jump in. This is my friend, Alec! He assured again, while till looking at his father strangely and then turned back to his mother for the same queries look.
Lao Da Tung still struggled on in shock, as he listened carefully to Jorder’s second explanation, yet he could not reassure himself that standing in front of him was only his daughter and a close friend of his son. All he could images from the people standing in front of him, was the woman he loved and next to her was the man she loved.
-Father! Jorder called out a little louder, feeling his father was dripping off into the unknown world.
Mrs Da also felt the obligatory to help her husband accept in the truth, as she shake on his arm softly and whisper to him again.
-Lao ye, this is Alec, a close friend of Xiao Ying, not the other person who died.
Lao Da Tung abruptly turned back to his wife showing his realization in anger.
-If he is dead then what is he doing here, standing in front of me! He asked back, grinning his teeth, blaming at the circle of life, while must what been buried since the past 20 years, were now all coming back, by the appearance of them, together again.
-Lao ye, he’s not You Peng, and she is our daughter! Not Hong Wei. Mrs Da strongly yet quietly whispered out the exclamation and then Lao Da Tung suddenly turned his fear into rage of angers.
-Get out of my house! He yelled out brutally, staring a challenging eyes at Alec, like the sight that he once place on You Peng.
Jorder, Alec and Vicki, all three were shock, terrify at the strange reaction.
-Father! Jorder cried back confusingly.
-Father? Vicki added in accusingly, while Alec was standing still speechless, he sensed something was strange about the new house, about the people he just met for the first time. But frustratingly, he could not understand what had he done wrong to upset the owner of the house in such the short time since they had met.
-Xiao Wei go into your room, I don’t want you to see him again. Lao Da demanded strongly to Vicki
-Father, you been ridiculous again! You can hate me, but why blame on Alec since he just meet you. You want me to go, fine I will! Vicki yelled back in the same anger. It was the only genetic gene that she inherited from her father. Thinking he was using Alec to warning her, Vicki stormed straight in her room, and slammed the door, while Mrs Da quickly chased after her daughter, hoping to prevent any further misunderstanding.
Yet Lao Da was not very concern about his daughter anger, he only wanted to get the unwanted person out of his house. Turing stronger to Jorder, he demanded.
-Xiao Ying get your friend out of the house now, I never want to see him around here! No hesitation on his cruelty words, Lao Da picked up himself and fumed up the stair into his bedroom.
Jorder was lost and frustrated, yet a big embarrassment he felt, when turning over to Alec, not knowing how to explain on what just happened.
-I understand! Alec replied back, covered in for the faltering of his friend. I’ll pack now, and will go as soon as possible! He concluded, pat a slight touch on Jorder’s shoulder, as he walked over to the stair.
-But where are you going to stay? Jorder unwillingly asked out. Alec slowly turned back with a smile to ease away the tension on his friend.
-I will find a place, don’t worry!
===================================
Vicki slammed straight in her room, first thing she did was, throwing back her opened hand bag on her bed, un caution that the big music book which she took from Lao Su’s house, had fell out on to the bed.
-Xiao Wei! Mrs Da called out, while seeing her daughter was angrily looking for her suitcase to organise in her stuffs. Don’t be mad. She ran over and quickly pushed Vicki to sit down on the bed.
-Mama, I can’t stand this, father is getting worst and worst, why must he insult Alec like that, when he really wants to tell those thing on me, warning me not to come back in the house again! Vicki spoke out her fury, as Mrs Da quickly rushed down her daughter’s hot temper.
-Dear, you’re father was not talking about you! He just doesn’t….doesn’t like Alec… Mrs Da puzzling on the reply as Vicki turned over pressured for a clearer explanation.
-But why mama, Alec hasn’t done anything wrong!
-Xiao Wei! Mrs Da frowned out in confusion, didn’t know how to explain or where to begin.
Tiredly, she planed to take a seat
on Vicki’s bed until her eyes caught on to the old music book, lying on
the bed.
-Xiao Wei! Where did you get the old music book like this?
Vicky shot back to memory of the story related to the music book, she excitingly took the book over to show to her mother, pointing down at the hand writing note.
-Mama, do you know who is or who was Hong Wei?
Mrs Da got shocked when she heard of Vicki’s curiosity, which astoundingly reminded her of one person that she been hidden for a long time.
-You know about Hong Wei? Fierily Mrs Da tested on Vicki’s knowledge with the question.
-Not much, I only known, that her lover named You Peng, the son of Lao Su, who lived at the bottom of the hill! Vicki replied out with her answer, while eyes wishing for her mother to tell on some more.
-Who told you all this? Mrs Da asked out, in fury and wondering.
-Lao Su! So mama do you know anything more of what happened?
Mrs Da stood up in frustration, she distanced her sight to the window looked out on the evening sky, and then turned back to Vicki.
-But you promise me, not to go then I will tell you what I known!
-Really? Mama? Vicki shot up in excitement, and quickly agreed with her mother to stay back until her holiday ends.
Despite the fact that she will be facing with her aggressive father, but the yearning to know the story of Hong Wei and You Peng put in more wills and energy for her to fight through the tough time.
-Are you sure you’re going to be alright? Jorder concernedly asked back to Alec for the countless times, while he was helping Alec to carry his suitcase down the stair, walking toward the front yard garden.
-I’ll be fine! Alec grimaced out for the relief, dragging behind his suitcase, he constantly peeked back the last view of the familiar mansion. I’ll just catch a bus down the city and look for a motel to rent.
Jorder sighed out difficulty, since his father’s cruelty action, by asking Alec to leave their home so harshly was one thing that he was not very proud of. The two men continued their steps to the front, where Lao Khan had been waiting by the family car to atleast give Alec a ride back to the city. That was the only thing Mrs Da could do.
-Alec! Vicki’s voice yelled out from behind, as she chased down from the front stair, stopping Alec’s action while he was loading his suitcase in the car. Wait..
-Vicki, what are you doing here? Father said… Jorder urgently cried out remembering their father had warned Vicki not to see Alec again.
But Vicki on the other hand was still relaxed as if she never receives any warning from her father. Walking straight to Alec and Jorder, she rushed out.
-Alec, I know a place where you can stay?
Both Alec and Jorder turned around to each other in surprising shock and then lower their look on the mischief Vicki.
-Lao Khan, you can drop us down the hill, no need to go out the city. And you two get in the car, quick. Acting so demandingly just as her father, Vicki rushed both Alec and Jorder’s hesitation bodies in the back of the car, while she chased up the front seat and excitingly directed to Lao Khan on where to drive.
========================================
-Xiao jie, you mean stopping in here? Lao Khan, the driver hesitantly asked out, while Vicki directed for him to stop in front of an old looking cottage, under the hills, outside the house was a old grave.
-Whose house is this? Jorder asked out in queries, as Vicki pressured again for everyone to get out of the car.
Alec coming around from the back, bringing with him the big suitcase, he tapped on Jorder’s shoulder for some comforting.
-This is Lao Su’s house, don’t you know him?
Strangely Jorder turned over to Alec in a full confusing look, the name Lao Su sound familiar but the place was totally strange, but he was more fury on how Alec could be so ease on coming to stay at a stranger’s place.
-I don’t know this place, do you? Jorder asked out.
Alec firmly nodded, smiling so relief when he realised Vicki had helped him to remember of a person who can give him a place to stay in this critical moment.
-Lao Khan, you can take the car back, but don’t tell father that’s I’m down here with Alec okey. Brother and I will walk ourselves home. Vicki clearly explained her command, when the old driver still reluctantly to leave, glanced back at the old cottage a worry look, but as a servant, he couldn’t have the right to do anything else rather to obey the order, got into the car and drove home.
The moment Lao Khan had took the car away, Vicki brightly turned backward, as she squeezed herself standing between Alec and Jorder.
-Come on guys, let’s go in and see Lao Su! Pulling on the guy’s arms strongly, as she was moving in, Alec and Jorder couldn’t fight back rather to follow in their commander princess.
========================================
Lao Da Tung hidden himself in the dark shadow of his enormous bedroom,
sitting on the big chair beside his table, side way parallel with the
large window from his bedroom, facing to the backyard. Using the shining
full moon to reflected on his calming gesture, puffing out thick smokes
from the expensive cigar.
Through the simmering reflection from the moonlight shining on the glomming back yard, yet Lao Da Tung could imagine closely, as if it was in the old days. When he just came in to the city for a business deal. The negotiation meeting was taken place at one of the most famous night bar in the town. He was introduced to sit on the classy room on the first and only level of the club, which had no walls, only a balcony boundary showing the view of the common stage underneath.
Lao Da Tung was just sitting side way, listening to the details of the co-operating plans from the other side, until from the lower level, suddenly echoed a sweet voice of a singer that lifted up his boredom spirit and lighted on the curiosity. Dismissing when the other side was still moving on with the explanation of the deal, Lao Da Tung raised up away from his chair, and started his discovering steps closer to the balcony. Looking down to the bottom ground level, his eyes sparkled in seduction, looking down at the most beautiful picture of a person that he had never seen. A young elegant, yet such naïve and natural beauty was standing on the stage, in a classic traditional dress, the colour was red, bringing out the attractive heat from the young face. Lao Da Tung was hypnotized by the first sight of her beauty, of the sweet voice in her music, it was everything about her that had totally captured his heart. Even at the age over 40, happily marriage, and a father of an adoring son 4 years old. But seeing her for the first time, proved to him, that it never too old to fall in love. And from then he had vowed to himself that he would do anything to have her, anything as long as she can be his.
A silent knock on the door disturbed Lao Da Tung to shut down his imagination and came back to the real reality. Hesitantly walked in without waiting for the replied, Mrs Da nervously looked around, until she found her husband sitting soundlessly by the window of the room.
-Lao ye! I brought dinner for you! She said out shakily watching for any sudden reaction from her husband.
-Put it down and go out! The big man heavily demanded at his abandoned wife, slowly laid down the dinner tray from her hands on the table near to him, then promptly withdrew herself out of the room.
================================
-Oh Alec..right? It great to have you living with me! Lao Su poured out at the end of the dinner. Since the young three had missed their meals due to so much emotional going on, once they came to Lao Su’s little cottage, finding the old man was sitting alone in front of the dinner table. The three waist no chance and jumped in asking for their shares. Lao Su was more than happy to welcome them in. It been such a long time since he had Hong Wei and You Peng sitting together with him in spirit, because it now was Vicki and Alec, yet the atmosphere just felt like the old time.
“You Peng was just finish a little quick song on his guitar, even known he loved and was best in the piano. But due to the restricted condition at home, he only could purchase a guitar to practice his new songs, before he come in and play on the piano in the bar.
At the same time, the curtain through the kitchen lift up, and the gorgeous Hong Wei, walked out, carrying a big tray filled with common yet delicious smelling dishes.
-Dinner everyone? She cried, looking at You Peng putting away his guitar by the window, and Lao Su who quickly walked in from the garden.
-Um….You Peng took a long sniff, and playfully landed his face beside Hong Wei’s sliming shoulder. Smell really nice, sweetie!
Hong Wei giggled, but upon seeing Lao Su was walking in, she quickly kicked him away.
-Stop playing around your father is coming in! She whispered back the loving scolded, while You Peng carelessly paid any tension to his father who was at the door, he closed his eyes and just blew a loud kiss to his love one. She blushed up, shyly walked away to another side, and started setting up the dishes from the tray on to the table.
Lao Su was at the front door, enjoyably watching the fond actions that Hong Wei and You Peng were playing to each other.
Since You Peng brought home the little charming girl a few months ago, Lao Su had quickly see through the passion that his only son shared with the pity girl. He was happy for the two young ones, and was in every way supportive for the day when they can officially become a family.
-Did I hear someone say dinner? Lao Su cleared his throat, entered to the picture with a shifty question, when You Peng politely straighten himself on the table, that’s mean looking away from Hong Wei, as she was quickly putting the last dish on the table and took the tray away.
-Yes, Lao Su, please come for dinner, now! She greeted out again, as Lao Su slowly walked in to sit between You Peng and Hong Wei, but after a happy thought, he indicated for You Peng to move in closer with Hong Wei so he’ll take You Peng’s seat on the other side.
One everyone had settled, with a little rice bow on their hand, holding up the chopsticks on the other hand, they kindly invited each other to the meal.
-Lao su enjoy your dinner, Peng ge..enjoy your dinner.
-Father, enjoy your dinner, Hong Wei enjoy your dinner. You Peng cheekily spoke out after Hong Wei’s words, and quickly he turned over to pick up a chicken drumstick and place in Lao Su’s bow. Father please enjoy! Then without waiting for Lao Su to reply any thanking, yet You Peng already turned over to the other side and started feeding in Hong Wei’s bow.
-Have this wings, you like wings, and eat the vegetable it’ll help your voice, oh, mushroom is good and... The list went on, as You Peng constantly placing each of everything in for Hong Wei.
She smiled out a little shy look, but knowing how to play on with the game, Hong Wei lift up and started feed back to You Peng’s bow.
-Okey, you should have the soup, good for your health, and carrots, help you to see the music note better, and some meat as well, because you need some.
The two lovers were so attached to their own games of feeding each other with foods, they left out the old father sitting on the side. Until Lao Su had to clear his throat again to gain some attention,
-Um…did both of you forget about someone important here?
Hong Wei and You Peng looked over to one side in their starlet blinks and quickly at the same time both turned over and started feeding on the father’s bow.
Soon the dinner table was filled with laughter, with the rice bows on their hands filled with foods from the other person. That was just one of a typical dinner, which usually take place before You Peng and Hong Wei ride on his bike to work at the bar.”
=====================================
After dinner when contently seeing Alec was happily settle down in the new temporary place Vicki and Jorder paid a quick good bye to return to their mansion.
-Alec, make yourself at home okay! Lao Su spoke out softly, while helping Alec to unpack his clothes.
-Thank you, Lao Su, for keeping me here! Alec replied back, looking admiringly at the old man he newly met, but felt like as if he known him ages ago, in a very special bonding connection.
Lao Su smiled softly, it had been so long since he managed to feel as happy as today, when seeing both Hong Wei in Vicki’s image and You Peng’s in Alec’s picture had came back to him, to sweep away all those lonely days, suffering in his old age. He was so happy, happy to welcome his son back home.
-Son? He called out clearly to Alec, who looked up at him in stunning. Can I call you son, because it easier for me, I don’t remember names very well. Lao Su let out the excuse.
Alec taken back for a little while, but he soon brightened up, and stepped closer to give Lao Su a confronting patch.
-Yes, you can call me as your son, and can I call you ‘father’? Alec asked out, it was only because he remembered how Vicki had described about Lao Su with the lost of his young son. Now Alec thought he could play a little replacement in that deep lost, never in his mind it occurred, that he was the replacement son.
===============================
The image of the busy night bar appeared slowly, going from a blurry smoky background into a clearer one.
Hidden neatly behind the backstage was a young couple, when You Peng pressed on Hong Wei’s hand strongly to give her the courage for the first performance on stage.
-Listen to me, you look great, and you will sound great as well, just do as we practice at home, okay!
Hong Wei puffed in urgently for some encouragement air, she nodded her head at You Peng, yet still looking doubtfully, until he bent down and transferred to her one of those powerful kiss, which melted her shaking body to form back into a more confident one.
-Okay! I can do it! She frowned back, after You Peng lifted up his face.
At the same time, came a call for You Peng to get on stage with the band. He looked gently to her for the last time, and slowly released his hand to walk his way to the front stage.
That was the first night, Hong Wei appeared in the live stage, singing for her new occupation. Her voice was still weak, but no one was bothering to judge about her voice. Only those big round sparkling eyes, those full juicy lips, and a sliming elegant and attractive figure that looked sexily in the traditional tight dress. Hong Wei was enough for everyone to enjoy the night only by looking at her glowing beauty under the spotlight.
Between the loud cheering claps of everybody, Alec shot up from his bed in shock, when the soul awoken from the long dream.
“It is again?” He thought, breathing himself to calm down, and slowly dry out all the sweat on his forehead.
-Why must I keep seeing them again? He frowned out, while taking his step down the floor, and slowly walked out of the room, leading to the main room.
It was a full moon night, the bright sky was feeling with twilight rays from the big moon, shining on everything which had not been covered by shadows. Pushing out the window for some fresh air, Alec eyes paused back on the old lonely grave lying outside the house. Suddenly then he felt shivery from a slight wind, and quickly closed the window and went back inside.
Through the mood light, shining over the darkness of the house, poking in gasping lights from the broken ceiling. Alec had a chance to study the place again, everything was then just stood out so familiarly, from the chairs, the table, and especially the old guitar, hanging on the wall.
==========================================
Between the loud cheering applause of everybody, Vicki shot up from her bed in shock, when the soul just awoken from the long dream.
“Why am I keep seeing him?” She asked inwardly the wonders, of the dream she had on the same person, Alec and herself.
“But they seem so real, the lady looks like me, but I’m sure she is not me!” Vicki frowned out again, curving herself upward on the comfy bed, as she wrapped around her thick wool tighter, and continued on analyzing the strange dreams.
“A bar singer and a music composer? That’s sound like Lao Su’s son, and his daughter in-law?” She was just adding up everything together, but still could not answer on one thing, “But why am I keep seeing their image as Alec and me?”
Within the white mansion, Vicki was not the only one who was having strange dreams. Another person was also dreaming, but to him, it was like re seeing of what happened in the past, when the first time he came face to face with the young star of the bar.
Not hesitating to make the first move, Lao Da Tung awaited by the exit way of the bar in the early morning, planning to put out his first invitation to have the beauty as a companion. Sitting so impatiently in his black formal expensive vehicle, he was feeling like a young boy first love, as his eyes brighten, heart’s beat increased when he spotted the elegant beauty was finally walking down from the exit stair into the street. She was not in the bright colourful custom like when she was on the stage, but her slimming ideal figure would suit in everything, even if it was only a simple kneel length traditional dress made out of a cheap fabric. But her natural beauty still shone, like a rare kind of treasury pearl which just been discovered.
By the urgent order, the young driver, Ta Khan, quickly crossed the road from where the car was parking and came over to the stair way of the bar, stopping in front on the road of the young lady.
-Miss Hong Wei, may I have a word with you please! The young servant politely bowed low in the greeting.
Hong Wei was taking back by the sudden approach, but well familiar with the same situation, when her name had shot to fame on the stage of the City’s bar.
-Yes…She kindly greeted back, in the soften smile.
Ta Khan stood still in froze admiring at the charming splendor, sparkling in front of him with her blossoming beam, until a little reminder snap, when he noticed that the anxious boss was still waiting in the car.
-Um..Miss Wei! He cleared his throat and continued. My boss would like to invite you for an early breakfast.
-Oh! Hong Wei frowned back in tiredness, again another invitation to her like most of the other nights, she quickly smiled out again and replied in the same form that she always had toward all the other admiration fans. Thank you, but sorry I don’t go out with stranger, plus I got to go home now.
Ta Khan was reluctantly to bring the bad news back in the car, but there was no other way to convince the hard-minded star.
-WHAT! Lao da Tung almost jolted out from his chair when hearing the rejection reply, which reported by the driver.
Throughout his youthful days still the successful periods, with the power of money that he was fulfilled of. Rejection was the only thing that he placed on other people, and was not very use in the first time being as the receiver side, especially from a bar singer.
His anger about to bust on, when he
turned toward the door, planning to make the invitation personally, until
his eyes clashed with the picture. Coming from the other side of the
street, a young man just arrived on an old rotten bike. He stopped in
front of Hong Wei, and she delightedly leaning over and no hesitation gave
a nice peak on the young man’s cheek. Then she happily lifted up on the
little seat from the back of his bicycle, rounding her arms tightly on the
young man’s waist and together they rode off with each other, on a
little rotten bike.
Lao Da Tung grinned his teeth tightly into long rocky sound that gave the
young driver Ta Khan all goosebumps noticing the irritating sign from the
big boss. While Lao Da Tung still kept his eyes fixed behind the shadow of
the happy couple who were riding home together on the bike.
-Find out who is that boy for me? He demanded out to the driver with an envy groaning voice, as Ta Khan quickly nodded in obedient.
Soon the black car had to drive off, with lots of planning, lots of thinking on how to capture the heart of the beauty.
=================================
Like every night, You Peng and Hong Wei would leave the house together by night and arrived home in dawning light of the morning, where everything one, including Lao Su was still deep in bed.
Hong Wei firstly went off the bike, as she carefully tip toed all the way around the house and came in the back way, preventing to disturb in Lao Su’s sleep. You Peng had to put the bike away, but tonight he was a little cheekier, sneaking behind Hong Wei’s back, when she was tip toeing into the house. Before she reached to the door, You Peng jumped up and seized back her body in his tight arm.
