Basement

"Isn't it funny, we both used to fight with each other, as if we were enemies from the past, but still, we both share a close bond then, Xau and Bai."

"Hmm, same mentality usually prefer being together." They both laughed. They both insult each other with no limit, one would think they're born enemies, but in reality, they had insulted each other to an extent that, they can't possibly be formal or respectful to each other.

"Aren't you going to ask me about her?"

"Why will I? When I already know that she is in my office's basement."

"Aren't you going to ask me, how did I know about that basement?" Su Chen curiously asked.

"No! Either you've heard me talking about that, or may be seen me going into it." She never liked questioning her brothers, even if he hasn't asked her this, she would've never questioned him.

They again didn't exchange any words for long.

"Why did you build that basement? That wasn't there before, when Father'An used to be the CEO. Zu, are you involved in something that would risk your life?" His abrupt question shook ZouMi from inside, but not a single change was seen from outside. How is she going to tell him, that she won't probably live past the next year?

Laying on the grass, ZouMi spread her hands, feeling the cold breeze, mixed with the smell of fresh air. Ignoring him, just like his question, ZouMi calmly looked at the sky.

Following her suit, Su Chen laid on the grass, but got up the next second, remembering he brought beer cans with him, he popped on and gave to ZouMi and held one in his hand. ZouMi took the can, but didn't sit, she kept the beer can aside and silently laid there.

"You aren't going to share with me?"

"There isn't anything worth sharing, just let the problems in our life leave us alone for a while. Enjoy the night." Seeing how reluctant she was, Su Chen didn't pressure her, knowing her since two decades, he knew it's impossible to takeout information from her.

Yet, he didn't stop speaking or asking what was in his mind.

"You left your dream of becoming a doctor, just for your family. No, not just for your family, it was for yourself too, you wanted revenge from those men, am I right?" Waiting for ten seconds, "But, later Sid Bao came into picture, and he became your first target, you aren't important for yourself, but your family, right?" Again he stopped for ten seconds, "You worked your a** off just to gain the power and bring Sid Bao to his knees, right? But, what now? You would soon be going to bring him to not just on his knees, but to let him rot for his entire life, right? What after that, was your life just meant to revenge one?" This time there was a pause longer than the other two.

"I know about your health." ZouMi who was just like a log, instantly sat and looked at him in disbelief.

"H... How did you know?"

"You constantly being vanished from the face of word, you're skipping everything and just focusing on work, do you think that wouldn't be suspicious for me? I'm not Xau or Bai or any other from our family, I'm Su Chen, you can't hide anything from me, Zu." While saying this, his eyes were filled with tears, blurring his eyesight.

"How did you know?" ZouMi asked again. There wasn't a single change in her expression, but once looked closely, her black eyes were covered with thick darkness and coldness. Only, she, the doctor and Si Ban knew about her health. Oh, Gu Huan too knew about that, was it him...

"No, he wasn't." Su Chen's clear voice was heard, as if he could read her mind, "Gu Huan wasn't the one who told me, neither Si Ban. It was you who left clues for me behind, unknowingly." Curiosity rise in ZouMi's eyes, how did he find loopholes in my full proof plan, that some times, she wondered how good she is at acting.

Su Chen sensed her curiousness, but was he going to reveal how he found? No, a big fat, no. He ignored her, just like she did, calmly sipping on his beer, he looked ahead.

ZouMi pulled him by his shoulder, pressed him on the ground with a thumb on his neck, "Are you going to tell me, or should I press on the Cervical radiculopathy[1]?" She applied force on his neck, still there wasn't a reaction from him.

"Answer my question first, are you involved in anything that risks your life?" Repeating his question again, he looked in her eyes directly. ZouMi tried to suppress the range in her heart, she would never admit.

"Fine, not a problem." She retreated.

"Huh?"

"What I wanted to hide is already in front of you, who cares how you found out about it." Listening to her, Su Chen laughed, clutching on his stomach, he rolled on the grass and laughed even more.

"That was really a nice joke, thanks for making me laugh." His sarcasm on point. Su Chen looked at her coldly, once done with his fake laughing act. "You think I was going to by that fake words of your? Don't forget that I can see through you every time you lie."

Its true, Su Chen is the only one who could see through her, he knew her too well to trust her words. He was away from her for three years, but still the closet from all, his third eye never left from her side, yet he couldn't find out the major thing she has been hiding.

ZouMi had no words for him, she sat there silently, if not for her chest moving while she breathe, one would think her as a statue.

"Zu, why do you choose to hide from us? Fine with them, but why me? Didn't we agreed on not hiding things from each other?" Yet, no response.

------

Cervical radiculopathy, commonly called as "pinched nerve," occurs when a nerve in the neck is compressed or irritated where it branches away from the spinal cord. This may cause pain that radiates into the shoulder and/or arm, as well as muscle weakness and numbness.