REMEMBER ME?

"Year 2003, birthday celebration of one of the then Mayor Kim's daughters. It was my first encounter with your family. I bet you remembered what happened that day, given what happened was something unpleasant and unforgettable."

2003?

He was probably only thirteen years old at that time. How could he remember something that had happened years ago?

Wait…

Guan stared at Yu Jei with wide eyes. That's right, he remembered what happened that night.

----

Mayor Kim's residence…

The Niu family arrived at the banquet hall looking gorgeous – almost like royalty. The three boys look prim and proper in their suits, their hair neatly combed in place. Mr. and Mrs. Niu proudly paraded through the hallway, greeting the other guests on the way.

Guan was starting to get bored of sitting on his chair doing nothing, while his Father and Mother were busy exchanging pleasantries and introducing the then, twenty-year-old Guan Qing to anyone who come to their table. It must be their business associates as his brother is starting to work at their company. The party has not started yet and he already wanted to go home.

He decided to drag Su Bin somewhere to cure their boredom. They found a garden not far from the hall with benches. They settled on one of the benches and take out their handheld game consoles. Amidst their game, a commotion rose inside the hall. At first, they thought it was just the party getting started when all of a sudden, they saw security in black suits running in.

Curious, the both of them ran to the banquet hall, hearing screams as they were nearing the door.

When they arrived at the scene, Guan saw his father straddling some man while raising his fist with the guards behind, trying to break them free. Judging from the slit on the other man's corner lip, his father must have successfully landed a punch before their arrival.

The chair and table they were in earlier are now toppled on the ground, along with the table wares.

Finally, the guards broke them free. Guan has now a better view of the man that his father had just punched. He looks younger than his father, other than that, he had not any idea who he is. The man fixed himself and glared at his father.

"Father, are you okay?"

The man tapped the boy beside him, "I'm fine, no need to worry."

"Your punches are still as powerful as ever after a long time," Guan heard the other man, which agitated his father once again.

"Father, stop!" Guan Qing stood in front of his father to stop him from giving the man another punch. "Everyone's looking," he warned him.

Guan's mother also held his father's arm to prevent him from launching another attack on the man.

From where he is standing, he could see the veins on his father's hands bulging. Guan has no idea what is happening and why his father attacked the man, but he somewhat held some prejudice against the man mocking his father.

"Guan, let's go," Su Bin whispered from behind.

He nodded however before they could take a step, they heard whispers from the people around them, like:

"President Niu is known to have some temper, right? How could Mrs. Niu even stand him?"

"We never really know what happens behind closed doors."

*giggles*

"But really, President Niu and President Yu are enemies ever since they were in their youth. Do you happen to know what caused their bad blood?"

"I heard their parents are also not on good terms. It maybe has something to do with their business. But I also heard that President Niu's father had an affair with President Yu's mother. Both sides tried their best to silence the media and the people involved."

"Really? Tsk, tsk! Big corporations are messy. And also, I heard Mrs. Niu has a son outside of marriage. Didn't you notice the boy earlier when they arrived? He looks nothing alkie from the other two."

Guan turned his head when the last sentence came out from the woman's mouth behind him. With clenched fists, he takes a step forward, but Su Bin stops him in time.

"Stop," he whispered at Guan. "Let us not make another scene. Come on, Uncle and Auntie are waiting for us."

Guan took a final look at the women before following Su Bin outside.

----

That was the only memory Guan had of that night and the memory he had with Yu Jei is blurry and hazy. The following morning, news about their fathers' brawl was all over the news, but that was it.

"So, it was your father whom my Father had punched that night?" Guan asks Yu Jei although he is still confused.

"Apparently, yes."

"And what has got to do with Su Bin having a relationship with your sister?"

"You still don't get it, do you?" Yu Jei scornfully laughed. "Our family's tiff is much more complicated than we could ever imagine. They hate each other to the core that every time they crossed paths; it is inevitable not to cause a commotion."

"Are the rumors true?" Su Bin interjects, eager to ask the question.

Yu Jei gives out a long sigh. "It's hard to rely on rumors alone. After all, they are words of the mouth made by those who had nothing to do but meddle in someone's affairs. As curious as you are, I did some digging into the matter and found nothing."

"The people involved are either dead or they just kept their mouths sealed for a reason."

Guan: "What do you mean by rumors?"

"Our grandparents." Yu Jei looks Guan squarely in the eye. "They are the main reason why our fathers hate each other."

"And you! Stop dragging my sister into this mess. Your father," he points at Guan, "is hard to deal with. He stops at nothing."

Su Bin scoffs. "Do you think we'd be together if we did not know about the consequences? Stop meddling in our business. We know what we are doing."

"Hah!" Yu Jei is pissed at Su Bin's words. His patience is wearing thin towards this guy. "You're one to talk."

He lunged forward and grabs him by the collar. "You think this is a joke?"

"I never joke around when it comes to Yu Mei."

The grip on Su Bin's collar tightens but it never fazed him.

"Really?"

A fist lands on Su Bin's face. Yu Jei never meant to punch him for Yu Mei's sake but Su Bin's face infuriates him.

Guan just stood there watching on the side, not bothering them while enjoying his cigarette. In the very first place, Su Bin deserves it. first and foremost, he never told him he has a girlfriend.

Petty? Nah!

"That felt good." Yu Jei said while massaging his knuckles.

Feeling the wall of his cheek, Su Bin tasted blood and spits it out immediately. "No matter what you say, I won't leave her. Who are you to tell us what to do?"

Another punch lands on Su Bin's face, and this time, he sprawls on the ground.

Yu Jei wipes the blood on his knuckles. "I already know how stubborn my sister is and I know that she won't listen to me no matter what. Tsk!" he looks at Su Bin on the ground, "I just hate the idea that she is dating someone like you."

"Well, it seems like you are ready to be disowned by your family then, so be it. My father has a soft spot for my sister, he'll forgive her immediately when he finds out about your relationship. I never really intended to break you two up, I just needed some reason to punch you, you know."

Su Bin scowls at Yu Jei's smiling face. He drags his body up, dusting himself and wiping the corner of his lip now oozing with blood. That second punch is quite solid, he thought his jaw was dislocated for a moment.

"See you again, soon."