Parting ?

After hearing the words of Ling Hong, the couple trembled and their hands were shaking. The cups that they held fell to the ground as they stared at him with an intense gaze. Even Meimei was surprised when her brother said that he had good medical skills, but as usual decide to trust in her big brother.

"Can you really do it?" Ling Xiu asked him with tears in her eyes. Every time her daughter smiled, she knew that hidden beneath that smile was sad girl who was counting down the days she had left to live. They had tried all sort of treatments - from reputed doctors to the so-called 'Miracle Doctors' and religious priests of which most of them gave up, while others turned out to be scammers.

Thinking back to the fortune reading she received at Lingjue Temple, she figured that it was really taking effect. If this boy hadn't brought Meimei to the city they would have never got any news of her. All of a sudden she felt that Ling Hong would be able to solve her daughter's illness, just as he brought her long-lost child back.

"I can't say for sure. I'll have to check her symptoms and then only do the necessary treatment, else we may harm her body by giving her the wrong medicine. Also even if it is a little different than the recorded one, further study can be done and I can make an adjusted prescription." he said smiling.

"If that's the case we'll make preparations for the checkup very soon. It's better to keep it from her before finalizing, I..... don't want to hurt her anymore." Hua Jun said, with a hint of sadness in his voice. Ling Hong guessed that the girl had been through countless checkups in the past, only to be rewarded with a reply of hopelessness each time.

Hua Jun straightened up and looked at Ling Hong for some time before saying "I wish to take Meimei home today itself. Although I know this might be sudden to you given that you both spent time the entirety of her life. Please don't oppose me."

To this Ling Hong only smiled. He naturally knew the pain these two parents lived their life in pain and regret for the past 14 years and just wanted to spend all the time they missed with their daughter. He couldn't blame them for taking her away - after all he was the outsider in their family, even if Hua Meimei still called him brother.

"I know, I'll help her pack her things up. I've always wanted to give her a better life so I took her to the city last time only to realize how weak I am to protect her. If it's you I believe she will lead a good life." he said as he stood up.

Hua Jun was very thankful to this young man - he conversed with them politely, took very good care of Meimei even if only for a few years and the best of all, he had a possibility of curing Meiling's strange disease. He decided that he would generously reward him with whatever he could as long as he had the power.

"Noo! If I go brother will be here alone." Hua Meimei sad as she sprang up and held on to his hand. She bit her lips and asked "Father, Mother can't you also bring big brother along?"

Hua Jun and Ling Xiu were hesitant. Although she was their daughter by blood, to her they seemed like strangers, while her 'brother' was the only family. They struggled to give an answer as they feared she would not acknowledge them if they forcefully brought her away.

Surprisingly, Ling Hong was the one to take action first. Breaking free of the little girl's grasp, he bent down a little so that they were of the same height. Patting her head, he said "Xiao Mei, grandma's greatest regret was not having enough strength to find out your family. Now that the heavens has blessed you and brought your parents, is it right to ignore them? They have been spending more than a decade searching for you. If you don't go with them then wouldn't that hurt them much more?"

Hua Meimei knew that she was wrong for doing so, but she couldn't help feel bad for her brother. After her grandma died, the only person close to her was her brother. She knew that he came from the city, possibly with better living conditions but had stayed behind in this rundown village to take care of her. She felt that if she didn't hold on to him, he might never see her again.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at him and asked in a soft voice, "Does big brother not want Meimei as a sister anymore? If I leave, then how can I be sure that I'll see you again?"

Ling Hong understood the girl's emotions. Chuckling to himself, he gently flicked her forehead. Although she felt a little pain, she knew that this was her brother's punishment for her foolishness.

He held her head and looked into her eyes before saying "Xiao Mei, know this - I, Ling Hong will forever be your big brother and you will always be the naughty little brat that used to chase me from behind. If you call for me then I'll definitely come for you, okay?"

She was relieved after hearing those words, as the assurance she had needed was given. She rubbed her head in his hand and nodded with a smile, accepting to go with her parents.