Additional Inheritance - Chap 60
Chapter 60
“Me? Why me?” Wen Xiaohui felt extremely uncomfortable as he recalled Chang Xing’s cruel and hawk-like eyes that could bore into a person’s flesh. It was as if he could see through anything, no matter how tiny it was and it felt terrifying.
“Maybe it’s because you’re the only person we have in common.”
“What about Cao Hai?”
“If Mum didn’t pass away so suddenly, he would have dealt with Cao Hai ages ago. Cao Hai won’t dare meet him.” Luo Yi lowered his head and said in a deep voice, “You don’t have to go.”
Wen Xiaohui pondered briefly. “Isn’t it just delivering something? You can give it to me. Where should I deliver it?” The sooner they resolved the issue, the sooner he and Luo Yi would be free.
“He said you’d know.” Luo Yi’s pupils looked as dark as a bottomless pit. The pattern on his irises was like a piece of machinery that switched on – its jaws were open and waiting for someone to fall into the abyss.
“I’ve got it.” It was most likely to be the hotel that Chang Xing took him to last time.
“I’ll have someone following you to protect you.” Luo Yi glanced at him. “Don’t panic no matter what he says.”
“Okay.” That hotel was in the city centre. It was bustling with lots of people coming and going. Wen Xiaohui really didn’t feel that scared. “Where’s the object?”
“It’s at home. Come to mine after work.”
“I’m not going, deliver it to me.”
Luo Yi said in disappointment, “Okay.”
“When do we need to deliver it?”
“The day after tomorrow.”
Wen Xiaohui nodded. “I’m going to work.” He turned around to leave once he’d finished speaking.
“Xiaohui-ge.” Luo Yi called after him.
The two of them stood back to back. Neither of them were able to see the other’s expression, but a faint but inexplicable throbbing came from their hearts.
Luo Yi said softly, “Could you imagine us spending the rest of our lives together?”
Wen Xiaohui clenched his fist gradually. His first reaction was to mock Luo Yi, but he couldn’t stop himself from thinking about the question.
To spend a lifetime… with Luo Yi? He was too young – a lifetime to him seemed like a remote concept and therefore, he never thought about it even when their relationship was at its peak. However, he once thought that he and Luo Yi would always be loving and happy or to describe it using song lyrics, ‘every minute was too wonderful for words at the start, nobody thought the passion would wane1.’ No one would have expected that three months later, everything had changed.
That’s why he couldn’t imagine spending the rest of his life with Luo Yi.
Wen Xiaohui didn’t answer, he just continued walking forward.
“I can,” added Luo Yi confidently.
Wen Xiaohui couldn’t help but turn his face to the side. “Where’d your confidence come from? Was it after you’d lied to me for three years?”
Luo Yi dipped his head and it was his turn to become silent.
Taking large strides, Wen Xiaohui walked into the studio.
Luo Yi took his mobile phone out. His face was blank as he dialled a number. “Start the preparations.”
It was unclear what the person on the other end of the line said, but Luo Yi muttered to himself for a while before he replied, “Okay.”
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Feng Yuehua and Ian agreed that they’d register their marriage in China first, then register in the US. The auspicious date2 that they’d chosen, coincidentally, was the day before he was due to see Chang Xing.
Wen Xiaohui had already prepared nine gold bars that had his mum’s name engraved on them as a wedding gift.
When his mum saw them, she was suspicious and asked, “Xiaohui, what’s your current salary? Did you get a raise?”
“My salary hasn’t gone up by much, but the prices I charge for my jobs have gone up. I also have endorsements, collaborations, and I provide training, etc.” Wen Xiaohui puffed up his chest, he felt pleased with himself as he said, “You son is so outstanding.”
“Yes, really outstanding.” Feng Yuehua stroked his face. She was in a great mood.
“When are you planning to go to the US?” In order to apply for American citizenship, his mum would have to spend at least six months of the year over there. The current plan was that she’d spend six months in China and six months abroad. Because Ian’s work required him to split his time in two locations, this arrangement made everyone happy.
“He has to go back for some time next month and I’m planning to go with him. I’ll be back in a few months’ time.” Feng Yuehua felt both nervous and excited at the same time as she said, “Your mum hasn’t been abroad before, I need to hurry and learn some English.”
