Prologue
2005
Taohuayuan
Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
“Take that!”
An excited voice of a boy reverberated through the opulent and spacious game room, complete with current state-of-the-art appliances and electronic gadgets apt for all kinds of online gaming and entertainment. Sprawled in leisured fashion on the royal blue dusted with gold carpeted floor, his sable chinky eyes lit smugly at the target opponent on the screen, which is sitting but silent and ramrod straight beside him, too focused on their game.
Fingers on both hands deftly manipulated various buttons on the console. His challenger tried its best to outmaneuver him, but to no avail. He was just too fast and good at it.
“Tsk! I teach you to play this stuff and in a week’s time, you’re better than me. I feel cheated.” Pink lips of a girl about his age puckered into an adorable pout.
“Hehehe! Tis’ ok. I’ll let you win next round, promise.” He pushed her playfully, which she returned. Then the tug of war went on, their laughter echoing the entire space until they grew tired of it, collapsed and stayed silent on their backs, staring idly at the large mosaic ceiling.
The boy tugged her long wavy ponytail in a teasing manner. “Cheer up. It means you’re an excellent teacher.”
“You’re just a fast-learner. I taught Rui, and he says it’s too complicated for his child brain to understand.” She was referring to her younger brother.
“He’s only seven, Meiko.”
“And we’re ten.”
“We’re different.”
“How so?”
“We’re smart and he’s not.”
“Hey! No bad words for my otouto.”
“You baby him too much, that’s why he’s like that.”
“I can’t help it. Chichi-ue, is already too hard on him with all those lessons he keeps dumping.”
“That you all secretly shoulder for him. He is a man of the family. Fùqīn always tells me about my duties and responsibilities. That’s why I’m trained this early. So, should he, Meiko.”
Her small raven doe's eyes mirrored worry as she fixed her gaze on him. “Chichi-ue does. It’s not Rui’s fault if he cannot cope and keep up. I don’t like that he’s punished for things he cannot help.”
“Always looking after your siblings. I swear you’re an old soul, Meiko. Jian Hao pinched her left cheek fondly. Can today be an exception? We just be kids, enjoy this moment and worry about tomorrow later?”
She responded, [tongue out] and they both giggled. Then they playfully pushed each other again, signaling for another round of impish teasing. They were in the middle of wrestling each other when silenced gunshots sprayed the room. Good thing their senses are acutely honed and with lightning speed dove for cover. Jian Hao hid himself behind the nearest sofa while Meiko rolled across him under the center table when masked and armed men swarmed the room, looking for them. They both fought for survival but because they were kids, got easily subdued. Jian Hao is scooped and Meiko about to be shot dead when another set of bullets sprayed them, killing several assailants except them and their subduers. Thankfully, it was Jian Hao’s security team coming to the rescue with their head security on the lead. Should have ended them being saved, but the remaining assailants and their would-be kidnappers were also skilled fighters who fought with an acute ferocity that made them on par with the lead security. Jian Hao fought his subduer with all his might and got away just in time to jump and cover Meiko with his lanky body as the silenced shot echoed the entire room and hit them both.
Chinky sable orbs held its gaze at the gentle pair of raven doe ones that stared back as both fought for life in labored breaths. They tried their hardest to stay conscious, but sooner than later they still succumbed to darkness.
