21 What happened to Ying Yue 1 (1/2)

On the quiet, spacious study room, sat with his back straight and a concentrated look, Fei Hong went completely still, his wet brush frozen mere inches away from the half finished scroll.

Slowly, his gaze locked in the doorframe, a sharp glint shining through very intelligent, very dark eyes. All the while, he didn't move a single muscle, as if afraid that any movement would shatter the tension filling the air. Breathing deeply, Fei Hong let his vital points align, liberating just a small amount of energy, enough only to help enhance his senses and cover the entire courtyard.

He could feel the life force of all his servants, the slow breeze playing with the tree branches, even a malnourished cat lurking around the kitchen...

But no threat. No malice or evil intentions tarnished the air.

In fact, he couldn't feel even the smallest sign of anything that shouldn't be there.

And yet, the sound of light foot steps closing in around his study was still clear, their pace irregular as if the person was going back and forth with a nervous streak.

What could only mean...

Relaxing his stiff muscles, Fei Hong put aside his writing material, failing to suppress the small smile already curving his lips as the sound became closer and closer to the main entrance.

'Ah Ying must be bored again' he though to himself, looking thoughtfully at the piling amount of documents he still had to deal with, before brushing everything aside to be felt with on another opportunity.

It was almost time for their game of Go, anyway...

Trying not to laugh at his own juvenile antics, Fei Hong stretched his arms and sighed, glancing sideways at the entrance.

”Aya! No-one ever taught you it is bad manners to spy on your elders?” he joked ”You can stop with the pacing now, Ah'Ying” he chuckled, waiting for Ying Yue's bashful figure to show up near the entrance, arms crossed around her middle and a defiant glint on her eyes.

Ever since her recovery, Fei Hong found hard conciliating the confused, laughing girl sneaking into his office with his more serious, cold sister. In many ways, it felt like going back in time, to those younger years, when their father was still alive and everything was easier.

And yet, even though in his heart Fei Hong wanted nothing more than to let her be, to let this happier version of his sister grow without worries, he knew it could never be.

Not when they're the last offsprings of the Jiang Family. Not when they were so close to...

”Young Master?”

Surprised, Fei Hong looked back at the entrance, his brows furrowing as Ye Qi's worried face came into view.

He was supposed to be watching the house today, to make sure no prying eyes would come upon the General coming and going from the Manor.

”Ye Qi? What is it? What has happened?” he asked in a tight voice, a hand already resting on the handle of his sword.

If the wrong people had found out somehow General He had been there...

A cold feeling seeped through his bones, making him shiver.

”Sir, it is fifth young Miss” Ye Qi hurried to explain at his master's reaction, his heart sowing down as Fei Hong's grip on his sword relaxed ”You were right, sir. She has indeed gone out on her own”.

Without intending to, Fei Hong felt his body leaning back on the chair, releasing the breath he didn't even know he had been holding.

So, the Heavens hadn't left them alone, after all...

”I understand” he mumbled, closing his eyes and massaging his temples ”Just make sure we have eyes on her at every moment... But tell them not to get too close... Ah Ying never liked being told what to do”.

And Fei Hong was well aware of the fact that his stubborn sister tented to do exactly the opposite of whatever anyone expected her too.

He frowned, noticing that Ye Qi was still in front of him, fidgeting uncomfortably.

A bad feeling started to brew inside his stomach.

”Is there something else? Ye Qi... What is it that you are not telling me?”.

”Da Xiao Ye...” he gulped, avoiding his eyes ”I might be wrong but, just now, I think I saw Crown Prince on the street... Fighting with Great Daoist Master”.

All color left the young man's face, his heart losing a beat.

”And sir... there is more” Ye Qi mumbled ”The future Crown Princess is also on the city... I heard a few maids talking about a tea brewing competition being held...”.

Before the aide could finish, his master had already jumped out of his chair and all but ran out of the courtyard without a single look back.

Fei Hong had a very bad feeling about whatever was happening ...

'And just at such a moment, he is finally back' a small voice whispered on his ears as the cold, expressionless face of the Daoist Master slowly took form in front of his eyes.

'Stop it' he told himself sternly 'You have to think about Ah'Ying! She is your priority now!'.

”Tell me where your Eldest Miss is” he darted at Ye Qi, whose only reaction was to give a small nod, he himself trying to shut the voice in his head saying their household would meet trouble quite soon.

________________________________________________

Sam had known Amelia for almost her entire life.

