Gone as in dead

Song Yinan was already waiting for her when she arrived at the restaurant. He picked a table in the far corner of the room, distant from the others, and sipped on a glass of water as he sat there quietly. When he caught sight of her gracefully striding towards him, he politely stood up to greet her. "Miss Ying."

"Mr. Song," she smiled and sat down across him.

Something was different about her tonight. She seemed like she was… glowing. He stared at her for a few seconds as she perused the menu before looking away and signaling for the waiter. "What would you like?"

She seemed to have found what she wanted, because her eyes lit up and she sat back to speak to the waiter. "I'll have the Chef's seafood special."

Song Yinan paused to look at her. "I was about to order the same thing."

She met his eyes and the two of them smiled lightly at each other.

The waiter cleared his throat and offered them the platter serving instead. Song Yinan glanced at her again. "Is that okay with you?"

She nodded.

He spoke to the waiter about the available selections of wine and Ying Yue couldn't help but stare at him in both curiosity and wonder. He spoke so formally, and he dressed far better than Ying Shen did back then. Her hands instinctively squeezed her shoulder bag on her lap, where she placed the envelope bearing their DNA test results. And although the envelope weighed next to nothing, it felt like a ton of bricks on her.

"Miss Ying, I wanted to talk to you about yesterday. Your questions…" Song Yinan clasped his hands before him. He didn't know where to start.

How do you ask someone if they knew anything about who he really was?

"You can call me Ying Yue." She sensed his hesitation and uncertainty and offered up a reassuring smile.

"Ying Yue," he started again. "I wanted to know why you asked me those questions yesterday." There, he'd said it. "Oh, and you can call me Yinan if you'd like."

Could I call you brother instead? She wanted to ask. But instead, she just nodded.

"Well, you see…" Her hands tightened around her purse. It was now or never. She had to tell him. "I have an older brother. He was several years my senior, and he brought me up when our parents died. But for about six years, I thought he was gone."

"Gone?" he frowned.

"Gone as in 'dead.'" She gulped. "But then I saw you that day during the meeting with Director Su. And you looked exactly like my brother."

His mouth parted slightly, but no sound came out.

"Which is why I had to ask about you and your past." She blinked twice and then opened her purse, pulling out the white envelope she had received just before coming in. "I hope you don't mind, but I took some of your hair yesterday so I could have a sibling DNA test done."

Ying Yue slid the envelope across the table towards him. And after a few seconds, he took it, opening it carefully.

She watched him scan the document, his eyes widening slightly.

"I'm your sister." She whispered.

***

The sound of boot steps against mud filled the air along with the panting of two men.

"Boss, slow down!" Guan Ting yelled.

The rain started to pour, and the path down the mountain was slippery and difficult to get a grip on. They held on to the thick branches of low-lying trees as they forayed through the narrow path, but even those weren't safe during a thunderstorm. Ricardo had advised them not to go back to the city with the current weather, but Fei Huangjin was as stubborn as a mule.

"Boss!" Guan Ting yelled again, "It's too dangerous!"

Fei Huangjin stopped to turn to Guan Ting with a fierce look. Despite the cap he had on, the rain still dampened his hair, and there were fat beads of water dripping from the ends like the fresh tears of a child. "There's a traitor in Juyan. I have to go back as soon as possible! Ying Yue isn't safe!"

Thunders rolled and lighting struck the distance. But despite that, Fei Huangjin continued to descend the mountain.

Guan Ting followed. His duty was to protect his master and assist him at all times. He would never forgive himself if he failed at that.