He wondered how long ago it was when he took pictures with Brendan and the photography club. In a matter of minutes, the garden, the pictures, and Brendan’s kindness felt out of reach once more.

  Chapter Six

  Gasping, Aiden shot up from the couch and almost tumbled onto the floor when he saw Zhu Zhu standing before him with some of his clothes in her arms.

  “…Good morning?” He tried to peek at his bedroom to see if the door was still closed.

  She unceremoniously dropped the clothes in his lap. “Mother might throw out your clothes. Figured you’d want to keep some of your better ones.”

  “…Why would she throw them out?”

  “She has particular tastes.”

  Silk brushed against his fingers. Eyes widening, he pulled his jacket aside to stare at the hanfu his brother gifted him. The emblazoned dragon shone less brightly in the dim lighting of his living room. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he buried his face into the hanfu, breathing in the bedroom where he last sat with Hui Ye to talk about his future.

  He looked up, but his stepsister had already turned away and was tiptoeing back toward the bedroom.

  “Zhu Zhu, wait.”

  She stopped and looked back.

  “Do you prefer going by Pearl or Zhu Zhu?” Aiden couldn’t even remember the last time he conversed with her alone.

  “It doesn’t matter. I respond to both. You should call He Bao by his English name. He says his Chinese name is only reserved for family.”

  “Right…” Aiden shifted, moving his small bundle of clothes aside. “Then, I’ll just continue calling you Zhu Zhu.”

  “And you? Should I use your English or Chinese name?”

  Aiden stared down at his hands. “Aiden.” His common Chinese nickname, Xiao Hui, was a reminder of the family hierarchy and the strict traditions in their business involvement. Hui was the family name. Xiao was given to the venerated heir of the surname. His full name, Hui Lang, was too formal. His personal nickname, Lang Lang, he only wished to ever hear from his brother.

  “Then Aiden. Bye.” Zhu Zhu hesitated. She opened her mouth, closed it, and finally blurted, “I’m sorry about Hui Ye.” She disappeared as silently as she had arrived.

  Left alone in the living room, Aiden shivered. Was it the air conditioning that his stepmother changed, or was it something else? He hugged his brother’s gift to his chest. “Do my duty,” he murmured. “Don’t disappoint. Be respectful and obedient.”

  It was the right thing to do.

  • • •

  In a matter of days, Aiden’s stepmother had bought a home twenty minutes away from campus by car with money he thought was gone. It was in the richest neighborhood nearby, the house itself built with gaudy roof tiles, cylindrical shaped rooms made to resemble castle towers, and the white marble that the stepmother adored. The living room stretched in expanse of patterned tiled flooring, and every room was filled to the brim with furniture in the style she liked—vine etchings, golden handles, and drawers that opened far too widely. And where did all the concerns about the money go? Aiden followed after her.

  She clapped her hands, beaming ear to ear. “This is perfect.” She ran her fingers over furniture smelling of fresh wood. “Come see where you’ll be staying.” She grabbed Aiden’s hand.

  Aiden dug his heels in. “I’ll just stay at my place. You don’t need to accommodate for me.”

  “You must not do that.” His stepmother whirled around with wide eyes. “It is dangerous for us to be separated right now. How could you already forget?”

  “I-I didn’t. But Ge already paid for the apartment, so it seems like a waste of money—.”

  “Nonsense. Safety comes first.” She stepped forward and lowered her voice. “In this family, we cannot hope for the best. We cannot have what happened to your mother happen to us.”

  Screams echoed and splatters of blood flashed. The room squeezed his body, and the floor swirled before his eyes as he struggled to keep himself upright. He fell to the ground.

  He didn’t want to talk about it. He didn’t want to remember. He didn’t want to believe those memories still existed.

  “There, there. You are so frail, Hui Lang,” the stepmother soothed and patted his back. “I will help you. Just listen to me. Okay?”

  “Y…yes…” Aiden managed to choke out through the closing of his throat. Her shadow cast itself over him, and he took several more breaths on the floor before finally summoning the energy to look up at her from the ground.

