THE BILLIONAIRE'S BARGAIN

CHAPTER 34

*****

“Like I got shot,” Ling replies the nurse with a smirk.

“Fair enough,” the nurse chuckles.

“You’re recovering well. The doctor will check on you shortly. In the meantime, I just need to make sure everything is stable.”

As she took Ling's vitals, Leo watches the nurse carrying out her duty and the way she interact with Ling, her tone one of both care and confidence. It was obvious Mei was in good hands.

“ Another nurse might come in later to check on you, meanwhile I will advice you let her rest a while to speed up her recovery”, the nurse suggested, staring at the gentlemen present in the room.

“ Rest up detective, you have a lot of healing to do” she said, making her way out of the room.

They thanked the nurse for her service before she left. Ling tries arranging her sleeves down after receiving her injection. She suddenly remembers in her present state, that if her aunty should find out about her situation, she will be chopped.

“ I hope my aunty doesn't know that I'm here. I'd rather tell her myself when I get discharged”.

“ No. I haven't informed them about it yet. I knew you wouldn't want it”.

Ling pulls a little smile on her face, then immediately, Martinez clears his throat as if something was stuck in it.

“ Well…you see…b.. before coming here, I'd already…..”

Martinez words was suddenly cut short, by the appearance of aunt Mei and her son, who made their way into the room.

Before Aunt Mei made her way into the room, she had paused a bit outside the door, to grasp anything that could relate to the incident. But Jin encouraged her to come in.

“ What you are looking for to hear, you might not get it”.

Everyone became surprised to see aunt Mei, Ling immediately looks at Riley and Sam to know who might have informed her aunt. She then faces Martinez from the bed, his facial expression already gave her the answer.

“ I didn't know that she wasn't supposed to know. I was really worried about you and thought of informing your family about your situation.”, Martinez defends himself, after the look he received from Ling.

Aunt Mei immediately rushes over to where Ling is lying, she place one of her hands on Ling's arm and the other on her head.

“ Are you okay? Does it hurt anywhere?”, Aunt Mei ask, tears about to roll down her eyes.

Ling seeing how her aunt is about to divert into the emotional state, sat up gently, giving her that reassuring look.

“ I'm fine aunty. You can look at me carefully. It doesn't hurt anywhere”, She assures.

Jin moves up closer to Ling and pinches her slowly.

“ Ouch!”, Ling cries out, grabbing her hand.

“ You said it doesn't hurt anywhere” Jin said, responding to her statement.

Ling uses her left hand and hit him, but not in a hard way.

“ Don't you have classes today? What are you doing here?” Ling questions him.

“ Can't I come to see you again” Jin argues.

“ You're just happy you got the chance to miss school, you this jerk”, she throws back.

Leo, Martinez, Riley and Sam, kept quiet seeing how Ling and her family were talking. Ling suddenly notices their quietness.

“ Ah, aunty this are my colleagues”, Ling addresses, pointing out to them as she calls their name.

“ This is Leo, Martinez, Riley and Sam. They stayed with me throughout the night, officer Leo was the one who brought me here”.

Aunt Mei immediately rush towards them and extends a hand for a handshake towards Leo and others as a form of appreciation.

“ Thank you so much for saving her. I don't know what I would have done if I had lose her. Thank you so much”.

“ It nothing Ma. It out duty, we just did what was right. We should be thanking Ling for not leaving us”, Leo replies.

Martinez, Riley and Sam nods their head in response to Leo's words. Aunt Mei smiles, heading back to Ling.

“Is it okay for you to eat now”, Aunt Mei ask Ling.

Ling felt embarrassed as she did not know how to answer infront of the men in the room. She raises her hand signaling her aunty to come closer.

“ Yes. I farted last night”, Ling whispers to her.

“ That's good then. The food won't go to waste” Aunt Mei responded with a smile.

“ I didn't know you guys were also here, so I didn't prepare much. But please come and have coffee and the pancake I made”, Aunt Mei requested to the officers.

“ That very thoughtful of you aunty, I was already starving”, Riley replies, rubbing his stomach.

Sam uses his leg to hit Riley's leg, signaling him to control himself as they sat and received the breakfast prepared by her.

