chapter 9

A voice of protest rose from Mei's lips, but Loi raised his hand. "I want you to be there too. I know you don't have enough time with me to be comfortable without you, Andrew. Before the surgery, I want to be with my family." I think."

"Oh, Loi. I don't think it's a very good idea…" "Please, Mei. It means a lot to me. " His gaze pierced hers, and she had never been so torn. She wanted to be there for Loi as a dear friend, not because she loved him like women love men.He was Andrew's father and she wanted to support him. .

Yet... her mouth was still burning with the fire of Xin's unexpected k*ss, and her head was pounding with tension at the thought of staying at Shei's house with her two brothers. bottom. "Don't answer now," said Loi. "I know you went through some trauma and I threw a lot of stuff at you. I'm going back to Morningview now and I'll call you tomorrow."

She took him to the door. Her mind was spinning with all the sensations, all the emotions that had been generated during the past three days. She knew she was struggling with her sense of overload, and when Loi left, she leaned against the door, holding back the tears that threatened to overwhelm her. "Mummy?" Andrew appeared in the hallway. "Honey, what are you still up for?" Mei pulled herself away from the door and pushed her son back into her bedroom. "It's getting late, and I have school in the morning." He returned to bed and she tucked the sheets around him.

"My father told me about his tumour when you weren't here," said Andrew. He was talking to me about his upcoming surgery and I overheard him talking about staying with him and Uncle Xin for a while before he had the surgery.Mom, can you do it?" One word after another rolled out of him, and at the end he closed his mouth, but his eyes spoke louder than words. It was dark brown. "I don't know, Andrew. You have school and I have a job. I don't know how you can possibly get back on your feet for just a few weeks." "But Mom, Dad is sick. He needs us." Andrew's words pierced her. Loi was ill and he wanted the support and love of his family above all else. I wanted her to deny him. How could she deny her son to her father this time? She reached out her hand and stroked Andrew's black hair. Even at the age of nine,

Andrew possessed a maturity and inner strength that often impressed Mei, but he was a spitting image of his father. "I'm not going to make any decisions tonight," she finally said. "Okay, but I really think you should do it for your mom. I think you should do it for your dad." Mei k* him on the forehead and she said good night and left her room and went to her own bedroom. Suddenly, her crushing fatigue hit her. She took off her clothes and hid herself in a pale pink cotton nightgown. She turned off the light and crawled under the duvet, aided by a night light burning in the socket next to her bed. It was interesting.

Most children had a night light in their bedroom, but in this household it was the mother who needed the light to avoid swirling objects at night. But now it wasn't that night that bothered her. Rather, it was dawn when she knew she had to make her decision. Loi needed Andrew and Andrew needed her. Loi was right in knowing that her son wouldn't be comfortable without her for a few weeks. Over the past nine years, Loi's visits have been sporadic, often cancelled at the last minute. Andrew endured his father's shortcomings affably and was always welcome to spend time together, but he never held a grudge when his plans fell through.

Mei knew that Andrew would never forgive her if something terrible happened if she didn't approve of her this time with Loi. And she never let herself go. However, there were practical considerations. Andrew was in her senior year and was a good student, but missing two weeks of school wasn't a good idea. As her substitute teacher, she was able to take her next two weeks off, despite being financially squeezed. She had many things to consider. For the first time in years, she wished she had someone to hold her through the night, rub her back, and whisper that everything was okay. Frustrated by her uncharacteristic longing, she frowned. She lay on her back and looked up at the shadows on the ceiling.

She touched her own lips and thought about the moment Xin took her mouth. As his lips touched hers, her heat rose through her, scorching her from the point of contact to her toes. She pushed the memory firmly out of her head. She couldn't think of that k*ss, she couldn't think of Xin, and the thought of him filled her with a sickening sense of guilt, and she didn't know why. She closed her eyes and fell asleep. She was afraid of making the wrong decision, she was somehow afraid of making the right one. ------ It's a brain tumour. Xin stood by the window of the giant Shui kitchen, watching the sun rise over the horizon. His eyes grew sad as he sipped his coffee. It was a long sleepless night.