That, of course, didn't imply the two of them had been on friendly terms throughout most of them.

In fact, the first time they actually talked to each other besides niceties had been on the first year after her parents death.

Those earlier months, Sam had been going on as if lost in a daze, and only when the bills started pilling up and the energy company threatened to cut out her electricity did she really understood what it was to depend only on her own. So she had sucked it up, taken a long shower and begged for a position with one of her mom's old friend's law office.

Donald Morgan, her recently associated boss, was one of the most arrogant, selfish, narcissistic persons she had ever had the misfortune to meet. He was always too friendly, too intimate, and leant closer than necessary when asking for whatever he needed. Every time she would tell herself to deal with it and remember she really needed the money. Until that one time when he waited till the office was empty to try and make a move on her.

After that, when she ran away as if devil himself was hot on her heals (leaving behind a mumbling Donald with his most sensitive parts throbbing), Sam's life had turned into a living hell. He would scream at her, trow her work at the garbage bin, humiliate her in front of everyone on their floor, and even go as far as knock on her arm to make her spill coffee on one of their most important clients.

On that particular day, Donald had been screaming his veins off at her again, pointing a couple files she had rewritten the night before (for the tenth time) on her face while spit flew out of his mouth. Sam's policy usually included taking a breath and nodding before scurrying away. Even though the salary wasn't high, she still desperately needed the income.

But that day was different.

It was her parents death anniversary and, for some reason, she felt herself tearing up.

”How come you seem unable to do anything right?” Donald had accused, trowing the archives on a close-by desk ”Is it really that difficult to write a damn case review? Are you daft?! I don't care who the fuck you think you are! It is one word from me and you are out, got it?!”

She gulped, trying to stifle a sob. How come her life had turned to be like this?! When did she become such a pathetic, fearful creature?

Just as she was about to raise her head, a very familiar voice interrupted her.

”There you are, Sam! I'm sorry I didn't call you earlier today... I understand it is a delicate moment for you. Coffee still up, though?”.

Sam just blinked, her eyes wide in recognition. Even without the colorful make-up and the green and blue hair strands, there was no mistaking Amelia, the girl she barely talked to at school. A girl that, for some reason, was defending her.

”Amelia” Donald had almost hissed ”What do you think you are doing here?”.

”Dr.Morgan” she just smiled, adding sweetly ”Just waking by, admiring the view.”

”You'd better go back to work, then. You're not paid for sight-seeing”

”Oh, I will. But you see, now I actually have a question for you... Of the juridical type” she assured him, smiling brightly ”As a lawyer, I would suppose you understand the term 'moral harassment' quite well, don't you, Dr. Morgan?”

The lawyer's face went completely pale.

”You have no ideia what you are talking about” he seethed in a lower voice, trying not to be overheard by their growing public ”One more word and I'll get your asses fired before you know it”.

”Oh... You are probably right... But do't worry.” Amelia had retorted, putting an arm around Sam's shoulders ”We quit.” she sing-songged ”By the way, don't trust so much on fawning underlings... The new haircut? It looks terrible”.

Once, long after this incident, while they were watching a sugary chit-flick on the TV, Sam had asked her friend why exactly she had done what she did on that fateful day, considering they were barely acquainted at the time.

”Your mother once helped my family...” she confessed, her usual cheerful self toned down a bit ”You probably don't even know, but... Well, mom and I, we wanted to get rid of my dad and his drinking-beating habits, as I've told you before” her lips curved on a self-deprecating smile, before a soft expression crossed her eyes ”She never asked for anything... your mom, I mean. No money, nothing. She saved our lives, you know? I was very sorry when I heard of what happened to them.”.

Sam had only blinked, tears already stinging on her eyes.

”Still, you didn't have to” she insisted ”She would never have wanted you to quit because of me” Sam laughed ”Damn, she would probably have accused us both of not thinking and letting Donald go to easily”. Both of them had laughed.

”Well, it doesn't matter anymore, right? I think we can both say we're better for it” Amelia blinked mischievously, finally going back to her usual smiling, carefree self ”Besides, the guy was totally asking for a beating. He is lucky we didn't become physical!”

Until Sam arrived at this place, Amelia had been her support, her friend, her family... She had helped her heal and find her way more than any fancy psychiatrist.

But now, just as everything was finally going right, her world had been turned upside down again. She was stranded in a weird, unknown place. A place where she had a family. A place where people cared.