80 One True Love (2/2)

While waiting for Qin Sho, Wang Reiji scanned the chairman's study room.

The floor of the study was covered with lotus abstract carpet while the walls were full of Chinese landscape and calligraphy paintings. A beautiful Chinese style square led ceiling light made from wood hung perfectly above their heads and the pile of documents on the chairman's solid wood desk was neatly arranged beside an old photograph.

Noticing Wang Reiji's gaze was on the photograph, the chairman lifted it up and handed it over to her.

”It's okay, take a closer look.”

”Thank you, Uncle Luo.” Wang Reiji said as she took the photograph from the old man's hand.

Curious as his sister was, Wang Yuvin also examined the photograph.

The photograph looked old, probably around 40 years or more. It was a photograph of the two patriarchs, standing side by side when they were still in their prime. Basing from the photograph's background, it was taken somewhere near the floating torii gate or the Itsukushima Shrine in the Island of Miyajima.

”It was taken before your father left Japan. He was 25 back then and I was only 21 years old.” Chairman Qin started narrating the story behind the photograph.

”That was the day he sailed to Beijing to look for your mother, Skyla. They were lovers at that time but unfortunately, Skyla's mission here in Beijing tore them apart.” Chairman Qin continued as his lips formed a bitter smile.

”Isamu spent 40 years looking for your mother. However, when he found her, she was already six feet under the ground. Though brokenhearted, Isamu still did his best to uncover the truth. He did whatever he can to know what happened to your mother during those years.” The chairman tried to stay calm despite his crackling voice.

”Initially, Isamu thought that you were his biological daughter that's why he was stalking you. However, DNA results showed that you were not his. And after some more time, he learned that Skyla had permanently lost all her memories. That she died without any memory of him and their past.”

Wang Reiji, though she already knew the story, felt her heart was squeezed by a strong nagging feeling. If Wang Daizhuo had found her mother sooner, maybe he was able to save her from depression and death. That maybe Zhang Chenric would not accuse her of having a romantic relationship with Wang Daizhuo when all she did was comfort an old man who was going through the toughest time of his life --- after many years of searching for his one true love, he found her --- grave.

She forced a smile. Maybe Zhang Chenric's love for her that time was of little depth. Yes, it was love. But not as enduring as what Wang Daizhuo had for her mother. Maybe it was a love that was supposed to grow during the passing of days. But unfortunately, it wasn't strong enough to survive a calamity.

She took a deep breath before taking a sip from the tea to calm her system down. She was about to take another sip when she sensed a gaze from her peripheral view.

”Why are you staring at me like that bro?” She asked.

”Now that I heard that story again, it made me wonder. Is Aunt Skyla an orphan? It seemed like her relatives in Japan did not bother to look for her.” Wang Yuvin said before pouring his cup with tea.

Wang Reiji furrowed her brows as she turned her head to the Chairman's direction.

”Your mother has a younger brother.”

Chairman Qin paused and took another sip of his tea.

”Sho and I think that he also went here in Beijing to look for your mother.”

Wang Reiji almost spat the tea back to her cup.

”U-uncle? I have a maternal uncle?”