Chapter 43 - The Long's

Shao Lin established a routine with the members of the Long family. In the mornings, she would have breakfast with her husband, and afterward, one of the twins—Long Ken or Long Kun—would pick her up.

Returning from work, she would visit Long Xia to help her around the apartment and then she would have dinner with Long Yat-sen. They spent entire evenings together quietly, and other evenings, Long Yat-sen would be busy with his "work."​​

Shao Lin was cleaning the kitchen shortly after Long Yat-sen headed out when a phone rang across the room. She checked her cellular device. It wasn't hers.

She glanced at the coffee table and realized Long Yat-sen had left his phone behind.

The phone kept ringing and vibrating, and Shao Lin felt it was best to ignore it.

The caller ID flashed, and it had come from a number of the local hospital.

What if it's urgent? She wondered. She battled with her conscience for five seconds before she picked up the call. "Hello?"

"Can I speak to Mr. Long Yat-sen?"

"This is his wife," Shao Lin replied. "He's not available at the moment. Would you like to leave him a message?"

"Ah, Mrs. Long? We are calling from the medical centre about Miss Long Mei. Her condition is still the same, but her brain activity has shown some improvements today. It does not guarantee she will wake, but she does seem to be showing amazing progress. We have already contacted Mr. Long Jie and his wife, and we will call with more updates, and again, we're doing everything we can."

Shao Lin was so stunned that she did not know how to respond or wrap her head around it. Long Mei? She did not know who that was, but the surname was no mistake.

"Mrs. Long?" The woman questioned.

Sucking in a breath, she replied, "Yes. I'm here. Can I visit her?"

"Yes. Visiting hours end in two hours, but you're more than welcome to come by tomorrow."

"No," Shao Lin replied. "I will be there today in twenty minutes."

Shao Lin didn't give the woman enough time to reply before Shao Lin hung up and gathered her things and keys. She normally did not leave without an escort taking her, but she wasn't banned from leaving without company or permission either. Long Yat-sen didn't do that, though he always advised having someone with her.

But she wanted to be alone for this.

Shao Lin never met Long Mei. She never heard of that name until today, but she had a feeling she knew who she was.

At the hospital, Shao Lin was taken to a ward for patients who stayed in private rooms. She was escorted all the way to a room reserved for Long Mei.

"I'll give you a moment with her," the nurse said gently.

"Thank you," Shao Lin replied.

The room was filled with fresh flowers, cards, and get-well-soon gifts. There was a woman on a bed, hooked up to a machine that made churning noises.

When she was left alone, Shao Lin entered the room slowly.

Her eyes widened at the unresponsive figure in front of her. The beautiful young woman had long auburn red hair, and she could recognize that colour anywhere. It was darker than copper and threaded with brown and gold. She had seen it in the twins. She had seen it with Long Yat-sen's father. Indeed. She was the fifth.

Shao Lin took a seat, not having the strength to stand as she looked at the girl in front of her.

She was so young—tied to tubes and machines.

It felt invasive to be there, but the fact that she was allowed in the room for being part of the Long family suggested that she was welcomed. But it was something Long Yat-sen never talked to her about, and she wondered how long he had been suffering what seemed like a loss?

Long Ken always wore a suggestive smile, but it never reached his eyes. Long Kun was more reserved and quiet, showing her what he had always been feeling. Long Xia never hid her emotions, but she was not open about it either. Long Yat-sen was closed off entirely as if he did not know how to open up at all.

"She would have liked you. A lot," Long Yat-sen said to her by the threshold.

Shao Lin turned around, stunned to see him. I—How?"

He held up his phone. "I came back to the apartment to get my phone when I called the hospital back. They told me they already spoke to my wife."

"I'm sorry for intruding—"

Long Yat-sen shook his head. "You are not," he assured her, stepping forward. "Because you are a Long and because I did want you to meet her. I just…"

"I understand," she said softly. "It must not have been easy to tell me about her."

Long Yat-sen fell silent. But he was talking to her—opening up, and Shao Lin did not want him to stop.

"Can you tell me about her?"

He gave her a sad grin before lifting his arm, suggesting she should go with him somewhere else. Shao Lin went with him, leading her outside.

They walked and walked, arm in arm, until he finally spoke. "She was named after my grandmother. Mei was the youngest, so that meant everyone older was protective of her, including my parents. She was a surprise to all of us before she was born because my parents didn't plan her, but they were happy nonetheless." He paused as he fell silent for a moment.

"She was different than the rest of us. Sweet, innocent, loyal, and she loved to help people. She had no interest in my family's other secret profession. She said it was too much for her heart, but still, she did not judge us for what we did. She wanted what was best for everyone and…."

Shao Lin looked at him. "And?" she asked softly.

He met her gaze then. "And she was a flower-girl, just like you."

A tear fell down Shao Lin's face.