Huí Guāng Fǎn Zhào - 回光返照

Chapter 1: Memento Mori

The funeral has wrapped up and Guiren is confirming his ticket back to his little apartment in another country when a knock at the door interrupts him. A maid relays to him that Gao Dongmei would like to see him in the back garden and she is to escort him down. Guiren does not know why she would want to see him, after all he can count on a single hand the amount of times he has seen or spoken to the woman who gave birth to him. He has a better connection with his Second Uncle and now that Gao Chaoxing is dead, the connection with the remaining family is strained at best. 

Guiren's entire stay, he had tried his best to blend into the walls and other rich families that came to eye him up. News had spread that his Second Uncle had left everything to Guiren making him one of the few 2nd generation young masters with the most stocks in the Gao Corporation. He even held more than his oldest cousin, Gao Xianglan, and she was the one everyone was betting on to take over the company. The moment he made an appearance, Guiren became prime real estate in everyone's eyes. After all, even undeveloped and shabby land is still worth something as long as the real estate is in the right location, everyone will still want a piece. 

Arriving in the Gao Family gardens, Guiren's eyes sees that much has changed from when he was just a child. Most notable is the wisteria tree, it's purple blooms cover tree and he can tell the vines have began to multiple over the newly built trellis. Dongmei looks like a painting underneath the tree, she has aged well and looks refined. Although she is approaching 50, her skin is still elastic and there is even a hint of youth to her face. A chess set accompanied with a freshly brewed pot of tea sits beside her. Guiren sits in the seat across from the board and turns to look at her.

"When your grand parents passed you did not even grace us with your presence, but one call saying your Second Uncle is dead and you rush back to inherit the goods he left for you." Dongming states not even looking at her unwanted son. 

"I didn't know he left my anything." Guiren replies. 

"I see," Dongmei nods, "To you, Gao family is probably just people who donated a bit of flesh and blood to create you and your Uncle was the one who actually raised you so I guess even seeing you now is more than we can expect."

Guiren doesn't know what to say, after all she has some truth in her words. He really does see Gao family that way, but his relationship with his Second Uncle is anything but simple. Guiren doesn't really know why he came back, but before he even realized it the ticket was already purchased and he was on the plane. 

Feeling a hand grab his chin, Guiren is forced to face Dongmei as she turns his head side to side. "For only having half of the Gao family genes, you are at least decent to look at." 

She drops her hand and stands up from her seat. "After you left the house, my mother did not want to stay at the main house from the trauma of that night. Even more, she hated the garden and she hated that stupid tree that was planted." 

"I've been back for a few years now since they have passed away, and finally after 20 years it decides to bloom this year. I guess it's only fitting after all, it was because of you that it was planted after all."

Guiren stills, hands clutching his tea cup as he stares at Dongmei standing directly underneath the wisteria tree. He doesn't know what to say, in his entire life the hardest person to converse with had always been her. He sits silently watching her move from his spot and just lets her continue speaking. 

"I've talked to the extended Gao family, no one will fight over the shares that were given to you. What my older brother left for you is yours, after all you didn't ask to be born into this and it is what we owe you at least." She states as she turns around back towards him. Dongmei returns to her seat and hands him a folder, "and this is what you owe Gao family for raising you all these years."

Opening the folder, he realizes it's a dossier on a man named Jiang Yuming, and on further inspection it seems to be a marriage dossier. Looking up from the folder he stares at Dongmei, wondering if this is truly a joke that she handed him.

"A date has been set, everything has already been taken care of by the family. Once you are married, the Gao family will not bother you for anything and you can live off your uncles shares for the rest of your life. If you refuse, I won't block any of them and you may find yourself ripped to shreds by the extended family."

All Guiren could do was squeak out, "When?"

"Tomorrow night, two cars will await you downstairs. One will take you to the wedding and the other will take you to the airport. But I should let you know, one of those cars may not reach their destination." Dongmei says looking over this son of hers. 

"I see," he replies, "I still have some packing to do, please excuse me."

Dongmei gives him a nod and watches him leave, however she does ask him one parting question, "Xiao Ren, when your second uncle was still alive, he told me something funny. I wonder if you can tell mother, when she is going to die?"