  “I have spoken with the other families. They want you to start attending their meetings, but I told them that I would sit with you. Additionally, I have convinced them to allow you to still take classes while we figure everything out.” She tipped her head with an expectant look in her eyes. “I had to fight for you against these powerful men.”

  Instant dread filled his body. Stifling the panicking breaths, he climbed to his feet using the wall as support. “I will do my best not to disappoint, but I don’t know what Infinite actually does. Ge always kept his work private.”

  “That’s why I’m graciously offering myself to stay by your side while you attend your first few meetings.” Annoyance dripped into her voice.

  She wants me to thank her. Aiden’s stomach lurched. I need to thank her. He opened his mouth to speak, but his body refused to stop rattling. Determined to gasp for air, he instead concentrated on breathing, not even noticing his stepmother grabbing his hand and leading him to the door of the basement instead of a room.

  She opened the door. “This is where you’re staying,” she said and nudged him down.

  He stumbled down the stairs and almost crashed into a pile of boxes.

  “There are no more rooms to spare, but I figured you’d be okay down here considering your apartment was so small.” She descended the stairs, glancing at the mountains of cardboard. “We had nowhere else to put the boxes. Do bear with us.”

  Sitting under dim lights, he heard her footsteps retreating back up, followed by the sound of the basement door slamming shut. Panting, he crawled toward the small bed prepared for him, left without even a mattress cover, and collapsed on top of it. The wires creaked beneath his body.

  Blood. So much blood. Pain in his leg. His brother calling for him. His father’s animalistic eyes.

  His mother’s cold hand grasping his small one.

  “Be strong. Do your duty. Be like him.” His shivering hands managed to grasp his wallet to take out the photograph of his brother. “Be like him. Be smart, strong, and dutiful like him.”

  Bullets destroyed the body. Brain matter spilled onto the ground. A gaping hole amongst thick black hair. Red dripped over his eyes.

  “Don’t be weak. Do what’s best for the family.” Aiden managed to hide the photograph in his wallet before closing his eyes and succumbing to numbness.

  • • •

  The sound of his stepmother’s footsteps trickled into his consciousness. Body still trembling, he forced his eyes open and pushed himself up.

  He needed to show he cared.

  Surprisingly, her eyes softened when his met hers. She grabbed a nearby chair and lowered herself onto it. “There is something you must know. The other families didn’t want me to tell you, but I think it’d be wrong to keep it from you.” She took a deep breath. “We have reasons to believe that Hui Ye was murdered by someone inside Infinite. Potentially someone very close to him. Close to everyone.”

  Cold sweat poured down his face, spreading the freezing numbness more. “Why?” he whispered. His heart twisted and turned. His hand grasped at his shirt.

  “There have been federal agents snooping around the business. Not just the Hui family business. The other families’ as well. They disguise themselves as customers and try to fish for information. They’ve actually managed to upturn a few gambling dens and arrested people. It is a sign that the government is getting tipped off. Here and in Hong Kong. We suspect Hui Ye was hunting for the traitor when he was killed.” She dropped her gaze to the floor. “I know that this information isn’t easy to hear, but I decided to tell you because I think it’s wiser if we all work together. You were closest to Hui Ye. Do you know anyone close to him that might have a hand in this?”

  The sparkling green dress shone in his memories. He never saw a woman that could’ve hinted at the mysterious wearer. “Ge was seeing a woman. He said her name was Celia.”

  His stepmother groaned. “Hui Lang, your brother has had many, many women. I lose count.”

  “No. I promise.” Heart jumping, Aiden shoved himself forward, grabbing onto her arm. “You have to believe me. She’s different! I know!”

  She turned away, clicking her tongue. “Hui Lang, I am asking for anyone from the business. Hui Ye’s women are always trash. They’re prostitutes or whatever they are, and they certainly do not have the capabilities to tip the federal agents about us.”

  “I don’t know anyone from the business—Ge always kept them from me. I do know that this woman was heavily involved in his life!” He tightened his grip.

