"Mum the food was great," Feng Mei Hiu smiled as he placed the cutleries on the empty plate, "I would like to rest in my room, I feel sleepy."
"Are you sure you are full already?" Wei Ehuang asked with a caring smile.
"Yes Mum, I will go take a nap." Feng Mei Hiu smiled as he stood up.
"Sweet dreams darling." Wei Ehuang's smiled dropped the second Feng Mei Hiu's figure disappeared from view.
"Feng Lisha I understand you don't like Feng Mei Hiu, but I think I have educated you enough to be able to hide those emotions." Wei Ehuang glared at Feng Lisha who was picking at her food.
"Why do we have to lick his bloody boots? He's just some fool with amnesia." Feng Lisha let her fork fall onto the plate.
"That fool with amnesia is the owner of this house," Wei Ehuang spat, "I don't need to remind you that your late father left not even a dime to us, everything belongs to Feng Mei Hiu, down to the plates you eat from."
Feng Lisha chewed on her bottom lip in unwillingness. "Why would father do this to us?". She cried.
"You can go ask him in his grave." Wei Ehuang snapped. "Better play along if you don't want to make a home on the streets."
******
Feng Mei Hiu adjusted the hood of his hoodie, he slipped some jewelries into his pocket and walked out of the room.
"Lead the way Xiao Li." Feng Mei Hiu waited for the system to direct him.
The third floor were Feng Mei Hiu's room was located was mostly empty, the servants were usually less busy in the afternoons, so there was no one in sight as he dashed down the hallway.
Existing the estate was easier than entering, after trekking some distance, he could make out the bustling Central City, huge Ad billboards displayed famous models, everybody was walking in a rush and Feng Mei Hiu was bumped into more than once.
He settled for a less busier spot close to a cafe and flagged down a taxi.
"Where to sir?" The taxi driver frowned at his shady outfit of a hoodie and dark sunglasses, he hoped he wasn't picking up a criminal.
"Timeless apartment, Sunsets Avenue, Fourth Street."
"That's at the other end of the city, your fare's going to be 1000." The taxi driver smiled slyly, I'd this was really a runaway criminal he wouldn't mind the cost.
"Drive." Feng Mei Hiu ordered coldly as he slammed the door shut.
Feng Mei Hiu felt his heart hammering in his chest, nervousness creeping in the closer they got to the apartment. How was she? What would he say to her? Would she still recognize him? Was she disappointe? Angry? Sad?.
"Calm down Fu Xiang, you will get a heart attack at the rate your heart is going." Xiao Li Ja Tong sounded worried.
Feng Mei Hiu's eyes remained stuck at the window, his eyes taking in the familiar environment, his old school, the noodle shop his grandmother loved eating from and Aunty Lu's bakery shop. His heartbeat calmed down, the feeling of peace washing over him.
"We have arrived, sir." The taxi drivers words snapped him out of his daze.
He unbuckled his seat belt and tossed a gold ring at the driver.
"That should settle your fare." Feng Mei Hiu exited the car, leaving the stunned driver drooling at the ring.
Timeless apartment was a two story building, that looked old and weathered. Sandwiched between two buildings it looked like a midget. The other houses were old too, but they had been painted with a fresh coat of paint, unlike the peeling green paint on timeless apartment, the railings jutted out, terribly in need for a change.
That person who said money couldn't buy happiness, had never really tasted poverty. Feng Mei Hiu could vividly remember how he juggled endless acting roles, he would play any minor part as long it earned him money, but he could never still afford to move out of this apartment.
"Ouch!" Feng Mei Hiu winced when a ball slammed into his leg.
"Sorry." A little boy apologized as he ran up to him and took the ball. He stared at Feng Mei Hiu with big brown eyes and pouty lips and something about his face struck Feng Mei Hiu as familiar.
"Dong Yue." Both Feng Mei Hiu and the little boy winced at the loud voice.
"Ouch mum." Dong Yue winced as the woman pulled his ear.
"I am so sorry sir, my child is very naughty." The woman apologized, her hand still gripping his ears.
Feng Mei Hiu felt his throat go dry. Sister Nan looked so different, her long hair had been cut short, the new length stopping just below her neck, she and dyed her hair dark brown, he could see stress lines around her eyes as she frowned, dark bags hung beneath her eyes, her entire person looking drained. He couldn't tell if she had added weight or it was just her large baby bump that made her look fat.
"I apologize if my son caused you harm, he's a wreckless child." She frowned when she saw Feng Mei Hiu just standing there and staring.
"It's alright." Feng Mei Hiu eventually found his voice. He was reminded once again that he was living a different life now, people he used to know would look at him like a stranger when he stood before them.
"Isn't that for the best? Isn't it better that you let go of what is no longer there and focus on your new life?" Xiao Li Ja Tong asked.
Feng Mei Hiu didn't want Fu Xiang to be forgotten, not when he was right here. The thought of turning into nothing but a bitter memory left a hallow feeling in the depths of his being.
By the time he refocused, Sister Nan and Dong Yue had walked a considerable distance away from him, he could still hear her scolding the child.
How long was I really in that place?
He was only familiar with Sister Nan because she was the cashier at Aunt Lu's bakery. She was a beautiful girl with big dreams, she never stopped talking about her dreams of becoming a pilot and travelling the world, she didn't want to get married even though her parents had been dead set on marrying her off. He still remembered the last time he saw her, drunk and crying as she babbled about running away. Now she was married, with a child and another on the way.
The old security guard was dead to the world, snoring with his mouth opened wide, five bottles of beer surrounded the passed out man, and Feng Mei Hiu was once again reminded of how unsafe this place was.
He didn't bother to try the elevator, he couldn't remember the last time he saw them walk. Feng Mei Hiu climbed the rickety old stairs, each step brining him closer to his destination.
Finally, he arrived at the second floor and stood by the door of apartment 22, after what felt like century he finally knocked. His heart thudding in his chest as he heard shuffling footsteps.
A thousand emotions coursed through him as the door was opened.
"Who are you?" Feng Mei Hiu frowned at the woman who snorted angrily.
"I should be asking you that, you are the one in front of my home?" She snapped as she made to close the door.
"Wait, I am sorry." She watched him with an annoyed frown waiting for him to state his business and leave.
"The old lady that used to live here, Fu Dongmei, do you know were she is?" Feng Mei Hiu asked nervously.
"Oh! You're asking about the old lady whose grandson was arrested for murder right?" Her eyes shined with gossip.
"Heard he was an actor and quite famous, yet he couldn't get his grandmother a better home, if you asked me he was a ..."
"Do you know where she is?" Feng Mei Hiu cut her rant off, as she tired to suppress his anger.
She frowned at his rudeness. "She's dead." She snapped.
Feng Mei Hiu felt something buzzing in his ears as he felt the world collapsing on him. "What?" He struggled to ask, as he felt his lungs refusing to take in air.
The woman didn't notice his situation and went on uncaring. "She's dead, been dead for three years now."