The metal maw of the furnace opens invitingly. Fiery sparks accompany fleeing wisps of smoke, scorching the coffin’s buffed surface. Four claw shaped mechanisms clamp down, two on each side, lifting it off the conveyer belt. With all the grace of an old truck chugging into a lot, the coffin is shafted into the flames. A screech resounds through the empty space as the metal jaws snap shut.
The rest of us watch this scene unfold from the other side of the layered glass, a weighted silence draped across our shoulders. The next few seconds are void of sound. Then, someone in the back of the room lets out a strangled sob.
The sound acts as the opening gunshot in a race, and soon, more sounds rise above the stagnant air. Being in the first row is my saving grace. The less I hear, the better. Soft sniffling I can handle, but the loud wails and exaggerated groans nearly make my eyes roll into the back of my head.
I would love to add on with a couple of sniffs of my own, to sell the image of a mourning sibling, but the somber atmosphere has already deteriorated to the point where I feel like an extra in a cheap drama production. All that’s left is for someone to faint.
I jerk when the blunted point of an elbow is shoved into my ribs. I purse my lips, glancing at the perpetrator. My best friend wears an innocent expression, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
‘I’m bored,’ she mouths.
My lips curl despite my efforts to suppress it. I’d love for us to exchange gossip, but with relatives from every branch of the family and the important business partners in the room, I can’t afford to show an ounce of frivolity.
‘Pay attention,’ I mouth back.
I’ve just refocused on the chugging furnace when I feel another insistent nudge digging into my side. I flick my eyes back towards Athea and knit my eyebrows to convey my displeasure. Her smile is unrepentant.
She works her mouth in an imitation of chewing, following up with, ‘Food?’
My stomach stirs. My exasperation eases into something resembling thoughtfulness. It should be a little past dinner by now. I can’t help the smorgasbord of food suggestions that run through my head. The only thing I had today was a peach tart I snuck from the guest spread earlier this afternoon, and that’s nowhere enough for the amount of work I put into serving the parasites gathered here pretending to express their condolences.
I dither over whether to respond. Several heads are already sweeping their gazes across the room. In the end, my impulse to respond wins out.
I crimp my fingers and pretend they hold a succulent burger dripping with egg yolk, cheese and sauce. I top it off with a soft mutter of “Burgers?” and hope she catches it.
Athea nods and I put down my hands. Before I can turn away, she reaches up to smooth the collar of her blouse. As she lowers her arms to her sides, her right hand makes a rubbing motion over her stomach. She follows up with a wink, too exaggerated to be taken seriously.
I shake with laughter, but luckily, I hold it in. The thought of being the target of ill-natured gossip for the rest of my life managed to curb it.
A rumbling growl seeps through the layer of glass as the furnace digests the coffin, and with a final belch of thick, black smoke, the overhead lights in the other room blink out. In the darkness, the tiny orange squares carved into the machine seem like will o’ wisps.
In the span of a single blink, the lights come back on. The respectful quiet is swiftly discarded like a used plastic bag. Everyone starts to leave, trickling out of the viewing room through the only exit.
I sigh quietly. “Finally. Any longer and my hair might start greying.” I keep my voice low as I convey my irritation to Athea. She nods. Before she can reply, the person beside me brings his hands together in a clap that is neither too loud or soft.
I startle at the sound, and those remaining turn their attention to him.
“These two weeks have been a trying time, but she’s finally found peace,” Ling Ge says. “I know my sister will be sorely missed.” He tosses me a fleeting look.
I guess it’s my turn to pretend. I replicate his melancholic tone and say, “There won’t be a day that we won’t think about Shi Ning. May she rest in peace.”
I hear Athea snort and worry I might have been a touch too dramatic.
Thankfully, Ling Ge follows up. “Shi Ning will always remain in our hearts. He lays a gentle hand on Ying Ze’s shoulder. “I’m sure our mother would agree.”
This calculated gesture of comfort sends our female relatives swooning. Athea catches my eye and pretends to gag.
“There is nothing I can say that hasn’t been said by my children,” Ying Ze nods agreeably. Moments later, she moves away, letting his hand fall. “If there is nothing more to add, shall we move into the hall?”
She doesn’t wait for Ling Ge to reply and glides in the direction of the exit. She cleaves through the crowd, everyone granting her with similar expressions of fear and reverence as she passes. Ying Ze vanishes from sight as if she’s been phased off the planet.