Loi had come home at eleven o'clock the night before. Xin was in his study, taking care of the business that went wrong while he was away. After a plane crash and an endless journey through the woods, Xin thought nothing could shake him. But when his brother revealed information about his brain tumour, Xin received a big punch in the pit of his stomach and felt like the world suddenly wiped under his feet. There were several times in the past when Xin wanted to speak reason to Loi when his brother's carefree spontaneity and boyish antics drove him half insane. In the years since, Xin could not prepare for what Loi was about to face. brain surgery. Xin knew that this type of surgery was always risky, no matter how many times the doctor assured Loi. The two brothers stayed up most of the night discussing diagnosis, action plans and future challenges. Xin sighed, stepped away from the window, and poured another cup of coffee. A brain tumour.

And there was nothing Xin could do to improve it. There was no way he could solve his beloved brother's problems. Only twice in his life did he feel helpless. The first was a terrible night in the hospital, holding his father's hand, wanting to fight for his life and watching him escape. The second feeling of helplessness was the moment of madness when he k* Mei the night before. He shook his head. Her intoxicating scent, which temporarily drove away her attention and rational thought, as if it could drive away the memory of the sweet warmth of her lips. While Loi was processing his diagnosis and contemplating fighting for his life, Xin was wandering in the woods and falling in love with Loi's ex-wife. bottom. He turned when he heard footsteps approaching the kitchen.

A stocky, grey-haired woman entered, her wide face framed by a welcoming smile. It was nice to be able to come home. " "Thank you Rose. I'm glad you're back." He sat down at a round oak table, placing his coffee mug in front of him. "The house is too quiet without you and Loi." She rushed to the stove and grabbed the apron that hung on her hook. "Scrambled eggs and toast?" she asked as she tied a brightly coloured apron around her. "Good," he said. Rose Murphy worked for the Shei brothers after the death of her parents. Unmarried and content, she effectively accepted the leadership of the Shei family, making life easier for the Xins. Over the years, she was invaluable not only as a cook and housekeeper, but also as Xin's emotional support and advisor.

Within minutes she had the eggs and toast ready and put the plate in front of him. She poured a cup of coffee and sat down with him at the table. "You look tired," she said. Her brown eyes were bright and sharp and looked at him. "Tired," he admitted. Between her bites, he told her about her plane crash and her days spent wandering in the woods. "You must have had an angel on your shoulder!" cried Rose as she finished. "You could have died when the plane crashed. My heart trembles when I think of how close you came to death. He nodded. "We've been very lucky." He hesitated for a while before adding, "I really hope the luck continues." "Why? Are you planning another plane crash?"

Again he paused before answering, then collected his thoughts. She told her about Loi and what awaited him. The words came in a staggering motion, but he held back his emotions and refused to let them get out of control. He had to be strong. He had no time to be overwhelmed with fear and sorrow. He had to be strong to get through this. After saying that, Rose wiped his eyes with the hem of her apron. Like most people who met Loi, Rose adored him. She often complained that he was irresponsible, immature, and unreliable, but despite his many shortcomings, Loi received love from the bees like a flower. "Poor thing," she said softly. She wiped her eyes again and sat down in her chair. "We all have to do what we can to help him fight this problem. Loi isn't strong, but we have to help him get stronger. " "That's what we have to do," agreed Xin. When he finished his meal, he left his kitchen and went to his office. He closed the double doors behind him and sat down at a huge desk.

The room was large, with a wall of floor-to-ceiling bookcases and an elegant built-in bar. The whole house was a father and mother's dream. Morning He was a rare six-bedroom mansion in the small town of View. Shei Industries was headquartered in a large building in Topeka, Kansas, about 20 minutes away. The invention of the telephone, fax machine, and computer allowed Xin to conduct most of Shei's Industries business from his home. Working was the last thing Xin wanted to do right now. He picked up the paperweight that was on his desk. It was ugly, a glass ball with a dollar bill inside. His mother had it made for his father in the early days of Shei Industries, when the

"office" was on the kitchen table and the wind from the open window was blowing paper everywhere. rice field. With the globe in his hand, Xin remembered the promise he made to his father. He said, "I promise to take care of Loi." And he's done his best over the last 14 years to deliver on that promise. He tried to give Loi everything he thought his parents would have wanted. In addition to his appearance, he sought to guide, support and impart wisdom to his younger brother. He took care of Loi as a rebellious teenager and was there for him when he became a young father.

