Shanghai Prefecture, China
Ying Yue
" Hello, I would like you to prepare a driver for me tomorrow morning".
Train Driver
" What time would be appropriate?"
Ying Yue
" How about 10:00 a.m.?!"
Train Driver
" Got it! I'll arrange for a driver that will be perfect for you! I'll give you a call tomorrow!"
I hung up the call after that.
Traveling to Beijing? I have never been there before. This will be my first time! What's Jie wants to talk to me about? I won't know until tomorrow! I'm sleepy! I better go to bed! I headed to bed.
6:00 a.m.!
I heard my alarm ring and woke up.
" I better get ready to go," I said standing up.
( Why does my brother want me to come to Beijing all of a sudden? What's so important that he couldn't tell me on the phone? I hope it's nothing serious. If not for this call, I would have been to Wuxie today. Wei, wait for me a little bit longer. I'll be reunited with you soon).
Li Imperial Palace
Princess Li Mei Pavillon
" Mei, may I come in?" Empress Dowager knocked on the door.
" Mom? Come in! Come right in!" said the princess.
Empress Dowager came in and took a seat near the princess.
" Jun came to see you, didn't he?" the empress asked the princess in a questionable tone.
" Yeah! He was here a while ago" the princess answered.
" Did something happen between you two?" asked the empress in a questionable tone.
Flashback
Princess Li Mei Pavillon
" You're calling me your majesty now?"
" I don't understand what you mean. You're the emperor, aren't you?"
" I don't deny being the emperor, but you never called me your majesty before. You calling me your majesty all of a sudden must only mean that you're not feeling well". He implied.
" What are you saying? Me calling you your majesty is due to your title". She said indifferently.
" Have you noticed you haven't called me brother, not even once? The only word I heard from you was your majesty and nothing more. Not even once have you called me brother". He said sadly.
" I'm tired! Please, leave from here!"
" I won't leave! I won't go from here!"
" Leave from here or you'll never see me again in the future". She said coldly.
" Ok! I'll leave! I'll leave you alone! Take care of yourself, sister!"
Back in the present
" Nothing happened between us, mom! Why the sudden question?" asked the princess in a questionable tone.
" I saw Jun just a while ago and he was expressionless" the empress answered sadly.
" Expressionless? How so?" The princess asked.
" He was sad and gloomy. He didn't look good at all. I was worried, which is why I came all the way here to ask you as I thought you might know something" the empress said sadly.
" Don't worry, mother! I'll go check on him!" the princess responded.
" Thank you! I'll let you rest!" the empress left the room.
" Jun was sad and gloomy?" the princess thought back at the empress words.
( Could it be because of what I told him and the way I behave with him? I have to see him and make sure he's alright).
Emperor Li Jun Pavillon
[Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock!]
Princess Li Mei came to visit her brother. She knocked on the door continuous times, only to realize he wasn't there.
" Brother, are you there? Brother! Brother, where are you? Guess he's not here! Where did he go? I'll ask around! Someone must have seen him!" said the princess.
Li Imperial Hall
Princess Li Mei came down in the hall wearing a sad face. Empress Dowager noticed the princess' expression and got worried.
" What's wrong? Why do you look so worried? Have you spoken to Jun yet?" the empress questioned her daughter.
" About that, Jun's not in his room" the princess answered.
" Did you check the study?" the empress asked.
" Yeah, mom! I've checked the study! He's not there either. I'm extremely worried, mom! Where could he have gone?" the princess said with a concerned look.
" Advisor Dong Cong?" the empress called out.
" Yes, Empress!" Advisor Dong Cong came rushing at the empress call.
" Did you see his majesty?" asked the empress.
" No, your highness! I haven't seen him!" Advisor Dong Cong responded.
" How come you don't know? You're his advisor, aren't you?" Empress Dowager said angrily.
" I start my job at 10 in the morning. His majesty was already gone before I arrived" Advisor Dong Cong responded.
" Thank you! You are dismissed!" the empress said to the imperial advisor.
" Thank you, your highness!" Advisor Dong Cong exits the hall.
" Mom, calm down! Have some water!" the princess handed her a cup of water to drink.
" I'm not thirsty!" the empress refused the water.
" Please, mom! Have some water!" the princess said with insistence.
To please the princess, the empress took the water and drank it entirely.
" Thank you!" Empress Dowager said thankfully.
" Have you calmed yourself down a little?" the princess asked with a concerned look.
" Yes! I feel a bit better now thanks to you. Have you tried contacting him?" the empress asked in a questionable tone.
" Yes, I have! I couldn't reach him though! His phone has been shut off!" the princess responded.
" Let's wait a little while longer! He may not be far!" the empress said.
Jun, wherever you are, please, be safe! Princess Li Mei thought to herself.
Shanghai Supermarket
" Looks like it's going to rain soon. I won't be able to reach Beijing today. I better hurry back home before it starts raining. I have my umbrella with me, but you never know what may happen" I said looking at the sky which had turned darker.
Just then, my phone rang and I checked it to know who the recipient was.
[Ring! Ring! Ring!]
" Hello, brother!" was the first thing I said by answering my phone.
Ying Jie
" Hello, sister! Are you already on the train?"
Ying Yue
" Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it today!"
Ying Jie
" Why not?"
Ying Yue
" The weather is cloudy! It's going to rain in a couple of minutes".
Ying Jie
" I understand!"
Ying Yue
" Sorry!"