How happy I would be if that were true.
“Has that woman ever smiled?” Athea asks as I come up beside her. We watch the last dregs of people filter out of the room.
“I never really cared enough to notice,” I say. “She seems a little pissed, though. I might have laid it on a little too thick, earlier.”
The room has nearly been emptied when my brother plants himself before us. He stands a head above me, outfitted in a crisp black suit that looks more suited to office meetings than a funeral. He adjusts his silver cufflinks, then runs a hand through his hair.
Ling Ge snorts. “A little? I thought my act was nauseatingly dramatic, but yours took the cake.” His words are directed at me, but his eyes are fixed on Athea.
I snap my fingers to get his attention. Whoring bastard. “Spare me the bullshit. Anybody with a working brain would have caught on to your act. There’s no one who doesn’t know you and Shi Ning hated each other.”
Ling Ge laughs mockingly. “Are you sure about that?”
I catch on to my mistake and feel the urge to slap myself silly. Ling Ge has played the filial son for so long even people who know him forget to look past his façade. No one would think twice about what he’d said, and he knows it.
“You should be thanking me,” I bite out. “Shit, I make you look good in front of all those people and this is what I get?” Athea laughs and gives my head a few soothing pats. I relax slightly, knowing at least she’s on my side.
Ling Ge doesn’t reply, and it takes me a second to realize he’s drinking the sight of Athea. Despite wearing normal mourning clothes, her outfit black from head to toe. Her natural good looks are enough to stop the afternoon traffic rush in its tracks, but it’s the easy confidence and slight air of intrigue she exudes that draws people to her – like flies to a honeytrap.
“How did you get someone so beautiful on your side, little sister?” Ling Ge gives my best friend a roguish grin I’ve seen lesser women get moony-eyed over. “I’m willing to kill to get her attention, but even then, I don’t think she’ll give me the time of day.” He winks. “How about making my night, Athea?”
Athea scrunches her nose in disgust. She doesn’t deign him with a response. I take over the unenviable task, scoffing out a reply, “I don’t want her to catch whatever you have.”
Ling Ge pretends to look insulted. “All my recent tests came up clean.”
“Gross. I was referring to your stupidity.”
The flirtatious smile falls off Ling Ge’s face. “If you had the ability to talk as well as you insult someone, you might actually get somewhere in life.” He turns to Athea, his voice still velvety. “Mind leaving us alone for a bit? I need to discuss some sensitive, sibling issues with her.”
To my immense gratification, Athea doesn’t acknowledge him on her way out. She give me a one-armed hug before she leaves, and it briefly chases the worry gnawing at me.
Once she’s out of sight, I say, “We shouldn’t take too long. I can’t shake the feeling Ying Ze’s on to us. I don’t know if you noticed, but she always frowns when she catches us talking to each other.”
“Paranoia makes women unattractive.” I roll my eyes, and Ling Ge continues. “Don’t worry, I’ve already taken every necessary precaution I could think of. I hope you’ve already destroyed the video?”
“What am I, a toddler? I did it right after I handed it to you.”
“Good. If you’re worried about mother, just get rid of your number and toss your phone to be safe.”
I fold my arms. “Do I look like I’m made of money?” I barely have enough for each month. I refuse to spend the dregs of my nest egg on a what-if. With the amount of resources Ying Ze has at her fingertips, there’s nothing she can’t do. If she put her mind to it, we won’t escape even if we flee to another country.
“Destroying your phone’s a small price to pay to keep off Mother’s radar, wouldn’t you say? And you did say you were worried.” He throws back what I said, and I find myself lacking a rebuttal. I sigh. I shouldn’t have brought it up.
“Alright, fine. I’ll change numbers easily enough, but as for the phone…” I look at him expectantly. “I’ll thoroughly destroy it if you sponsor me a new one.”
“Is money the only thing on your mind?” Ling Ge hands me a business card, its edges rumpled and dog eared. I run my fingers over the gold tracing and burn the name on the card into my eyelids. “Visit this bank tomorrow. I’ll be there to finalize the transfer of the money I promised. It goes without saying, but make sure no one’s tailing you. I might have erased all trace of your presence in Shi Ning’s case, but I can’t stop reporters from following you by virtue of our family name.”
“You should have lead with that.” I slip the card into my pocket. “What time should I be there?”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
We finalize the details of our meeting as quickly as possible. I don’t wait for him to wish me goodbye, simply sprinting out the exit once the final word leaves his lips. He doesn’t call after me. He knows leaving at the same time will draw unwanted attention. Besides, I have someone waiting for me.