  A growl of disgust slipped from her lips. She shoved him back sprawling onto the bed, bouncing from the impact of which he landed. “Rest. You are clearly too emotional, and the other family heads will be coming tonight. You must be calm for them then,” she said.

  Please believe me. The words refused to leave his mouth as he remained sitting on his bed, head spinning. Annoyance and disappointment blended on her face. She glanced at him with a shake of her head. “Useless,” she mumbled, climbing up the stairs and closing the door.

  • • •

  The basement lit up in sudden brightness, and Aiden shot up from his bed at the explosion of light.

  “Get up.” His stepmother threw a set of matching pants and dress shirt onto the bed beside him. “You need to wear this. You cannot wear whatever you are wearing right now.”

  Aiden blinked. The remaining sleep continued to fog his brain.

  “Hurry now. I have to do your hair. Or did you already forget that other family heads are coming tonight to see us?” She turned her back to him.

  Clarity sliced through the fog. He leapt to his feet, snatched the clothes from the bed, and immediately began to change. I probably won’t recognize any of them. I haven’t seen or talked to any of them since I was a child. He meticulously smoothed out the fabric of his shirt.

  His stepmother turned back around. She placed both hands on his shoulders and pushed him to sit down on a chair. “Your hair is a mess. Could you not have set an alarm to wake up earlier? Must I take care of everything? You need to think of the family.”

  You never told me when they were going to arrive. He sealed his mouth shut.

  She pulled his hair one way, then the next, then forced her brush through tangles, pulled them up so hard that he swore she yanked them out of his scalp. He clenched his hands, gritted his teeth, and kept quiet.

  In this situation, she was his only ally.

  “Speak only in Chinese,” his stepmother instructed, clambering up the stairs. “Mr. Zhou will probably come first. He’s always early. Mr. Yang will come next. Always right on time. Mr. Chen is last, always a little late. You just need to remember them that way.” She stopped him in the pathway leading to the door and took her place beside him. Shoulders straight, chin up, and eyes staring at the front door. They both stood like statues with bated breaths.

  A large shadow loomed through the glass of the front door. The doorbell echoed across the house. From the corner of his eye, Aiden spied He Bao peeking around the corner before a hand dragged his stepbrother away from sight.

  His stepmother took a deep breath. She flew to the door and, with an elegant flourish of her hands, opened it. “Mr. Zhou —it is such a lovely night tonight! Thank you for coming today.”

  Mr. Zhou walked in without acknowledging her. His eyes skimmed the doorway with a slight furrow of his brow. His arms remained stiffly by his side like someone nailed them to his body. With a grunt, he motioned to the guards dutifully waiting behind him and didn’t bother moving as they carefully navigated around his large body to stand by each side. His eyes turned toward the living room. “Where will we be having the meeting tonight?”

  “In the dining room,” Aiden’s stepmother answered with a forced laugh. She closed the door and danced around Mr. Zhou to stand behind Aiden instead. “I am terribly sorry if this house isn’t up to standards yet. Many things have happened as of late.”

  Only then did Mr. Zhou’s eyes swivel down toward Aiden. With every step forward, Aiden swallowed his spit and tried not to lean back. The man towered with broad shoulders and large hands. There was no question that Mr. Zhou hid a gun, perhaps even multiple, in the folds of his perfectly pressed pitch-black suit. I think this is the type of man that I’m not supposed to talk until spoken to. Aiden decided.

  “Hui Lang?”

  He swallowed. “Yes. Hello, Mr. Zhou.”

  With a grunt, Mr. Zhou motioned to his bodyguards and moved past Aiden.

  “Right over there. I already have tea prepared,” his stepmother continued to coo. Aiden held his breath, listening to her voice grow distant. He sighed, shoulders slumping the second he could no longer hear their voices.

  That was only the first.

  “Yin Mei! Let me in! It’s a lovely house you have, and I want to see the inside!”

