...…..
In Lixin's house.
He pulled over, skillfully parked the car inside the garage, and lifted Mingxia out of the car and onto her wheelchair. He pushed her into the house and locked the door.
"Tomorrow we will have to book a flight to Wuhan. The first court trial is starting there tomorrow. Have a good sleep and think less about what we said in the car. If we do not win, you do not have to be sad. It is only forty percent; I still get sixty." Lixin let out a friendly chuckle, helped her up the stairs to the bedroom, and tucked her in. They were currently lodging in one of his penthouses near the airport. Lixin tucked her in bed and patted her forehead.
"Life without issues is not life." He smiled brightly and turned off the light. Slowly, his shadows disappeared from the room as the door banged shut and he walked down to his study room. The dim light reflected his streamlined, perfect silhouette as he sat down and laid his head on the table.
"Oh, Mingxia, what do I do with you?" Lixin asked wearily, crossing his legs and skimming through the files from his mother's death case. Her face popped up in his head, and he shook his head bitterly. At last, he would be able to prove his mother's innocence and allegation, sending his father into exile. "Mother, how are you faring without me?" His words had hints of sadness and guilt written in them. He hummed a painful lullaby and gazed at her picture on the wall.
"Lixin!" Mingxia called out, pushing the wheelchair closer to him. A few minutes after she was tucked in, Mingxia found out she could not sleep and decided to see what Lixin was up to. Her fingers fell upon him, snapping him back from his daze.
"What are you doing here? We have an early flight at 6:00 a.m.; you should be resting unless you are not interested in my offer." Lixin wiped his worries away and focused his gaze on Mingxia. Her silky, olive-brown hair fell behind her back and was neatly tucked behind her ears. Her plain, snow-white skin was exposed, even though she had long, cotton nighties on. It still did not stop her beauty from showing.
"I couldn't sleep. I wanted to check on you. Are you not going to sleep also?"
"Me? I will take a nap on the plane. You need to sleep more than me; your health is more important than any case right now."
"So is yours too, Lixin." She shot back at him and pushed herself to the couch opposite his study desk. She carefully climbed out of the wheelchair and sat on the couch. Recently, she had been taking part in some walking activities as requested by Huang Yichen and her medical physiotherapist, whom she visited today, and was also able to stand on her two feet; unfortunately, it was only for a short while before her limbs felt numb and she had to sit back. It was a major improvement in a short time. "Is that your mother?"
Mingxia asked, pointing at the large portrait on the wall of Lixin and a woman in her late forties hugging him from behind and smiling. She was gorgeous, with a pair of eyes the same color as Lixin's own. Her beauty was extraordinary, and even more so was her smile.
Yes, she is," He answered while pouring her warm milk into a glass and handing it over to her. He gawked at the picture, then continued with what he wanted to say. "This picture was taken on my sixth birthday. It is an old photo anyway."
"Can you tell me how you celebrate your birthday? I have never had one in my life. My father was always busy with work, politics, and... I once did with Luo Yuxuan." Mingxia nodded her head and sipped the warm milk into her body.
"Luo Yuxuan? Was he your relative or friend?"
"He is my ex-boyfriend. We officially ended things two years ago."
"So this is your boyfriend; did he know how your father treated you?" Mingxia sulked on her lips and handed Lixin the empty glass cup. She laid back and sighed. Thinking of it, she never once mentioned her father anytime she was around Luo Yuxuan, or maybe she never saw the need to let him know the pains she went through daily. "You do not have to speak if it hurts."
"It doesn't hurt," Mingxia said, refuting his statement. She wanted to bond with Lixin. Something about him kept dragging her nearer and nearer to him; perhaps it was because she finally met someone who had the same predicament as her. "I never mentioned my dad to him. We were only dating for a year or so, so I never saw the need to introduce Luo Yuxuan to him. Knowing how my dad is, he would immediately reject Luo Yuxuan and stop me from seeing him. My dad is a control freak."
