The Villain And His Sweet Wife

Long Yat-sen grew up.

He had grown taller, more agile.​​

He managed to fill in his father's shoes while Long Xia chased after her dreams, Long Mei pursued music and art, and the twins decided to work with him. But Long Yat-sen had never forgotten the flower girl who gave him strength.

Long Yat-sen was at one of the biggest events of the year. There were stalls filled with street food, ornaments, crafts, games, and warm drinks. He hadn't wanted to go, but his family had been the ones hosting it every year, and the main event happened in their estate.

Long Yat-sen dipped his head back, letting his skin sunbathe. He watched the clouds pass by, swallowing thickly.

His gaze then went toward the crowd of families, couples, and children, enjoying what his family had offered.

He made a start to turn back his home, to shut himself in his room, and to not get out until the next day when the event is over, but something stopped him dead in his tracks.

A beautiful woman passed him.

She wore a small subtle smile on her face. Her half-braided hair adorned the crown of her head. She met with two of her friends and hugged them each.

Long Yat-sen couldn't believe his eyes.

It was she. Xiaolin.

She was older, taller, more beautiful than he remembered, and she was standing so near. She spoke to her friends, laughing heartedly.

But one of the women looked at him, and Long Yat-sen glanced away, pretending to find something else interesting.

She approached him with another girl and Xiaolin. "Long Yat-sen?" said one of them, but he was staring at the flower girl.

But Xiaolin was the only one not looking at him. Why was she not looking at him?

"The event is so lovely this year!" continued the woman with copper hair. "The flowers were such a good touch. Was it your sister or mother's idea?"

"It was mine," Long Yat-sen answered, staring at Xiaolin.

Xiaolin overheard, her gaze falling onto him. He swallowed hard. He didn't know if she recognized him. He didn't know if he wished she didn't or if he wished she did.

She looked at him curiously. Almost wondering why he had chosen to do a flower show this year as the theme for this event?

Is that why she came? His heart nearly jumped.

"A man who's into flowers!" The other woman said. "Mr. Yat-sen, please do not say more. I'll be sure to fall for you!"

The copper-haired woman then started to walk away. "We'll leave you now! Goodbye!" She then waved at her friend, "Let's go, Shao Lin. Don't stand there, dazed!"

Shao Lin? Long Yat-sen thought.

Shao Lin then went to catch up to her two friends, looking back at him once more before she disappeared with them.

Long Yat-sen sighed. If Shao Lin remembered him, she would have recognized him by name, if not by his face.

He decided to go back inside the house when Long Xia found him and said, "Good! I need your help. I was hoping you could help me carry some boxes from the cellar. We have a full house, and every other people we hired are busy, so it's now up to us!"

Long Yat-sen loosed a breathed. He rolled up his sleeves and went with her to the cellar. It was more than "some" boxes. There were plenty, and they were heavy, and they weren't able to take a trolley up the stairs.

By the time they finished dropping it off in the kitchen, it was already dark outside. Long Yat-sen made his way back down to lock the cellar when he heard crying.

Long Yat-sen stopped in his tracks, not wanting to make an awkward encounter. But his eyes widened when he caught a glimpse of the woman that had her head down, sobbing in her folded arms and raised knees. There was an empty bottle of wine at her feet.

Shao Lin?

She must have snuck down here while he and Long Xia were in the kitchen.

He was conflicted.

If it had been anyone else, he would have turned away and left.

But he couldn't do it to Shao Lin.

He quietly stalked in, careful not to startle her.

She raised her head with tear-stained cheeks, quickly wiping her face. "Oh. I-I'm sorry. I will leave," she said, standing to her feet.

Yes. It was better if Shao Lin left. She had to, but Long Yat-sen couldn't help but say, "Would you like to find a place more quiet and warm? It's cold down here."

She hiccuped. "How do I know you won't take advantage of me, mister?"

He grinned. "You'd just have to trust me," he responded.

Shao Lin nodded. She then followed him to the game room.

It was a quiet room he went to when no one was using it. He often used it when he wanted to think. It would also make her feel safest than any other room in the house.

Long Yat-sen took a seat on a lounge chair, and Shao Lin seated herself a short distance between them.