Athea’s barely halfway through the linkway to the main hall when I catch up to her. My sudden appearance doesn’t even make her blink. I offer her my arm, and she takes it. Exchanging identical grins, we pick up the pace. We blow past an elderly couple hobbling in front of us with ease, and step into the main hall.
People mill about the large, decorated space. Relatives are mingling, guests are gossiping around the refreshment table. It’s a large showing for a funeral, though not as busy as last one I’ve had the pleasure of attending.
Almost everyone holds a thin necked flute of sparkling drink in one hand, and it meshes well with their swanky designer outfits. The jewellery on the women are conservative, but overall, the atmosphere resembles a dinner and dance as opposed to the funeral it’s supposed to be. I even see people exchanging business cards.
I let my eyes wander to the steepled ceiling, walls made of stained glass. A chandelier bedecked with silver trimmings and faux crystals hangs from the center. This place was built by my great-great grandfather, but the gaudy additions are a result of Shi Ning’s meddling.
I smile to myself. Fate is ironic. She spared no effort to revamp the place and ends up the first to enjoy the fruits of her labour.
“I’m sorry I dragged you here,” I tell Athea. “Seeing all these sycophants make me want to puke.”
“It’s fine. I find this extremely entertaining.” Athea sweeps her gaze over the crowd. “That man wearing that enormous diamond ring. I overheard him talking about his four mistresses, earlier.” She points to another person in the throng. “That lady, the one with her breasts peeking out of the cut of her v-necked dress. She’s apparently been sleeping with a board member of your mother’s company.”
“I’m glad one of us enjoyed ourselves.” I feel bad since I only met up with her in time for the cremation. She’d been here since daybreak, but I’d been ordered to make sure my relatives were settled.
Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t care even if those so called relatives caught on fire. But today is different. Ying Ze wanted to ensure we gave off the impression of our family being united. Ling Ge assured me it would be better to go with what she’d planned, so here I was. Helping the family I was estranged from.
Athea gently squeezes my arm. “If everything’s been resolved, how about we take our leave?” She’s right. I’ve done everything Ying Ze asked. She must have counted on me fleeing once the cremation is over, because her personal assistant isn’t breathing down my neck.
The breath that escapes me is equal parts relieved and excited. “Yeah. Let’s get out of here before anything else happens.”
Just then, a man comes barrelling through the main entrance. He clips me in the side and nearly bowls over a number of guests. His rampage continues until he’s somehow made his way into the center of the hall.
“Where is he? Come out, you bastard!” The man hollers. “Come out and answer to your crimes!”
In the blink of an eye, the hired security floods through the entrance after him. The sheer tidal wave of bulky men and women make it impossible for us to claw our way out of the funeral home, even if I desperately wanted to.
My exasperation must show on my face because Athea laughs. “You walked right into that,” she says. I continue frowning. “Lighten up, Mei. From the looks of it, this won’t take too long.”
“How did he get in?” My mood was already bad, now it’s gone into freefall. “Ying Ze doesn’t tolerate mistakes, even in her children. Someone’s head is going to roll. I’m only sorry I won’t be there to see it.”
I force my teeth to unclench, rolling my shoulders to relax. Getting mad is useless. We’re stuck like rats in a trap. The level of noise is only increasing as the intruder continues to wail like it’s his last day in this world.
No one’s doing anything to stop him. If this goes on, I’ll go up there and shut his trap myself.
Athea tugs at me, pulling me towards the epicentre of whatever scene is unfolding. “Since we’re here, let’s indulge ourselves in some drama. I want to see the face of the person brave enough to cut into the heart of the enemy’s territory.”
By the time we elbow our way to the front, the man is locked in a painful chokehold courtesy of Ying Ze’s personal guard. I see Ying Ze’s hawk-like gaze fixed on him from her position on the elevated platform behind the crowd. The intensity of her stare prompts me to look at him.
My blood runs cold when I realize who he is. I pull Athea closer and mutter, “That’s Shi Ning’s boyfriend.”
She makes a surprised noise at the back of her throat. “Oh. He looked more attractive in the video. I suppose he’s the type who looks better from an angle.”
My grip on her wrist tightens. What is he doing here? Why did he come? Did he discover something? No, I can’t let this get to me. Ling Ge’s the one who spread the video, not me. I can’t lose my head now, especially not with Ying Ze right there.
