Grandma Shan Hu and Jia li settled into a simple life. After the fire, Jia li was enrolled in a different school, one that was much closer to their new, small house in the downtown area of City S. She learned to act like every other kid. She went to class, did her homework, and was quiet but cooperative. With the passing of time, it seemed as if she had forgotten the terrifying events of the fire, and Grandma Shan Hu was relieved and happy about this.
Their life was not luxurious, but it was stable. Grandma Shan Hu was too old to work a full-time job, so she opened a small, local restaurant. It was managed by a neighbor she completely trusted. The money from that small business was enough to support them and pay for Jia li's school fees and needs. They didn't have fancy cars or huge rooms, but they were happy. They had deep love for each other, and that was all that truly mattered.
Jia li grew up to be a quiet but intensely smart girl. She quickly excelled in her studies, particularly in subjects that required deep logic and focus, like mathematics and computer science. She often finished her schoolwork quickly and spent her spare time reading books from the local library or quietly helping her grandmother in the garden. She rarely caused trouble. She was a focused, almost too serious child, but her grandmother saw it as a sign of her strength. She was focused on her education, knowing that success in school was the best way to repay her grandmother's efforts.
The years flew by quickly in this peaceful routine. Grandma Shan Hu taught Jia li everything she knew about cooking, budgeting, and living responsibly. She made sure Jia li knew that she was loved unconditionally. Jia li, in turn, dedicated herself to being the best granddaughter possible, often helping with housework and running errands. She guarded her grandmother's health and happiness fiercely, determined not to lose the one remaining person who truly cared for her.
****
Seven years later…
Jia li was now fourteen. She was in the middle of a crucial school year, and her quiet intelligence had made her stand out in her class. It was an ordinary Tuesday afternoon. Jia li was preparing dinner while Grandma Shan Hu sat in the living room, reading a newspaper.
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from the living room.
Jia li rushed in to find her grandmother on the floor, her hands clutching her chest, her face pale and twisted in pain. Jia li's mind went blank for only a second before her instincts kicked in. She immediately grabbed the phone, dialed the emergency number, and gave her address clearly and quickly. Her voice was steady, but her hands were shaking violently as she followed the dispatcher's instructions.
The ambulance arrived within minutes.
Jia li rode in the ambulance, never letting go of her grandmother's hand. As they rushed through the busy streets of City S, the sirens screaming, Jia li felt the familiar icy dread she hadn't experienced since she was seven.
When they reached the emergency room (ER), chaos erupted. Grandma Shan Hu was immediately pulled from the ambulance and pushed on a stretcher toward the trauma bay. Jia li ran alongside the nurses, her grip firm on her grandmother's hand. When they reached the double doors of the ER, a nurse gently but firmly separated them. Jia li had to let go, and the large white doors swung shut in her face.
She stood frozen for a moment, staring at the doors. Then, the terror and worry hit her. She put her hands on her head, pacing back and forth in the sterile, cold hallway. She tried to sit down, but couldn't. The minutes stretched into hours. Five hours. Five long hours of agonizing silence and the smell of antiseptic. Jia li sat stiffly, running various scenarios through her head, forcing herself to breathe slowly, trying to pull on the inner composure she had developed over the last seven years.
Finally, the large doors were pulled open. A doctor, looking tired, with a nurse standing silently by his side, stepped out. Jia li immediately jumped up from the plastic chair where she had managed to finally sit down.
She waited, holding her breath, hoping desperately for good news. But when she saw the doctor's solemn, unhappy expression, her heart seized in her chest.
"I'm sorry, Miss Chen," the doctor said, his voice quiet. "Mrs. Shan Hu couldn't pull through. We tried everything we could, but her heart failed completely. It was a massive heart attack. Given her age, sometimes the body is just ready to let go. We are very sorry for your loss."
The doctor's words couldn't pull through, it felt like a physical blow. Jia li heard the rest of the sentence as if it was underwater. The world spun sharply around her, the cold tile floor rushing up to meet her. The last thing she registered was the doctor reaching out before everything went dark.
