Birds soared high above the Qing’s mansions, flapping their wings below the early afternoon clouds, singing.
Shadows stretched long on the pavent, leading forward toward the parking lots.
Zoe’s clenched jaw loosened as she halted right after stopping by the sleek silver Ferrari 250 GTO. "No matter what they do, I will choose who I marry."
She gave a sharp exhale, a faint smile resurfacing on her face. She opened the door of the car, slid inside, then ignited the engine.
A faint smoke burst into the air as she drove off the Qing’s lands.
At the entrance of the mansion, closer to the parking lot, Darian stood there, his arms folded across his chest.
"THIS GIRL!" His chest rose and fell as he swiped his right palm over his reddened face. Then, he walked toward his Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail.
He slowed down as he followed Zoe’s vehicle.
anwhile, in Bastion City, countless vehicles moved hastily in front of the Storm mansion.
Car horns echoed loudly as a silver Ferrari 250 GTO slowed down unannounced. "Fuck everyone." Zoe looked at the faces of the drivers who were blowing their horns loudly at her.
She ignored their insults, then turned to the right. "I don’t have to go there angry." She cald her breath, changed her mood, then neared the giant iron gate.
The gate spun open after she showed her card.
’Leon needs to give an answer to the request, else I’m killing myself.’ She said low in her head as she slid out of the car and stepped closer to the mansion’s entrance.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
She struck her clenched knuckles on the silver wooden door, then waited. After two minutes, the door spun open by itself.
She widened her face with a smile, inhaled deeply, then entered.
’What is going on?’ Her expression shifted the mont she followed Min-ji and entered the sitting room.
She greeted respectfully, then began shifting glances.
She glanced at Mr. Lee’s still face. Feng’s rapid nod. And Min-ji’s crumpled brow. Just as she shifted her gaze to Leon, her heart dulled.
The information she wanted to give him all vanished in an instant.
She slowly neared Leon. Mr. Lee stood up from Leon’s side, then pushed Feng toward the glass wall.
Zoe swallowed hard, then sat by Leon’s side, her palms crossed and resting on her lap.
’How do I even tell him...’ thoughts lood in her head as she locked eyes with Leon.
Silence ruled the room until the late mid-day sun’s hot rays seeped in.
Min-seo walked into the kitchen, crashing tal utensils against each other as she prepared the ingredients for the evening al.
Mr. Lee glanced at his watch, then tilted his head forward. "Leon."
Leon’s eyes were slightly reddened as he raised his head. He had noticed Zoe by his side, but not a single word exited his mouth.
"Will you visit your mother today?"
Leon nodded.
"If so, then we have to get going."
Feng turned a side eye to Mr. Lee. "Why?"
"It’s left with 30 minutes. If we don’t go now, he won’t be able to visit his mother. And she might be waiting for him as well."
Only Min-seo and Min-ji remained in the big mansion when they exited and entered the highway.
Feng sat by Mr. Lee’s side in the front seat of the black BMW. Leon and Lily sat in the back seat of Zoe’s vehicle.
’Is today the right day to let him know?’ Zoe said softly in her head, then glanced at Leon through the driver’s mirror.
’Nah. I will just worsen what he’s already going through.’ She turned her gaze from him, then shook her head softly.
She smiled the mont she caught Lily staring back at her.
’But what actually happened that he is so down?’ The question lived rent-free in her head as she tilted her gaze back to the street ahead.
At the hospital, many patients walked past them as the three of them moved toward the VIP room. Mr. Lee and Feng stood by the receptionist, trying to find out more about Li i’s condition.
As soon as Leon vanished onto the second floor, leaving the stairs behind, the male doctor who was on duty that afternoon crossed paths with Mr. Lee.
"Hello, sir." The doctor paused a step, then turned. "It seems I have seen you here."
He gave Mr. Lee a thorough gaze, then turned to Feng. "Are you two the n who ca here a day ago seeking information on a particular patient?"
Feng smiled, then placed a hand on the doctor’s shoulder. "Is that how you do your work here?"
He tilted his gaze to Mr. Lee, then back to the doctor. "If so, then I think you need to change. Else you will give soone’s confidential information to the wrong people."
"Oh, sorry," the doctor pleaded. "I just thought of your faces a second ago, that’s why."
"Doctor Elorm." Mr. Lee stepped forward. "You’re right. We are the very people you’re looking for."
Dr. Elorm pleaded once again, then directed them to his office.
In the VIP room, Li i was deeply asleep when Leon, Lily, and Zoe entered.
Lily tried waking her up, but Zoe stopped her the mont the girl stretched her hand. "Shhh..."
Leon glanced at the emptied sacs that were still hanging on the stand, then curled his mouth inward.
He brushed his hand over the slightly raised veins of Li i’s left arm, then began steadying her skin.
He folded his hands on his chest, then checked the pulse on the monitor beside her bed.
Behind him, Zoe moved a step closer. "I think we should let her sleep."
Lily tilted her head and looked at Zoe, then turned to Leon. She carried sadness in her eyes but smiled when Leon followed Zoe’s words.
Back on the ground floor of the hospital, two nurses called out to them. "Hello, Leon Storm."
All three of them reacted to the na and turned their heads swiftly.
"Yes," Leon moved a step forward.
"Please co with us." The nurses turned, then walked toward the consulting room opposite Dr. Elorm’s office.
Just as they stopped by the door, Dr. Elorm’s door swung open.
From inside, Mr. Lee and Feng stepped out, carrying deep worry in their eyes. But they managed to change it the mont they saw Leon standing there.
Although they managed to deceive Leon and Lily, Zoe caught them before their expressions changed.
When they entered the consulting room, another doctor with two other nurses sat in separate foamy chairs.
"Please have a seat," the female doctor gestured to the empty seat in front of them.
But Leon remained standing.
"Alright, if you won’t take the seat, let’s go straight to the point." She turned her head to the nurse who had a red scar under her eyelid and a chain around her neck.
The nurse pulled out a brown envelope that had Li i’s na written boldly on it, then handed it to the doctor.
"Here is your mother’s result after the scan."
The doctor pushed the envelope across the table. Leon caught it as soon as it reached the edge, almost falling to the ground.
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