-Arhhh. Hong Wei cried out of shock, but when realizing it was only her shifty lover, she turned around and slightly gave him a loving hit on the head. Don’t! She scolded while whispering. Your father will be wake up by us.
-Well, isn’t my father is your father as well! You Peng still playfully asked back, tacking tighter to her waistline.
Hong Wei grinned softly out of his silly act until she had to pulled him away from the door, so they would not disturb Lao Su’s sleep.
-What’s wrong with you tonight? She asked back to him, while the two of them settling down in a back shelter of the house.
You Peng still linger on, rounding his arm around her shoulder, pushing her head to rest down securely on his chest.
-I want us to be together! He whispered out, rubbing over her shoulder softly.
Hong Wei abruptly looked up at him in the inquiring eyes.
-What are you saying? She then turned her body around and seat back softly within his full embrace. Aren’t we together now? She asked brushing gently against his hand.
You Peng breathed out slightly, wondering to himself, of what had gotten to him tonight, he couldn’t understand why he was acting so strange either. Until Hong Wei decided to pull up his body, and then she longingly stepped closer to him so he could hold her tighter in his arms. She thought, maybe because of her growing fame in the bar, with the admiration she received from the viewers, rich male viewers, that was what made You Peng, feeling concern.
-I loved you You Peng. And no matter what, nothing could make me stop loving you, and nothing could separate by heart away from you!
You Peng quickly soften in her strong promise. And giving the sun rising sky a chance to be the witness for their devoting love. Hong Wei slowly lifted up her body as she gently reaching for his lips, and passionately they combined into other kiss fulfilling the yearning needs from their hearts.
====================================
Their love was burning hot, as the dedication souls filled with affection
to be with each other. Side by side they walked their way into the house,
pulling their lingering hearts to stay in the same place. They nestled
quietly inside You Peng’s bed, resting from the long night with each
other.
Outside, Lao Su had awoke, he stayed silently outside the curtain, before the room where the lovebirds are nesting together. Lao Su closed his eyes and prayed, hoping for a day soon, when they will be a real official family. But even then, to him, Hong Wei had already taken her duty perfectly as a daughter in-law. And to You Peng, she had been playing her role as a wife, an accomplishing loving wife, from body to soul.
==================================
Lao Da Tung shock up blowing out the fright of haters. He always aversion in ranging jealousy when seeing Hong Wei was so happy in You Peng’s arms. Even known they both were dead, Yet still he would never want their soul to be reunite, she will always have to be his, be with him, despite that her unwilling spirit will followed and haunted for the rest of his life.
=================================
-Mama, so when are you going to tell me? Vicki repeated the urge to her mother, after the promised that she had made and because of looking forward to that promise, Vicki had agreed to stay back in the house.
-Um, tell you what honey? Mrs Da pretended her innocent mind as she was hoping to by pass the whole story.
Lao Da Tung had gone out with Jorder to the company, the house were left with those mindless servants, Vicki and Mrs Da. It was a good chance for the eager daughter to question up on her mother.
-Mama, you promised me that you will tell me about Hong Wei, see remember! Vicki brought out her old music book, showing at the hand written message in front of her mother, disrupting Mrs Da’s view, who was looking at the front garden.
Finally, she frowned outward with no escaping.
-Alright, Xiao Wei come here!
Vicki widened her eyes, in excitement as she followed her mother’s step upstairs and into the main bedroom.
=================================
Mrs Da carefully picked out a little key hidden under her bed, then turned over to her dressing table, opened up the last bottom draw and took out a flat wooden crafted box.
Vicki surprisingly moved her stepped and kneeled downed beside her mother as Mrs Da used the little key and unlocked the box. Eventually she gently lifted out from the box a thick notebook.
-I had put everything that I known about Hong Wei in here, you can read it! Mrs Da spoke out.
A strange achieving feeling suddenly aroused in Vicki as she held on the notebook from her mother’s hand. At last all her questions will be answer she thought, looking at the old book where she will have a lots of interesting time reading it.
-Thank you mama! Vicki cried out, leading over to give hugs and kisses to her mother, before she stood up and was about to run out of the room, until her mother called back.
-Xiao Wei are you going to read it now!
-Yes, mama! I will show it to him first! Vicki replied back, still couldn’t hide the bright big cheerful smile in her face.
But Mrs Da began to feel fury.
-Who is he? She stepped closer and asked.
-Oh, Alec, mama! I got to go, bye mama! With that Vicki playfully ran straight down to the stair, leaving her mother stood still in froze, she could not believe that the souls who had suffered from the past, had reborn and came back once again, to bring out the past that thought to be forgotten.
=========================================
Anyone could recognize clearly at Vicki’s overwhelming expression, as she enveloped the book in her arms and ran out of the door, flying down the stair. She was running across the front yard until her steps were hesitantly paused back, looking at a strange lady, who was wondering at the iron-gate of her house.
-Excuse me, can I help you miss? Vicki politely asked out, as she opened a gate, planning to go down the hill.
Only then, she found the young pretty face from the lady turned up at her, from a piece of paper she was holding in her hand.
-Oh, I was looking for the Tung’s resident. The young lady replied, placing down her medium suitcase on the ground, and turned a warming smile toward Vicki.
-Yes, this is the Tung! Vicki delightedly replied back, as the young lady sighed out on a big relief and she grimace face turned brighter.
-Oh, My name is Shanna, I’m looking for Alec, he’s my boyfriend, and he gave this address to me. The lady introduced herself.
Vicki widened her eyes in realisation, as she happily introduced herself.
-Oh, I’m Vicki. This is my house! Alec was staying here, but he just moved out a few days ago.
Shanna showed a frowning disappointing look, until Vicki grinned out her worry.
-But don’t worry, I known where he is staying. In fact I’m on my way going there now, can I show you the way. Vicki invited, as Shanna immediately turned back to her beaming smile again.
And soon together, the two newly met ladies turned their steps back to the hill, walking slowly toward to bottom ground. Coming to see the special man.
-Lao Su..Alec? Vicki called out for the only two people in the house, as she walked into the empty living room.
-We’re coming! Alec voiced suddenly replied from the back, as Vicki turned in furious, planning to bring herself in the kitchen when Alec promptly walked out, all beaming and smiling.
-Vicki! Why are you coming here so early? He asked, while hurriedly poured out a cup of tea and drank it quickly, like he was suffering a great thirst.
Vicki looked at his action strangely, but her playful sense soon joined in.
-Why? Don’t you welcome me anymore? And what are you doing to yourself out the back.
Alec was still planning for a few more cups of water, until Lao Su also walked in from the back, again smiling brightly.
-Oh, we were just enjoying the garden jobs! The old man answered for his newly adopted son.
Vicki sighed in a cheeky smile, relieving that Alec and Lao Su got on so well together, atleast she did not feel guilty for bringing Alec down to stay with the lonely man.
-Okey, I’m glad to hear, but I even got something else more exciting. She finally spelled out a little news, and resigned herself to sit down steadily on the chair, whilst her hands cradling the valuable notebook to the table.
Alec turned to Lao Su for a big question look, then the two men settle themselves down the table, sitting in opposite with Vicki, eyes studying her action.
-I got mother’s diary with me! She began to run her fingers picking around the notebook in front of her, while Alec was not so certain, wondering what was Mrs Da’s diary got to do with him.
Vicki looked up and noticed the unbelieving and uninterested expression from the both men, she stamped her feet slightly blaming for their reckless and then quickly harden on her voice.
-Mother’s diary is written all about what she known of Hong Wei!
Like been hit at the right place, Alec plus Lao Su both caught up in curiosity, as Alec quickly moved his chair to seat closer beside Vicki, eyes searching over to the notebook in her hand.
-Are you sure? Your mother gave you the dairy! He asked, pressing for some confirmation.
-That’s right! Because I promised mum to stay at home for the rest of the holiday, and she had to tell me everything she knows about Hong Wei, and she gave me this!
An eager wave rushing in as Alec wanted to take over the notebook, but Vicki shiftily snatched it away from his view as she abruptly stood and then walked over beside Lao Su, showing to him the notebook.
-Grandpa na! Do you want to see it first! She kindly offer as Lao Su gently smiled and pushed back the book to her.
-No need, you two can have a look at it so you can find out about your…I mean about what happened to my son and my daughter in-law. And he sighed for hopes that some miracle could happen to bring back for him a son and a daughter in-law, even if they were a lifetime younger.
Both Alec and Vicki were too innocent to understand what Lao Su was wishing for. Their fury only turned back to the notebook, as Vicki sat down again, Alec one more time shifted his chair to seat beside her.
The notebook finally opened by Vicki caring fingers, as she pushed its slightly to his side so Alec would get a glimpse at it.
-Grandpa would you like me to read it for you? She looked up and asked as Lao Su gently nodded and smiled, he was not so eager waiting to know what was written in the book, he just slowly sat back, enjoying the view watching at Alec and Vicki closing together. The picture was too beautifully similar to the old time.
Vicki promptly cleared her throat, as she stood up the book on the table, eyes began to concentrate, while her soft clear voice slowly re said of every single hand written words that printed on the olden pages.
====================================
“12 January 1972,
I can not stay quiet anymore, I have
to find a place to let go of myself. So diary I thought, a game, which I
once played in my childhood to record all the wonderful memories that
happened everyday. But now, I need to write down, what I saw, how I felt
toward a certain person who just newly arrived in the family, but forever
she will remand unchanged in my mind. That particular is Hong Wei, my
husband first and only mistress.
As a wife, when a husband had slipped up his heart for another person, I
suppose to hate and dislike the third party, my enemy. But when I saw Hong
Wei, when I learnt about her situation, I can not stop feeling
sorry and pity for the unlucky person.
By today, Hong Wei had been brought in the family for almost a week, but I can still remember clearly, that early morning. When my son A-Ying, who was four just left the house for his childcare class down town with his nanny. I was still linger at the front gate to watched over his shadow, until my eyes turned brighter, looking at the familiar family car which was driving upward to our mansion. A normal indication that my husband had came home, after months doing some business in the city.”
====================================
Mrs Da waited for the car drove in the driveway and finally stopped at the normal spot at the front door. When Ta Khen the usually driver walked out, he politely bowed to the lady boss and quickly walked over to the back and opened the door for his master who was still sitting in the car.
-Lao Ye! You’re back! Mrs Da ran forward with a smile, but her beaming light soon dropped down, when seeing where was another person sitting beside her husband.
Lao Da Tung finally walked out of the car, yet his hand was pulling on the another person to follow him. Only then Mrs Da could view clearer at who was the stranger. It was a young lady, dressed in common tradition dress, but her hand were tied to the back, her mouth had been covered by a white strip, she was desperately fighting back against her husband grip. She was groaning out loudly even know she couldn’t speak a word over that tight strip around her mouth.
Mrs Da wanted to go forward, asking her husband who was the reluctant stranger beside him, but Lao Da Tung couldn’t care for anything else, rather then continue to strangle that new person who he just acquired, pulling her inside the house.
The moment the big boss had disappear inside the thick door with the new concubine, Ta Khen on seeing the lady boss was still starlet in wonder, so he quickly walked forward and explained.
-Fu Ren, Lao Ye just bought her!
-Bought her? Mrs Da was made in amazement, couldn’t work out the meaning of it until she asked on. Who is she?
-Fu Ren, she’s a bar singer in the city, named Hong Wei. Lao Ye saw her yesterday night, and the next day he came back to the bar, paid the debt that she owned to the owner and drove her all the way home? Ta Khen quickly yet, sharply reported, trying to fill in the blank for Mrs Da as much as possible.
-But! She doesn’t look happy? Mrs Da surveyed more again, when remembering the devastating image of the young lady, hands tied, and mouth was cover, fighting back strongly refusing to go with her husband into the house.
-She didn’t want to, but Lao Ye said he got to have her, and he decided to take her home.
=====================================
After listening to the brief background of the story, Mrs Da quickly went inside. She found the servants were running around everywhere anxiously. Senses letting her knows, that’s her husband just ordered for each of them a task to do, just like he always does. Wondering around in her lost stepped focusing to the stair, Mrs Da was looking around to see where about could her husband and the strange lady that he just brought home be.
Lee Lam, a young servant in the house just happened to walk by, on seeing the hesitation look of the lady boss, she promptly came nearer and whispered out the direction.
-Fu Ren, Lao Ye brought that strange lady with him upstairs in the guestroom at the corner.
Mrs Da followed the pointed direction, glancing above to one of the glamour guestroom of the house upstairs. While the servant quickly moved herself back to the house task, Overpowering by her inquisitive prying as Mrs Da eventually found herself tiptoeing all the way upstairs, and hidden behind the closed door of the bedroom. Taking advantage of the big key’s hole, she slowly bent down, trying to fix her eyes to peek at what was happening inside.
===============================
-What do you want? Please let me go! Hong Wei cried out desperately when
the white strip was taken away from her mouth, creating the first chance
for her to speak since been covered by the black bag and then picked up in
the car, after she just walked out alone from the bar.
-Honey! Don’t cry! Lao Da Tung spoke out in the flirting voice, keeping her hands well tied together, he pushed Hong Wei’s body straight on the bed, and then laid himself beside, while the yearning hands kept running all over her body and rounding her face.
But Hong Wei was still yelling out helplessly, as she disgustedly tried to twist away from those dirty touches arousing over her body. She wanted to push him away, but her hands were still tied at the back. She tried to kick out his lumpy body, but her strength was too weak comparing to the monster balloon size.
And no time later, Lao Da Tung had taken over her full irritating body. He biting on her skin, spreading grubby kisses across her body. While one hand was pushing her down, the other hand was tearing out her clothes, and then his own clothes.
Hong Wei was empowered by the demon strength of molestation, she only could cry, scream and shout for some invisible protections, but nothing come to her. Leaving the lonesome soul to suffer the torment and agony of unfair life. An anguishing situation, which Hong Wei will be, tolerates for the rest of her young life.
Still watching from the outside, Mrs Da had to put up one hand to cover her mouth, keeping her away from crying out loud in pitiful for the young soul inside which was been battered immorally by her husband, the person she once respected. Even know there was no real love between their set up marriage, which were organised by their two equally status families. Mrs Da still tried to care for her husband, complete her physical duty by giving him an adorable son. She was taught that all men are monsters when it come to beauty, but she never thought a mindful person like her sophisticated husband would do such a rascal thing.
========================================
Vicki’s voice began to tremble as she was amazed at the horrific situation that her father had done to another human been. Shakily in her fingers as she looked up to Alec for the supportive helps. He nodded in understanding, slowly pulled the book over to his side and it was his turn to continue with the old story.
“ I carried the dinner tray while carefully gave a gently knock on the door. There was no answer inside except for those howling cry, sniffing at one corner. Lao Ye was asleep in our bedroom, maybe he was worn out. But I felt the urgent need to have a look for myself at the new comer.
I finally pushed in the unlocked door and stepped inside the dark room. Nightfall was coming, the moon hasn’t shine, drowning the empty room in darkness.
-Hello? I come to give you some dinner! I asked out within the darkness, while my hand trying to search for the right light switch.
At last, the only power light on the ceiling of the room came on, and I was shocked. Tucking neatly in one corner on the bed, beside the window of the room, that faced to the front yard of the house was her. Hands were still tied on the back, her clothes was all torn out, showing bare skin with bruises and red cut all around her body. Her hair was flying everywhere, painting a terrifying picture, describing on how such effort she tried to fight, but failed.
Curving tingly in the corner, eyes were searching out in fear, watching at me as if I was some kind of aliens to harm her life. Her face was pale, trained in tears when her eyes were still swelling up from more misery.
-Hi! My name is Lee Lien, I bring in some food for you! I tried to make conversation, planning to move in an untied for her hands.
But the poor soul shot up in fear and moved in deeper to the wall, trying to get away from my grab.
-Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you! I tried to comfort her, but still nothing work.
The more I moved in, the faster she tried to run away, and it was up to the point where I had to leave the room, since my present had not done any good or in fact turned thing worse.
-I put the tray in here for you, and if you like anything just call me or one of the girls hao ma? It was the only thing I could do, placing down the dinner tray on the table and existed the room, leaving back the calming moment for the new person to adapt in her new environment.”
==========================================
Alec stopped on the reading, when hearing Vicki was sniffing in tears beside him.
-Are you alright? He turned to her in concern.
-Yeah! Vicki sniffed again, pulling up her sleeve to dry out her tears, then turning back to him with those sorrowful eyes. I can’t believe father could do such thing! She released.
-And he didn’t stop there! Lao Su’s emotional voice suddenly spoke out, catching back the attention from the younger one, as both Vicki and Alec turned back to him.
-A-pa! Alec asked out. What happened to You Peng on that night when Hong Wei was taken away!
Gradually pulled up from his seat, the old man moved his step over to the window view, eyes glancing to the front yard, where You Peng’s grave was lying.
-Nothing had yet to happen with him on that night? He slowly confirmed back, turning again to face with the two young eager faces. He just never see Hong Wei, waiting at the front gate for him like all the other night, and he became anxious, when realised that she had gone missing, but yet he never aware of what happened to Hong Wei and what will happen to their lives, their relationship.
Alec and Vicki both shared a sympathy frown, when hearing the description of the breaking love. But there was so much more they’re going to find out by reading the story, but time was limit, as the night was coming near, Vicki had to come home. She promised to make a copy for Alec and will ask Jorder to give to him later.
======================================
The simple dinner just finished, when Alec and Lao Su were enjoying some relaxing time together before resting down for the night.
-A-pa! So how did You Peng die? Alec had to ask for the question, which been eating in him all this time.
But like as always Lao Su just sighed and shook his head.
-You will find out later with the rest of the story!
-And did he find Hong Wei later? Alec was clearly trying hard to dig up some information before he could read on in the book, but Lao Su deliberately changed the subject.
-What do you think about Xiao Wei? He asked back.
-What? Alec was running through a confusing stress, not knowing what Lao Su was trying to say.
But before Lao Su could exaggerate on his point, a quiet knock could be heard from outside. Alec on thinking it was Jorder, quickly ran out to open the door.
Lao Su was following on the same track, as he also moved out slowly to the door, only then to find a strange lady tangling within Alec’s embrace.
-Shanna! When did you come, how did you know I’m here? Alec asked out in surprised while tackled her body tighter in his grab.
-Hah..I want to surprise you Alec! Shanna happily replied as she turned around and gave to Alec a quick peek on his cheek. I missed you Alec! Did you miss me?
-Ofcouse, missed you like madness! Alec replied, pulling her tighter in his arm, as he lowered his head, planning for the long kiss which he been looking for all this time.
Lao Su had been standing secretly behind the curtain, watching in annoying at the arrival of the new stranger person, who appeared to be so close with Alec. And one seeing the intimated moment about to blossom, he deliberately cleared is throat loudly to disturb on the kiss which was about to happen.
Alec shot up on noticing Lao Su was coming out, his hesitant action to finish on their kiss badgered Shanna, as she turned an unhappy look toward the old man who was so impolite to disturb in their romancing moment. Yet the other man was not that keen when looking at her.
-Um. A-pa! Here is my girlfriend from US, Shanna! And Shanna, this is my new adopted father Lao Su. Alec clearly saw the icy cold between the two strangers so quickly he tried to place out the introduction, hoping to melt the ice, but apart from a forcing smile from Shanna, there was nothing more to that.
The bridge making people were no other than Mrs Da and Jorder, they were sitting on the other two sides of the table, constantly throwing in some of their most active jokes. Yet Vicki would just smiled at it blankly, while Lao Da Tung rigorously show any reaction. To concise the long scene, they were acting like strangers who had never meet and would never want to see each other.
But now, Vicki finally found the moment to drop back in her privacy moment. After changed into her comfy pajama, loosened her smooth hair cover her shoulder, she excitingly hopped on her King’s side bed, settling for some reading time. Quickly snuggled in her warm blanket, lending over to turn on the bed lamp, she also dragged over the dairy notebook from the mini table beside her bed. Putting her fingers on the marker card, Vicki fixedly flipped the page to where she stopped at the last night. Sighing out a deep long breathes from ever thing that happened earlier, she let her spirit returned to the story written in the dairy. Remembering when she asked her brother to pass over a copy of the book for Alec, so properly by this time of the night, he could also be enjoying the secret just like her about to reveal.
==================================
“The next day after that first time meeting the new comer of the family. I was informed that Hong Wei was still refusing to eat or talk with everyone including Lao Ye. My husband was not very pleaded. I still remembered in that morning, while standing at the dinning room from downstairs, yet I could listened clearly to his groaning loud voice which was echoing throughout the whole household. He was deeply in cursing her, warning her, threatening her and finally opened the door with a last shout.