“Mei.” Athea squeezes my shoulder in a show of comfort. The feeling anchors me, and I force myself to calm. “Are you alright?”
My nod transitions into a shake when Ling Ge saunters onto the scene. “No,” I say, “Because my brother is going to make things a hundred times worse.”
True to my assumptions, Ling Ge folds his arms and launches into theatrics. “This funeral service is for the people who wish to show their respects to my departed sibling. It’s not enough to smear my family’s reputation, but you also had to come here to spit in the face of our grief? I’ll only warn you once, Mister Feng. Leave.”
“I know you spread that video!” Guo Feng tries to lunge at him. Thankfully, the arms around his neck don’t budge. “You and Shi Ning were always at each other’s throats. You don’t need to admit to anything, but everyone knows, Han Ling Ge. You killed her to get your disgusting hands on your father’s company!”
People in the crowd are holding up their phones. No doubt some of the footage here is going to be featured on the news tomorrow. Why isn’t Ying Ze doing anything about this? You caught the man, just throw him out so we can move on with our lives!
“You’re shaking,” Athea says. My trembles subside as I clench my hands into fists, but Athea’s knitted brows remain tight. “I’m sorry. It was a bad idea to drag you so close.”
“No, it’s not that. The… the noise is just getting to me.”
I focus on the yelling that’s steadily risen in volume. Guo Feng descends into rambling threats, sounding increasingly unhinged. It doesn’t help his case, not when faced against a well-dressed man with a tongue so silver he could talk you out of your first newborn.
Ling Ge stares Guo Feng down. “That video you’re referring to has nothing to do with me or my family. I’d admit Shi Ning and I never saw eye to eye, but she was still my sister. You make me out to be a callous monster when I’m just,” Ling Ge cuts himself off to take in a shuddering breath.
Even when I know his words are artificial and calculated, I find myself siding with Ling Ge. He might be a good for nothing, but he excels at playing with emotions like he does women.
“You and Shi Ning are the ones who thought you could get away with it!” A female voice chimes in. One of Ling Ge’s admirers, I suspect. “You both had sex knowing you could have been caught. Once you did, you have the guts to blame someone else?” A chorus of agreeing yells rises above the din.
Ling Ge nods gratefully in the direction of his supporters. I swear I hear a girlish scream of delight. “I’m hurt by your accusations,” my brother continues extolling his sincerity. “I would like nothing more than to punish the one who spread that disgusting video.”
“Don’t believe his fucking lies!”
“I would give up everything to have Shi Ning back.” Ling Ge jabs a finger in Guo Feng’s chest. His mouth is set in a furious line that startles his accuser into silence. “ You have the audacity to assume the truth of the situation when you’re merely a stranger she has never talked about, never brought up. My family never knew you existed until your dalliance with her was broadcasted to the entire country.”
Guo Feng hangs his head, silenced by my brother’s wrathful words. The hall is abuzz with murmurs, mostly sympathetic to our family situation.
“Just get out of here if you know what’s good for you,” I say before I’m able to stop myself. Regret wells in my throat when I feel multiple sets of eyes train on me, including Guo Feng’s.
The fire in his eyes has dimmed, but I have a feeling he still has enough in him to put up a fight. I take a step back. Athea’s arm is still in mine, and the reminder of her presence bolsters the tattered remains of my courage.
I meet his stare head on as he gears up to retort.
“Enough of this.” Ying Ze’s cool voice finally rings out, silencing the room. Everyone looks at her with bated breath. “Throw him out. I no longer wish to hear about my daughter’s mistakes.”
Her icy stare drills into Guo Feng, and tension bleeds from his shoulders. With several words, he’s reduced to a shell of his former self. The room lets out a collective sigh of relief. The hired security lingering on the fringes finally take action, dragging Guo Feng out.
The room’s atmosphere turns peaceful once more. People swarm Ling Ge, giving him vigorous pats on the back. The older ones make a beeline for our mother, likely to discuss the ramifications of his accusations. What Guo Feng said might be false, but their paranoid business partners leave nothing to chance.
Before this, they had likely assumed the video had been released by Ling Ge. Infighting isn’t uncommon among inheritors of large conglomerates. But with this showing, I don’t doubt everyone secretly convinced of his guilt were won over. I would be jealous if I didn’t find the situation so funny.