She kept sniffling, and he wondered what made her cry. He'd fix it. Whatever it was, so her tears would go away.

"Is there anything you need?" he asked.

She looked at him. "Can I have some water? I may have drunk too much."

Long Yat-sen got up, and he returned with a full glass of water and some food. Shao Lin downed the entire drink and ate the bread, cheese, and fruit he gave her.

After she finished, she still looked distant, but some colouring returned to her face.

Shao Lin then took a deep breath. "I shouldn't be crying," she said, her face twisting to anger. Long Yat-sen couldn't tell if Shao Lin was talking to him or herself.

"Why should I be the one crying?" she continued. "He hurt me and left. If he thinks I will be miserable without him, then he's sorely mistaken!"

Long Yat-sen couldn't help but ask. "Who?"

"A friend," she answered and then shook her head to correct herself. "Former friend? I suppose. I thought we would be together, but I don't think I was the right card for him. I mean, he ghosted me and left without even telling me. I just found out through a friend."

"He left without a word?" Long Yat-sen replied.

"Yes!" she said. "It's humiliating to believe I was about to get into a relationship with someone only to find out they left the city through someone else."

"Is he an idiot?" he questioned.

Shao Lin laughed. She stood up to sit closer next to him, right beside him. "Right!" Shao Lin continued. "I don't understand men," she said, glancing at him. "I know you're one. But I don't know. You seem like one of the good ones."

Long Yat-sen couldn't help but grin. Her gaze then collided with his. Her brows furrowed. "You look...familiar. Have we met before?" she asked, looking into the pit of his eyes. "You're beautiful."

Long Yat-sen flushed at her words and glanced away. "Perhaps. Do you live in this part of the city?" he asked.

Shao Lin nodded. "We just moved up here, but I used to live further away."

"Are you staying?" Long Yat-sen asked.

She nodded again. "I suppose. I thought I was going to move to Beijing with a boyfriend, but that's not happening."

"His loss," Long Yat-sen replied.

Shao Lin smiled.

Long Yat-sen then glanced at the pool table and asked. "Would you like to play?"

Her eyes glittered.

As they played, Shao Lin made clumsy moves and mistakes. Long Yat-sen wondered just how much she drank, but she could still articulate her words well.

A half-hour into the game, Shao Lin asked. "Am I taking you away from your guests?"

Long Yat-sen shook his head. "I was going to skip it anyway."

"But why?" she questioned. "The show you put on this year was the most beautiful I've ever seen. I felt like it was calling to me me. I had to come!"

"The show was for my guests, not for me." Long Yat-sen swallowed thickly. Perhaps in some unconscious way, Long Yat-sen put on the show for her behalf and didn't even realize it.

"But still," she continued. "To think you have planned it. I have to admit. You're not like what I expected."

He smiled. "What did you expect?"

"To be cold," she answered honestly. "But…you're not. At least, not to me."

Long Yat-sen gazed down at her intensely. Everything about her was still the same. Her breath hitched, her cheeks flushed. She looked as if she felt some type of desire for him and didn't understand why.

But she didn't remember him, and he was not sure if she'd remember the time between them now.

Shao Lin's hand dove into her pocket. She took out flowers from her dress pocket. Long Yat-sen wanted to laugh. It was so like her to take some.

She took out a rose and reached for him.

Long Yat-sen stilled, his breath stopped short.

Shao Lin then tucked the rose behind his ear.

He looked at her puzzled, and then she smiled bashfully. "It looks good on a handsome man like you!"

She then stepped back and wobbled, her hand going to her head as if trying to control a splitting headache.

"I should be getting home," she said.

"Yes," Long Yat-sen breathed. "I'll send you a ride."

"You will?" her eyes sparkled. "You're so kind!" She went up to him and hugged him tightly. She fit him so perfectly as she always had. He didn't want her to let go.

Shao Lin took a step back and was about to leave when she stopped for a moment, turning to him. "I hope I remember this kindness," she said, pointing at her head. "I have a bad memory! I think I had a bad fall once."

Long Yat-sen's throat seemed to close up.

"Well, then," she continued. "Thank you for making me feel better. See you around, Mr. Yat-sen!"

At that, she went and left. But Long Yat-sen didn't see her again for another four years.