-You can’t hide away from me Hong Wei. You’re mine now. And whatever that belonged to me, I would never ever release it. So wake up and except the truth, to be xiao fu ren (Tieu Phu Nhan) of the famous Tung family.
A big slam on the door, which reminded me and the rest of the servants in the house to return to our active tasks, disguising away from Lao Ye who was urgently chasing down the stair that we had not been listening to him.
Maybe of the anguishing disruptive feeling that made Lao Ye peevishly refused breakfast and left the house for work quiet earlier than usual, but leaving the house coming back to a valuable peaceful time.
--------------------------------
Before leaving with Xiao Ying to the front yard to say good bye, as his nanny was about to take him down to the local kinder. I was standing there by the iron gate, waving and watching gracefully at the innocent picture of my little boy, skipping on his toes along the hillside. Until my eyes abruptly caught back on a strange figure of a young man, riding on an old rocky bike toward my house.
He stopped hastily in the front, dropping the bike on the ground and walked quickly heading to my sight, while trying to catch back his unsteady breaths.
-Excuse me Mrs! Is this the Tung’s mansion.
I furiously studied at the strange man for a second, when identifying his young sophisticated gesture, I trusted he was a good deed.
-Yes, that’s right! Can I help you? I answered while wondering and questions kept clouding in my head, trying to figure out who was the strange man.
-Oh, Thanks God, I found it! He sighed loudly in a big relief, before stepping abruptly to my side. I took a step backward in caution while he also noticed my reluctant action and quickly further our distance. Then continued on in the most pleading voice that I had ever heard, coming from the man.
-Oh Please, if your one of the Tung’s member, can you let me see Hong Wei. Please I begged you with everything I had.
My eyes widened in the most stunning shock when recognising Hong Wei’s name. Glancing at him for another close look when a blurry answered started forming in my head.
-Who are you to Hong Wei? I queried on, pushing my unsure prediction to the back.
-She’s my finance, please can you let her come back with me please! I found out this morning that Lao Da Tung took her yesterday and this is his house. The answered was so straight forward, so honestly that no one can deny that he was telling the truth.”
==================================
-Alec!..Shanna’s voice called over, as she sat up from the blanket, pulling on Alec’s sleeves, while he was trying to follow on with the dairy. Alec, why aren’t you sleeping! She yawned out tiredly.
-Oh, sorry darl, did I disturb you? Alec lovingly as back, folding the notebook neatly on his lap, while still maintain a finger within the page that he was reading on.
Shanne frowned out loudly, she
stretched her long arms, while pulling up to seat beside Alec, resting her
head on his shoulder.
-No, you’re not disturbing me, but the light next to you is! The
girlfriend complained in her sleepy voice, eyes closing showing her needed
for a sleep.
Alec beamed out a soft smile, rubbing tenderly on her hair, as he kindly whispered beside her ear.
-Alright! I’ll go outside to read!
But as he was about to stand up, Shanna was already in full awake as she strangling with his arm pulling him to seat back on the bed.
-Aiyah, our first night together in so long, and you want to leave me alone already. She whimpered.
Alec sighed on the childish of his love one, reluctantly he had to settle back in the bed, while pulling her little body to nestle within his strong arm. Shanna relieved in satisfaction, smiling spread out evenly on her thin lips, while huddling deeply in his embrace.
-So, Alec when are we going to move? She softly whispered out the question, but Alec took it as a shocking surprised.
-Move where? He asked dryly.
Shanna hesitantly lifted up her face, while blinking her dozy eyes in fury at him.
-Move to our own place. You don’t expect us to be sharing with that old man any longer right. Honey, I contacted one of my friends in the city and she said getting a small place for us shouldn’t be a problem, maybe within 2 days.
Alec was still hadn’t regain his conscious from the news, he strongly pushed Shanna body away from his grab so he could look down to her.
-I don’t plan to leave.
-What! Shanna shot up totally away from his grab widened her shocking eyes, disbelieving in what she just heard. You don’t expect me to stay here with that man any longer right. Can’t you see he doesn’t like me. She strongly disputed with her own argument while Alec was trying to convince his lover on to be more sympathy with the pity lonely man situation.
-Shanna, you’re only met him for not over 2 hours!
-So, but I can clearly see that he doesn’t like me. He looked at me in disgust. Shanna continued on her against, putting out a dwarfed face, so Alec could see her uncomfortable.
Alec smiled on the babyish of his
girlfriend, couldn’t control his yearning eager, he gently bent down to
place a persuading kiss on her lips, and then pulling her closer again
into his warmth arms.
-Come on, darl! Trust me, Lao Su is a very nice man. Atleast for me can
you try to be friend with him and I promised if one day where
uncontrollable things are likely to happen, then we will move and it would
not be too late. His strong firming words was too impressive that Shanna
had no reason to fight back, rather then she continued to tighter herself
within his cuddle. Yet her eyes could still rolling side to side in full
concerning, worrying for her assistance in a house where she clearly felt
that she was not welcome by the owner.
===============================================
“Mrs Da slowly stepped into the mutely, unmoving dark room as she noticed immediately of the little body compressing in a tiny curved at one corner beside the bed. She looked exhausting, while under the lacking of sunlight, her colorless body appeared more like a blurry spirit, that could easily scared off any normal human mind.
-Hong Wei! Mrs Da softly called out, tiptoeing cautiously inside the room, while looking at the dinner and breakfast’s trays lying on the table, untouched.
But as the madam’s shadow moved in closer, Hong Wei would scraggly moved her body away from the stranger, while ducking her face deeper in the circle of her bruising arms. Yet Mrs Da did not give up this time, she had came in there for a target and there also was a person, waiting anxiously in the front yard to receive some hopeful news from her.
-Hone Wei, You Peng had came to see you!
The notation worked greatly than expected. When hearing the mentioning of her familiar name, Hong Wei astoundingly lifted up her long frowning face, using her deep red swelling eyes to look at the strange woman in front of her skeptically.
When seeing the strong response, with no hesitation, Mrs Da stepped in closer again, re-told the news in a clearer voice.
-Yes! You Peng is looking for you, he’s downstairs in the front yard. Do you want to see him? With a genial smile, Mrs Da pointed her finger to one side as Hong Wei followed the direction, realizing at the glass window beside her bed.
With the big supporting strength given from the strange lady, Hong Wei managed to raise up from the floor as she abruptly moved her unsteady body on the bed, then crawled her way nearer toward to window’s view. Looking down the front garden, her body suddenly risen up in excitement, while eyes shattered in pool of tears straining down her thin cheek. It was him whom she saw, moving impatiently side to side before the steps at the front door. She opened her mouth, wanting to call for his attention but her voice was emotionally frozen.
-You can come down and see him! Mrs
Da pushed on, putting in some helpful tip. But Hong Wei body suddenly
turned stiffer in shock, when thinking of seeing You Peng face to face
again. She lowered her body and abruptly turned herself away from the
window’s view, hiding solemnly on the closest corner beside the window.
-No! Hong Wei mumbled, swallowing inside those salty tears. I don’t want
to see him.
-Why? Mrs Da asked back in starlet upon hearing the impulsive rejection.
-I just don’t want to see him! Hong Wei kept on refusing, stronger each time. Shaking her head constantly while burying her face with the palms of her hands. I don’t deserve for him anymore! She chuckled in emotion.
Mrs Da could sympathize greatly with the pains and the infamy disgrace that Hong Wei was feeling. She moved over on the bed, and for the first time, managed to grab on Hong Wei’s shaking shoulder, due to the long moaning cry and gently covered it with her supporting caring arms.
-Dear, don’t do this to yourself, I’m sure You Peng will not reject you. Because I can tell that he is dying to see you.
Disappointingly the confronting had no effect when Hong Wei had made up her mind. Since the time being carried back to the mystery house, she had understood that her life, her dream would be over. So now she had to help You Peng to face with the truth, and get on with his life, the more happy life rather than waiting for her. Mourning in sorrow tears, she looked up with the straining eyes to the strange lady that she just met, yet already she felt a certain strong link and trusts.
-Please, tell him to go home! Hong Wei sincerely begged to Mrs Da in her howling voice. Tell him to forget me and go home. I don’t deserve with him anymore, and I can’t belong to him anymore. Please tell him that!
Mrs Da grieving stare lowered in disappointment. Her heart clenched and her tears forming, feeling regret and pitiful for such a innocent love that just been smashed to pieces, leaving two broken hearts yearning for each other, even known their together future from now had been vanished. But what’s more tragic is that the devil who destroyed such a beautiful love was her husband. Knowing her words were not strong enough to convince Hong Wei, or maybe not at this stage. Forcibly, Mrs Da withdrew herself from the room and walked downstairs to announce the bad news.
Hong Wei sorely watched over her
shoulder to look down by the window’s view. She saw Mrs Da walking out
to You Peng. He was stunned after listening to her words and then starting
to urge, finding his way to go inside and see Hong Wei as if he didn’t
believe what Mrs Da just said was exactly the separating words from the
person he loved. But Mrs Da also struggled, gaining her strength to
control the eager from the broken man and in the end, a few more servant
person from the house had to run over. And together, they pushed You
Peng’s straggling body outside the front gate, and harshly closed tight
the iron lines, creating a jail wall between him and the mansion.
Painfully, Hong Wei closed her eyes in endless tears, not wanting to look
at his depressing image, who was calling for her outside the thick gate.
She prayed for him to forget about her, and that he’ll never return in
this horrible place again. Because if Lao Da Tung, the old man ever find
out about him, she can see that’s his life will be in great harm. So
sitting alone in the dark room, beside the window, she felt so powerless,
questioning God for why did he punish her like this as if her life
hadn’t been through enough torments. A long roaring cry could be heard
as the little shadow compressed herself in one corner, sobbing over the
sudden death of her dream, her beautiful fancy dream had died.
======================================
Vicki got shock out of bed, as if she was hearing the same aching cry tearing through the air in the middle of the night. She just woken up from the painful dream to look around her, it was only blackness. A shivery wind passed over, forcing Vicki to got out from her bed and to shut down her window tighter, the window that was also facing out the front yard but in a lower position. A curiosity moment arrived when comparing the situation that she just saw in the dream, pacing her tiring eyes over the dark garden, yet Vicki could imagine the picture of the pitiful husband, eagerly searching for the shadow of his wife.
“Could all that be happened in my house, in the bedroom above my room?” She wondered inwardly before coming back to her bed, hoping to retrieve on the important sleep.
Strangely, while windows were all such, there was no sound of wind outside, yet Vicki could felt her surrounding getting colder and colder. But hesitantly, she pulled over the blanket to cover her head, and trying hard to push her spirit back in that dreamland again.
Unaware to Vicki’s human eyes, a glowing spirit of a lady was sitting mutely beside her bed, eyes watching carefully and tenderly at Vicki’s struggle herself into sleep.
Lao Su slowly stepped out from his bedroom, surprised to see Alec was up so early.
-Morning Alec! He yawned. Why are you up so early?
Alec excitingly turned around to the old man, with a warm greeting smile.
-Morning papa! Oh, I was just too eager in reading on the diary. He revealed.
Lao Su nodded and smiled with a compensation look, he was anxiously waiting for the day where Alec and Vicki could see the real mystery twist to the story. But within that blissful moment, his eyes shattered on a thought, an unhappy thought.
-Where is your girl? The old man asked grumpily, gazing his eye on to Alec’s bedroom.
-Oh, Shanna, still asleep! Alec quickly replied back, while his eyes was fully fixed on the book.
Lao Su sneer a dirty look over to the bedroom, as if he and the new girl whom just arrived lastnight were enemies from the last life. Or he was not very please with the fact that Shanna’s present could interrupt the development of that special recurring relationship, which the old man had wished for, since Alec came to his life.
======================================
By the usual early hours of the morning, the Tung’s family was settling together to that formal breakfast with the heavy attendant from the man of the house. Unlike the dinner where Mrs Da and Jorder were constantly tried to connect back the distance between the father and the daughter. At the morning, maybe both mother and son had give up when realizing that no matter how hard they try, the gap will not be cover within those short little days. But it’ll require a lot of personal exploring and expressing.
Vicki already showed her uncomfortable sign in the morning, when she deliberately shifted her seat from facing at her father to be on the same side with her brother. Lao Da Tung could felt the irk, but he tried to stay calm and ignore it.
-Lao Ye, Are you going straight to work after breakfast? Mrs Da was just picking on her normal duty question, but shockingly Lao Da took the inquiry harshly.
-Yes Da Lien, you should know that we’re men always have to work to feed the family! He loudly and brutally bites back with the answer, bringing Jorder and Vicki to look up from their silent.
The young daughter was already irritated at her father never-change controlling gesture. Growing up in the early ninety world, living her life in the city, Vicki had adapted into the equally revolution between husband and wife, men and women. And that was how much she rebutted with her father, against his typical commanding personality, who never cares about other people feelings.
Clashing her knife and fork together hardly so they could make out those exasperating sound to show her furious, but then she reluctantly calm down when her brother placed his hand on her lap, indicating for her to stay quiet for peace.
Not long later, Lao Da Tung dropped back his utensil on the breakfast table, and grimily pushed his chair away, creating another chain of disturbing sound, before he stood up without a word and walk straight to his bedroom to get change.
Mrs Da was not even half way through her meal, but seeing her husband had left, she too quickly stood up from the table.
-Mama, why don’t you have some more? Vicki asked out concernedly, thinking her mother could be upset with the unkind way that her father had treated her.
But Mrs Da gently looked back to her worrying daughter with a soft beam.
-I had to go help your father get ready to work! She replied and dutifully made her out up the stair to the bedroom after her husband.
Witnessing the image, Vicki disappointedly sighed out aloud.
-Gosh! Look at mama, I mean father treat her like dirt and ….I don’t really know how she can live up with him after all these years.
Jorder looked over to Vicki’s complaining attitude, as the most easily going person in the family beside his mother, Jorder only laughed at the fussy mind of his little sister.
-Well, you must be thankful, that you weren’t born in the earlier time right? He teased, hoping to bring back that relieving feeling to the dinning table with his sister.
Vicki grimace a brief leer, turning back to her unfinished dish, before a sudden thought passed by that made she looked over to Jorder again.
-You know ge, even if I was born in the early days, with a man like father, I would never agreed to be his wife, I rather suffer still the day I die, but mama is so..so…Brave!
Jorder choked out with laughter by the comment, but when looking back at things, he also thought that his mother was very brave as well. Vicki also shared in a bit of smile, then another more exciting thought hit her.
-Ge, are you going out later! She asked with those bright adoring eyes looking in hope at the brother.
-Yes, I got to see Alec to give him this job advertisement which I think it’s very suit with him! Jorder replied, gazing suspiciously at his mischief sister.
Like being rescue from the boredom, Vicki quickly jumped over and pulled her Jorder’s sleeve with her puppy eyes blinking at him as a tool of attraction.
-Can I come ge, so I can get out from this air tied environment for awhile!
Who can resist the begging sweat
voice of the little sister, Jorder had no other answer to say rather than
to nod his head.
=============================================
Shanna was just walking out from the morning refreshing from the bathroom to bump in those implicating, dry eyes staring at her from the old man, the owner of the place.
-Morning! She pressured herself to stay happy when the old man just coldly looked away and walked out.
The young lady was a little confused, she didn’t know if she had done anything wrong in much a short time to upset that grumpy boss of the house. But eventually, she walked out to the front room and joined in the breakfast with everybody.
Thing was moving slowly at the eating table, when a loud car’s horn hooting out the front. Before anyone in the house could check up for whom was it, Jorder already chased through the door, followed by the playful Vicki.
-Morning everyone! The charming man greeted in hurry, just as he saw Alec was still taking time with the breakfast. Aiyah, Alec! You’re still eating now! Jorder cheekily spoke out. But just then his eyes moved over to the right side in surprise, while recognising the new person sitting beside Alec. Shanna! You came here already!
-Morning Jorder, long times no see! Shanna cheerfully greeted back, when seeing her old friend again.
Vicki was first lingering beside Lao Su’s side like she always does, but when seeing the excitement happening on the other side of the table, she decided to join in as well.
-Hey Shanna, you got here already?
-Hey Vicki, Yeah, Thank for you direction.
-Wait, you two known each other!
Jorder abruptly asked out his confuse when wondering how did his sister
and Alec’s girlfriend met each other.
-Shanna came to our house yesterday, and I gave her this address to find
Alec! Vicki innocently replied.
But standing behind her back, Lao Su was no where please with her grateful attitude toward someone where he saw was an enemy for Vicki. So interrupted the blissful moment, he sneakily called out to Vicki, than Alec.
-Xiao Wei, can you help me to boil the kettle darling!
-Sure, grandpa! The young lady delightfully agreed, as she quickly left Jorder and Shanna’s side then walked in the kitchen.
The old man smiled satisfyingly, and turned his head to head.
-Alec, while don’t you help Vicki to bring out some hot tea for us.
-Oh, Don’t worry Lao Su! Jorder promptly cut in for reveal, but Lao Su deliberately ignored his suggestion.
-I can help Vicki! Shanna offered, thinking the kitchen would be the women job!
-No! You just come here so you don’t know the place as well as them! Lao Su strongly refused her. By then Alec quickly rushed in to clear out any further disruption.
-Okey, papa, I’ll help Vicki, you sit down and wait for me! He gave the indication to Jorder then abruptly raced in the kitchen.
=================================================
Alec walked in from behind when Vicki had just finished setting out all the cups, and the kettle just got boiled.
-Need a hand! He offered in the sudden.
While she was lifting up to kettle to pour in the cup, out of her unexpected, Vicki shockingly turned around with the surprise when seeing the extra person entering in without notice. In the non-alert moment her hand decreased the pressure on its hold, leading the kettle to one side. The hot water almost pour out on to her hand if Alec was not quick enough by stepped in closer, and grabbed back on her hand, together they put back the kettle down the rack.
-Vicki! Becareful, you don’t want to get your hand burn! Alec slightly scolded out, when he too was having a little fright when thinking of what could happen just then.
-Aiyah! Alec, you don’t walk in the room so silently and then jumped up behind me when I was in the middle of sometime! But Vicki was blaming back, if he had not entered the room in such a surprising movement, then she did not get shock and forget what she was doing.
-Okey I’m sorry! Can I give you a hand to replace the fault! He found the need to apologize, with women powers these days, there was no use in fighting back.
Vicki smiled softly seeing she had won the battle. And together they helped each other to finish making the hot drinks. Finally all five hot steaming cups were put on a neat tray, and Alec ofcouse was the one to carry it outside.
But when they reached the curtain’s door, Vicki hastily had to run up to clear out the way for Alec since both of his hands were busy. Just then as he walked passed a little photocopy notebook dropped out from Alec’s pocket, he wasn’t aware and still walking straight to the table, while Vicki noticed the item and bent down to pick it up.
-Alec are you still reading the book? She asked out with interests, dusting the copied dairy that she had made for Alec, which just fell down from his jacket.
A little surprise when hearing the question, Alec abruptly turned back to face Vicki after he had pasted the tray to Jorder.
-Oh! That! ofcouse, I’m dying to find the ending, it’s even better than A Winning Noble Price ! He gladly accepted his addiction to the story as Vicki beamed and passed back the book to him.
But then Jorder and Shanna were feeling left out and lost so the both of them quickly rushed over to Alec’s side wanting to grab over the book, but failed.
-Hey what’s book is it? Shanna eagerly asked on.
-Is it the one I gave to you last night? Jorder also found himself inspired.
And soon the two eager minds were squeezing Alec and Vicki together drowning them with non-stop discovery questions. So Alec and Vicki had to take turn in telling what they known about You Peng and Hong Wei to the investigators. Not too starlet about the reactions when Jorder and Shanna expressed the same admiration for the unfortunate love story.
-So, our father’s mistress was supposed to be Lao Su’s daughter in-law? Jorder summarised from what he had heard.
-Yeah, And he forced her to be his mistress, when she was about to get marry with the one that she truly love. Vicki added in her anger view against her father action.
Shanna was dreamily enjoyed the story, as she leaded on Alec’s shoulder for some relaxing time.
-I can’t believe, there is such a tragic love story like that! But then sudden thought came in as she promptly sat up to question everyone. Hey have anyone of you know how they look like. I bet they must be the most charming couple ever! Shanna painted on, dancing in her fancy image of the miracle lovers.
Both Alec and Jorder quickly crushed to each other their puzzle look, but the clever Vicki already thought of the answer.
-We might not, but I known someone who can help!
Then in the even count of one, two, three, the four younger ones found their way turning to look at Lao Su with their pleading hopes.
-Grandpa, do you have…! Yet before Vicki could finish her sentence, the old man already smiled and nodded. As if he had been preparing for his moment to come long ago. So graciously he walked straight to his bedroom, then not long after carried out a small jewellery box. The four moved along quickly, helping the man to the most comfortable seat in the middle of the table.