  Mr. Yang arrived with a persistent ignorance of the doorbell and a never-ending knock. His stepmother dashed down the hallway and opened the door with the same elegant flourish as she did earlier. “My goodness, must you knock like that? Our doorbell exists for a reason!”

  “Woooow, this place is nice! I hope you cut a good deal. If not, I can always force my men out there to find you something.” Mr. Yang entered with a deep breath and a wide smile. He handed a basket of fruit to Aiden’s stepmother without glancing at her, kicked off his shoes, and wandered around the living room before turning on his heels to look at Aiden. “Is that who I think it is?”

  “Hello, Mr. Yang!” Aiden emulated Mr. Yang’s spirit. “I’m sorry if I don’t remember you. I was very young back then.”

  “Oh please, I don’t think we ever met. You’re different from Hui Ye, aren’t you?” Mr. Yang stopped in front of him, patting his head, feeling his shoulders, and grabbing his arms. “Skinnier. Shorter. Humongous eyes. Wow, you’re a beauty, aren’t you?” Without waiting for a response, Mr. Yang took two steps back to tip his head and looked Aiden up and down. “Yes, very beautiful and very different from Hui Ye.” He swiveled his head to Yin Mei. “Anyway, I hope you have snacks.”

  “We do have snacks. I know you too well not to prepare snacks or tea. Mr. Zhou is already here.”

  “Bah, that stiff man must always arrive before me, must he?” Mr. Yang clicked his tongue and wandered into the house without any guidance from Aiden’s stepmother.

  Aiden didn’t have time to breathe before the doorbell chimed.

  His stepmother hurried forward to the door again, ditching the hand flourishes. She opened the door.

  Mr. Chen entered with a respectful nod. “Yin Mei, hello.”

  “Hello, it’s good to see you again.”

  Mr. Chen stepped out of his shoes, lining them at the entrance. “I apologize for the intrusion during these times.”

  “No, it’s no problem. We are always honored to see you. I want you to meet someone.” She gestured Aiden to step forward.

  Mr. Chen’s eyes softened at the sight of him, and a warm smile appeared on his face. “Hello Hui Lang. Hui Ye doesn’t usually talk about you, but when he has, he has only spoken good things.”

  The breath he held inside escaped in a second. His body slightly drooped, but he smiled effortlessly. “I’m glad. Welcome to our home, Mr. Chen.”

  “So polite,” Mr. Chen chuckled and slipped out of his jacket. “Am I the last one?”

  “You aren’t late,” Aiden’s stepmother reassured.

  “Then let us proceed.” Mr. Chen turned toward Aiden. “Hui Lang. I know this is your first meeting with the rest of the family heads, but please don’t hesitate to ask us any questions if you get confused.”

  The sweatiness against Aiden’s palms evaporated. With a slight nod, he followed Mr. Chen to take his place in a seat around a round table. Mr. Zhou and Mr. Yang sat next to each other but apart, while Mr. Chen sat across from Mr. Zhou.

  Aiden chose to sit next to Mr. Chen, across from Mr. Yang, while his stepmother lingered in the back of the dining room.

  Mr. Chen took a sip of tea. “The chemical company is doing its job well. No one questions the formulas, and anyone who does has been taken care of.”

  “I suppose these sorts of things take time.” Mr. Yang yawned and leaned back in his chair. “How long will it take?”

  “It could take several months even with our ownership of other companies for our formulas to get popular.”

  “The more important thing is to get it selling on the street,” Mr. Zhou interrupted. He interlocked his hands and stared a hole through Mr. Chen. “There is no point in just earning money through a corporation. We will be missing out on profits without the idiots hoping to make an easy buck through our products. It’s not as if the lesser quality in the formula will be noticed until years later.”

  Aiden’s eyes widened in horror as the discussion continued. Desperately, he glanced back at his stepmother, who angrily motioned him to face forward when they made eye contact. I can’t—I don’t. I won’t listen to this. I can’t be a part of this. I—this is. His thoughts shambled. His knees crashed into each other, yet even still, he remained frozen in his chair. Ge was involved in this. Ge was okay doing this. How could he do something so cruel?

 

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