There was nothing he could do to make things right for his beloved brother. He put the paperweight back on his desk and stared at the phone. Last night, Loi Xin announced that he wanted to spend time with Andrew before his surgery. He explained that he had told Mei of her wishes, but she hesitated. Loi asked Xin to bring Mei and Andrew here for a few weeks, and Xin agreed to do all he could. He checked his watch and realised it was too early to call. He may take care of some chores while waiting for a more suitable time. An hour and a half later, Xin picked up the phone and dialled a speed dial number that connected him. The phone on the other end rang her three times and he wondered if she had accepted her job for the day. He knew she was a substitute teacher and had taken late-night classes to graduate. With her fourth ring, she took it in her hand. "Hello." Her familiar voice filled the line, and Xin gripped her phone tightly to avoid any emotions or sensations that might well up inside him. "Mei, it's me."

There's a moment of silence, then a silent "hello." "We need a discussion." "Did Loi say that?" "Last night." Another moment of tense silence. "I don't think either of you got much sleep last night," she finally said. "You and Andrew need to come over here and discuss staying for a few weeks." He didn't want to make small talk with her. She could hear her breathing because of her. "I don't know what to do. I want to do the right thing..." "We all want to do the right thing." "But there are a lot of things to consider. Andrew is at school and I have a job." "I hire a tutor who works with him every day. We will keep him on track. And as for your job, I have already arranged for next month's rent and utility bills. If you need additional funds, make sure you get them. "

"I don't want you to do that," she protested. "I don't want you to pay anything." "Mei, this is not the time to brag. I know it's financially hard to take that much time, but this is more important than money." She was silent for some time. "Of course not." She sighed again. "I'll come, but I won't promise to stay for two weeks. Certainly, Loi needs surgery as soon as possible, and it shouldn't take too long. "Exactly," Xin agreed as well. "But you know how hard it is to change Loi's mind once it's crossed your mind. So, can you wait tonight?" "No, we are leaving tomorrow morning. That way, it will take longer to arrange and pack. I think she'll be waiting around noon." Her voice was lively and factual. "It's okay. Loi will be happy." They said goodbye and hung up. Xin leaned back in her chair and rubbed the centre of her forehead.

She started having headaches and was dancing frustratingly. He thanked her for not mentioning the time they spent together. More than that, he was deeply grateful that she didn't mention the brief k*ss they shared. It's the method. It was all about Loi. Loi's Health, Loi's Wellbeing, Loi's Happiness. Loi wanted to spend time with Mei and Andrew. It was a big house and Xin worked long hours in the office. It's possible they'll see each other infrequently in the coming weeks...and that was fine with him. He rubbed his forehead again and noticed his headache getting worse. He knew it was right for Mei and Andrew to be here.

But when he thought of her silky soft hair, her light-hued eyes, and her sweetly curved lips, he realised that he had invited her into his own home. I was. Morning Kansas His view was a charming little town with Main His Street reminiscent of the good old days. There were ice cream shops, coffee shops, general stores, and more, all of which spoke to the slow pace of life and the warmth of a close-knit community. It's been a full year since Mei appeared on Morning Her View. At the time, she and Loi were breathing their last breaths into their marriage in a tenement house on the outskirts of town. While Andrew occasionally spent weekends with his father, who lives in his parents' house, it was Mei's first homecoming since her divorce. Andrew writhed with excitement in the passenger seat, pointing to places his father had visited with his father as if it were his first visit to the area. He pointed to the ice cream shop and laughed. "One time my father and I went there and ordered an ice cream cake and had it for dinner.

" Mei shook her head sadly. like Loi. "It was very good, but I had a stomach ache all night," he added. "Well, I don't know why," said Mei. Andrew grinned and then looked out the window again. "I like it here," said Andreas. "And it would be so cool to have us all in the same house together." Mei frowned. She didn't know how "cool" it would be, but she wanted to make the best of the situation for Loi...and for Andrew. They drove through town, taking half a mile (0.5 miles) of two-lane roads. On a large hill on the right stood Shei's mansion. A white two-story house with a spacious porch and massive columns, the building resembled a Southern plantation rather than a Midwestern farmhouse. Impressive in its grandeur, with its cold disdain and arrogance, Xin always seemed to belong here. Servant and king of his world.