"What else do you want me to know?" He circled his fingers on her palms and nodded patiently. He was willing to let her pour out her feelings until she was satisfied, something Luo Yuxuan never did for her. He never had time for her, and work was his main priority. It was even a surprise to know he had been dating Xu Mengyao for a long time. "About my birthday,"
"Did you have cakes, candles, and balloons to celebrate your birthday with?"
"Yeah," He shook his head, affirming all her questions, and could see the happiness of a youthful woman in her. She was truly beautiful, he added internally, and he moved on. "I remember when mom bought a large vanilla cake and we spent the whole day munching it and chatting away. My dad was never available for my birthday, so I spent it mostly with my mom and my neighbor. I still recall how much I wanted to have a ride on the merry-go-round, and my mom laughed out loud, saying I was a boy and I had to be mature to take over the company. At that time, I did not understand what she meant by being mature, and now I do. I wish that she had told me earlier about her burdens rather than bearing them alone. It is best to share things that you bottle up all alone."
His voice was hoarse as he reminisced about the good time he had with his mother. Birthdays were Lixin's favorite. It was the only moment when he could spend the whole day with his mother without being interrupted by her work. She loved him, and he loved her back too. They were pairs of mother and son and also friends. Lixin felt very comfortable sharing school events, life and chitchats with his mother, and she too enjoyed it. Unfortunately, everything ends!
"I want to lend my shoulders to you. You are not alone in this world, Lixin. I know you are passing through a lot of remorse and self-criticism. I can help you; I can lend a shoulder for you. Please do not reject me. I can give my all to you if you are willing to give your all to me. I am willing to protect you from your imperfections. We can both heal together, Lixin." Her palms landed on his cheek while she stroked his mask. She so much wanted to see the man behind the mask, tell him that it was all right, comfort him, and heal together with him. She wished he had easily opened up to her as she did with him.
"Have your rest, Mingxia. You are sprouting nonsense." He shoved her palm away from his face and walked some distance away from her. He stood and calmed his throbbing heart. What did she just do to him? He questioned himself while calming his perplexed emotions. Never had he been in such a state! "We can talk later. I will help you back to the room; ensure you get some rest!"
"Sure,"
Mingxia lowered her head in silence and allowed herself to be wheeled back into the bedroom. She lay on the bed, tossing from left to right on the bed tiredly. She found it difficult to sleep. Her eyes flew wide open when she heard whispers—familiar whispers she hated so much, voices she wished would go away. She clutched her dress and bit her lips nervously. Her body began to tremble in distress as the power blackout and the heavy breeze shut the window tight. Her past was hunting her! Shivers were sent down her spine as she was reminded of a past scene—her past self with a razor standing in front of the mirror. Every day she fought to act tough, while she was a weak fellow deep inside. Her voice croaked up while her eyes fought to catch a glimpse of the person in the dark.
"Who is there?" Mingxia murmured lightly as her footsteps increased toward the girl standing near the black mirror. Her body was covered in black throughout, and her hair was in a ponytail. Stunned to see herself in uniform, which she surmised was her eighth-grade uniform, she ran, wishing to escape the dream that felt so much like reality. Unfortunately for her, she tripped on something and tumbled to the ground. Her body hit the ground so badly that she groaned in pain, the noise attracting the view of her past self.
"Mingxia?"… "Mingxia?" She heard her name being repeatedly called. She found it hard to locate the owner of the voice. Then she heard a scowl—an eerie scowl—from the woman next to the mirror. She struggled to run, but her limbs became stiff and wobbly, and she could not move. All she could do was stare and quiver. Drops of tears rolled down her face while she observed her past self—the past she so much wanted to run from. It was back! This was in the tenth grade—her first suicidal act.
Closing the gap between the two of them, the past Mingxia met the present Mingxia. Her eyes were tinted black, so I had to read from them. She approached her, closing all her options for escape.
"Life doesn't love you."
"You are born unlucky, and you shall never be loved."
"Did you think you would have a perfect life?"
"Take your life and end your misery!"