Wen Jiaojiao nodded, rembering the na Xu Si had just let slip.
"Azhen, hello."
But privately, she tugged at Xu Si’s sleeve. "You’re letting him call you Auntie?"
Xu Si patted her hand. "Let’s not talk about that for now."
It was rare for them to see each other, so Wen Jiaojiao decided to stay at the Xu Family for dinner.
Deep winter was the best ti for fresh, rich chicken soup.
Butler Ge had just bought two free-range chickens raised in the mountains and handed them over to the kitchen staff. By the ti the soup was served, the pot was filled with golden, delicious chicken broth. It carried a hint of dicinal herbs and the clear color imparted by salted bones.
Tasting the Xu Mansion’s head chef’s unique skill once more, Wen Jiaojiao contentedly squinted her eyes and sighed, "It’s been so long since I’ve had your family’s ginseng chicken soup. It’s still just like when I was a child."
"Sister Jiaojiao, have you known Auntie for a long ti?"
Pei Zhen had an excellent grasp of dining etiquette and was always quiet, rarely initiating conversation.
Xu Si turned her head and replied very seriously, "Yes, for a very long ti. She is a very close friend of mine."
Wen Jiaojiao said, "So close that if we both fell into the water, Xu Si would tell the police who rushed over to save first."
Xu Si smiled softly.
Pei Zhen observed this, seeming to half-understand. Although he didn’t respond, he knew Xu Si hadn’t contradicted her, aning Wen Jiaojiao was indeed soone Xu Si valued and trusted deeply. His clear eyes curved, expressing friendliness.
He didn’t utter another word until Wen Jiaojiao left.
The night on Hong Kong Island was damp and chilly. Stepping outside, the needle-like cold wind numbed one’s senses. Inside the Xu Mansion, however, the fireplace did its job, warming the entire residence as if it were springti.
The company was stable. Aside from dealing with a few land investnt projects, there was nothing pressing to do. For once, Xu Si turned on the television.
She invited Pei Zhen to watch with her. At this hour, most programs were news-related. Neither showed much enthusiasm, but Pei Zhen was able to discuss the differences in the rule of law between foreign countries and Hong Kong Island based on the news.
His knowledge is so broad; becoming a politician seems like a good path for him.
Xu Si suddenly beca curious. Why, in his previous life, had he ended up leading the Triad Society? There was no way to investigate. She couldn’t very well take the current Pei Zhen and interrogate him about his past life.
On the TV, the female host wore tasteful makeup, and even her broadcasting voice carried a hint of Hong Kong inflection.
One mont she was reporting on a celebrity donating to a Hope Primary School.
The next, she suddenly started talking about a street conflict involving gangs.
"The case of the murder of foreign investors on Hong Kong Island several months ago has not yet concluded. We understand that Mr. Pei and Ms. Song were both outstanding investors. Mr. Pei was a high-level executive and venture capitalist for an overseas company, and his mother was a well-known aristocratic lady of German descent. Such an excellent family was tragically slaughtered by enemies seeking revenge."
The accompanying images were not pixelated.
Vaguely, one could make out silhouettes beside a long, black limousine with silver trim, along with a thick pool of blood.
The shot was taken from so distance and wasn’t clear.
Just as people were trying to get a clearer look, Xu Si suddenly stood up and turned off the television.
CLICK. The screen flickered for a few seconds, then went dark from top to bottom, the horrifying images completely vanishing.
Xu Si recognized the subjects of the news report: Pei Zhen’s parents. It was a matter she had deliberately avoided discussing in his presence, yet it had mistakenly appeared on television.
Her mind raced with curses. When she worriedly turned to look at the young man, she was utterly surprised.
He sat on the sofa, quietly looking at her, his handso face and calm eyes like a ticulously carved work of art.
To what extent? He was devoid of any of the emotions he should have been feeling.
The fire in the hearth popped loudly, spewing sparks. The thin smoke that rolled out was drawn up by the chimney.
Xu Si seed lost in thought. Only after a long while did she move.
She walked over to Pei Zhen’s side and gently sat down. She didn’t continue to avoid the issue—nor could she. In a gentle voice, she comforted him, "Azhen, you can be sad. You can talk to about it. So emotions don’t need to be hidden. No one will laugh at you."
The young man looked up, eting her gaze seriously, his grey pupils still gentle. "Auntie, I can’t rember."
"What do you an?"
He paused for two seconds.
He continued, "I rember this scene, but I don’t rember what the emotion was. It’s strange. I should feel pain, but I don’t. I’ve even tried to force myself to feel more pain. However, every ti I try, I get a headache, so painful that I cannot continue thinking about it. I’ve looked through books, and they say it might be my body avoiding ntal pain. So, I think maybe this is good in its own way. People don’t need to be imrsed in pain all the ti; perhaps that’s a good thing."
After a brief silence, Xu Si said, "If you’re willing, I can contact a doctor for you."
"I don’t want to." Pei Zhen shook his head, speaking slowly and thodically. "Auntie, you don’t need to worry about . Right now, I only rember many happy things. I’ve wanted to say this for a long ti. I’ve always known that Butler Ge often throws away the newspapers, claiming he forgot to order them. Actually, they have news about my parents in them. You’re the one who instructed him to do this. In fact, Auntie, you don’t need to be so concerned. Even if I saw it, I wouldn’t feel too upset. I think it’s probably because the days I’ve spent with you, Auntie, have made very happy—extrely happy."
Xu Si listened, her eyes filled with pity.
Even though Pei Zhen was sensible and said it didn’t matter, she still refrained from bringing up the issue again, gently stroking his head.
"If you don’t want to, that’s fine, as long as you feel happy. Don’t be afraid, Azhen. Auntie won’t leave you. In this world, no matter who leaves you, I will never leave you."
Her words were sincere and soft, capable of bringing strength and a sense of security.
The young man’s eyes finally held a hint of a smile.
How many tis had she made this promise? He really wanted to say there was actually no need to repeat it; he had always believed her.
After thoughtful consideration, he gently replied, "Then I’ll always be obedient. I’ll listen to Auntie’s words, now and in the future."
Xu Si stroked his gray hair again and said casually, "Mm, liars have to swallow a thousand needles, you know."
"Is it that severe?" Pei Zhen’s brow furrowed with a faint worry.
Thinking he was scared, Xu Si smiled with her eyes, seizing the opportunity to educate him: "If you make a promise and don’t keep it, of course, you have to bear the consequences. Otherwise, a promise isn’t a promise; it’s a lie."
The night breeze at dawn rustled through the Phoenix Tree and White Magnolias outside the window. Unable to bear the weight, a few withered Magnolia flowers fell, their browning buds hitting the heavily textured tiles and making one last timid noise.
Pei Zhen gazed deeply into her eyes and nodded slightly. "Okay, Auntie, I rember."
For so reason, Xu Si saw sincerity and acceptance in the young man’s eyes.
She paused. Seeing that he truly wasn’t dwelling on the recent incident, she ended the conversation, relieved.
Night ca with the sound of wind and rain.
The young man looked up at the window.
For the first ti, he understood the consequence of breaking a promise.
To swallow a thousand needles.
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