Chapter 60 - Lin's Lost Memories (2)

"So you came here because you were curious?" Long Yat-sen asked.

She nodded. "I snuck through my backyard. There's a loose fence board, so I came here just to see…I watched you train with your girlfriend…?"​​

Long Yat-sen cringed. "My sister," he corrected. "Plus, we look like twins."

She shrugged. "She's beautiful. So I couldn't tell."

He chuckled. "She beats me to a pulp. How does that not tell you how siblings act toward each other?"

She shrugged again. "I don't have any, so I wouldn't know."

He pinched the space between his brows. "You're definitely not what I expected," he mumbled.

She surveyed him. "You are really good…" she began again. "At fighting."

He glanced at her. "I always lose."

"But you always get back up!" her eyes glinted. You feel defeated, but you keep going anyway! Even when your sister is gone, you get up and continue to practice."

He chuckled. "How long have you been watching us?"

The flower girl flushed, winding her arms around her back. "A couple of weeks. I think it's interesting."

Long Yat-sen sighed. She'd been watching him lose over and over again. He felt half-embarrassed. "So is that why you help me? You pity me?"

Her eyes widened. She shook her head. "N-no. I think it's cool you continue to fight someone stronger than you. It's brave, and I know you will get better!"

He frowned. "I'm smaller than most people my age, and my younger siblings are even better than I am, he responded.

She patted his shoulder. "So? Who cares how good the others are? I think you're the coolest!" she said, her eyes sparkling.

Long Yat-sen didn't understand this girl at all. The supposed daughter of the devil of all devils. She was kind, warm, and empathetic—everything he didn't expect her to be.

He then straightened his form. "Will you keep watching me?" he asked.

She nodded enthusiastically. "Yes."

And she did.

Every day he fought. Every day she came and tended to his injuries delicately.

…

Long Xiatian didn't know what had gotten into her brother lately, but his newfound strength excited her and partly scared her. She didn't know what had gotten into him.

Long Yat-sen kept moving harder, faster, stronger.

She countered, deflected, lunged. And yet, Long Yat-sen was moving beyond what she'd ever seen before.

And he almost looked…happy?

It threw her off. She didn't understand him.

Long Yat-sen took steps forward. She prepared to deflect, but then he came from behind her, knocking her to the ground. She hadn't expected it.

He then dusted his hands and offered her one. She took it. Long Xiatian rose to her feet. "I have to say I am impressed."

Long Yat-sen only gave her a curt nod before he turned to leave without another word.

Long Xiatian picked up her things to go back to the house, but when she noticed her brother going in the opposite direction, she decided to follow him.

Where the hell was he going?

She fell shortly behind so he wouldn't see her, but from a distance, she watched as a beautiful girl ran and jumped into his arms.

Long Xiatian's eyes widened.

Long Yat-sen was smiling. He hugged the girl, caressing her face. From Long Xiatian's perspective, it looked warm. Cozy. So loving.

What was this feeling? She wondered. It was almost as if she wanted what they had, but she didn't understand what it was.

He looked at the girl so gently, like she was the most precious thing in the world.

She'd never seen this side of him before.

Later, she decided to confront him. "Who was the girl you were hugging?"

His eyes widened, looking fearful. Long Xiatian had never seen him this scared before. About anything.

"No one," he replied.

She crossed her arms. "You're a bad liar."

"I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not allowed to see her."

"Oh?" she replied, more curious now. "I don't remember father telling you not to do anything?"

"It's not our father," he responded. "It's hers."

"Who is she?"

Long Yat-sen looked at her warily.

"You can trust me," she continued. "I know that if I betray you, we won't be siblings anymore, and family means more to me than anything else."

She knew Long Yat-sen felt the same way.

"Niu Xiaolin," he told her the name.

Her eyes widened. "Are you insane?"

Long Yat-sen released a breath. "I like her. I will marry her someday."

Long Xiatian couldn't believe what she was hearing. She wasn't much of a romantic, but even for someone like Long Yat-sen, she did not expect this from him.

"If her grandfather finds out—"

Before she could finish speaking, they both heard their names being called by Long Jie. Long Xiatian and Long Yat-sen exchanged glances before they left the room and descended the stairs.

Their father gave them solemn looks before he gestured them to be seated.

He crossed his hands over his knees as he looked at each of them. "I need to ask you two something, and you better not lie to me," he said.

Long Xiatian and Long Yat-sen remained still.

"Have you two been speaking with Niu Xiaolin?"

"No," Long Xiatian answered. It wasn't a lie, and it partly covered for Long Yat-sen, who looked like he couldn't speak. "Why?" she pressed.

Long Jie sighed. "The girl's grandfather found out she had been escaping through the fence. He had repaired it, so she decided to climb it and took a bad fall when the girl returned home. She's in the hospital."

Long Yat-sen looked as if he couldn't breathe, as if it took him every ounce not to fall apart. Long Xiatian tried to keep him grounded. "Will she be okay?"

"It seems so," Long Jie responded.

Long Xiatian hissed. "All right then, I hope the girl recovers."

"Me too," Long Jie said bleakly.

Long Xiatian grabbed Long Yat-sen's hand, escorting him to step out of the room with her. He looked at her blankly, as if he wasn't there.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"It's my fault."

"What?"

"I asked her if she'd keep watching. I encouraged her to keep coming when I should have pushed her away. She's hurt because of me."

Long Xiatian felt angry. "If you think it's your fault, then you're a bigger dummy than I thought. You should visit her now!"

He nodded. He could count on his sister to tell it how it is. He then approached his father and told him the truth. Long Jie looked at him with pity, and he took him to the hospital.

At the hospital, Long Yat-sen met the girl's father. He looked sad and desponded as if he couldn't believe this happened to his little angel.

"I'm sorry," Long Yat-sen confessed. "It's all my fault."

The girl's father shook his head. "It's not," he responded, not looking at him. "But I know who's the one responsible."

Long Yat-sen widened his eyes.

"I don't know what relationship you have with my daughter, but I have been planning to leave with her and my wife for some time now. You might not be able to see her again."

A tear fell down Long Yat-sen's face. "I understand, Mr. Niu. I wish you and your family the best, and I hope Xiaolin recovers in no time."

The man looked at him, puzzled. "Thank you, boy."

At that, Long Yat-sen looked at Xiaolin lying on the bed once more, and then he left.