A tall and lean man was seen sitting down on his swivel chair, his face stern and focused on the bright light of the computer. His hands showed full distinct joints and they were a bit rough, typing away on the keyboard as he stopped to look over the data on the document.
His face was pale and whiter than average male due to the influence of having lived abroad for 12 years, mingling with mostly European descents and Western people.
Li Shaoze was still working even though the clock was ticking its first hand into the number eight of the evening. Due to his workaholic habit, he even had a bed and a closet ready in his personal lounge area right beside his office.
Sighing, he looked over the floor-to-ceiling window on his right, thinking about Li Junfeng whom he thought should have been getting engaged to his girlfriend as of now.
"It should be around this time if we share the same time difference," he mulled over.
He was currently in Country E, where it was more than five hours later than his home country where Li Junfeng was. He thought that the engagement caremony should have concluded long ago.
Li Junfeng had already mailed him an invitation for the engagement party as early as three weeks ago but he just couldn't go back home.
'It's not even considered home,' he thought.
He bet every member of the Li family wouldn't be as welcoming towards him as Li Junfeng. So he made up an excuse that he was busy when Li Junfeng called him two days ago to confirm his attendance.
Instead, he promised Li Junfeng that he would not miss his wedding in the future.
Knock- knock-
"Come in," a man in his twenties came in.
"Sir, I'm done with the task you ordered," the man said.
"Thank you, Zijin," Li Shaoze did not even look at the man named Zhu Zijin, who was his special assistant. As a result, he didn't see Zhu Zijin's conflicted appearance. He continued to stare at the moon outside.
"Sir..."
"What is it?" Li Shaoze finally looked over. Zhu Zhijin decided to brace it.
"I don't know if it's true but I think there was an accident with your younger brother's engagement party," Zhu Zijin decided to speak even if it was hard.
"What do you mean?" a frown appeared on Li Shaoze's face.
"Since we're far away from our home country, the news must have gotten delayed..." Zhu Zijin said honestly. He walked closer towards the table where a crystal plaque written with 'Li Shaoze, CEO of Quze A. Investment' was placed.
He opened his tablet and handed it over to his boss, who took it immediately.
When Li Shaoze finished reading the news, he was still silent like a statue. After a minute, he later put the tablet down on his table slowly and carefully, as if worried that the tablet would break just like his heart.
Then he stared at the page on the screen without blinking again. His assistant came over asking if he was alright.
Zhu Zijin knew that the person closest to Li Shaoze was only Li Junfeng, the young master of 'that' Li family. At first, he was curious what their relationship was, but as time passed, he realized they were actually brothers with different mothers and the same father.
It made no sense how he never knew about Li Shaoze, who was actually older by three years from Li Junfeng, the supposed first young master of Li family. Shouldn't Li Shaoze be the first young master instead of Li Junfeng? And shouldn't he be working at their big conglomerate instead of having to build his own company from scratch in a country so far away?
He never got to know the answer as he never asked his boss anyway. He just knew that Li Shaoze never got along with his family despite sharing the surname Li.
And now his only brother he was close to was gone.
***
Li Junfeng was wandering between the realm of consciousness and unconsciousness. He felt hazy and a little disoriented. He remembered that the last thing he saw before he closed his eyes was an explosion.
How could he know that the seven-star hotel they reserved for their engagement party was actually targeted by a group of terrorists at that particular time and place?
He died instantly after the bomb that was placed on the corner of the hall went off. He remembered having shoved his fiancee away from the danger of the flames, but he also regretted that he had to die, leaving her behind.
When he recalled this bit of scene, he finally opened his eyes and found that he was in front of a huge door that was made of pure gold. The door was large and seemed like a gateway to heaven.
"Hey there," a strange yet melodious voice greeted him. It sounded like an angel.
"What? Where am I?" Li Junfeng instinctively knew that he was already dead so he didn't ask about that. He was instead curious of his whereabouts.
"Where do you think?" the voice asked instead, the tone playful.
"... Heaven?" he answered, skeptical.
"You're optimistic about going to heaven, aren't you?" the voice laughed.
"Then where is this? Why am I here?!" Li Junfeng never died before so he didn't have experience, he became nervous.
"You should ask yourself,"
"Why...?" Li Junfeng frowned.
"Because only those who have regrets can see this door," the voice said in a solemn way.
"Those who don't, can't see it because their souls can be collected automatically by the death gods and they disappear instantly," the voice continued.
Li Junfeng was shocked.
"That means for you who have regrets from the mortal world; should walk into this door by yourself, after your regrets are fulfilled or not, without the help of a death god. It's a hassle for us but that's how it is,"
"Then... if I choose not to walk into this door today?" Li Junfeng suddenly had an idea.
"You'll be expelled from here and go back to the mortal world as a wandering soul. That is the last chance we'll give those with regrets,"
Li Junfeng widened his eyes and he seemed to have already made his decision. His heart beat erratically and he closed his eyes for a moment, thinking that he should be able to do it. Then he opened them and they glinted with newfound determination.
'I'm going to find brother,' he swore to himself.