“Hello? Are you there?”, Yukira asked.
“Ah, yes. It’s alright. I will call back again later.”, and he hung up.
Over there Yukito asked, “What happened?”
“A person was asking about reservations but sis is not here.”
“Yeah and that reminds me it’s going to be a hell of a storm tonight. Nee-chan should come back sooner.”
“Let’s wait for some more time.”
He nodded.
—
Liu Jinhai was not having a good feeling about this.
He took out his phone. “Find where Nana is right now.”
Assistant Xin’s eyes widened in disbelief. He is asking about Miss Nana? He didn’t have the courage to question back.
“Yes, sir.”
In a few minutes, Jinhai immediately got his text with her location.
He saw it and frowned.
Why here?
He said to his driver. “Take me to this place.”
He asked confusedly, “…Here?”
“Yes. Any problem?”
“No-no sir.”, he quickly said.
—
Huian returned home with a dreadful face. She was alone since Mother Liu had taken Grandma Liu to a temple. Grandma Liu insisted. She wanted to pray in front of God to end this trouble they were facing.
She crashed on the sofa and let out a long sigh.
“Mam.”, a maid came to her.
“What? Don’t ask me anything now. I’m dead tired.”
“N-no. It’s regarding a letter. Somebody left a letter for you and said it should be read only by Lady Liu.”
She jolted all of a sudden.
“What!? Who sent it? Give me that letter.”
The maid said, “I don’t know Mam. The guards said the letter was already there and your name was written on it. Here it is.”
She grabbed it and was about to open it but she realized the maid was still there. “You can go now. And don’t tell anyone about this letter. Got it? Drill this in your mind very clearly. Not a word.”
The maid was taken aback. Lady Liu has never talked like that before.
“Y-yes mam.”, she didn’t know why but she got intimidated a little.
Huian took a deep breath and opened it.
Mrs. Liu Huian,
The game has only started and your happy marriage with your husband is already going down the hill? Tsk tsk tsk. How does it feel to have your first argument with him? But mind you it was not because of me, okay? It was because of your own stupidity and blindness. Such a fool you are. So, don’t blame me.
Buck up Mrs. Liu. You cannot lose so soon. Or how will I enjoy this game? Tread carefully from now on because your ‘happy married life’ has started its journey towards its end.
She was so mad she tore the letter into God knows how many pieces. Her face distorted in rage and fury.
“Uggghhh!! Whoever you are, I will make sure you suffer a fate worse than death! Just let me find out about you and then we will see who needs to buck up.”
—
It was eight-thirty in the evening and the heavy downpour finally started. It was one hell of a storm. Lightning split the clouds and thunder rolled. The still air charged at a speed as if it wanted to devour the whole city.
Jinhai reached the place amidst the storm.
He came out but the driver said, “Sir, the storm is too heavy. It will be very dangerous for you to go out now. Please, let us head back.”
He said indifferently, “Don’t worry. I’ll be okay. Wait here.”
He hesitated but sighed in the end.
Jinhai made his way and stood in front of the gate. A signboard was there.
Cemetery.
He went inside and searched for a familiar figure. He instantly found her.
There she was, sitting all drenched in rain, in front of a tombstone.
He hurriedly went to her and took her in his umbrella. He then saw the tombstone Nana was so intently looking at.
In the loving memory of
Yu Tengfei
Loved husband to Yu Ichika and father to Yu Yukito and Yu Yukira.
12 August, XXXX – 27 April, XXXX
Aged 42 years.
Nana got out of her trance when she suddenly felt sheltered from the rain. She dazedly looked up to see a pair of black orbs watching her silently.
She knitted her brows for a second and smiled sadly. She went back to look at the tombstone again.
Jinhai wanted to talk to her but didn’t know where to start.
After a long period of silence, she said,
“You should not be here. Your…”, she said painfully, “wife will misunderstand that I’m trying to gain sympathy. Or perhaps I want you to comfort me?”, she said while blankly staring at the tombstone.
He hurriedly said, “It’s not like that. Huian has realized her mistake. She knows she shouldn’t have said all those things. And…”, he hesitated, “I should apologize as well. I was unaware of those photos that were circulating. If not for my ignorance, Huian wouldn’t have misunderstood you.”
Nana didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Should she feel happy that he came here looking for her? Or be sad that he is blaming himself to protect his wife? She felt a stabbing pain in her heart.
She kept quiet.
After a while she asked, “Do you know who he was?”
