09 | Ghost From The Past - Part 2

Throughout her life, Meiying never changed her impression as quickly as she did at that moment.

She was downright impressed by his look and she was wrong for that. It went downhill the moment he dropped the ‘good evening’ from the first time and she hated men without manner.

As if that heated argument wasn’t enough, one thing happened after another. She had been called smart and genius all the time in her life but she was unashamed to admit that she was too stupid to comprehend what was going on in the last hour.

Meiying could no longer see the difference between her life and a joke.

Or maybe her life itself was a joke.

She joked about a man suddenly appeared on their doorstep saying, ‘I’m going to take your daughter and marry her.’ The next thing she knew, it happened.

She might make more fortune as a fortune teller than an oncologist after all.

A small laugh escaped from her lips. Her blood was rushing like there was a motor racing going on in her blood veins and caused a slight migraine. Meiying placed her palm over her head, then snorted, then laughed again. It wasn’t the right situation to laugh but something had snapped inside her head, and maybe that was the last string of her sanity.

‘I’m sorry. W-what do you say again? Marry me?’ Meiying spluttered while placing her hands over her chest. ‘Ha! Don’t be ridiculous! Am I looking like a damsel in distress in a stupid fairy tale world?!’

‘Well, good to know. I’m not trying to be your prince either,’ the man called Huijing stoically responded.

‘You’re never cut out to be a prince either, you damned arsehole!’ Meiying screamed.

‘Xiao Jing. I-isn’t there any way other than that? She knows nothing . . .’ When her father started to move so he could kowtow again, Meiying held him onto his chair.

‘Stop kneeling before him, Pa! If he doesn’t accept your apology, then it's pointless!’

‘It’s because of me . . . I’m so sorry, Niuniu . . .’

‘What exactly did you do? Can’t any of you tell me what exactly happened in the past?!’ Meiying shouted at the top of her lungs. ‘You can’t keep me out of this!’

‘You’ve heard me. He killed my brother.’

‘Nonsense!’ Meiying glared at Huijing with the intensity that made her father sat back on his chair.‘Ever since you entered this house, you’re blabbering nonsense non-stop! My father is not that kind of man! There must be some mistakes!’

‘Niuniu . . .’ Her father held her hand and gently pulled her to his side. His eyes were red and glistened with tears. ‘There are many things I didn’t tell you . . .’

‘Stop! D-don’t make it looks like you actually did it!’ Meiying could feel the bubble of her emotion reached her throat. It just needed a small trigger to let it out but she didn’t want to let that loose. ‘Please say that you didn’t do it, Pa . . . Please!’

Her father’s denial was all she wanted. She needed to know that he wasn’t a murderer. But to her horror, her father didn’t say anything and burst into tears. Meiying bit her bottom lip as it was the last dam to keep her tears inside.

‘I . . . let him down, Meiying. There’s no d-difference . . .’ Guoyu muttered as he kept howling in tears.

‘As you can see, he admitted his crime,’ Huijing said as he crossed his arms. ‘But even if he didn’t, I already have the evidence that is enough to put him in jail.’

‘Then just put me into jail!’ her father screamed. ‘If that’s what you want then let it be! Just don’t do anything to my daughter!’

‘I was thinking, however, about your daughter’s career.’ The sudden realisation sucked the life out of her system.‘Imagine how people will react to news about a doctor who happens to be a murderer’s daughter.’ He then reverted his eyes back to her father. ‘Just so you know, Ma Guoyu. You’ve destroyed your daughter’s life before you know it.’

‘Show me the evidence, then,’ Meiying challenged him in hope that he bluffed her but he was quick enough to take out a folder and slammed it on the table.

‘I still have many more in my place. This is only one but enough to jail him.’

When Meiying was about to take the folder, her father held her hand and shook his head. She needed to see but seeing it in front of him would also break his pride. He, after all, did his best to be a good father for her despite what had happened in the past.

Meiying’s head had never been as blank as it did at that moment. Whether she chose to marry him or not, both options weren’t going to be good for her or her father. Clenching her jaw, Meiying was holding the desire to pummel his life out of his body.

‘Is there any other way I can do to repent whatever my father did to you?’

‘I’m afraid not.’ Huijing rose from his chair and sauntered to her. He gently lifted her chin with his gloved hands and said, ‘Marry me, live normally, and never see your father again. Or, he’s going to jail, end of your career. I’ll give you tonight to think. Tell me your decision tomorrow, Tsai Meiying.’ Huijing left her the name card that screamed his authenticity as a detective. Before he left the room, Huijing took the baijiu he brought and placed it right in front of her father. ‘This is my gift for you, old friend . . . Don’t forget to drink it.’

It was clear which option was the best for her father.

Meiying tilted her head in her father’s direction. Her face remained stoic, but seeing her father’s current state was like having her heart stabbed by million thorns. Closing her eyes, she silently prayed for fortitude.

For her answer would take her to the biggest turn of her life.

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author's note

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