When she came to, a strong, clean smell of antiseptic was the first thing that registered, followed by a dull ache in her head. She slowly opened her eyes, finding herself lying on a hospital bed in a recovery room. The bright lights were glaring.
A nurse with kind eyes and a sympathetic expression leaned over her. "Miss, you're awake. You're okay. You passed out for a bit, your family is here to see you."
'What family?' Jia li thought instantly. The word family was now synonymous with one person; her grandma. A painful wave of realization hit her, making her eyes widen. She hadn't even had a moment to fully process the finality of her loss, the utter loneliness of being fourteen and completely alone.
Before she could sit up, the curtain around her bed was pulled back, and a middle-aged woman swept into the room. The woman had perfectly styled, dark hair and wore an extremely expensive dress, covered in expensive gold and diamond jewelry. Her look screamed wealth and importance.
"Jia li, you're awake, thank goodness," the woman said in a tone that was supposed to sound caring but felt high-pitched and forced. "Now, you can come home with us."
Jia li pushed herself up, her head still throbbing. She looked at the woman with suspicion. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice cold and wary, despite her exhaustion.
A tall, middle-aged man in an expensive, well-cut suit stepped in behind the woman. "I'm your Uncle Wu Lang, and this is your Aunt Wu Ming, my wife," he explained, his face carrying a smooth sympathy.
Jia li studied him. The name Wu, her mother's maiden name. She slowly realized this man was her mother's older brother. If she looked closely, she could remember seeing him faintly years ago. But her immediate suspicion overrode any old memory.
"Why should I come with you?" she asked, her tone even colder than before.
Aunt Wu Ming stepped forward, her voice dripping with compassion. "Because we are family, dear. You are only fourteen, and you need someone to take care of you. We simply can't leave you alone like this. We've already started arranging your grandmother's burial. You can't handle this by yourself. Allow us to help you."
Uncle Wu Lang nodded, adding, "I know you probably don't know us well, or maybe your mother mentioned us… but family always looks out for each other. We just want to help you through this terrible time."
Jia li was quiet, staring at them. Family? Where have you been all these years? she thought. They didn't show up when her own parents died and their house burned.
They didn't appear when her grandmother was struggling to raise her on a small restaurant income. And now, suddenly, they were here, acting like the most loving relatives in the world.
She remembered asking her mother once, when she was six, why her uncles and aunts never visited. Her mother had given a gentle, evasive answer: "They are busy taking care of their own family, just like I'm taking care of you and your dad. But don't worry, someday you will meet them."
Even at fourteen, Jia li realized that explanation was a polite lie meant for a child. No family that was on good terms could live in the same large city and avoid each other for seven years. Something was wrong. Something had been wrong then, and something was definitely wrong now. Their sudden kindness felt sharp and fake.
Jia li was curious. She wanted to know what had happened between her mother and her family, and why they were suddenly rushing to bring her back to the mansion after all this time. Fourteen years old, but Jia li was already incredibly sharp and smart; she could read the desperation hidden behind their expensive clothes.
"My grandma," she asked, ignoring their offer for a moment. "Where is she now?"
"Don't worry, dear," Wu Ming said quickly. "She was taken to the mortuary. Her funeral will be held this Sunday. The earlier we bury her, the better, so she can rest in peace."
Tears welled up in Jia li's eyes at the final mention of her only remaining loved one being truly gone. She wiped them quickly, making a decision. She wouldn't argue. She needed to get inside that house to find out the truth. After all, they looked loaded. She might be smart and all but she couldn't deny that she can't school and take care of herself much, she would stay with them till she could. And she was too curious to let this opportunity slide.
"I'd like to visit my home first and arrange some things," she said, her voice steady and resolute despite the pain. "I'll move in the day of the funeral. Give me some time."
Wu Ming exchanged a quick, meaningful look with Wu Lang. He gave a small nod, a flash of relief crossing his face that Jia li immediately noticed.
"Okay then," Wu Ming said, her voice bright again. "We'll give you space. We will send a car for you on Sunday." They
quickly left the room, their mission, for now, accomplished.