Ying Jie
" Why are you apologizing? It's not your fault! Anyway, get home safely and I'll see you tomorrow".
Ying Yue
" How did you know I was outside?"
Ying Jie
" My dear sister, you can't see the sky clearly from inside which means you're outside as we speak. Currently, you must be at the grocery store".
Ying Yue
" How can you tell where I am? Are you a psychic?"
Ying Jie
" Not a psychic, but a detective. A detective's sixth sense never lies. Hurry back before it starts pouring!"
The call ended soon after that and I took my groceries, ready to go home.
" That brother of mine must be a psychic for sure. What is he doing in the Police Department? He should be a detective instead. Let's hurry back home before it starts raining" I said.
Beijing Prefecture, China
" Madame, I have something to tell you!" Ying Jie spoke out.
" Stop calling me madame! Am I that old?" Mrs.Perez asked in a questionable tone.
" What should I call you then?" Ying Jie asked.
" Call me by my first name, Viviana," said Mrs.Perez.
" Madame, I couldn't dare," said Ying Jie.
" Okay then! If you won't do as I say, then I won't listen to you" Mrs.Perez said turning away.
" But, Mme!" Ying Jie used his last attempt but in vain.
" What was that?" Mrs.Perez asked impatiently.
"... Mrs.Viviana! Will that do?" Ying Jie asked.
" That will do for now!" Mrs.Perez said with a reassuring tone.
" Thank goodness!" Ying Jie said relieved.
" What did you want to talk to me about, Ying Jie?" Mrs.Perez asked in a questionable tone.
" My sister will be coming tomorrow to visit and I was wondering if you could give her hospitality" Ying Jie answered.
" I would be happy to! She may stay here! What's her name by the way?" Mrs.Perez asked.
" Ying Yue!" Ying Jie answered.
" Ying Yue is a pretty good name," Mrs.Perez said.
" Thank you!" said Ying Jie thankfully.
" That settles it! She'll stay here!" Mrs.Perez said.
" Thank you very much, Mrs.Viviana!" Ying Jie said thankfully.
" You're very welcome!" Mrs.Perez said.
" Aren't you going to ask me questions about this sudden visit?" Ying Jie asked in a questionable tone.
" There's no need for that as I completely trust you," said Mrs.Perez confidently.
" Thank you very much for your trust, Mrs.Viviana!" Ying Jie said thankfully.
MPS Police Station, China
Commissioner Mu Beiyang
" Hello there, Ying Jie! How are your investigations coming along?"
Police Detective Ying Jie
" They're coming along just fine".
Commissioner Mu Beiyang
" I'm glad to hear it!"
Police Detective Ying Jie
" What's wrong, commissioner? Is something the matter?"
Commissioner Mu Beiyang
" I don't intend to put any more trouble on your shoulders. Forget about it!"
Police Detective Ying Jie
" It's no trouble at all. What's going on?"
Commissioner Mu Beiyang
" Another case came to us today".
Police Detective Ying Jie
" A case? What kind of case?"
Commissioner Mu Beiyang
" An actress needs protection. She needs a bodyguard to ensure her protection".
Police Detective Ying Jie
" We have several officers in our department. One of them can be in charge of ensuring her safety".
Commissioner Mu Beiyang
" It's not possible!"
Police Detective Ying Jie
" Not possible? Why is that?"
Commissioner Mu Beiyang
" She requested your assistance in protecting her".
Police Detective Ying Jie
" Me? How can I accept another case? My hands are full!"
Commissioner Mu Beiyang
" She insists on the fact that it has to be you and no one else. I know you're busy at the moment with your cases, but please do think about it".
Police Detective Ying Jie
" I'll think about it, but I can't promise anything".
Commissioner Mu Beiyang
" It's already enough that you think about it. I'll await your call!"
Police Detective Ying Jie
" Commissioner, may I speak to officer Xu Lifang?"
Commissioner Mu Beiyang
" Certainly! Stay on the line and I'll connect you to officer Xu Lifang right away".
Police Detective Ying Jie
" Thank you!"
Commissioner Mu Beiyang
" Officer Xu Lifang, there's a call for you".
Police Detective Xu Lifang
" I'll receive the call in my office".
Commissioner Mu Beiyang
" It's done! The call has been transferred!"
Police Detective Ying Jie
" Thanks! I'll contact you soon!"
Police Detective Xu Lifang
" Hello!"
Police Detective Ying Jie
" Hey there, Lifang!"
Police Detective Xu Lifang
" Ying Jie? How are your investigations coming along?"
Police Detective Ying Jie
" About that, I'll need a favor from you!"
Police Detective Xu Lifang
" Okay! How may I be of help?"
Shanghai Supermarket, China
With my groceries in my hands, I was about to walk away from the supermarket when suddenly, I noticed something strange. A man was walking in front of me. He was dizzy. He was so dizzy that he didn't notice the rock in front of him and was about to fall to the ground.
" Be careful!" I caught him by the waist keeping him from falling off the ground.
" Sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going!" Someone bumped into me.
The man's face was covered by his long hair, but when he spoke, I recognized his voice instantly. Then, suddenly, there was a strong wind. The wind was so strong that it lifted the man's hair a little. In that small fraction of time, I was able to see the man's face very clearly and I got shocked.
" It's you! What are you doing here?" I asked in a questionable tone.
???
The man fainted in my arms which got me worried.
" What happened? Can you hear me? Open your eyes! Can someone please help me!" I shouted out for help.