-We didn’t have a lot of opportunity to take picture together! But You Peng did took Hong Wei to the Photographer once, when she was about to sing for the club and I had kept this only picture of them together! Lao Su’s voice filled with emotion while disclosing the story which he been covering for all these years. Careful with his wrinkle fingers, he genitally unlocked the box and pick out an old, worn out album at the first section.
Jorder and Vicki was on one side with Shanna and Alec stood on the other side, eagerly looking over the old man’s shoulder, waiting to see that curious picture. And finally that yellow deteriorated photo languidly presented in front of their eyes. Everybody were watching, and everybody went inconceivably amazed at the image.
-Oh my God! Jorder puffed out of shock, while gazing back this comparing eyes to Vicki then Alec.
Unlike the other, Shanna was the only one who turned suspicious in doubts and suspects.
But Vicki was not herself at all, she was trapping in the middle of no where land, which stopping her from listening to the complain of her eager brother.
-Vicki! Are you listening to me? Jorder shook hard on his little lost sister, thanks to that Vicki promptly turned over to him, but yet she still hadn’t reacted on his worry.
-Ge, I can’t understand why? She finally spoke out, juggling with her own questions!
-Why what? Jorder hastily asked back, annoying at her careless attitude to his concern.
-Why, How come Hong Wei and You Peng looked like me and Alec. Seem like she was not very happy with the format of her question, Vicki quickly re-framed the phrase. I meant. Why do Alec and I looked exactly liked You Peng and Hong Wei? Am I making any sense! She disappointedly asked back when viewing her brother’s funny confusion expression.
-Yeah, if you keep repeating on this topic, Then I will make no sense out of it! Jorder abruptly frowned out, while pushing behind his sister so she could exceed on her walking speed. Vicki, I don’t know why, and I can’t explain. Maybe the picture was old and the texture got changed, that’s why it had a replica image of you and Alec.
-Huh? Vicki gasped out, looking backward to her brother. Now you’re don’t make any sense.
Luckily, all the tangling between the hot topic had brought the brother and sister to the front gate of their mansion. Unexpectedly they didn’t have to press the bell at all, when Xiao Sen already ran out to open the gate.
-Shao Ye, Xiao Jie! Fu Ren had been waiting for you to have dinner! The little servant excitingly informed.
-Where is father? Jorder carefully and softly asked out his queries.
The servant giggles slightly upon seeing her young master silly caution.
-Lao Ye rang home before, saying he won’t be having dinner at home!
-Hah, That’s great! Vicki delightfully jumped up in relief when hearing the news that her father will not be joining dinner. Abruptly then, she turned back to her relaxing brother, and vice reverse, she became the one pulling on her brother to walk faster inside. Come on ge. I got to ask mother this! Quickly!
And the two young one of the Tung’s family promptly disappeared behind the iron gate.
==============================================================
-Alec, why can’t you just admit it? Shanna irritating voice echoed out
loudly from their bedroom.
Lao Su was standing outside the main room, enjoyably listened to the dispute between the young couple.
-Shanna, how can I admit something that’s never happen? Alec tiredly answered back to her irrational question for the countless times within one night.
But the girlfriend was not so easy to convince, she hastily throw back the old picture of Hong Wei and You Peng to Alec.
-Then how do you explain this picture? Her demanding voice raged on, queried for the answer to her suspicious.
Since in the afternoon, after Lao Su revealed the valuable aged picture of his dear son You Peng, and his daughter in-law Hong Wei. Inwardly or maybe deliberately he created a big astonishment. With Vicki and Alec together with Jorder were bewildered on the familiar looks between the people of 20 years ago and the present.
But Shanna was running solemnly in her envy, imagined of her own explanation to the inscrutable situation.
-Shanna, how any time do I have to tell you. I don’t know, I can’t explain it myself? Alec frustratingly responded back, searching a way to get out of this tangle mess created by his temper girlfriend.
-Can’t you! She asked out challenging while started to move closer to Alec, she was making sure that he will hear every single word that she was about to say. Well, I can! You and that Vicki had been playing behind me. And now when I suddenly arrived, you guys decided to make up this incredibly stupid story about the old love, and then showed that pictured out to scare me. To make me feel that I had been left out!
-WHAT! He sharply cut in, feeling all fuzzy listening to her unreasonable prediction. Where, How did you get all these crazy ideas? Alec asked back repulsively.
-By the picture! The angry girlfriend was still holding strongly with her believe, shoving the picture again into Alec astonishing expression.
Patient had slipped out, he was boiling hot with her childish game, having worn out from all the exclamations which were no used to Shanna’s rebutting mind. Alec had given up in the fight, he picked up the picture off the ground and heavily stepped over to her for the last time, that he can hold on.
-There is nothing between Vicki and I. Today was the first time we saw this picture just like you, and ourselves were wondering, but we didn’t went over the broad like you did!
-Oh so, now I’m the crazy one, I’m the mad one the one who went over the broad Am I! Her mocking voice shiftily asked back, as Alec wearily frowned out from his patient, there was no way his could control his temper now if he was keep staying in the same room with her.
-Oh Shanna, Stop It! He cried out aloud, like trying to scare of the jealousy monster, who was empowering his girlfriend. If you’re going to keep on with your absurd predicts. Then you may as well, find the answer for yourself. An after the grating speech was delivered, which hit with shock to Shanna’s frighten eyes. Alec grumpily stormed out the room as fast as he can.
=============================================================
Throughout the dinner, Vicki was constantly nagging behind her mother for some reveal about Hong Wei’s appearance. Jorder firstly had try to stay low, but during the middle way he slowly became attracted by the topic of the mysterious story which happened right in his own home. So at the end of the family meals, the brother and sister were totally tailing their mother around the house.
-Mama, please tell me, I’m going to blowout soon! Vicki sincerely begged, since she hadn’t got any patient to read on the dairy. So therefore the other quicker way to find out the details was directly to ask her mother.
-Yes, mama, tell us, what’s happened with Hong Wei! Jorder added in the pressure.
Mrs Da gave a big frown as she finally dropped herself down on the big sofa in the family room, where Vicki and Jorder instantly took their seat on both of her side, creating a secured fence around their mother.
-Hong Wei came to the house for over a month, yet she never comes out from the bedroom! Mrs Da slowly began, eyeing her sight sorrowfully as if the pity feeling was still fulfilled for the unfortunate lady who once lived in the bedroom upstairs on the corner. Lao Ye had never give up on her, every night he would come in the room and try to convince her, and every morning after I had to secretly went in the room to safe Hong Wei from damaging herself. And everyday, the young musician man kept returning to our front gate, calling for his love. Yet she would only sat still silently behind the curtain of her window to watch him in curtain of her tears.
The lady continued on, losing the solids on her voice slowly, due to the built up emotion. While Vicki and Jorder mutely listened to their mother description, constantly we would turn a brief view looking up in the locked door of the bedroom upstairs in the corner. A place where once witnessed so much grief and sentiments.
==============================================================
The dairy had written,
“Hong Wei had been in the house for almost 2 months, yet I can see she is killing herself slowly in depressions and guilt. She depressed for her life, her unfortunate tragic life. She felt guilt for trying to eliminate her love, for rejecting to see You Peng, leaving him to cry out for her everyday in the front yard.
But my concerns for her health grow more then anything and the day I feared had finally arrived. This morning, after the usually repudiating fight with Lao Ye, Hong Wei fainted out. I remembered Lao Ye’s screaming for help, and when I got to the bedroom, he was carrying her fragile, colourless body and laid her on the bed. While his voice was yelling out non-stop demanding the servants to call for the doctor!”
==============================================================
-Congratulation Mr Tung! The second mistress is pregnant! The doctor delightfully broke the news, after a brief check up at the still unconscious Hong Wei.
-Really? Lao Da Tung jumped out of his chair, as if it was his first time as a father to be.
Da Lien was caring for Hong Wei beside her bed, worriedly bite on her lips. She wasn’t worry because Hong Wei had felt pregnant and that means her husband will pay more attention to his mistress. But she was worried for how will Hong Wei copes with the news when she awake.
-But, the second mistress is very week, the embryo is now about 8 weeks or older, but there still is a great chance for a miscarriage if she is not taking care of her health properly! The doctor last warning echoed through the half-opened door, when the men left the room together.
Frustratingly, Da Lien sighed for a little frown, working for a good persuasive way to keep Hong Wei maintain her spirit. Just then she heard the door got opened and the heavy footsteps from her husband abruptly walked in.
-Da Lien, try to wake her up so I can tell her the good news. He happily ordered.
But as her quick reaction, Da Lien lifted up from the bed and she walked over to grab back her husband by his arm.
-Lao Ye, Hong Wei is very week, I think it’s better if I tell her the news! She carefully put out the advise, and was not surprised when Lao Da Tung shoved her hand away, as he tried to step closer to the bed.
-That’s rubbish, she is baring my child and I should be the one to tell her! But the wife was more determinedly to stop her husband.
-Please, Lao Ye, this is more like a woman’s issue, I can give her tips to cope with the stress. I promised, after I tell her, you will see Hong Wei more relax so she can recover her health to maintain the baby!
Once hearing the safety of his unborn child, Lao Da Tung promptly back forwarded, slightly he accepted the offer and exited the room, leaving the quiet moment for his wives to spend together.
Hong Wei began to stir the moment a hot towel patched on her forehead.
-Hong Wei! Are you awake? Da Lien whispered her soft calls, as she turned over and placed the hot towel back to the servant standing behind. You can go now, leave us some private time, and remember to inform us if anyone wants to come in here! The lady clearly put out her order as the little servant slowly stepped back ward, and closed the door behind her disappearing shadow.
Feeling her head was still taking its whirlwind, but Hong Wei tiredly tried to open her eyes to regain her attention.
-What’s happened to me? She whispered in the flimsy howling voice, while holding her hand over her forehead. Didn’t I die yet! The alerting question was followed.
-No, sweetie, you can’t die, you got a very big task to sustain from now! Da Lien kindly consoled the newly awoke person, as she helped Hong Wei to sit up from her quilt bed.
-What happened to me? Hong Wei was still running with her frustration. I’m feeling so weak and worn out. She described.
But not long later, Da Lien comfortably sat herself behind Hong Wei, giving her full support to such a vague body which about to receive the biggest shock in her life.
-Hong Wei, can you stay calm and listen to me! Hong Wei lift up her eyes in difficulty, trying to control her attention in listening on what’s Da Lien has to say. Hong Wei, you’re pregnant! The news finally broke, when Hong Wei stunningly turned her body all the way around.
-WHAT! She asked out in disbelieved, in her woeful gasp. I…I…She chuckled in frustration, feeling her hand on her flat abdomen. No, this can’t be. I can’t…I CAN’T…Oh God…And no more words to described, she fell in pool of tears, straining out from her swallow eyes.
Da Lien strongly affixed her firm grab, hugging on the affecting body of the woman in lost.
-Hong Wei, listen to me, you got to keep yourself together, you got to protect the baby, it’s innocent.
Hong Wei kept on shaking her head viciously, to carry the child of the worst enemy was not something she’s willing for.
-No, I don’t want to, I can’t…She refused, but then she felt Da Lien strongly pushed up her draining face to look at the confronting eyes, trying to tell her that’s thing was not as bad as it’s seem.
-Hong Wei, you got to keep the child. Because it could be You Peng’s.
The sentence triggered on the right target, when immediately, Hong Wei brightened her eyes in wonder and furious, while Da Lien found the steady moment to continue.
-The doctor said they baby is about 8 weeks and older. So I believed there is a greater chance that’s the baby is You Peng’s child.
-It’s You Peng’s child! Hong Wei repeated in her illusion amazement. The simple thought had turned the situation from worst to the best. There was nothing happier to a woman then when she found out she was carrying the child of her lover. But, it’s is possible? She puzzling questioned mumbled out quietly from her wonderment.
-Listen to your instinct, what’s it telling you? Da Lien soft voice spoke out calmly, as she kept her fingers stroking down Hong Wei’s back, giving back supporting strength to a pity woman. But Hong Wei remember this, You can never tell Lao Ye, or he would kill both you and the baby!
The reminder shocked her mind, as Hong Wei fearfully turned over.
-But, how can I keep the baby and give it to You Peng. It’s our child! She shrieked out in panic. And yet again, Da Lien had to place her strong hands on Hong Wei’s shoulder to confirm with poor friend who was in lost.
-Hong Wei listen to me! She cautiously too a quick glance over the entrance door, making sure that no one was going to burst in the crucial moment. Then secretly she turned back and whispered for only Hong Wei. Just stayed calm, as if you had accept Lao Ye and happy to carry his baby, I will find a way for you to leave with You Peng.
Hong Wei almost gasped out of shock, when she promptly had to cover her open mouth before anymore alarm sign could brake their plan.
==============================================================
Alec closed the dairy, while resting his back on the balancing chair outside the main room.
-So Hong Wei had a child! He had foreseen from the last few pages in the dairy, which he just read.
Mutely laid back his head on the
wooden chair, while his mind was still running in different thoughts. Or
it was a way to get through the lonely night outside the main room, which
he would have to sleep on the chair, keeping away from the stress of his
struggling relationship.
Lao Da Tung had tucked himself warmly in bed since very early of the night, but throughout those long hours, he couldn’t get himself settle down to sleep. The big man turned around unstably, looking at the window and then over to his wife who some how was peacefully enjoying her normal sleep.
He gave a big sigh and decided to give his necessity sleep one more chance. Yet the moment he persuasively shut down his eyes was when a sudden cogent cold chill mysteriously blew in from under his bed. Lao Da Tung tried hard to convince himself that there was nothing happening, as he pulled up his thick blanket, desperately need to cover himself from what ever outside that was watching him.
But the freezing cold air was undeniable, when more and more it turned heavier and even louder. Within the solid blowing sounds, eventually its spread out a very thin whispering.
-Give me back my child? The ghostly voice was asking, over the vigorously shaken body of the old man.
He tried to collect every courage feelings to stay calm, but it was only triggered for the voice of the unknown to continue and every after sentence was clearer and clearer.
-Give me back my child! Give me back my child!
Lao Da Tung’s body had hardened with goosebumps, he didn’t yell or scream, but his throat was dry and sticky. His temperature was decreasing due to the wintry surrounding, yet his hands were sweating as if he was in a sauna room. From the last minute of horrifying experience, Lao Da Tung flung opened his blanket, making the escaping way as he lift up hastily away from the bed. Without another look at what or who was standing beside him, the old man found his way to the door and chased out of the room.
Yet inside the classical bedroom, Mrs Da was still sleeping soundlessly into her dream, with no conscious of what was happening to her husband.
===============================================================
Lao Da Tung shut hard the door of his bedroom, while leading his back against the hard surface to catch up on his rapid breathing. At the breakout moment, he truly thought the haunting occurrence was over, since now he was fully awake and he gotten out of his room.
However, it only stayed peace until
the old man became aware as the soft music playing beside his ear. It was
her song, the song she used to sing on the stage. And now she was playing
it to frighten him, to prove to him that his power does not means
anything, even after so many years, she could still make his heart beat
faster, his mind loose its control, and his body turned in more condemn
moment after moment.
-Get away from me! The old man mumbled out between his grinning teeth,
while using his folding hands and covered on his ears.
Yet strange enough, the music carried on playing more louder and louder, until the old man lost control and went tumble his heavy steps down to the stair. Trying to get away the horrific mocking sound, echoing in his mind.
-------------------------------------------
Vicki reluctantly stopped playing her violin, when noticing that strange noises were thumbing outside. Glancing over to the clock, she realised it was only a few minutes past five in the morning. Vicki had use to awaking up early to practice her music, but not wanting to disturb anybody, she decided to play the music solely in her bedroom. But throughout these many nights, she was never aware that anyone else in the house could be up so early in the morning except from her.
Another loud chain of peculiar noise had just stirred up, and this time, Vicki confidently decided to come out and see what was going on. By placing her violin firmly back on the bed, quickly wrapped on her soft pajama another thick coat and then she opened the door and walked out to the hallway.
------------------------------------------
Lao Da Tung had been strangling with himself in order to pray for the music to go away, and when in the moment the sound had stopped. He thankfully, yet tiredly dropped back his big body on the main sofa, panting for some decent rest until he found her clear image was standing at the end of the hallway, looking at him. With his bizarre, unbelievable sight, he saw she was wearing that usually red tradition dress, with her formal hairstyles and the attractive image, which twenty years ago had captured the full heart of the eager wealthy businessman. But today she had turned to be the most terrifying picture, which he hadn’t got the full guts to face her.
-Please, Don’t come near me, please! Lao Da Tung became to cry helplessly when there was no more strength to back up for his ruthless acts. He only saw the lady was moving closer to his side, her eyes raging out in anger and condemnation. After these so many years, staying alone in the other side of the world, yet she had never forgotten what he had done to her and what he still owing her.
Vicki got shocked when looking at the stunning reaction from her father when his sight spotted her standing at the hallway. She was about to move back inside, when hesitantly paused back, watching at his fearful actions backing away from her side. His eyes was drained in apprehending nervous and appall, his face expressed with weakness, an uncommon site comparing to the brutal big Boss he used to be.
-Father! She found the indigence to awake him, from the nightmare that he was clearly suffering from.
-Get away from me please, please, leave me alone! Lao Da Tung was clearly mistaken his daughter lookalike features with that old person. He basically was crawling backward on the ground, hands constantly placed together begging her to leave him alone. Please, go away, leave me alone please, Hong Wei, leave me alone.
The familiar name finally brought to Vicki the simplest explanation for her father strange behaviours. But she could not understand why he was scare of Hong Wei so much, because didn’t he was the one who desperately wanted to take her in as his mistress. Nevertheless turning back to the reality, she couldn’t let her father go on in this frantic stage.
-Father, it’s me! Xiao Wei, wake up! She approached him in her most peaceful gesture hoping to lay back her father to actuality.
Contrarily, all he could see was her sharp boiling eyes, cutting through his skin with millions of accusations. Like she was urgently wanted to grab hold on him to pull him down to the unethical world where she was trapped in all this time.
-“Give me back my child! I want my child!” That was the only statement which he heard coming out from her moving lips, by the howling frightful utterance.
-No, never, get away from me!
After that tearing scream, Vicki stood still in convulsion shock, gazing her starlet eyes after her father’s floundering body scrambled his way up the stair, running severely to his bedroom. A silent moment went by, as young lady hadn’t retrieved her conscious when a mysterious hand dropped down touching on her shoulder. Vicki took in her body and promptly did a full turn away to the moving person from behind.
-Huh! Ge! She gasped and then sighed with relief, when seeing it was only her older brother standing at the back. What are you doing here? Vicki asked out, moving her steps back to the hallway.
-I was about to ask you that! Jorder yawned, rubbing his eyes from the unintentional wake. What was all this screaming and noises out here? The brother asked back, following behind her sister back, walking back to the hallway, leading to their bedroom.
-Oh! Nothing! Vicki sighed. Father was sleep walking, he saw me and thought I was Hong Wei, so he screamed and ran back upstairs. She broke the news to relaxingly as if it was not a big deal, when she just witness the strange behaviour of her father for the first time. She looked over and gave her brother who was expression with confusion a brief smile and then walked inside her room.
Jorder was stunned, not sure was it because the details of the story was so complicated to understand, or was it too early in that morning, that his brain hasn’t been that active to work out the concise information given by his sister.
================================================================
Alec exited from the bathroom after his morning wash up to be clash when seeing his girlfriend was leaving the house with suitcases pulling in her hands.
-Shanna, where are you going? Alec rushed out to the doorway, pulling back her step.
-I’m going back to the City! As brutally as she could, Shanna replied neglectfully against her boyfriend reaction.
-What! Alec shot out in shock, while Shanna carelessly tried to push his body away. Aren’t you supposed to talk with me first? He questioned out with queries, half was feeling affair for losing his love one, but the other half was blaming on her childish, irresponsible action in dealing with such a small dispute in their relationship.
But Shanna was full of self-arrogant, she would never accept her wrongs unless one must apologizes to her first. She strongly rejected Alec’s offer of reconciliation by walking away from his grab aiming coldly toward to gate exit way.
-Why should I be listen to you, if you care about me at all, then you would think for my feelings. Good bye! Alec! Those were her last words slamming back to his furious expression standing by the doorway.
Alec stood in froze watching painfully at her leaving sight, as regrets and angers were arousing against her stubborn mind. But as loyalty as he can be, Alec determinedly needed to clear out any misunderstands with Shanna, hopefully it could save their rocking relationship. Turning back to the house and grabbed at his thin jumper, then like a quick strike, Alec rushed out to the small road at the front, planning to chase after his hasty love.
