12 Family Secrets 2 (2/2)

”Yue'er, It is all right to be scared” Qing Shan said in a reassuring tone, extending her hand to hold Sam's in a tight squeeze ”Doctor Li explained that this could happen... He said your memories could be triggered by different paces or circumstances.” Qing Shan added, hope lighting her beautiful dark eyes ”Was this the first time it happened?”.

”Hum... Y-yes” she stuttered, looking from one to another, till finally resting her eyes on Fei Hong, a slightly wary ”So... Was it really you, then? The boy on the bridge?”. The one that looked so sad and lost?

Fei Hong smiled kindly, looking a bit disconcerted himself.

”Yes, it was me...” he agreed with a wistful look, his gaze moving automatically to the direction where the lake stood, on the other side of the house.”It was a beautiful night... We were very close after that.”, he looked back at her, eyes lit with affection and care built through years of trust and friendship.

Sam sighed, massaging her temples in a vain effort to stop the mayhem on her head.

”I'm sorry” she mumbled ”I really don't remember anything else”. The last thing she wanted right now was to deal with Fei Hong's devotion for his sister. It didn't feel right to simply drop on their lives and take their sister's place like some usurper.

Whatever they felt, it wasn't for her. She was just an imposer on the real Ying Yue's body.

Even thought she knew, on her head, that it was true, the thought still left a stab of pain on its wake. Seeing how they looked and cared for her just reminded Sam of her old life, her lifeless apartment, her empty nights... The sadness that sat deep on her bones for years...

At that one moment, Sam really felt like she could envy Jiang Ying Yue's life. Even with the lack of plumped water.

After that, the three of them settled in a light, uncommitted conversation. Sam asked about their lives and how things worked on the household, being gifted with some very amusing stories of their younger years.

The awkwardness resisted for some good thirty minutes, till Sam decided to try a small, translucent, yellowish cake. She picked it up looking a bit mistrustful, looking the dessert up and down and giving it a quick sniff. From the corner of her eyes, she could she Qing Shan seemingly trying to hold on a laugh, just as Fei Hong looked slightly amused.

Finally, ignoring the curious looks of the maids serving the tea and changing some plates, she bit it.

...

”OH MY GOD!” Sam exclaimed, still chewing ”WHAT EXACTLY IS THIS THING?!”.

”Water Chestnut Cake” Qing Shan answered easily, her brows furrowed in a concerned expression ”Why? You don't like it?”.

”LIKE IT?!” Sam repeated, putting the rest of the cake on her mouth and picking another piece in each hand ”I Love it!! Gosh, it is too good!” she kept saying, didn't even bother to finish chewing while stuffing her mouth.

”I knew you'd like it” her... Well, sister, said with a bright smile ”It used to be your favorite dish when we were young”.

”Oh?!” Sam grumbled thought the cake, looking surprised at the girl.

”Aya!” Fei Hong sighed, knocking her lightly on the forehead with two fingers ”Look how she eats! Just like a little kid!”.

”Hey!” Sam looked with narrowed eyes at him, trying to control her impulse to just slap him on the head ”That was not nice! And who are you calling kid, hein?! I'm older than I look!”.

Qing Shan laughed at her younger siblings bickering with affection. It was good to finally be together with them once more. Even before the accident, Fei Hong had been away for months already.

”Oh, right, right... I forgot! Our old Ying Yue is already fifteen! Almost an ancient dame!” Fei Hong teased, sipping his tea with a humorous look.

Sam choked, spiting pieces of cake and tea all around her as one of the maids rushed to help petting her back.

”Yue'er!” Qing Shan cried ”Are you alright?!”.

The girl simply kept coughing, holding a hand up in sign that she'd need a minute.

”What... What did you say?” she finally yelped in a rough voice, her eyes watering a bit ”I'm... I'm FIFTEEN?!”.

Sam looked herself over, trying to make sense of what she was hearing. Of course, she knew Ying Yue could not be too old, but she had always thought it'd be an age closer to her own, maybe nineteen, twenty.

But... Fifteen, really?! It was like going back to those awkward years of her youth she was soooo glad to leave behind!

Qing Shan nodded slowly with her head, watching Sam closely for her reaction.

”We just celebrated your birthday.”

”When?”.

”The day of the Summer Solstice”.

Sam breathed deeply, feeling her throat burn because of the cough fit and taking her time to drink a bit of tea. 'Summer Solstice... When was it exactly?!”.

Before she could say anything, a young guy with dark, washed clothes and half of his hair tied in a bum, walked towards them with a sober expression.

”San Xiaojie, Wu Xiaojie, Master” he he bowed respectfully.

”Ye Qi” Fei Hong asked, a worried look crossing his eyes ”Is something wrong?”.

The eidee bowed slightly once again, glancing warily at Sam and Qing Shan before answering.

”Master, the General is here”.

Fei Hong's expression clouded instantly, his eyes hardening as he exchanged a meaningful look with Qing Shan before getting up.

”I'm afraid I have to go” he said apologetically ”You girls just finish your breakfast.”.

”Hum... What?!” Sam asked, unable to control her curiosity ”Is something wrong”.

Her brother's eyes averted just briefly on the direction of the servants before he forced a carefree smile.

”Nothing, it is probably just the monthly report... General mus also want to discuss my return to the barracks”

Sam frowned. She was about to insist when she cough Qing Shan's minimal nod in the contrary, in warning. Whatever it was, there would be another place and time to dig it up. 'Better drop it for now' she decided.

”Ok” she answered ”I guess I'll see you, then”.

”Of course!” and this time, the smile was genuine ”I'm not living you alone again, kiddo”.

Sam slapped his hand away when he tried to mess up her hair, which left her with a laughing QingShan and a frustrated smile.

When they had finally calmed down, Qing Shan asked for the tea to be replaced, looking completely calm and collected once again.

”You all may step down” she told the two other girls that were still serving them.

Sam accompanied them with her eyes, waiting until they were nowhere to be seen before turning once again to Qing Shan, her expression sober.

”What happened?” she asked, looking directly at her sister's eyes.

Instead of answering, she looked down at her cup, mixing the tea slowly with a thoughtful expression.

”Yue'er” she asked eventually, her dark eyes as sharp as a blade when she looked up ”Do you remember anything about the Mu Tribes?”.