“Really?”
“Yep.”
“She’s not forcing you to do anything?”
“Your last threat was effective.” Aiden continued folding clothes.
“I’m shocked. That is unlike her.”
He paused. “She’s still not happy with my decision, but she’s not going to stop me. I’ve already decided on what I want to do.”
“Good. Do what you want. I’ll take care of everything else.”
I should at least ask him what that means.He asked no questions.
His stepmother’s accusation of selfishness echoed in his ears.
He twisted a shirt between his hands. “Do you think she’ll ever accept it?”
“Who cares if she does or doesn’t? She doesn’t matter.” A skip entered Hui Ye’s voice. “What matters is that you’ll be here with me in two days.”
“Technically one since I’m a full day behind you.”
“Ha ha, very funny. We’ll enjoy the food, go sightseeing or do whatever else you want. I promise I’ll have my schedule completely open for you. Just the two of us.”
Aiden smiled. He moved faster, packing his clothes away. “Have you already taken care of everything for when the semester starts? Like where I stay and my furniture?”
“I’ve taken care of everything. Just promise me you’ll stop thinking about Yin Mei and whatever snooty opinions she has.”
“I promise.”
“Good. I miss you. Can’t wait to see you in Hong Kong.”
Aiden beamed at his phone. “It’ll be fun.”
“It’ll be fun.”
• • •
Aches crawled up and down his spine, his stomach tumbled with the air turbulence, and his butt flattened like stone against the seat of a sixteen-hour flight. He stumbled off the plane, his legs numb, but a smile continued beaming as the air of Hong Kong’s airport hit his nose. Amongst the crowd waiting, Hui Ye’s head towered above others with his stylized pitch-black hair that reminded Aiden of CEOs modeled on magazines. His tailored jackets and one-of-a-kind specially designed sunglasses from whichever rare designer Aiden wouldn’t know glistened underneath the airport’s lights. Smile stretching wider, Aiden waved his whole body. The two ran up to each other, arms stretched, but stopped right when they could reach each other. His brother grabbed his suitcase to take to the car waiting outside.
“Wang Xing, this is my little brother, Lang. Lang, this is Wang Xing. My life is in his hands every day once you see how bad the streets can be.” Hui Ye settled in the back.
The chauffeur looked back with a polite smile, highlighting the wrinkles on his forehead and his receding hairline. “Good to meet you, Lang.”
“Nice to meet you!” Aiden fell back against the impeccably clean black leather seats with a sigh, rotating the ache of his shoulders away.
“How was the flight? Exhausting?”
“More than you know.”
“Well, you don’t need to worry about anything. I’ll plan our schedules every day. I’m taking you to the best restaurants, and if any distractions come my way, I’ll just silence my phone. You like museums, and trust me, we’ve got great museums here.”
The sweet song of a Chinese singer blended with his brother’s droning voice in perfect harmony, despite how high pitched she sang and how low pitched he spoke. His brother’s straight shoulders, forward eyes, and relaxed smile, lulled Aiden to the wheels churning beneath his body.It’s fine now. Hui Ye’s here. He’ll take care of everything for me.Aiden fell asleep in the car.
For two weeks, he lived and slept in bliss.
Then, the weather abruptly changed on his last day. A flash of lightning splitting the gray sky reminded Aiden of the headlights from a black van pulling around the corner. Men in sunglasses, despite the darkness of the night, stepped out and pointed their guns toward the window of a house.