================================================================
After that traumatic scene in the morning, Vicki had decided to take an early stroke, or to be direct, she was trying to escape from her father at the breakfast table. Walking through the frosty sky of the winter morning, Vicki was well prepared for the cold with her thick, knee length, wool jacket, with the attachment hood covering her hair and a warmth scarf wrapping protectively around her neckline.
The cold outside was freezing, however the misty blurry sky does created a very quiet and romantic atmosphere. When reaching to the main road at the bottom of the hill, Vicki’s suddenly paused back at one corner, watching at the figure of a young man chasing after a taxi, which was driving rapidly away from his reach.
-Shanna, Can you just listen to me for one last time! Alec helplessly cried out his best after the moving car, where his girlfriend just got in the moment she reached to the main road, leaving Alec no chance to explain anything.
Taking the picture by surprised when Vicki stood still watching at the Taxi and the man running past her sight, she recognised Alec was the person chasing, but didn’t exactly see who was in the Taxi.
The last breath ran out when Alec tiredly dropped out the chase, bending down for some rest at a big tree nearby. While he was trying constantly to catch back his gasping breath, he noticed footsteps were coming toward his way. Thinking it could be Shanna changing her mind and had came back to him, Alec hopefully turned around toward the moving sound.
-Vicki? He humbled out in starlet and yes a little disappointment.
-Alec? So it was you, what are you doing, chasing after the Taxi, new form of exercise! Vicki started with a little joke, but once noticing his stressing indication, she quickly turned to a more concerning pace. Alec, are alright? What’s happened?
He smiled bitterly, not wanting to let his personal problem interfere to his friend.
-Oh, nothing! I was just saying
goodbye to Shanna, she gone back to the city! He fraud the reason with a
fake smile.
No doubt, Vicki was not easy to be trick. “You’re saying goodbye to
your girlfriend by chasing after her Taxi?” She planned to ask, but
sensing he was already in enough afflictions, Vicki looked away, not
planning to dig in his personal relationship issue.
------------------------------------------------------------
Sitting on the Taxi, Shanna sudden felt sorry for abandoned her boyfriend so cruelty, making him running after the car like that without giving him any chance to explain.
-Driver, can you please turn back for me? She quickly requested to the driver, while hoping on the last chance so save her dearly relationship.
-----------------------------------------------------------
-Why are doing out here so early? Alec suddenly remembered of his own
question for Vicki’s unexpected appearance on the time.
The question brought back her personal trouble in the early morning, so it was her turn to fake the relaxing beam.
-Oh, I couldn’t sleep so I thought I take a walk, and come to Grandpa, asking for the breakfast! She said it playfully in her native sense, as it brought to Alec a little grin. But then he gave a sneeze from the chilling and eagerly rubbing over his forearm to shiver away the cold weather.
Vicki pitifully observed at the thin jumper that he had on. “Men always so confident about themselves”, she thought and then with no hesitation, she took down her scarf and passed over to him.
-Here take this or you’ll get a cold. Weather up here really serious you know. Then acting as a kind friend from her innocent, Vicki walked over to face with Alec, in no hesitation, she gently wrapped her long scarf around to cover his neckline.
-Thank you! Alec gracefully replied not noticing their close distance, during all this time knowing each other, it was their first time being so close with each other.
He was putting up his hand to grab over the scarf, when accidentally his fingers clinched on her wrist. In the first time fondled each other, a sudden cold air rushed in between them, as an unforeseen picture unexplainably appeared in front of their eyes. It was the old flash back of Hong Wei and You Peng standing in the same closeness position, but they were sharing with each other one of those intimated kiss.
When both minds were capturing back
by the olden flashback, they remained in the same internal bonding,
unaware to both Alec and Vicki, a Taxi was passing by at the exact moment
to witness what portrait as an affection attachment scene. Shanna bites on
her lips hurtfully, fuming her envy eyes at the exposing picture between
the two whom claimed to be just friends. Strongly enough this time, she
ordered the Taxi to keep on moving back to the city as planned.
Like being stun by an electric shot after those revealing images of the
old couple, Vicki hastily withdrew her hands away from Alec as well as
stepping backward to further their distance. He also was confounded,
confusing on what was the meaning of the flashback, but truly both were
only feeling astonishing shocks.
-Um, let’s walk back to find grandpa, okey! Vicki difficulty found the
reason to dismiss the built up tension. And when Alec nodded supportively
to the suggestion, they took the same turning back to the old house, but
walking soundlessly in a save distance away. Vicki was concentrating her
steps ahead. While Alec was trailing behind, half was still remembering
about Shanna, yet randomly he glanced a quiet look to Vicki from behind,
questioning about their past and their future.
A brief look of hesitation ran pass his mind, but forcedly, Alec held on to the hot cup, took in a long breath and finally exited the kitchen, heading to the main room where he would have to see her.
=============================================
Vicki was standing by the front window, eyes viewing motionlessly at the old grave belonged to You Peng in the tiny front garden. He is there, but where is she? If Hong Wei is still alive, then where is she living now? Yet if she is dead, then where is her grave?
Alec paused still, looking intensely behind her unmoving back, his mind suddenly wonders for what she was thinking? Does she still remembered of what happened in the morning? Sighing out loudly, he tried to bypass that harassing feelings behind and then pushed himself forward.
The moving sound from the back disrupted Vicki’s chain of thoughts as she hurriedly turned around. Expecting to see the dear Lao Su bringing out her coffee, however her eyes lowered in hazard when spotted Alec at the other end, leaning over the table.
-Um..I brought your coffee out! He muttered with great difficulties, pushing forward the hot cup to her side.
-Oh! Thank You! She replied with no lesser obstruction, while spreading out her arm to grab over the cup.
Within that short moment, their eyes met, yet in urgent rush, both withdrew their sight away from each other as fast as they been alerted. It had been like that between Alec and Vicki after the unexpected premonition revealed in the morning. Suddenly they both found it was very difficult, challenging and a little bit of daring when staying close together, likes as if both were affrighting for that tragic past will fall duplicate on their presence day. To sum up, their feelings were not the same anymore.
The awkward gasp was just expanding by every minute, until Alec finally decided to back away, gesturing toward the kitchen, only then he was stopped by Vicki’s consolidating voice.
-Alec! She called when he abruptly halted, but still not turning over to look at her, yet. Alec, can we just have a little talk, about what happened…Um about what happened in the morning.
Alec began to feel his mind straggly starting to spin with meaningless explanations when even himself could not understands the purpose of what happened in the morning.
-Vicki! With great courage he managed to drag himself come face with her. I don’t know how that happened this morning, but maybe it only was…
-It was Hong Wei and You Peng…whom we saw! Vicki strongly stated, chipping in for his difficult speech.
Out of relief, Alec sighed but with a little starlet on her understanding clarification. Now looking back to the picture, she surely did make sense.
-Yeah! That was them, not us! He finalised once again on the point, which they both totally supported in the same agreement.
-I known, what happened in the past compared with us is pretty weird. I can’t work it out myself either. But I’m sure that, what meant to happen had happened, and we’re not involved. Vicki languidly moved on with her solution. She well understood that since after viewing Hong Wei & You Peng’s picture yesterday. He must had been questioning the same queries as she had. Alec, it doesn’t matter that You Peng and Hong Wei were lovers. However in this presence, you had Shanna and I’m already with Jimmy. And…I’m not willing to change that …yet!
Alec showed silent, though he was approving the valid point with Vicki. The only bitter thought was the idea between him and Shanna, cause for as he aware it may already ended since this morning unsuccessful chase.
-Yes I think you’re right, Vicki! And I also think that we should not let what happened in the past interfere with our friendship at the present.
-Of course, I support that! For the first time since this fateful morning that Vicki managed to come back with her cheerful side, delightfully she brought out her hand toward Alec.
He also smiled and accepted the friendly handshake. From then the icy hesitation wall had broken down while Alec and Vicki quickly returned back to their normal self, with smiles and laughter.
-What is all the giggling in here that I heard. Lao Su suddenly walked out from the kitchen, just in the right moment looking at the young friends sharing the joy together. Truthfully, deep inside he thought that his plan had worked, with Shanna out of the way giving ‘them’ a better chance to get closer.
-Oh Grandpa! We were just kidding around! Vicki pleasingly rushed over to welcome her grandfather to join in the newly recover atmosphere. As she cleverly winked to Alec the ensuring look, then turned back to the old man, pushing him to take a seat next to the table. Since you’re out, I need to ask you some very important questions?
Switching back to her serious tone,
Vicki settled down on the seat next to the old man while Alec explored on
with his curious, taking the close by seat on the other corner of the
table. He had a feeling that he may know what’s going on.
Moreover, Lao Su was confused and fury, his mind was too busy thinking
about the new couple while the younger ones were more interested in
finding out about the old couple.
-Grandpa, mother told me about Hong Wei’s pregnancy. Did You Peng know that? At last the question was asked, both Vicki and Alec inquisitively kept their sight tighten, watching at the old man.
-Yes! Lao Su softly nodded, he looked down on the table, and within the minute of silent to refresh his memory and then revealed. Since Hong Wei mysteriously disappeared, You Peng was never the same again. Everyday he fed himself with concerns and worries, he didn’t care about his work or his music, every thing was always about her! The old man began his story’s telling as Vicki and Alec settled down with serious attention to every detail as if they were linked to it. But until one day, he came home and all smiling, rushing up to me, the first sentence he told me was. “A-Pa, you’re going to be a grandfather!”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lao Su just took his peaceful time from his seat by the big table in the living, admiring his son joyfully circling around the room. You Peng was packing, preparing things for that escaping run which the Madam, Mrs Da had promised to him when she will organise a perfect day to release Hong Wei.
-Oh, A-Pa, can you believe that,
I’m going to see her again! We’re going to live together again, to be
a family again! The young musician was speaking non-stop while his hands
were still busily putting all his music’s work into the brown bag. His
father looked down and grimaces.
Suddenly You Peng dropped down everything and came running toward his
father.
-And you know what A-Pa, I’m going to be a father! He laughed cheerfully. And you’re going to be a Grand-Pa, can you believe that! The overwhelming son couldn’t help to jump over, shaking hardly on his father shoulder.
Lao Su shared with the laughs, he about to add in his own cheerful words, but You Peng once again cut in abruptly.
-Which one would you like, A-Pa? A boy or a girl! A boy should be like me, I will teach him how to play the piano, to write more love songs! You Peng happily danced around with his imagination, then happily he paused. Or maybe, should we have a girl? Yes, a girl that will look as beautiful as Hong Wei, she will have her sweet voice and Hong Wei could teach her how to sing, then we will have the two most beautiful followers living in our house. Oh A-Pa isn’t that wonderful….You Peng’s blissful expression faded as the picture returned to the reality.
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-You Peng was like a child, running around clearing out everything inside the house, while we were still waiting patiently for the good news from the Madam! Lao Su paused back on his description, by then the wriggle eyes were swelling up with waters, as his olden heart was trying to cope his that same unbearable pains from the past.
Vicki was already sniffing, to learn that You Peng was once misleadingly put in a lot of joys and hopes for his future, the future that never come true. She felt pity for the young artist, whom lived through so such torments by her own so call ‘father’. Come to the thought of that, Vicki quickly tightened her grab on Lao Su’s crying shoulder.
-Grandpa. She softly called out, checking to see if he was still capable to discuss on more issues. Once seeing Lao Su’s tearing eyes looked up to her, Vicki took in a deep breath then bravely she asked the question that been problem her the most. Grandpa, Do you know whether You Peng’s child was a boy or a girl?
Alec, who had been sitting quietly from the other side, sharing with emotions, yet once hearing Vicki’s doubting question, he cautiously turned a shocking eyes toward her. She had reminded what he had forgotten, the relations between them with You Peng and Hong Wei. So far they learned that the couple might have a child together, but how come both Alec and Vicki ironically shared the same features with You Peng and Hong Wei?
Surprisingly, Lao Su also turned back with puzzlement.
-I thought I always knew the answer! He replied, eyes glancing over to Vicki. But now I’m not quite sure anymore! In the last part of his answered, the old man queerly ran his eyes from Vicki over to Alec, looking at the young familiar face with doubts and questions.
=================================================================
By early afternoon, Vicki finally brought her wondering steps back to the White Mansion, the ancient house that held so much mysteries, so much pains and sadness. Stepping up the front stair leading to the main room, Vicki thankfully sighed to herself after hearing the notation from the servant that her father had left the house to work with her brother. At least after all that she found out, and what happened early this morning, she was not ready to face with his demanding faking posture.
-Mama! The youthful voice loudly called out, searching thoroughly through the main living room for her mother. But the house seems exceptionally quite. Mama! Vicki called out again, walking in deeper and in that moment, she also smiled when finally spotted her mother, standing in the dining area, fixing up the decorative flowers in the small corner. Ah..Mama! The cheeky daughter waist no time as she started running to be by her mother’s side.
-Where have you been all morning? You missed breakfast, your father was not very happy! Mrs Da scolded out to her independent daughter, who always only likes to do her own things and followed her own believe.
By the mention of Lao Da Tung, Vicki turned down a long face, of course the well known grumpy father would never be happy for anything. Tiredly she dropped down on the nearby bench next to where her mother was standing. On seeing her daughter’s changing pace, Mrs Da understood that she had wrongfully named that one person. Consolably she took a seat beside her stubborn daughter, while rounding her arm over Vicki’s shoulder.
-Come on, Xiao Wei! Honey, You can’t hate him like enemy, because no matter what he is your father.
-Is he? Vicki sincerely turned back the questioning glance to her mother, bringing a little surprise to the lady.
-Of course he is! Mrs Da quickly confirmed still struggling in her bewilder shock, she was about to ask for the reason that caused Vicki to think in such a way. But at the same moment, Hong Wei’s story slowly revised in her mind and the wonder was answered by itself.
Vicki looked away, she knows how well protective her mother was when every time coming to the debate issue about her father, only then the old queries suddenly came back. Vicki decided to move away from the subject about her undetectable father and moved on to a more interesting topic.
-Mother, can you tell me….? She snuggled closer to her mother, rounding arm in arm to looks for comfort, Vicki continued. Where is Hong Wei’s child after it was born. Was it a boy or a girl?
Mrs Da hadn’t got enough time to react with the sudden extreme questions, when a big bang on the sliding door through the dining section was heard. Both mother and daughter disruptively turned around to shockingly faced with the steaming red Lao Da Tung rushing to their side after banging away the door from his walk.
-How dare you to ask that question? The powerful man shouted out between his teeth, eyeing angrily to his shaken wife and then pointed his aim straight toward at the stunning daughter.
Jorder had also just arrived to the terrifying scene. This morning he was rushed by his father to leave urgently for a business deal, which only to be cancel by phone in middle of the way, so that’s why father and son decided to turn back for home. Jorder hasn’t got enough time to relax since the morning interruptions. He was planning to catch up on his sleep when coming home. He didn’t prepare while walking into the front door, and met with his father’s back, storming uncontrollably through the dining area.
A moment of hesitation, Vicki didn’t know how to answer, but most of all she didn’t want to answer, releasing her hard body from her mother, she decided to bypass her father and headed for her room only to be caught back physically by the intentional hard grip.
-I’m asking you the question, for god sake, ANSWER ME! The mighty man grinned out the words before ending it with another large shout toward the pity reluctant girl who was trap tight by his hold.
Vicki started to strangle for her freedom, while Jorder and Mrs Da both stood still on two difference sides, worrying.
-Would you let me go, you’re hurting me! She cried back, while using her other free arm to untangle the one that got grabbed. You want the answer, why don’t you find it in yourself, what have you done to the poor singer and her family you should know! Don’t try to play gentleman to hire your monster mind!
Amazingly she managed to hit back with him by the full accusation of a crime. To show that he was not the only one who gets enraged at a fast speed.
-YOU! Lao Da Tung looked down again, aggressively darting at her solid rebellious expression. He could clearly felt the boiling blood pressure exceeding all around his body and promptly gathered down onto his one free arm. In the lightning action, he lifted up his big arm in front of Vicki’s fearless eyes.
Jorder gasped in fear for the safety of his sister, while Mrs Da almost shriek out aloud, she wanted to jump in and stop her husband brutal action, yet someone she was never strong enough to do so.
Vicki followed closely at the rising arm, which believably was going to strike down on her face like thunder from the red, hot storming night. Somehow there was never any fear from her when facing her father’s coarsely gesture, she felt like he was only acting to gain fear, forcing other people to lost their control and finally begged down in front of him and say sorry. But he was definitely not going to get any of that from her even if she will suffer under the brutish punishment of provocation.
Lao Da Tung was ready to teach his impudent, offensive daughter a big lesson. However just when the moment he was about to slam down his arm, that familiar ghostly face suddenly appeared from Vicki’s stable expression. The image of her cursing eyes looking straight at him warningly. It was the looks from a protective mother against the predator who was about to hurt her child. The look of the person who knows that she is in control every time facing with him. No matter how strong, tough and ferocious he tried to be in front of the other. He will never show his fang in front of her.
Shakily, Lao Da Tung slowly dropped down his arm by his side with the fearful eyes looking away from Vicki’s inviting look. She was surprised, but plead that her father had finally been deceived. Looking back at him coldly for the last time, before she turned back to the pathway, walking straight into the side hall and shut herself out of sight in her own bedroom.
Lao Da Tung was left standing in ice of fury and confusion. He was taken by a shock dilemma, the thought of a victim whom he once raped and tormented was now coming back to protect her daughter to play against him. Could it really mean that he is losing his power?
Jorder and Mrs Da were also left dumbfound, they never see the big man in the house get so hot but then cool down so unexpected.
=================================================================
Vicki had been burying her face inside the blanket for the rest of the day not wanting to talk to anyone or get out of her own room. By evening she heard the servant came in, inviting her for dinner, but she clearly refused. And a moment later, her room was disturbed again when Mrs Da brought in the tray full of cuisine dishes.
-Xiao Wei, wake up and eat honey! The caring mother called out softly, after she turned on the light and found Vicki burying like a big bundle under the thick blanket.
-I don’t feel like eating now, please leave me alone Mama! Her begging voice said out through the thick quilt as Mrs Da sighed outward. She shook her head for the last look at her daughter and slightly exited the room, turning off the light as she left everything covered again with blackness.
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Hong Wei had been standing closely to the window, watching eagerly for Lao Da Tung’s car to move out of the mansion. Tonight was that determined night. Lao Da Tung was leaving for a business trip to Shanghai, he won’t be back for few weeks. Mrs Da thought there was no other perfect time for the lover to make their escape.
Glancing at the clock, it almost eight, the sky had darkened and the black car was suppose to leave the house every soon to catch the night ride train. Hong Wei couldn’t believe that every moment were coming true. In about another hour she would be traveling to another far away city with You Peng with Su Lao Ye to rebuild their family with another new hope from the unborn member of the group.
Placing her hand gently around her still pretty flatten stomach, she softly whispered to the other living soul inside of her.
-Hang on there baby, mama will get to see your papa very soon!
And on the bright thought she also saw the headlight of the car finally turned on, and in no time the black vehicle was rolling outside the closing irongate.
“He’s gone!” Hong Wei felt like jumping out of her bed and make her run as fast as possible away from the imprison area. The wait was over, she is free to return to You Peng to continue on the life that she thought would never recover.
While making her way from the window and down her bed, Hong Wei excitingly lit up as seeing Mrs Da rushed through the door.
-Hong Wei, are you ready? He’s gone and You Peng is here!
-He’s here! Hong Wei gasped out in delightful, she was about to run down to him when Mrs Da cautiously paused back her speed.
-Hang on, Hong Wei where are your stuff? The lady asked out in surprise looking at the empty handed Hong Wei when she was going to leave the place forever.
-Nothing in here belongs to me, like I don’t belong in here. Hong Wei answered kindly with the smile. Truthfully she was kidnapped and brought to this place with nothing, so why must she brings with her the things that would only remind her of the terrible time blocking away inside this critical White Mansion.
The relieving Mrs Da followed on behind, she quietly grinned with happiness for the hostage elegant bird finally got its release from the golden cage. Relaxingly, walking along the upper corridor, the kindhearted lady spread out with a great smile, watching to the below at Hong Wei’s struggling gesture. The ecstatic beauty was confusingly wondering around the enormous living room area, looking for the right door to exit, and when she had found the right knock, Hong Wei immediately flied herself away.
---------------------------------------------
Under the grumpy windy dark sky, You Peng was moving around consciously in the front yard, counting down every minute. Just at any moment now, she would appears from that door and he could have the chance to chase over, to hold her, to kiss her and to be with her again. Everything was too exciting to handle, with his weaken body resulting from the long-suffering time, he could feels like breaking down any minute from the inspiring pressure. But the longing courage kept him standing tall, since he believes, if they could make it pass just another unanticipated night, then tomorrow morning will be brighter and sunnier than ever.
