Li Wei sat at the table, his eyes locked onto the steaming bowl of fragrant wonton soup, accompanied by a plate of crispy spring rolls and a side of stir-fried vegetables.
The aroma wafted up, enveloping him in a cloud of savory scents that made his stomach claw with desperate hunger.
It had been three long days since his last meal, a span that felt like an eternity as he was dragged from the alley to the underground fight club and finally to this sanctuary.
The food before him looked like a king's feast compared to the scraps he used to scavenge from dumpsters.
Unable to contain himself any longer, Li Wei attacked the food with both bare hands, eating like a starved wolf that had finally cornered its prey.
He couldn't stop himself; the more he ate, the more his stomach demanded. He grabbed the glass of water, gulping it down so fast that it drenched his chin and shirt, but he paid no mind to the mess.
All that mattered was filling the aching void in his belly.
Mei Lin and Lian sat in stunned silence, their chopsticks frozen midway to their mouths as they watched the spectacle before them.
The quiet eventually penetrated Li Wei's hunger-fueled frenzy, and he raised his head to find them staring at him.
His eyes darted to the chopsticks in their hands, and a flicker of something – perhaps embarrassment – crossed his face.
Li Wei had seen people use chopsticks countless times, staring through restaurant windows during his days as a street rat.
But watching and doing were two very different things. With a trembling hand, he picked up the chopsticks, his fingers clumsy and uncertain.
He continued eating, but now each bite was a struggle, the food often slipping back to the plate before reaching his mouth. The slowness of this method frustrated him, his hunger still gnawing at his insides.
Lian, sensing the thick tension in the air, decided to break the uncomfortable silence.
Mom, she began, her voice small but hopeful, "We're doing a career program at school tomorrow. They asked us to invite our parents. Could you come with me?"
Mei Lin's eyes dropped to her food, her expression clouding over. "I'm sorry, honey," she said softly, "I can't go. There's a lot of work at the hospital. I need to save more lives. Maybe next time, okay?"
The disappointment on Lian's face quickly morphed into anger. Her small fists clenched at her sides as she stood up, her chair scraping loudly against the floor.
Why do you always give me the same dumb excuse?" she shouted, her voice rising with each word. "You're always busy! You can't do this, you can't do that, all because of your stupid job! I'm tired of it all! I hate this life!"
Tears streamed down Lian's cheeks as she glared at her mother, her small body trembling with rage.
Mei Lin sat frozen, knowing she could go if she wanted to, but unsure if Li Wei would allow it. The unspoken threat of their captivity hung heavy in the air.
Lian's hand came down hard on the table, rattling the dishes. "It's not fair!" she screamed, her face red with anger and hurt.
Li Wei, still struggling with his chopsticks, gave Lian a cold stare. He was torn between annoyance at the disturbance of his meal and a strange fascination with the family drama unfolding before him.
"Shut up! It's okay!" Mei Lin suddenly shouted, standing up so abruptly that her chair toppled backward. "Go back to your room. Now!!!
Lian's eyes widened in shock, more tears spilling down her cheeks. She had never heard her mother raise her voice like that before.
I wish Dad was here! she spat venomously, her words dripping with hurt and resentment. "He would have come to my school! He would have cared!"
With that final outburst, Lian stormed out of the dining room, leaving a heavy silence in her wake.
Mei Lin collapsed back into her chair, tears streaming down her face. She buried her head in her hands, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs.
I hope you're happy, you devil, she muttered coldly to Li Wei, her voice muffled by her hands.
Li Wei, for his part, remained focused on his food, seemingly unaffected by the emotional turmoil around him.
He continued to fumble with the chopsticks, determined to master this simple skill that had always been beyond his reach.
"Please," Mei Lin pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper, "let me go to her school for the program. I'm begging you."
Li Wei paused in his eating, fixing Mei Lin with an inscrutable look. He felt no pity for her tears, but a spark of cunning lit up in his mind.
If he didn't let them go, Lian's absence from school would be noticed. The police might investigate, and it would only be a matter of time before the Golden Dragon Triad found him. His newfound life of relative comfort would come crashing down.
After a moment of contemplation, Li Wei spoke his voice firm and brooking no argument. "I will go with Lian as her
father to the school."
Mei Lin's mouth fell open in shock, but before she could protest, Li Wei continued, "And you will go back to the hospital and act like everything is normal. Go on with your usual duties."
His eyes hardened as he added If you betray me, Lian will...
He left the threat unfinished, but its
implication hung heavy in the air.
Mei Lin's face drained of color as she understood the unspoken threat. She nodded mutely, her body sagging with defeat.
Li Wei stood up from the table, his meal finished despite the struggle with the chopsticks.
He looked down at Mei Lin, his newly acquired ability [Aura of Dominance] radiating a sinister aura.
Remember," he said, his voice low and dangerous.
I hold all the cards now. Your life, Lian's life – they're in my hands. Don't forget that.