“ My mom's pancake are the best, I'm sure you will like it”, Jin said, pouring the coffee for them.

The room became quiet, each of them except for the aunty and her son, enjoying their meal.

“Have the doctors said anything about how long you’ll be in here?”, Aunt Mei ask, breaking the silence.

“ No, the nurse suggested I rest a while, she said that the doctor will attend to me later”, Ling answers, returning to her meal.

Minutes after, they were all done with the meal. The officers thanked aunt Mei for the meal. Jin helps tidy up the place.

“ What really happened? And what was the operation about?”, Aunt Mei questions Ling.

Ling stares at her aunty, contemplating if she had to lie again to ease her worries.

Years ago before Ling joined the police force, she had made a promise to her aunty not to indulge in drug raiding, rather she can pick up small cases that suit her as a female. Ling had only gotten hurt like this thrice in different places she had been posted too, and all of it came from the drug raiding. Her aunty didn't know about this as Ling always covers it up. But now, she felt to reveal this one to her aunty, but looking at her, made her feel she might collapse on hearing it.

“ It was a child trafficking mission I took on. That how I got hurt, the rest is confidential”.

Martinez, Riley and Sam looks at each other, confused by what Ling just said.

“ Did Ling loose her memory after getting shot”, Martinez said to himself.

“ Well.. Ling it wasn't a…”,

“ Yes aunty, Ling is right. As she was trying to save a kid, that when she got shot, luckily I was there”, Leo said, interrupting Martinez from completing his sentence.

Officer Leo and their Chief in command were the only ones that knew about Ling terms with her aunty. This is one of the reasons why Leo seems to be around Ling in all her missions to ensure her safety.

“ I didn't know that child trafficking could be another hard one. I'm glad you're okay”, her aunty said holdoyher hands.

“ Me too, I'm not worried. I'm just glad you’re alive,” Jin said, standing sitting beside her.

“ If child trafficking is a dangerous mission, why not skip it out? Instead of getting involved in such dangerous situations that could end your life”, Aunt Mei complains.

Ling took a slow breath.

“It’s my job,m. Aunty. It’s what I signed up for. I know it’s dangerous, but… it’s worth it.”

“ If I end up skipping all the dangerous ones out, I might not even be involved in anything. Our work generally is a tough one. We discussed about this already”.

“Is it worth this?” Aunt Mei challenges, gesturing toward the machines and sterile surroundings. “You can find other ways to help people. You don’t have to put yourself in harm’s way.”

Ling’s eyes darkenes slightly, a flicker of frustration crossing her features.

“You know I can’t stand by and do nothing when there are people I have to save. I’m sorry if this scares you...”

“Of course, it scares me!” Aunt Mei cried, her voice breaking. “I love you, Ling. I don’t want to lose you.”

“Aunt, please…” Ling whispered, her voice gaining strength. “You won’t lose me. This is part of who I am. You taught me to care, to stand up for others. This is how I do it.”

Jin felt tired if this argument over again. He was also scared, but it was Ling's decision. He knew she just wanted their support. He steps closer and squeezes her hand.

“Aunt just want to know if you will be safe”.

Ling looks back at him.

“I will. I promise to be careful. But I need you both to understand… this is my job.”

Aunt Mei wiped her tears, realizing how much they had come to rely on Ling’s strength.

For a moment, there was silence, the three of them sharing an unspoken understanding—the other officers, decided to depart from the scene leaving Ling with her family.

“ It is already time for us to report back to work”, Martinez said, standing from where he was and signaling Riley and Sam.

“ Thank you ma'am for entertaining us. We also promise to look after detective Ling, so she won't have to bother you”, Sam said, as he takes his leave with Riley.

“ Mrs. Mei, thank you so much, we will be leaving shortly to report to work.”, Leo said, staring at the two.

“ Thank you so much officers, I really appreciate Ling having friends like you”, aunt Mei replies.

“ Ling rest well. Even if you get discharge early, you don't have to rush to resume work”, Martinez said patting her arm slowly as he takes his leave.

“ Thank you Leo, I really appreciate. I'll treat you guys immediately I'm discharged”, Ling said, as she watches Leo leaving the room.