-You Peng! Finally the moment arrived, in response to the familiar call, You Peng lift up his face toward the front door. And there he saw her. She was a little thinner, a little paler, but her smile was just as captivated as normal, her voice was still warm and charming like as always. She was there in reality, running down the stairway to be with him.
Like a flash, You Peng also pushed himself forward, running with the fastest speed, to shorten their distant length. Both were already grinning with relief, yet still deeply wishing for this to not be another ‘dream’.
Thankfully, real feelings had made
the fantasy finally came true, with two long tormenting months separated,
which were felt like a century. Now both had taken no hesitation, as Hong
Wei quickly lift up her body, rounding her arms up high and catching
strongly around his neck, pulling herself to attach as tight as possible
within his securing embrace.
Fighting against the rushing strong wind blowing toward them, You Peng was
no different, when he squeezed her body tautly to nestle within with
yearning arms, he was affair if accidentally he loosen his grip then she
could vanished away from his sight like thin air. So still staying tensely
in each other arms, the newly recovered couple was speechless. Hong Wei
couldn’t hind her uncontrollable joy as she fastened her linger on him,
kissing firming on the back of his neck, while reunion tears kept drooling
down, creating a few tiny shriek with in those happy laughter. From
behind, she could felt his protective arms, covering her body against the
bad weather, his hands slowly ran from her waistline, moving tenderly up
her back, to her neck, and then soft kisses were placed randomly on her
hair. Everything were too magical to be true, as the lovebirds were swept
away by the rejoining moment, that either one of them were aware of the
heavy wind force, which quickly followed by lightning flashes, then
thundering sounds, indicating a massive storm was about to arrive.
=================================================================
The delicacy black car was still making its way slowly down the rocky hillside. When the sky flashed down another blistering light, tearing through the thick black night, Lao Da Tung, who had been sitting uncomfortably at the back seat grappled against his butterfly feelings inside. A rusty thunder just stroke down, pulling the man closer to his window view, eyeing upward to look at the grouching sky, the sharp sensed man began to wonder, was it a warning or some source, telling him that things were about to go very wrong?
=================================================================
Mrs Da was still pacing herself by the main window from the living room, focussing to the main yard, she couldn’t help to admire at the strong bounding love from the two most heroic people that she had ever met.
Outside, You Peng and Hong Wei were still snuggling together, until she finally remembered of the danger zone, which were still surrounding them. Pulling slowly apart from his hug, Hong Wei moved up her two hands to touch on his firm cheeks, and tenderly she whispered:
-You Peng, let’s get out of this place, okey!
He nodded with the biggest approval smile. After a short minute waiting for Hong Wei to turn back at the mansion for the last time, waving her farewell, to the greatest helper whom she was so fortune to have met. Then with arms still supporting for each other, the lovers began to move their hurried steps away from the jeopardize hazard, which can only be imaginable from those nightmare horror scenes.
Gracelessly, destiny was not on their bright side. The moment Hong Wei and You Peng, reached outside of the thick iron gate was when they been confronted with the most disturbing bright beam light shining cruelty directed toward them, making both had to lift up their arms in covering for their eyes from the irritating light.
But a few second to regain their conscious, Hong Wei was the first one to step backward, as she clenched closer to You Peng’s arm. While he was still struggling with a little doubt, Hong Wei was fully alert, she had recognized that demonic gesture of the man who just stepped out from the back seat of the car parking in front of them. Forcedly, the couple had to compress tighter beside each other, moving themselves backward into the garden. They both managed to escape from the high beam of the dark car, but couldn’t run away from the boiling, jealousy green eye monster. Lao Da Tung was steaming out with smoke, even know the weather had became colder, with light rain started to drizzle down on the problem unsteady ground.
Mrs Da covered her mouth from the biggest fright in her life, when seeing her husband’s aggressive body was moving fixedly into the garden, compelling Hong Wei and You Peng to move back deeper into the unpredictable future that will hold on them.
-How dare you take her away from me? The old man grunted out between his teeth, gazing sharply toward the young man with the pale appearance, yet his hand looked to be so steady and strong, wrapping securely around her body, around the woman he wants.
-She is my wife! Why can’t I take her with me? You Peng replied with a little fidgety, yet his arms were forever attached with Hong Wei, making sure that she was still safely beside him.
-Damn you! How dare you temp me like
that! Lao Da Tung puffed out again, like a tempering dragon, which was
about to strangle its predator into pieces.
-Please, let us go. I can’t be with you, please free me! Hong Wei
desperately begged out for her release, while still pulling herself
backward to be closer with You Peng’s hold.
Throughout this whole time chasing after for her love, Lao Da Tung had never received such an aromatically, gentle reply from her. Now when he finally has the chance listening to her soft sweet voice, bitterly to think it was when she’s asking him for her freedom. Accepting defeated was something that the powerfully man was not preparing to encounter. By looking at the closeness between the young couple, it would only increase on his envy, the most dangerous source energy to feed in the unbearable jealousy power from a man who couldn’t get his love.
-Hong Wei is mine, and forever she will be! The big man roared out his defined warning, while waving to the back, telling his guards to move toward.
Not long after, Ta Khan together with another big man uniformly stepped into the already frantic picture. By a sharp indication nod from Lao Da Tung, Ta Khan had to move forward, together with the other man, they both strong grabbed on You Peng from both side, pulling the young musician away from his love. While Lao Da Tung also paced himself forward, plundering for Hong Wei’s wrist, then pulled her unwilling body backward to the house.
Rain started to fall down in a much faster pace, the tapping sounds from the heavy drops mixed with the sorrowful cries from the lovers who were heartbreakingly pulled apart.
-Let me go, let me go! You Peng yelled out, while struggling himself within the hardened grabs from the two men who were holding back his arms.
-You Peng, You Peng…Hong Wei cried out helplessly, while trying to move away from the tight grip from the monster man. Her one free hand, reaching over for him, at first she managed to grab on his shoulder, but slowly slipped down his chest, and ultimately it was only waving in thin air.
-Hong Wei…Hong Wei! You Peng yelled out even louder, when his body was pulled back away from her. Just then a thundering punch suddenly came slamming down to his stomach from the big guy who was grabbing on to him. You Peng bent down, panting from the massive pain, but stubborn enough he quickly turned upward and continued on calling out for her name. Disappointedly through the blurry wet image, which he was able to view, her hazy figure was slowly disappearing away from his sight. You Peng was left with emptiness in his heart and a lot of pains on his body, as then the big man began to attack even more brutally, hitting non stop on the drained out body. But You Peng was willing to take it all, only if it could give him another chance to see her again.
Ta Khan was still holding on to You Peng, he had try a few time, telling the other guard to stop the beating, but order was always had to be done. There was nothing he could do, rather than to stand there, under the rain, supporting for You Peng’s limited strength during the harsh punishment.
=================================================================
Compared to the monster strength from the demonic man, Hong Wei little straying body was useless to remove his tight grip on her left wrist. Out of unwillingness, she was dragged back into the horrific house, which she thought she had gotten away.
Lao Da Tung was breathing out with wrath, while determinedly taking Hong Wei back to her place. When passing the living room, they also met with the frustrating Mrs Da, who couldn’t do anything else, rather then to chase after her raging husband, trying to calm him down from the hot plate.
-Lao Ye, please think about this, please don’t hurt them!
Yet her pleading showed no effect on the undefeatable husband as he continued to storm his way up on the stair, towing on the reluctant Hong Wei behind him, Mrs Da left with no other way than to follow with her husband, rushing to the upper floor.
-Let me go please…Hong Wei desperately fight back against the stronger force, but it was too late, when they had already reached to the last room at the end of the corridor. Lao Da Tung harshly hurled her soaking body down on the bed then carelessly walked back outside without any further comment. Mrs Da who was standing nearby quickly hurried forward to help Hong Wei on the big push.
Gasping hardly among her rapid breathing, Hong Wei was trying her last chance to get back outside with You Peng. But the moment she managed to pull herself together and lifted up from the bed was when she saw the only door out of the caging room was closing in.
-No, please, let me go, let me go please! She cried out louder, racing herself toward, banging her palm against the door, which clearly had been locked from the other side.
-Let me go…let…me go…please….Please! The helpless soul kept crying out with her weeping voice. When the little strength in her body finally drained out, Hong Wei dropped down frowningly on the ground.
-Hong Wei! Are you alright? The concerning Mrs Da hastily chased over to have a check at the fragile body.
Only then, the name “You Peng” suddenly reminded to Hong Wei, with a new trigger to gather her energy, Hong Wei ominously pushed up herself in a more balance pace.
-You Peng…You Peng…She called out his name in hopes while slumming her body on the bed, then hastily crawled herself closer to the window site. Mrs Da on seeing the urgent rush, also quickly followed on behind.
From the above, Hong Wei could views it all. Outside the rain had stop, but You Peng beaten out body felled down powerlessly on to the ground.
-No, leave him alone, please…please…Don’t hurt him..Oh God, please don’t! She tried to cry out inside the window, while banging her hand heavily on the glass surface, hoping to get some attention. But everything seemed to be useless. You Peng continued to get bash up, as the big man repeatedly kept kicking on his body.
-No…You Peng…I’m so sorry…Please don’t hit him…don’t hit him…The moaning cry persistently called out, while her hand still strongly pounding on the window. Mrs Da who was kneeling near by, couldn’t control her sorrow, watching as her failure plan to release Hong Wei turning into a tragic ending.
Lao Da Tung had returned outside, and at the same time, Ta Khan with the other big obediently pulled up You Peng body from the ground, so he would be standing straight looking at the other stronger side.
-No…please let him go…don’t hurt him…Hong Wei still painfully cried out from her aching heart, while witnessing the one man she loved was being tormenting severely. Out of the hurtful picture, her eyes widened in horror shock while viewing at a small handguns that Lao Da Tung was holding up with his straightened right arm.
-NO…NO…PLEASE….DON’T…DON’T…NO! Her shouted out with every last breath, standing up on her knees, banging, pounding harder on the window, even creating a few cracking lines on the glass surface, making a few cuts to her palms. Small lines of blood started to drizzle out, yet Hong Wei couldn’t care more for her injury when her mind had been invading with fears and just more fears, looking at the harmful weapon was pointing directly toward him, the fulfillment of her life.
Mrs Da was struggling with her pity when looking at the anguishing picture, she started to leans forward, grabbing on Hong Wei’s unsteady shoulder, hoping to lay out a few calming words to the tragic soul. But Hong Wei could only pays her eyes on what was happening outside the front yard, while she kept on crying, yelling, hitting on the window.
-NO….NO….DON’T TO HIM…YOU PENG…DON’T…PLEASE….!
“BANG”
Suddenly, Hong Wei had gone to completely quite in a snap of the finger, or was it because of the immortal gunshot, which she just saw firing out. Mrs Da couldn’t view what just happened, she tried to shake on Hong Wei unmoving shoulder, yet no respond was given. Looking up she saw Hong Wei still had her eyes gazing to the outside, but confounding tears just kept dripping down like waterfall from her unblinking eyes. Her bleeding hands had laid still on the window’s breaking surface, her voice had absolutely frozen without a single shriek. But tears were still falling down. Mrs Da found the need to have a look for herself at what really happened outside, but as she moved up her sight looking down to the yard behind Hong Wei’s shoulder. She gave out the most horrifying gasp, while quickly used both hands to cover her opened mouth from crying out loud.
Down below, You Peng lifeless body
was been dragged along the muddy ground toward the iron gate. When Ta Khan
and the other man who were pulling on the deceased body of You Peng to the
iron gate, the sky suddenly turned grumping once more time, as white
flashes began to strike down, making the whole darken image to disappeared
in white smoke.
---------------------------------------------------
From their own different beds, Alec and Vicki together shock up with the most terrifying nightmare that both have never witnessed. While Vicki was gasping rapidly for some air to calm down her unsteady heart rate, while feeling hot tears had been rolling down her face since she was still witnessing the nightmare. And Alec was experiencing with one of the most deepen pain ever, the pain felt like as if he just got shot right below the left side of his chest.
================================================================
Taken a short while to relax herself, to confront with her mind that everything was just a bed dream. However Hong Wei still buried her face within her hands and cried out for no reason. She only felt a very hurtful lost, but couldn’t recall what was it that she was missing. Finally she decided to straighten up herself, Vicki started looking around her still darken bedroom. Turning over to the head on her bed, she saw from the glowing clock, it was only over three in the morning.
Knowing that she would not be able to tuck herself back to sleep again, Vicki tumultuously got out of her bed, searching to sit down next to her small desk. Turning on the reading light, she reached out to open the first draw on her right and pulled out the original copy of her mother’s dairy.
Flipping through the pages rapidly, she was looking for some where to confirm that what she just saw in the dream was just a vision with no hard fact supporting for it. But to her disappointment, she couldn’t find anything at all written about the escape. Instead there were a few missing date, from the time after Hong Wei was announced with her pregnancy, the book was left with blank pages, until a few short notes continued on later.
“Hong Wei had started eating again and I felt the most relief then anyone else. At last I had talk her into maintaining her life for the embryo inside of her, which is waiting on everyday with hopes until it could come out to see the sun light outside this agony world.”
“Five months had pass, and Hong Wei’s stomach is clearly growing bigger. Comparing to her reluctantly gesture as always, I believe that I’m the most excited person in waiting and hopping for this baby to be born in good health.”
“Lao Ye had been keeping quite a distance lately. Maybe because Hong Wei is coming near to her labor date, or has he finally understands, that no matter how hard he tried, Hong Wei will never look at him in the same way again.”
Tiredly closing the diary, Vicki threw back the book in its draw. Nothing she read so far had answered her queries. Why didn’t her mother writes anything about the escaping night, or wasn’t there one? Too much wonders and questions kept flooding around, which gave to Vicki a very stressful headache. She gave out a big sigh, lying her head backward, leaning on the back of her chair, closing her eyes for a moment to think, and then another idea suddenly came alive.
-The bedroom, maybe there is something up there! Vicki agreed with the thought to herself. So quickly after that, while still wearing her night pajamas, she determinedly went out of her room. Walking through the blurry moon light reflecting from the windows, she made her way out to the main living room area, from there Vicki calmly walked up the stair, heading straight toward the last room at the end of the corridor.
==========================================================
Vicki took her steady steps softly, making sure to not disturb anyone from their deep sleep. But while walking gently along the corridor, when her thread was getting closer to the target room at the end of the path, Vicki suddenly had to pause back due to some very strange whispering. The voice clearly was coming from the dark room that no one was allow to come in. Standing hidden soundlessly against the thick wall between the mysterious room and the reading room. Vicki took a deep breath to push up her confidant, before leaning her head over to the suspicion side. Ear dropping in hope to work out who was in the room and crying at this hour of early morning.
-Why…Why are you so stupid, so silly to see my feelings for you? Why must you leave me like that!
Vicki shivered on the wailing shrieking cry when she recognized at the familiar person whom she never had guesses. To be ensuring with her doubt, carefully she brought herself to face with the door. And at the same time, she was also kneeling down lower to the ground, until her sight would reaches at the parallel length with the tiny keyhole, the only spot to see through the wooden door.
With the little side from one eye’s view, pecking in the small slot, yet the picture was viewable enough to shock Vicki out from her wildest dream. Inside the room, sitting on the bed, holding firmly to a strange, elegant ancient looking, curvy pot with a closed lit on top. Her powerful father, Lao Da Tung was cradling the pot in his arms, weeping out as if something important to him had just gone missing.
She could not believe that the picture in front of her was real, and to testify that, Vicki was all ready to open the door, so she could walk inside and confront with her father. But unexpectedly as she stood up and was about to move forward. She felt a very strong grab pulling her back in behind.
The moving sounds outside, suddenly disrupted in the privacy moment of the big man. Lao Da Tung was brought back to conscious, and without any hesitation, he stood straight up from the seat, carefully placed the nice pot down on the near by dusted desk and then strongly walked up toward the door.
Pushing his head out to look at the hallway, but unexpectedly, Lao Da Tung only found the quite, dark atmosphere staring back at him. After a few seconds checking with himself, the big man then turned back to the room, before closing the wooden door shut again within the dark night.
Mrs Da strongly gave a hard reminding look to her daughter, telling Vicki to stay quite. They waited in silent, when hearing the closing door from the next room, after making sure that everything had turned back to its claming stage of the night. Only then Mrs Da relieved herself, and also let go off Vicki's curious gesture,
-Mama? How come it you? Still looking at her mother doubtfully, Vicki had to speak out her wonder when the right moment allowed.
Mrs Da turned puzzle, she had a very long night, from engaging in the annual fight between her demanding husband and the stubborn daughter. While lying in the bed, but she couldn't find that decent sleep, until she felt her husband, bumpy body got up from the bed. Pryingly more than normal, Mrs Da found herself also gotten out of the bed to follow behind her husband's steps out the hall way and down to the end room in the corner.
Wanting to listen for what happen, Mrs Da had hidden herself in the reading room, next to the neglected bedroom. While waiting for her husband to come out, she saw Vicki's spying figure walking passed. When seeing her innocent daughter was about to the make the big scene within the normal night. Mrs Da quickly stepped out, grabbed Vicki inside, and here they were standing face to face with each other.
-Mama, How come you're here in this hour of the morning? Vicki eagerly asked more, when seeing her former queries had no effect on the different side of her mother.
Mrs Da breathed out heavily, walking her way deeper into the reading room which pulled Vicki's steps to follow.
-Xiao Wei! I advice you, not to find out more apart from what you already known! The mother softly released her concern, while turning on the reading light at the small desk.
Vicki was starlet at first, but then the quick thought soon explained to her on what her mother was referring to.
-Why mama? Why can't I find out, it is because it's involved my past!
Mrs Da hesitantly looked up, at the same time facing with the questioning harden look from her daughter. Being with this little brave girl since all this years, Mrs Da was always find the look alike in personality between Vicki and her father. They're both powerful and demanding.
-Xiao Wei! What ever happened it, happened for a reason! The old lady tried to consoled her daughter, yet the younger mind was not willing to let it go.
-Mama, I think you knew how the past will effect to me! But I don't want to know the reason, I only want to find out the fact, that had what happen to Hong Wei and You Peng. Did father kill him, and trapped her back in that crowding room? What happened to Hong Wei after the baby was born, and most of all, I really need to find out who is the baby?
Taken over stunningly, Mrs Da couldn't believe how much her daughter had learnt, even all the things that she had kept secretly and were not written in the dairy book. Frustratingly, she was overwhelming in choices. Should she tells? But what is the point of hiding when Vicki had acquired half of the fact.
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Another meaningless day had just pasted, but Hong Wei still hasn't move her position, sitting motionlessly on her bed, leading against the widow, looking aimlessly over the night growing shadow of the front garden. She had been a soulless living body since that tragic night, six months ago. You Peng died, so as the happiness in her life, so as her essence. From then, day after day, she had to drag her life with hates and revenges. She promised to herself, to the little life which was growing slowly inside her body, that they will payback for You Peng, no matter how long, how hard it'll takes.
But today, things suddenly feels a little different. The evening turned dark quicker, it was in middle of a warm summer, yet lightning suddenly aroused outside, tearing through the black sky, and then rain drops began to fall down rarely. Hong Wei gradually felt drained out more than normal. Maybe it was because of the striking lightning which brought back to her the horror pictures of that fateful night. More than ever, at that moment, she wanted to see him, to be with him again.
The door cracked opened, as Da Lien's footsteps could be heard walking in.
-Hong Wei have you dinner? The gentle lady softly invited, but as usual Hong Wei replied to her in silent and ignorant.
Da Lien uselessly shook her head, before placing the dinner tray filled with food on the table, then stepped herself on the bed to confront with Hong Wei's reluctant gesture. This had been like a daily exercise which Da Lien had use to.
-Hong Wei, even if you don't feel like eating, you should think about the baby.
The thought of 'the baby', brought more bitter to her clouding mind. Moving her left hand gently around her expanded abdomen, Hong Wei hurtfully shrieked out in sound.
-My poor baby, already lost its father when it hasn't been born, hasn't get the chance to look at this tormenting world. To remember the one monster which caused all the pains.
That was also a familiar curse from the vulnerable lady. Who had been through so much suffers, and now her mind was filled with nothing but revenge and revenge. And the strongest weapon which she could hold on to at that moment was the baby living within her.
Da Lien was more careful to the heavy words, she quickly walked back out to close the front door, incase bad things could be overheard. Then cautiously she came back to Hong Wei.