The crowd of people around us dissipates. I stand there, dazed, until Athea leads me to the exit. “Come on,” she says. “It’s time we escape from this madhouse.” I don’t fight against it and let her guide me out.
----------------------------------------
The night air is crisp and the moon is bright. Pale moonlight reflects off the surfaces of polished luxury cars parked around the funeral home. The entourage of armed men pass us on our way out, disappearing into a hulking metallic coloured van. I imagine them sitting shoulder to shoulder, waiting for their next orders.
Athea and I search for her car, lost amidst the sea of vehicles. She exclaims something when she finds it, and it is just my luck that I catch sight of a hunched figure leaning against the lamppost in the isolated corner of the parking lot.
I glance pleadingly at Athea. “Please tell me you didn’t park there.”
An apologetic look crosses her face. “If I didn’t, I would be lying.” I follow where she’s pointing. I curse my luck. The man who is one sneeze away from slitting his throat is positioned an arm’s length away from her car.
“This night is just getting better and better,” I groan.
We head towards her pale blue convertible. She tries to draw me into conversation, but my replies get increasingly distracted as we get closer.
Guo Feng looks wretched. Patches of uneven facial hair line his face. The chiselled jaw fawned over by news anchors and citizens alike is dulled by messy black hair clinging to his cheeks. His bloodshot eyes are rimmed with heavy eyebags. He had looked maniacal when he’d ranted at Ling Ge, but now, he simply looks like a homeless man who drank himself stupid.
I trip on an uneven brick ten paces away from the convertible, but Athea catches me before I can kiss the ground.
“He won’t try anything, not when he just got publicly humiliated,” she assures me. “You don’t need to be so worried.”
“I’m not worried. I’m just being cautious. He might know I’m Shi Ning’s sister and start ranting at me.” He crashed a funeral service and had a yelling match with the soon to be president of Han Industries. He even accused Ling Ge of killing Shi Ning. No one in the right state of mind would do that.
Athea splits away from me toward the side with the driver’s seat. As she busies herself with her keys, I try to breathe as quietly as possible as I wait for her to unlock the car.
I steal a glance at the downtrodden Guo Feng. The distance between us could be made insignificant with a single leap. Aside from the raucous chirp of insects from the forested area nearby, the atmosphere is deadly silent. The pounding in my ears is framed by Guo Feng’s short and rapid breaths.
It takes me a moment to realize he’s crying.
“I’m sorry, Shi Ning,” he mutters. “I failed you. I failed you.” He rocks back and forth, his smile demented. “Shi Ning, I love you. I’ll pay for it with my life and follow you after all of this ends.”
My annoyance towards this man soars. He’s praying to the dead woman who once made my life hell. An unnameable emotion churns at the pit of my stomach. And like water brought to a boil, it bubbles over.
“Get over her, already,” I say. “Shi Ning’s not worth the effort.”
He’s up on his feet in an instant. He leaps for me and clamps his hand on my wrist. I cry out in shock and stumble back. The convertible’s side mirror digs painfully into my back. He doesn’t let go.
“You know nothing. Nothing! Shi Ning is nothing like that man. She would have changed the company, changed the world! That’s more than what her brother can ever dream of accomplishing,” His vitriol is scathing, and I flinch under the shower of saliva. “I should have been the one to die, not her!”
“She’s a coward,” I yell back. “You think you know her? You were just someone who warmed her bed. Everyone’s expendable to that bitch, especially you– some no name masseuse who only has a pretty face going for him!”
He shakes me furiously. My neck whips back and forth. “Shut up!” his yell borders on a scream. “Ling Ge killed her. He killed her, and he’s rewarded with what should be rightfully hers. How is that just? How could they let this happen?!”
“Shi Ning took her own life. She ran like a coward and left you to face everything alone. That’s not the actions of a wonderful woman,” I say mockingly. “What happened is simply a spoiled brat who got what she was owed.”
My anger seems to tap into a well of strength inside me, and I shove Guo Feng off in a burst of adrenaline. He goes stumbling, his limbs flailing as he cries out in pain. I don’t wait for him to recover. I tug the car door open and throw myself inside.
“Drive.” I avoid Athea’s searching gaze. “I need burgers.”
“Seatbelt,” she says simply.
I put it on, and we’re off. The last I see of Guo Feng is his ashen face and watery eyes. I close my eyes and try to put it out of my mind. I will never see him again, and I’m willing to die to keep it that way.