Shooting

After dinner, Han Meixiu requested for a tea to be delivered in her room. She politely excused herself from the man sitting in front of her.

Though they spent the entire afternoon together, she didn't really learn much as the man didn't also talk except from short phrases he said a little earlier. When they were enjoying their tea time together near the man made lake, both of them were lost in their own respective thoughts.

She was glad that she was able to overcome the initial uncomfortable feeling she felt when she was with her 'husband'.

But what puzzled her the most was her body's reaction every time he would touch her. There was always a subconscious action of avoidance that her body would exhibit.

She tried to condition her mind that it's fine and eventually even just a little, she was able to relax around him.

It was just awkward that she would always froze with a simple gesture of intimacy.

After a couple of minutes, a knock was heard. Since she thought it was her tea, she simply said,"Come in." without even looking.

She was currently sitting near the window and looking outside where the darkness dominate the entire surrounding.

It was like her memory. Black. Empty.

"Here is your tea." Chen Dewei said and carefully placed the tray on the table near the seat of the young woman.

"Oh, Wei. Why is it you,..." She was surprised that it was her 'husband' who delivered the tea. He insisted earlier to call him 'Wei' instead of his entire name. He mentioned it was her who gave him that name.

Although like usual, she couldn't sense any intimate feeling by doing so, she still called him 'Wei'.

"Is it really bad, if I always want to see you?"

"Oh,.."She blushed by his words and lost her courage to answer.

"I want to give you a present for getting better." Chen Dewei said and took a seat directly in front her. It was only the time that she realized that he was also holding a black bag.

She stared questioningly.

He simply smiled and gave the bag.

"Open it."

She took it and carefully opened.

"A gun?" She said in a surprise tone. There was a subtle delight coating her innocent sweet voice that made the man broke into a smile.

He nodded.

Han Meixiu warmly smiled. "I like it."

"I know. In the past, when I'm not busy, I usually accompany you to practice shooting. You want to try it?"

"Yes, but it's already dark outside.."

"You probably wasn't paying attention earlier when we roamed around. We have an indoor shooting range here." He said half smiling.

"Sorry." She said. He was correct, not even half of what he was saying earlier retained on her mind.

"It's okay. Shall we go?" He said and stood up.

Han Meixiu took a few sips of her tea before she stood up and followed the man.

On their way to the indoor shooting range, a sudden call came.

Chen Dewei reluctantly answered the phone after he said to Han Meixiu to go there first.

With a simple nod, she continued walking.

*

"Madam Bai, I don't remember we have an appointment tonight." Chen Dewei said after he answered the call. It was as clear as the day that he's irritated by the sudden disturbance.

"Third Young Master Chen, you should meet me tonight if you want your secret of picking up someone's property remain a secret."

"I'm not sure what you're talking about." Chen Dewei remained calm after what he heard. This middle-aged woman who suddenly popped up in Q City to offer a project, was someone not as simple as she presumed to be.

"Come on. You left the Yang property just a little earlier than I did." The woman continued. There was a sly smile on her face and her voice contained a provoking yet teasing tone that made the young man on the other line started to enrage.

"What do you want?" He asked with heavy weight on every word he said. He wasn't careful enough! Someone saw! He started to plan on how to silence the woman when he heard her continue.

"Relax, I won't report you. But I need to talk to you. Meet me at the Blue Moon Club, 10pm sharp. Ask for Lisa."

With those words, the call ended.

Chen Dewei held tighly his phone until his knuckles lost their colors.

He calmed himself for a time before he walked as quickly as possible towards the indoor shooting range.

When he came in, Han Meixiu was in the middle of loading her gun.

"You're back. Look, the bullets seemed different." She said pointing the set of ammunition near her bag.

"These are special. They called splitting bullet. When it hit a barrier, it splits into two." He said as he picked up one from the group.

"Then, that would induce more damage to the target?" She asked.

"Yes. But it has limitation. It can only be used in a short distance as the air resistance could make it break, missing entirely your intended target. It might even hurt the shooter."

"Oh. I can't really say it's useful." Han Meixiu murmured but the man heard her.

"It is only useful for people who could maximize it's specialty." He casually said and returned the bullet. "Do you want to try it?"

"No. I prefer the ordinary one. Aren't you going to practice, too?" Han Meixiu asked when she saw he's not taking a shooting ear protection.

"I have an emergency meeting tonight. I might be back tomorrow."

"Wow, you're really busy." She commented. It's was already too late to take back what she said. She sounded doubtful the way she delivered her words.

The young man chuckled.

"The meeting was unexpected. Don't worry." He said. "Enjoy your time but don't push yourself too much. You're still recovering."

"En." She shortly answered.

The moment the room went back to silence, Han Meixiu sighed in relief.

'I have an entire night to figure out what's real and not in this place!'

The moment she saw the gun, she felt an indescribable feeling of excitement. It was a real emotion. It gave her an idea that having a gun or shooting was her reality in the past.

Her 'husband' didn't give her that kind of feeling. Although she couldn't say that the doctor was also doubtful, there might be truth in some of her words. As for what would be those, she didn't know.

Her hands, moved on its own when she was loading the bullets. It was as if the action was practiced several times. Even the way she held the gun and focus to her target, they're all too familiar.

The feeling of releasing every single shot gave her an exhilarating feeling beyond words.

'This is part of me.'