-I known, you're hurt, but it is not a solution to restrain yourself like this. The older lady consulted.
But strongly in replied, Hong Wei turned to her a hard look different from normal, as she heavily let out her complain.
-It is so not the solution for me to pretend with that monster, he killed You Peng and taken everything good that ever had happened to me! Tears were swelling out within her sticky voice, Hong Wei closed her eyes to swallow down the unexpected raging anger within her. Gradually she opened her eyes, shifting it back to the window view, bitterly she let out a hard laugh. Um! But lucky for me, I'm still have my baby, that monster will never touch You Peng's child. I will protect it still the last breath of my life, and in the future, it will revenge for me, for its father's tragic death.
-Shrrrrrr! Da Lien urgently snapped in on alert at Hong Wei's unusual rampant gesture. Saying all that stuffs aloud within this critical place is like suicidal. Hong Wei, how many times have I told you to becareful, if Lao Ye ever find out he will kill you, the two of you!
Within the secretive moment between the two ladies, yet either of them could aware at the third soul who was coming into the room. After the moment standing in boiling temper outside the door. Lao Da Tung was struggling with his limited patient after what he just heard. No more strength to hold back, the vigorous man kicked the door opened, within the dark thundering night, his lumpy feature appeared outside the entrance way like the shadow of a great big hungry monster.
-Lao Ye!...Da Lien gasped out in horror shock, when feeling all the nerves in her systems uncontrollably went numb, freezing her whole hesitated body in one position.
The loud thumb on the door, caught on Hong Wei's attention when her frightful sight turned to the cautious side. But once realizing it was the beast coming in to harm her life, she laid out a disgust look, before carelessly turned back her view to the window.
Unfortunately that reluctant rejecting gesture only added in more hot oil to the steaming body. Lao Da Tung vitally stamped his feet into the room. Picking up the shaken Da Lien and threw away from his sight. The immoral monster kept on attacking to the weaken body sitting solemnly against the window.
-What did you just say before? His clumpy voice began the question, while one hand grabbed hard on Hong Wei's wrist, forcing her to turn back in pain, facing to him. You said that You Peng's baby will take revenge for its father, Right!? The shouting was evil and loud, yet Hong Wei couldn't care for anything anymore, when she only returned to him with one of that cold look, to challenge with the vicious mind.
-Lao Ye! Hong Wei is not herself today, she been speaking non-sense, don't listen to her. Da Lien's covering words abruptly cut in as she swung her body toward to grab back Lao Da Tung's arm. But in returned, the poor wife received a thundering slap from her massive husband, causing her body to fall uselessly on the ground.
Turning back his temping, firing eyes toward the paling face, there was a beauty that he once admired and wanted to take over. Now she had shrunk into a pair of dark, hollow, hatred eyes, with every glace was equal to a strong stab wanting to take over is life.
-Why don't you say it again, in front of me! The big man pulled on Hong Wei loosen body again while pushing his braveness to bypass her slaughting gaze. The baby is not mine, its yours and that bloody Musician. Right? You lied to me!
On hearing the love of her life being brutally insulted by her worst enemy, Hong Wei strongly stood up against his blockage with extraordinary strengths, grabbing over the monster's collar, she pushed the massive body away from her view, to take control of the winning position.
-Yes, that's right. I'm carrying You Peng's baby. And I never said it was yours, only the stupid darken, immortal mind of yours keep saying that it is. How do you feel now, out of everything you had planned, you missed this point. You may have killed You Peng, but he's still alive, his soul will be with me, with our baby, and together we will haunt you for the rest of your cruelty life. She had finally stood up for herself, to say everything that was holding back, while walking step by step forward to compress the raging man.
But then when nervousness busted out a need to stop her cursing speech. Lao Da Tung put up his hand in defense not anger, and slapped down a striking hit, sending Hong wei's unbalance body on a spin then slammed face down harshly at the edge of the bed.
-Ah! She cried in pains, when feeling the strange aching knots kept tiding from her back, then expanded all around her body. Her stomach was hurting, the strong force had touched her baby, and now the little things was moving around in fear, wanting to get out of the insecure place. Ouch! She cried out again, this time in much louder tone, causing attention of the other existences in the room.
With no question, Da Lien rushed straight forward to attend at the injured pregnant lady. Suddenly her eyes widened in fear, looking at the pool of blood was pouring out under Hong Wei's lifeless body.
-Oh My God! She's in pain for labor! Xiao Sen...Ta Khen, get the doctor, the midwife get someone! The frustrating lady called out desperately for help not thinking about her husband's present who was still standing, but standing confoundedly in one dark corner of the room. No matter how angry he was, but looking at the woman who he's truly loved was suffering in agony, he couldn't have the guts to torment her anymore.
-My Baby! My Baby! That was the only things Hong Wei could whispered, as Da Lien helped her to lay down on the bed. Her body was all filled in sore and throbbing pains, while her mind was running in worries, tears straining down her face, mixing with the salty sweats. However she still has the conscious to realize that this is the hardest battle in her life which she had to get past, tried to get past.
The Tung family was never this busy in bizarre, people running, panicking all around the house. Both the midwife and the doctor was urgently summoned, Lao Da Tung found his frozen self being pushed out of the closed room. He only could hear her painful, aching cries, which was the only shield to control his anger.
For long hours, suffering in the contraction of a pre-matured birth. A baby cries suddenly appeared leaving everybody sighed out in relief. The situation was so critical that they thought either mother or child could make it. Not only because the labor was a rush result from a heavy scuffle. But because Hong Wei did not look after herself like a normal mother-to-be. Her weak health, and the drained out body with no energy were in everyway infavour with the painful process.
And now, when she had given all her strength to save her baby, Hong Wei's life was slipping away dangerously.
-Da Fu Ren, Xiao Fu Ren. Congratulation, it is a girl! The midwife, proudly announced after a overall check up then wrapped the little pre-matured baby in a warmth blanket, before passing it over to Da Lien, who was all emotional when received the tiny life in her arms. The baby who she been caring all this time has finally arrived.
Looking at Hong Wei's tired body, lying still on the bed, Da Lien quickly brought the little arrival forward for mother and child to have sometimes together..
-Hong Wei, come, have a look at your daughter, she is just as beautiful as you are! But Hong Wei laid still motionlessly, Da Lien's sense of worry aroused, as she started to pull on the lifeless arm to awaken the worn out body. Hong Wei, Hong Wei!..
Thankfully, Hong Wei began to stir wearily from the little strength she had left. With great difficulty she opened her eyes, looking for the sight of her little baby. Moving her hand up flimsily searching for the first touch of her little treasure.
Da Lien was relief, seeing Hong Wei had shows some responses, she quickly tried to move down pushing the baby forward to its mother yearning arms.
But then, the private door once again flung opened, as Lao Da Tung's aliens gesture darted inside the room, without caring for anything, he stormed straight toward his wife, before grabbing back the tiny body in a violent rush.
As if it felt the nasty grip, the tiny soul began to cry, yelling its tiny voice to awake its mother tiring soul.
-I will show you Hong Wei, what I can do. I had killed that stupid musician, so why should I safe this rival offspring. He was pushing the baby up high with his two straighten vertical arms, when Da Lien quickly jumped in to hold back the sinful action.
-Lao Ye, please don't, it just a baby, please! The poor lady cried out helplessly, mixing with the desperate cry from the tiny baby, as if she was aware at the harmful danger, threatening her hope to live.
-My baby...please...don't...my baby! With all her last strength, Hong Wei managed to push up her body, only to saw her little baby's body was swinging high up in the air, within the monster loosen grip. The image was too horrific to watch, the consequences were too heartbreaking to think. Everything was over the limite for the slipping down soul. Finally Hong Wei stopped her breath, as her unconscious body fell down to the ground, ending one sorrowful life, but a beginning of a lost spirit.
-Hong Wei! Da Lien called out in terror, when turning back her body to Hong Wei, hoping to give some support to the motionless body. The doctor also rushed over, but after pressing her wrist to look for a no longer existing pulse. He sadly shook his head. NO...! Da Lien cried out dreadfully, while shaking the sobered body viciously, wanting to get back that weaken life. But everything she done were worthless. She only could cry out louder, grabbing back the lost body in her tight grip. Just a few hours ago, she was still a living body sitting down at her usual spot, longing to the birth of her baby. But now, she had gone, without a single reminding phrase, without feeling, touching her little baby, the one she had been longing during the pasted tormenting months.
Lao Da Tung stood still in the shock of his life. Within the devastating moment, he he lost himseld to notice that the midwife had carefully grab back the baby from his loosen grip. He only could stood still to observe the pain from his heart. He had lost, money and power could easily buy him everything he wants, excepted for her heart, even in her last breath, Hong Wei did not carry a patch of loving feeling for him. He had failed tremendous with no other way to re-play.
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Vicki suddenly lost her voice in tears when retelling to Alec and Lao Su about the tragic death of her birth mother. Something which she just found out earlier that morning from her mother.
-My God! How can a person...Alec found his voice also grieving in sorrow, pity for such a unfortunate life.
Lao Su was the only one to stay still, as if he had imagined that awful pictures too many times before. Now he was numb with all grieving feelings.
Vicki let out another sob, then quickly pulled up her sleeve to wipe out the tears on her cheek. Slowly she walked back, landing in Lao Su comforting hug.
-Grandpa! You're really my grandfather, and all this years I'm just so careless. I'm sorry! The newly united grandchild sobbed out aloud, burying her weeping face inside the elder embrace.
Alec stood still watching with respects to the gathering moment, but somehow deep in his head, there still were some wonder, queries, if Vicki was You Peng's daughter, Lao Su's grand child, then the equation could be uneven. But looking at the emotional picture, Alec didn't have the heart to bring up his questions in the light. May be time will tell.
-I can't believe that the story is real, that those characters once actual live here, that the tragic story once happened in our house. The big brother repeated his astonishment when walking home with the reluctant Vicki.
She only sighed not letting out any clear reply. No matter how much shock and confound Jorder was feeling, it was not as awkward and frustrated as Vicki's mixing feelings. She finally understood how her surrogate mother, Mrs Da was so hesitant before telling her the story.
Finding too much outrageous truth in one day it was simply incapable to Vicki un-prepares mind & soul.
-For all this years living in, growing up from that one glamour White mansion, yet I never realize the secret that it was covering. Jorder continued on, as the two of them followed the rocky footpath, going up the green hill, leading to the stable White Mansion. Only this time, the older brother finally noticed at his sister strange reaction. Concernedly, he stopped in front of her, forcing Vicki to pause back on her dreaming move to face his her brother's worrying face. Are you alright, Xiao Wei? He asked, placing a consulting hand on Vicki's shoulder.
She looked in at him in her wondering eyes.
-I don't know! Vicki replied hardly. I don't know where to start from here!
-You don't have to start anything! The brother confirmed quickly. Just live your life as normal, and treat all this tragic memory as the past , don't let it harm your present. The young man tried his best to convince his lost sister that she's better off to let go of the past and not hold on to it.
But Vicki was more reluctant, she realized it was easier for Jorder to not take notice at what he just found out, but to her it was a totally different situation. Her parents were cruelly murdered. And the nasty murder was a man who she been seeing as her own father for the pasted 20 years. Or in another way, the person who she once respected as a father now suddenly turned to her greatest enemy who killed both of her parents.
-It's not going to be the same anymore, I can't look at him in the same way, I can't feel the same in that house! Vicki busted out with anger tears, when all the eager thoughts had overfilled her small head.
-No! Jorder promtply stepped in closer, grabbing, and shaking on both sides of Vicki's shoulder. Everything is still the same, the White Mansion still is yours house, Mama still see you as her only daughter, and no matter what the truth is, I will always see you as my dearest little sister.
Vicki emotionally looked up, touched by her brother generous words, she suddenly like the feel to be comfort. Falling gracefully on the shoulder of her brother, for the first time within the day, she let herself cried out aloud within his smoothing, protective envelope.
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All morning Mrs Da had been feeling unsettle, fearing for the worst that could happen since the serest had been review after these 20 years. For a need of relaxing time to clam herself, she had kep busy in the kitchen, making the family a nice lunch, even known it'll properly be hard to have the chance to enjoy it.
When hearing the front door got opened, then shut, the elegant lady quickly stopped on her kitchen task, as she hurriedly her steps to the door, thinking to catch up with her pitiful daughter.
-Xiao Wei, are you home? The mother's voice called out from the main kitchen, as her figure quickly arrived to the living room area, but out of a little disappointment she only found her older son, who was standing by the stair case, looking lost.
-Xiao Ying? She called, when Jorder abruptly walked over to meet his mother. It was you who just came in not Xiao Wei? She asked softly, as if it was a little frown of worry.
-No, mother, Xiao Wei came home with me, but she just went in her room to have some rest, I think she needs it! Jorder firmly told his mother, while pulling her toward the dining area.
Mrs Da was left in starlet, her son was giving her one of that problem look, as if he had knows something.
-I've met Xiao Wei at Lao Su's house this morning! Jorder reviewed, when like expected he saw his mother put up her hand in queries.
-So you, known! She asked, puffing in panic, things had starting too get out of control. She became worried and regretted for telling Vicki too much information.
When observed at the unsettle gesture of his mother, Jorder promptly stepped in closer, rounding a full supporting arm around her shoulder, and confirmed.
-Paper, can't wrap fire, Mama. Things will get find out sooner or later, but let us hope that the memories came back in a quickly and be gone smoothly.
Mrs Da looked up to her son with the greatest appreciation, then she only let out a big sigh before turning back to the hallway, leading to Vicki's bedroom at the corner.
==============================
Lao Su was planning to call Alec in for dinner when he stepped into the main room and found the young man was sitting dreamingly at the window, eyes watching to a distance outside.
Alec couldn't explain to himself what had been problem him, but the uncomfortable feeling was there, when he spotted Vicki's jacket that she had left behind since this morning. Pulling the jacket within his side, he stepped his way nearer to the window sight, looking out to the front fence, hoping, to see her come back for it, or more correctly hoping to see her come back and tell him that she will be alright.
But day just growing shorter, and he had been sitting there waiting for a while, until a gentle tap on the should, grabbed Alec back to reality.
-What are you doing Alec? Lao Su inquiry voice's deeply asked out, when Alec jumped a little in frighten when turned back to look at the elder man. Only then Lao Su saw the soft jacket wrapping nicely inside Alec's hands. The sensitive man didn't take long to guest at what was going on. Why don't you come to see her? He asked, bringing Alec to shot up and walked away from the window with hesitation.
-What do you mean? The young man played back, trying to act innocent.
-You can use the jacket as an excuse to check up on Xiao Wei! The elder man spoke out again, this time in a clearer sentence, which aimed directly to what Alec had been thinking.
Finally he started to contract the diffident feelings of being capture, Alec quickly put back the jacket on the table, as if he wasn't linger to it at all.
-Maybe someone will come and get it later! He answered briefly to by pass the hesitation, and then without waiting back, he decided to walk straight in the kitchen, leaving the elder man to stand back behind with a little beam growing on his winkle face.
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Within a sudden moment, Vicki astonishingly found herself flooding in mid air, between the nice breeze and the white smoky cloud. The feeling was so warmth, light and wonderful, that she could almost let her body drift off to heaven forever. Until her sight got capture by a new arrival figure who was walking in between the clouds, to stand in opposition with Vicki.
She almost gasped out aloud, when looking at her own face standing in front of her. Their feature was the same, expect for their different time's hair style and clothing.
-My baby, I finally see you! Hong Wei called out gently, as she widened her open arms, waiting for the first united moment with her long lost baby!
-Mother! Vicki puffed out in bewilder, also with lots of emotions filling in. Blinking her eyes away from the newly formed tears, she released herself to flood in the caring arms of her birth mother. The one who had been through so much pains and suffers just to protect her little life.
Hong Wei warmly enveloped her little duplicated body in her longing arms. For 20 years she been waited for this moment, when she can proudly stepped into Vicki's dream to see her, to hear her call 'mother'.
-I'm sorry mother! All this time, I had never know of such a tragic pack that came with me. Xiao Wei is a bad girl, very bad girl! Vicki began to cry, burying her warm face within to cold hands of her long gone mother.
-Xiao Wei is a very nice girl! Hong Wei's voice echoed back, while running her hand down from Vicki's hair to her back. I'm so proud to have a daughter like you.
Vicki's face was gently lifted up as once again she came forward to look in her mother tender eyes.
-Mother, are you satisfied now, when the secret had been review? Vicki suddenly asked, as she saw the yearning sight that her mother had place on her.
Hong Wei slowly looked away, her hand began to drift off from the tight grab as she slowly reviewed another secret to Vicki. Telling her daughter why her soul kept lingering back in the White Mansion as the mystified ghost for the pasted 20 years.
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For the countless time, Alec once again stood up from his seat at the table to walk over to the window, glancing at the empty fence outside.
No one had come, he sighed and then walked back slowly to the table.
"I still don't understand, if Tung Lao Ye had found out that Vicki was not his daughter so why did he had to look after her for the pasted 20 years. He could have easily kill her, or is it an act of regret?" That doubtful thought once again repeated within Alec's head, as all day he had been looking for an reasonable explanation for the question, but so far had fail to work out an answer until now.
-Oh My God! That was the only shocking expression he could let out, before grabbed hold on Vicki's jacker. With no more patient left to wait, he ran straight out of the house, heading for the darkening forest, looking for the path leading up the hill.
Lao Su was resting inside, once hearing Alec's urgent departure, the old man slowly walked out to the front yard. Eyes watching behind the disappearing shadow of Alec within the growing night. He shook his head slightly and then came kneeling down in front of the old grave.
-Is it really you, You Peng? For the first time, Lao Su had gathered all his courage to ask the question out aloud. But while facing to an old grave, he didn't expect any hurry reply from the person lying under the ground.
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Vicki opened her eyes and surprisingly met with the dark shadow of the night. She had over slept since the afternoon until now. Glancing her still tiring eyes upward to look at the digital clock, it was almost eight, but the surrounding and everything felt so unusually quite.
Pulling away her blanket, while gathered herself out of bed, Vicki slowly regained of what had happened in her sleep. It was so peaceful and lovely, a nice sleep which she had been missing for a while. But then memories strike back, when Vicki hastily patted dry the sweats on her face with her sleeve and quickly walked out of her room.
She had just remember something important that she had just been told, by the birth mother who she only met the first time.
Unaware to Vicki during her sleep, Lao Da Tung had came home, but showing his worn out signs more then usual, he left everything for an early night. Mrs Da on wanting to prevent any awkward moment for her husband and their daughter, also to let Vicki settle in her peaceful rest, the lady of the house ordered for everyone to rest early, that was why everything seem so quiet within the big mansion.
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Vicki finally reached in front of the forbidden room, using her own copy key that Ta Khan had given to her, she gently opened the door. Giving back the last checking look to make sure that no one was following her, Vicki stepped hurriedly inside the darken room, before closing the door tight again.
Turning on the little lamp at the dusty desk, her eyes began to wonder around the room in frustration.
"Where could it be?" She asked to herself, when observing at the messy area, packed with music instruments, luxury furnitures and old wardbroads which had been covered with thick layer of dust and decorated with curtains of spider webs. Unwillingly, Vicki started to dig into the dusty area, as she flipped then turned, opened, and closed at every little corner that was seem suspicious.
"It got to be in here!" She told herself, with a little cough while waving her hand between the dusting air. Only then, her mind remembered, the flashback of what she saw this morning.
With the little side from one eye’s view, pecking in the small slot, yet the picture was viewable enough to shock Vicki out from her wildest dream. Inside the room, sitting on the bed, holding firmly to a strange, elegant ancient looking, curvy pot with a closed lit on top. Her powerful father, Lao Da Tung was cradling the pot in his arms, weeping out as if something important to him had just gone missing.
"The pot?!" Vicki mumbled out aloud, as if light bulb was glowing out from her head. In a faster pace, she started to search through the hold room again, but this time she had a target. And at last, her goal was achieved, when pulling away the thick blanket covering the tall pot, which was sitting at the corner of the room, on the old wooden bed, beside the blurry window.
Vicki had to crawl on the old bed and gently grabbed on to the ancient tall pot. It was an expensive piece of decoration, something that would suit her father's taste. Stepping down from the bed until her feet landed steadily on the solid ground. One more time, Vicki brought up the very cleaned pot to her view, watching at every angle of the treasury thing. A beat in her heart had confirmed that she may had found what she came in for. Without any more hesitation, Vicki put up her right hand to twist the top lit open.
A strong dusty smell came busting out from the opened mouth of the pot, Vicki laid it a little lower so that she can have a closer look at what been storing inside. Then her eyes widened, as swelling tears began to form while looking into the powdery substances inside the pot.