“It’s up to you whether you want to learn it or not. There’s lots of Chinese people over there, so you’ll be able to survive with no English.” Wen Xiaohui hugged her arm coquettishly, “Don’t spend all your time over there, you still have a son.”
“I know. I can’t stay for long anyway.” Feng Yuehua’s complexion looked rosy and her entire body was immersed in happiness.
Ian was helping to pack the luggage. After getting married, Feng Yuehua was planning to move to Ian’s apartment, but the apartment was not too far from his and it was very convenient to travel between them. Those who were nearly approaching their 50s were so happy that they behaved like kids – they packed their luggage as they hummed a song and danced. Wen Xiaohui felt very reassured when he saw how loving and harmonious they were.
——————————
Early next morning, Cao Hai dropped off a bag at Juxing.
Wen Xiaohui was a bit surprised because he’d expected Luo Yi to bring it over personally. He looked at Cao Hai and although he was full of doubt, he didn’t end up asking about it.
Cao Hai’s face looked weary, he seemed to have dropped a clothes size since the last time Wen Xiaohui saw him. He asked, “Would you like me to take you there?”
Wen Xiaohui shook his head. “I know where it is, so I can go by myself.”
Cao Hai looked around Wen Xiaohui’s office. “You’re doing really well recently. I saw you on TV.”
Wen Xiaohui forced a laugh. “I’m not doing too badly.”
Cao Hai gave Wen Xiaohui a profound look as he opened his mouth, but he didn’t say anything in the end. It seemed as though he was in a rush to get away and he didn’t want to stay another minute3.
Wen Xiaohui opened the bag after he left – inside was a locked metallic box with a combination lock. He took it out to take a closer look and it seemed very heavy like a lump of metal. He put it back, then looked at his watch and gathered everything to leave the studio.
He flagged a taxi and headed towards the hotel.
The taxi driver happened to be a chatterbox, nattering non-stop all the way about the weather, traffic conditions, and politics. The driver seemed high from playing the question and answer round all by himself. Wen Xiaohui, who was normally pretty chatty, was feeling very anxious and not a single word went in.
It turned out he’d overestimated himself. The closer he got to the hotel, the butterflies in his stomach felt even more intense. The image of Chang Xing’s eyes, his mocking smile, and every single word he’d said kept flashing through his brain.
When the taxi arrived at the entrance to the hotel, Wen Xiaohui paid the fare and his hand that was resting on the door handle trembled slightly.
The driver waited for a while, but when he didn’t see anyone come down, he turned his head to look at Wen Xiaohui.
Wen Xiaohui gulped. He pushed the door open and got out of the car. Blindly following others, he went inside the hotel.
In the lobby, he noticed Chang Xing’s bodyguard at a glance.
The bodyguard also saw him as he stood up from the sofa and walked in his direction.
Wen Xiaohui handed the object over.
The bodyguard gestured for him to follow. “Please.”
“You take it up, I’m not going.”
“President Chang would like to see you. If you please, Mr Wen.”
Wen Xiaohui hesitated briefly, but he could only follow the bodyguard into the lift. This time it wasn’t the rooftop and instead, they headed to the basement.
Wen Xiaohui glared at him. “Where are we going?”
“We’re going to see the President.”
The lift stopped at the third floor of the basement. When the doors opened, a black van was facing him directly with its doors open. It seemed like the driver was the only person inside.
Instinctively, Wen Xiaohui shrank back into the lift.
The bodyguard held the lift doors open with his hand, gesturing again for him to get out.
Wen Xiaohui shook his head. “Where are we actually going?”
“The location is confidential.”
“I’m not going then.” Wen Xiaohui’s whole body was on its guard.
The bodyguard narrowed his eyes a little. “Mr Wen, President Chang has been waiting for you all morning and if you want to deliver the object, you’ll have to give it to him personally.”
Wen Xiaohui pursed his lips as he felt very resistant towards the pitch-black entrance to the van, as if it were a savage beast that would swallow him up into its belly. He gripped the bag in his hand tightly. Recalling the purpose of his trip, he clenched his teeth and still got into the van in the end.
As soon as he’d sat down, the bodyguard gave him a blindfold. He smiled insincerely as he said, “You can have a rest.”
Wen Xiaohui scowled: “I’m not wearing it.”
“Mr Wen, you have to wear it. I’ve already told you, but I’m taking you somewhere confidential and it would be best if you put it on by yourself.”
Wen Xiaohui felt a bit angry. “I’ve told you, I’m not wearing it.”
“Do you need me to help you put it on?” The bodyguard’s voice was calm, but his gaze was frosty like the way someone would look at an object.
Wen Xiaohui threw the blindfold away, opening the door to get out of the van.
The bodyguard restrained him by the shoulder, dragging him back as if he were a little chicken and pushing him into his seat. “Mr Wen, please cooperate. Trust me, it’s for your own good.”
Cold sweat dripped from Wen Xiaohui’s forehead. The hand on his shoulder was like a metal pincer – he didn’t doubt that the hand could dislocate his shoulder if he used a little more force because his dad would have been able to do it. He could only sit back down and place the blindfold over his eyes.
The van set off.
Wen Xiaohui didn’t say a word on the way there. His hand secretly touched the mobile phone in his pocket. Phablets were really popular recently, he’d also got himself one, but he regretted it to death now – he couldn’t press the buttons. There was no way he could secretly send a text message. His heart thudded; he had a bad feeling about this.
The car had been driving for a while, but because he’d been blindfolded, he couldn’t accurately estimate the time. He felt as though he could still hear the sound of car horns and people outside when the van set off, but now he couldn’t hear anything. The van was silent – the only discernible noise was the breathing of the other two people in the car – the driver and the bodyguard.
He became even more scared. After delivering the object, would he actually be able to go home?
The van stopped and Wen Xiaohui got out. The bodyguard took his blindfold off.
After adjusting to the light, Wen Xiaohui opened his eyes to find a villa in front of him, surrounded by mountains with a few houses dotted in between. Each of the houses were far apart from each other. Wen Xiaohui started to wonder if he was still in Beijing.
The bodyguard escorted him inside.
Chang Xing was cutting fruit as he stood by the bar. There was a white rectangular chopping board in front of him as he held a sharp cleaver in his hand. A plump orange was pressed down onto the thin chopping board. The edge of the cleaver came down, splitting both the skin and flesh apart and juice splattered everywhere.
Wen Xiaohui watched his nimble cutting skills, unable to stop the chill running down his spine.
Chang Xing raised his head to glance at him without showing any expression. He lowered his head, continued to chop up the multicoloured fruit, and arranged them to look like a beautiful fruit platter in the shape of flower petals.
Wen Xiaohui took a deep breath. “It’s here.” He put the bag down on the floor.
Chang Xing remained silent, treating him like air. Just the sound of the blade in his hand striking the chopping board reverberated throughout the massive living room.
Wen Xiaohui waited for a moment, seeing that there was no response, he raised his voice to say: “President Chang, the thing that you wanted is here. Could I please go back?”
Chang Xing glanced at him. “You’re very interesting – you don’t look that stupid on the surface.
Wen Xiaohui pondered to himself: He’s fucking calling me stupid. He took a deep breath. “President Chang, I’m so stupid I won’t understand if you speak in riddles. I just want to know if I’m allowed to leave.”
“Do you think you’re still able to leave?” Chang Xing put the cleaver down and he rested his hands on the table. He smiled teasingly at Wen Xiaohui. “You make it difficult for others to cause you harm. Haven’t you figured it out yet?”
Wen Xiaohui knitted his brows. “What do you mean?”
Chang Xing shook his head. Holding the fruit platter, he walked over the sofa and after sitting down, he glanced at Wen Xiaohui with almost a look of pity. “It’s the first time a hostage delivered himself to the door.”
Footnotes:
The lyrics are from the 2000 song ‘Overcast’ by Hong Kong artist, Karen Mok.
The Chinese almanac marks up days which are lucky or unlucky for marriage, giving birth, going on a trip, etc. Normally if someone wants to decide on a date for their wedding, they’ll choose from a list of auspicious dates for that year.
刻 (ke) or quarter of an hour per the raws and used figuratively in this sentence. It has been localised to minute so it doesn’t sound awkward.