"Mother!" She cried, when slowly closed back the lit, and brought up the pot into her securing arms. "I found you!"
Before this, within her calming dream, Vicki was told by Hong Wei's spirit, that the reason her soul could not move on was because Lao Da Tung had kept back her ashes within the house, making her spirit wonder in lost, even know she is dead, but her soul never receive a decent place to rest. Despite that within the past 20 years, disregard at how many times she had came back to haunt the cruelty man, hoping he could get scare and let go of her but he didn't and properly will never!
"Mother, I'll take you away from this place, so you can forever rest in peace!" Vicki whispered out to the dearly pot, and carefully she stepped her way out of the messy zone. Her plan had been carry out smoothly so far, now she will firstly take her mother's ashes out of the mansion and bury it in a peaceful place, and then she will come back and explain with the people in this house later.
Shockingly, out of prediction, when Vicki opened the door to go out of the darken room, she hastily met with the queries eyes of her mother, who properly had been waiting outside for her all this time.
-Xiao Wei, What are you doing? Mrs Da hurriedly asked out, when encounter with Vicki's frustrating gesture, who was still holding on the ancient pot with Hong Wei's ashes inside.
-Mama, I have to bring her out of here! Vicki answered back in a quick tone, when asking her mother support for what she was about to do.
-No! What about your father! He would go mad without this! Mrs Da refused, and listening to her fear, she tried to grab back the pot from Vicki's hand. Yet the young daughter was more determined, as she tightly wrapped the pot within her securing hold, while stepping backward away from Mrs Da's reach.
-He's not my father! The strong willing girl fought back. He a murderer, he killed my father, tormented my mother to death, even after that, he couldn't set her spirit free, trapping her ashes within this horrible place. Now I have to get her out, I have to free my mother! Vicki's strong voice confidently raised out, unplanned of her, it awoke the rest of the people in the house.
The servants started to pop their heads out from the lower level, looking up the stair curiously, until they were moved away by Ta Khan and Jorder, who promptly dashed up the stair, the moment he saw his sister was arguing with their mother, something that doesn't happen a lot.
But what more important, was the sight of the humble man finally stepped out from his bedroom on the same level, at coincidently over hearing at the secret words that Vicki had exposed.
-What are you saying? The giant man loudly grunted out, while gazing his burning eyes toward to two ladies at the other end of the corridor.
When hearing of the unwanted voice, Mrs Da shockingly flung her sight back to view at her husband who was already making his way over to their side.
Vicki stood still, a short moment in stun, she had been planning for a quiet escape, never in her mind doubts of the consequences, the very worst consequences, when confronting with the monster who she learned to hate so much within this crazy day.
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Following the clear moon light, Alec managed to went with the long path leading to the mansion. At last, with all efforts he finally reached the destination point when the visible blue sky now turned in darkness.
Puffing in short breaths, while still holding firmly to Vicki's jacket on his arm, Alec pulled himself along the last few steps to reach up the iron gate. After pressing the bell for a short indication, Alec waited in frustration outside the secured area, something was going wrong, he can fell it in a very clear way.
For a moment later, Ta Khan, the housekeeper of the wealthy family walked out, his eyes also turned no lesser in bewilder, when looking at the familiar figure who was standing outside the gate waiting, just like the old time.
-Excuse me, may I see Jorder or Vicki please! Alec hurriedly yet still politely asked when knowing that someone had came out to answer the door.
However, Ta Khan was still standing there like an immobile stature, he found the lost to react and reply, making Alec had to urgently repeat his request, this time he brought himself to stand directly facing with the other person, hoping to get some attention.
-Excuse me, I need to see your Xiao jie or Xiao Ye. Is it Okey, please!
Only then Ta Khan jumped out in a little shock, when viewing the old features of the one person just kept appearing more clearer straightly in front of him. Acting obediently, unlike his confident and protective self, the house keeper quickly stepped up to open the gate, leaving the open path for Alec to walk straight inside, after he gave up asking question with the confounding person.
=====================================
Coming back inside the building tension mansion, up on the first level, Vicki had pushed passed Mrs Da, while still embracing tightly on the pot of her mother's ashes. She was ready to make the run for it, until the weighty arm reached out, grabbing back her shoulder, within his strong hands.
-Where do you think, you're going! Lao Da Tung shouted out, while trying to take control of the fully vibrate Vicki, who was trying to swing her way from his grip.
-Let's me go, I'm going to free my mother, away from this reality hell, away from you, away from the bloody cruelty mansion. Vicki yelled back, still struggling to find her way out.
To the big man, hearing the careless rebellion from the indiscipline daughter was like stepping on to hot coals. His head was steaming out of anger. How dare she answered him, how dare she decided to take away his most beloved essence, how dare she didn't respect him as her father. And with all the expanding angers, the power man couldn't hide his temper anymore, as he lift up one arm, with the other still grabbing firmly on the little body. And in a great slap, for the first time in her life, Vicki received the physical punishment from her usual tantrum father.
Gaining the critical hit in the sudden, Vicki almost lost her balance but thankfully to Mrs Da who had been standing in behind had quickly rushed forward, just in time to give the support for Vicki's falling body.
Like being insulted by a total stranger, Vicki quickly jumped back with her balance, hitting revenge to the temper beast.
-That's right, show your true self now! Bypassing the gripping back from Mrs Da, Vicki sturdily stepped forward, starting her attack at her tyrant body. Hit me, hit me more. Or why don't you just kill me!
-Xiao Wei! The surrogated mother cautiously called out, hoping to stop her daughter imprudent attacking. Yet the loud call had rejected to work, as Vicki still turned on her raging mood, stepping closer, shortening her space dangerously to the powerful man.
-Why don't you kill me, just like you did to my father, You Peng and my mother Hong Wei. Why suddenly scare now?! Just show your true self, as an vicious, evil. demonic monster! Vicki's thunderous aggressive accusation took control, as it pushed the big man to strangle in puzzle.
Lao Da Tung had to step a few second backward leading his back against the wall for some support. During this 20 long suffering years, the day he feared had finally arrived to take the revenge to haunt his life for the worst.
Jorder was also shook, he knew things hasn't been going that smoothly in his family. However he still wished for a more peaceful solution, where everyone could forgive and forget, but observing the current situation, he doubted if that naive thought of his going to come true. Just then, the open sound from the front door pulled Jorder's eyes to turn down looking for who was about to enter since he had been standing in the middle way of the stair. Only then his sight turned from furious to a little relief when recognizing it was only Alec.
Cautiously stepped inside the Big Mansion, when remembering at what happened when the owner saw his existence in the house before. Alec reminded himself, have to be very carefully once coming into the house. Looking in confusing at first to the empty area. But soon the speaking voices from the first level caught his attention, while Alec abrupt turned his face upward to look at Mrs Da, Vicki and Lao Da Tung were still in the middle of a big discussion. Gradually, his sight lowered down to give Jorder a supportive nod.
Moving back to the first level, Mrs Da had been standing still, while both hands were grabbing over the stairway to take in some motivation strength. She was drowning her painful mind in searching for a way to prevent the worst from happening. However when knowing Vicki demanding, belligerent personality, she knew things will not turn out easy from now on.
Everybody else were in silent and fear, excepted for Vicki, the only person who seem to has overtaking the situation, no matter how much effort it will take, she just had to get her mother's essence away from this living hell the sooner the better.
-Don't you ever feel ashamed of yourself... Or your malicious, cruelty could only enjoy when seeing other people suffer. The raging young soul shouted out, stepping in closer, pushing the confounding to man to back himself even further.
-STOP IT XIAO WEI! HE'S YOUR BLOOD FATHER! Don't you see it Xiao Wei, if it was not because you're related to him, there would be no chance for you to stay alive until today. Mrs Da loud and clear shout shot everyone to their most bewilder fright.
Both Jorder and Alec were trembling in their lost word. But Vicki took it more harder. For all day, she had used her best effort to dismiss this one possible chance. The explanation had bypass in her head a few times, when questioning on how come Lao Da Tung didn't destroy her and instead he brought her up as his daughter. It was only a guessing solution, but she was too affair, too scare to admit it. Deep in her heart she was always wishing for it not to be the accurate story of her life, until now...
-NO! You're lying, you're lying! The desperately soul cried out, struggle to hold on her balance from her soaking body. Shaking her head in disbelieve. Her eyes were swelling out unacceptable tears. Her heart tighten it gasp, making it hard for Vicki to stay calm to analyze the awkward moment. I don't believe it, don't believe. She cried out from agony pains, begging for God to release her life from this tangle mess.
Losing her willing mind, Vicki grabbed tighter on to her mother's ashes pot, ignoring everything that was surrounding her, she looked down and ran straight to the stair, passing the concerning Jorder standing on the steps and Alec's lingering gesture at the front door.
-Xiao Wei! Mrs Da worriedly called out, looking after Vicki's disappearing figure who was running blindly away from the house. The old lady abruptly turned puzzle wondering if she had done the right thing by exposing everything. But if the true secret could not be review, then more tormenting scenes are waiting to happen, tearing apart the father and daughter's weak distance.
Jorder was planning to move down the stair to chase after Vicki. But someone else was more quicker then him. When moving down, Jorder hastily forced back his run, while noticing Alec had already went after Vick voluntarily.
-Lao Ye! What happened to you?
Hearing the frightening call from his mother, Jorder ran back upstairs urgently trying to look for what happened to his father.
==========================================
Tearing apart the peaceful quietness of the night within the dark forest, Vicki rushed through her urgent steps, while cradling her mother's ashes away from the petrifying house as far as they can get.
-Vicki! Wait! Vicki! Alec's chasing voice could be heard calling from behind of the escaping figure.
But Vicki just kept on running, she didn't want to stop, affair to stop when she will have to face with the truth. While unwilling tears kept on swelling down, interfere her vision within the dark night, finally she tripped, and collided onto a body of a big tree near by. But with first priority protection, Vicki tighten her hold on the ancient pot, as she body slowly sank downward to the ground.
-Vicki! Alec yelled out in horrify while seeing her breaking down beside the big tree. Pushing more on his speed, while crossing through the crowding space, he just wanted to be with her as soon as possible.
But the moment he reached to the scene, his step paused, watching at the agony picture. Vicki was kneeling down, restlessly beside the big tree. Arms folding tightly around the old pot, but she was crying, cried like she never cries before. Her sobbing, bawling weep, tightened his heart, as Alec quickly moved down with her for the consolation.
-Vicki! Are you hurt? He asked, while moving his caring hand on her shoulder, and his eyes quickly went round her body for a prompt check, making sure that she didn't get injured from the bump.
Vicki only sat there, compressing her body rigidly in the tight hold of the old pot. And she was still crying, tears falling down from her eyes like streams of water, dropping out from her bleeding heart.
-Vicki? Are you alright? Showing the full concern and the urge for her reply, Alec asked out, looking painfully at her misery face as if he was also sharing torture.
-Why!...Vicki finally whispered, followed by a long shriek. Why...Why...Why, why must I be his daughter!? She asked out the question, but still hadn't got the strength to look up. Why can't I be born in a normal family, have a normal background, and loved by my parents? With the heart-breaking thought, she abruptly paused, trying to control her filling tears.
Alec also froze, lost in words when facing with those problematic question. He would love to solve it for her, or just to carry all the pains that she was suffering from. But unfortunately he didn't have the power to change the past for to switch body with Vicki. The only thing he could do was to sit there, helplessly watching her crashing down from the sudden truth which she didn't think of.
-I hate myself, I hate him. How can I see him as my father? How can I play my part as a daughter when he... Her urgent phrase quickly rushed out, and unexpected stop as her she lost her howling voice in tears and anger.
Out of the throbbing pains, Vicki started to bang herself against the tree, as if she was trying to destroy the body which half created by the person who she compared as a monster. Thankfully, Alec was there, seeing Vicki was losing her control, he promptly rushed his body over, and using it as a shield to block the big tree away from her body while Vicki was still banging her side to it. And unplanned she fell neatly into his arm, while Alec was trying to protect herself from the insane act.
-Listen to me, Vicki, you got to pull yourself together! Don't hurt yourself like this! He tried to comfort her, when seeing Vicki had calmed down, even know she was now burying her face on his shoulder to cry.
They both sat there, motionlessly in the middle of the dark night. She was crying for her tragic life, while burying her face deeply in his chest. He was willingly to be her guard, her protection, rounding his arms gently hugging her sobbing body, patting from her shoulder then down her back. He doesn't realize that within this short time knowing each other, yet she had grown strongly attached to his life, his heart. Wondering if this caring feeling comes from sympathy or is it something more...
-Mother! Vicki excitingly called out, while recognizing it was her mother, Hong Wei, coming to see her! Mother, you came back with me! Vicki cried, when Hong Wei came and stand beside her swing, eyeing down to her with that sweet look.
-My baby! I'll always be with you! Hong Wei softly replied, when putting out her hand and patted it gently down Vicki's hair.
Vicki was over filled with blissful. Every moment being with her mother was very different from the rest. It was tender, yet soft and so much caring. A kind of love that a child would only get from her native mother.
-Mother! I had succeed, I brought you out of that horrible place.! Vicki pleasantly reviewed, while still sitting loosely on the swing burying her face within her mother's warmth chest.
-I known! Thank you so much. You had set my soul free, and now I finally can go to be in a place where I truly belong! Hong Wei answered, if the same gentle tone, while still hugging tightly to Vicki, touching by the fact that her little baby was now a fully grown up adult.
But Vicki was uncertain once hearing her mother's departing words. She quickly looked up, asking for a clearing exclamation.
-Mother, you have to go, You're leaving me?
Hong Wei softly left out a nice beam, bringing out the tenderness of her beauty, when her body slowly bend down to face with Vicki.
-Baby! I'm a dead person. No matter how much I wanted to be with you, we're still separated by a whole universe. You had release my spirit, now I am able to move on. Touching her hand softly on Vicki's Cheek, the mother continued on her explanation. My Baby, you have a very long life to live, and I believe you will achieve a fulfillment life. Just remember no matter where I am, I will be in your heart, with you!
Vicki looked down, hot tears was about to rise, but somehow, she tried to control her emotion. Because deep inside she known, this was the best solution for her mother, who had been captured ruthlessly for so long, and now it's just fair to let her go to where ever her heart wanted to go.
Hong Wei smiled again, pushing Vicki face high up to look at her. Gently, she moved in closer, placing a very emotional kiss on her daughter's forehead, before lifting up her face for the last look.
-Remember, I love you, and always be with you. Take care my baby!
Vicki sat still, feeling her mother's lingering arms slowly drifted down from her grab. She sat still, on the motionless swing, watching as her mother's shadow started to flow into the further direction. In that path, standing far from a distance, was another shadow of a man, with his waiting arms opened for Hong Wei. She finally reached to his side, and hand in hand they both disappear into a bright light. Vicki closed her eyes and sighed. Her mother soul had returned by the side of one heart, a heart which she had been yearning for the last 20 years.
=======================================
A sudden flash strike through, hitting Vicki's soul back to reality, as she opened her eyes in a little shock meeting with the bright sun light. And at the same time finding herself was laying in an un-familiar bed. Looking around, she slowly recognized the surrounding, rubbing her eyes, she eventually remembered of what happened last night.
She was making her run away from the horror house, until he chased up to her. She then fell down, he captured her. She started to cry and he consoled her. Then within the emotional moment, she must had over tired and fell as sleep, but how can she gets here? In Lao Su's house, and where is the pot with her mother's essence.
Speaking of the important thing, Vicki abruptly swept herself off the bed, and quickly chased her step outside to the main room, only then to meet with him who was standing by the window.
-Oh, you're awake! Alec reliably asked out, at the first moment seeing her rushing out from his room.
During last night, Vicki's feelings was badly hurt, she cried a lot, and drifted into sleep within his caring arms. And by early sunrise, Alec had finally carried Vicki back to Lao Su's cottage. Leaving her resting in his room, while he stayed outside, retelling to Lao Su of what had happened in the night before. Now seeing she had finally awake, looking more better then her miserable image last night. He let out a soft sigh inwardly.
-Are you feeling better? Alec walked over to Vicki and asked.
She nodded softly, yet promptly turned back to him with the urgent question.
-Where is the pot?
She asked too abruptly when he hasn't got the chance to answer. Meanwhile Lao Su coincidently entered in the room from the front yard, with the ancient pot holding firmly on his hand.
-It is here! The old man reviewed, walking over to give back the pot into Vicki opening arms.
For the first time in a very long time, she spread out a delighting smile, hugging tightly to the treasury pot. Seem like everything that she gained in the past 20 years had all disappear within one fatal night, except for this important person, which still always be with her, spiritually.
=========================================
The mid day sun was still shining bright at it full hour, pointing the shadow down at the small cottage by the bottom of the hill. Outside the front yard, Vicki and Alec both were standing in front of You Peng's grave, remembering for the unfortunate life. Opening the mouth of the pot, Vicki moved in closer and kneel down beside the old grave.
-Mother! She called to the pot. Now I will let your essence be with the one person that you wanted to be with.
Alec stood behind, also rising up with emotions, while watching at the heart-warming picture. Vicki was spreading the ashes dust inside the pot to cover all around the grave, as if to say, Hong Wei and You Peng will be together from now on.
Filling in a moment of silent, after burying the empty pot next to the grave, Vicki finally stood up as Alec stepped in to stand beside her.
-What are you planning from now? He asked, hoping he could tip a helping hand.
But Vicki relentlessly dusted her hands, bypassing him, she walked over toward to front fence.
-I'm going back to the City! She answered, while eyeing her view at the far end of the hill, escaping from his questioning look.
Alec turned puzzle, more than ever, he wanted her to stay, so he can protect and look after her during this hardship.
-Are you sure? He asked, coming from her back.
-Yes! I have a lot of un finish business up there. My holiday is over, I have to go back anyway. I have to finish my music course, and out there I have Jimmy as well.
Alec silently swallow a bitter regret in his thought. He wanted her to stay, he wanted to tell her about his growing feelings, but...then...where would he begins. So the only thing he could ask was.
-When will you go?
Vicki finally turned around, but looking on his longing deep eyes, she suddenly felt uncertain. During this exposing time about her true identity, no doubt Alec was always play a very helpful shoulder, standing beside her. And it un true to say that her feeling toward him as a friend hasn't changed.
Since the moment learning about her past, about the reassemble of You Peng and Alec, Hong Wei and her, unnoticeable Vicki was feelings more and more closer to Alec. But is that a real affection? She asked herself many time, or was it just a immediately influent of the people from their past? Until now, no one can explain for the comparable looks between Alec and You Peng, could there be some other hidden story behind it? Vicki didn't want to take the issue further. Because she also remembered of her obligation to Jimmy, who supposedly still waiting for her in the City, So now the harder side of her took control, turning back to the open view, she continued.
-As soon as possible.
Alec was wanting to says something, but then Jorder's calling voice could be heard from the distance. As he and Vicki both turned their sight to find the new arrivals coming toward the cottage. They were Jorder and Mrs Da. Vicki suddenly felt the uneasy wind flew by, as naturally she turned puzzle, not knowing what to act or say in front of the people whom must be hating her so much right now!
But coming to her surprised, the moment Mrs Da and Jorder reached to the entry fence, seeing Vicki was standing there in a short distance, they both rushed to her side, before showering her with concerns and cares.
-Xiao Wei! Thank God you're here, I was so worry for you! Mrs Da cried out, while pulling Vicki's reluctant gesture into her waiting envelope. Jorder was standing next to, also aroused his arm over Vicki shoulder, no matter what is the fact, he still considered her as his only baby sister.
-Vicki! I and Mama, were wanting to look for you last night, but we can't leave father until this morning. The big brother called out.
Alec politely stepped out to one side, observing with admiration at the union pictures. He was happy for Vicki, and with a little lighting hope, he was wishing for her to change the plan of going back to the City.
-Mama! Vicki called out emotionally, while feeling Mrs Da's fingers, were running down her cheeks, patting on her newly fallen tears. You're not mad at me! The little lost daughter placed her question, with a brief sign of guilt showing in her wet eyes.
Mrs Da shook her head instantly, to bypass any hesitation between her and the only daughter she had. Pushing Vicki closer for another warm hug, while emotionally shrieked out.
-Xiao Wei, for 20 years, you had been my daughter, that can't be change in just one night, and will never change. You're always be my little girl. Mrs Da consoled.
-And you're still my little sister. Jorder added in.
Delicately the three people joined in together for a close group hug, to remind themselves that they are still a family.
Lao Su on hearing strange voices outside, also walked out to view the expressive scene, he walked closer to be company with Alec, who was also mentally attach with the bonding of a tragic family. However deeply inside he was still wishing, hoping for her to stay. But with her determine mind, will she really going to change?
to be continued
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