Me After Meeting You

Amber shut her eyes, thinking of the newly restored three story house that Elly had lived in. She remembered that the woman who had brought her to the house said that it was only in the last two years that they had been able to refinish it. After letting out a deep breath, she tried to calm down. “Was Elly’s house built with those reparation fees?”

“Yes. Elly’s grandmother’s thought process was that, if she had a big house, then despite her granddaughter being bullied, they would have enough money to not need to worry about her not being able to get married.”Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Amber’s heart almost stopped. “Did Elly’s father know about this?”

“Probably not. He was out fishing and rarely returned home. Even when he did come back, it would only be for two or three days at a time. I heard that, because Elly looked very much like her mother, he didn’t want to see her all that much. Thus, the two didn’t like each other very much.”

“Did Elly’s mental illness develop after that incident?”

“More or less. But after that, she rarely left the house, so I also don’t really know when it became a big issue.”

“And then you also said that when she was in school, when you confiscated her artbook, she made a big fuss about it with you and even bit you. Was that true?”

“Yes, it was.”

“And how was her mental condition at that time?”

“Alright, I think … she just didn’t talk very much, and I wouldn’t have remembered her if not for that incident.”

Amber was quiet. Mr. Stanley, upon seeing her ugly expression, couldn’t help but add, “Actually I … did report the incident to the police, but it wasn’t of much help. My phone had only these scant few seconds of video, and none of the kids are identifiable. Besides Elly, no one else’s face is in it, so even the police couldn’t find out anything.

Amber mockingly replied, “It’s not that they couldn’t find out anything, but rather that all the people who knew about it decided to keep mum, right?” She then recalled her own investigation. ‘If not for Mr. Stanley’s four year-old daughter, I probably wouldn’t have been able to find anything either’.

Mr. Stanley rubbed his face. Amber asked him a few more questions, but upon seeing that he wasn’t very clear about the details either, she let him off the hook, as he wanted.

After Mr. Stanley left, the atmosphere became somewhat depressing. Of course, that was only Amber’s mood, because her attitude after this whole debacle was terrible. Ian still looked calm and collected, and even somewhat excited at seeing her angry.

It was only after a while that Amber noticed that he was looking at her. She took a moment to collect her self and then asked, “What are you looking at?”

“At you.”

“What have you noticed?”

“You’re very angry,” he said, with a trace of confusion in his voice. “Why are you so angry? You’re just a doctor.”

Amber let out a deep breath. “It’s a righteous fury, wholly unrelated to my person and my occupation. It’s a natural emotion that people who have to deal with unfair and dishonest situations feel.”

Perhaps it was because she was still feeling upset, but Amber’s words were quite harsh.

Ian understood her words, but hemerely smiled in response. “The strongman’s anger is directed towards those even stronger than he, while the weak man’s anger is to those even weaker than he. That’s the way of the world; what’s there to be furious about?”

Amber was surprised. She didn’t expect that Ian would use Lu Xun’s words to respond to her.[1]

She reorganized her thoughts and then responded, “The most important part of life is to develop and grow in response to one’s own fury. So, if the road is unequal, then someone has to flatten it.”

If he was going to use Lu Xun’s words, then she would use Balzac’s in response. Ian was clearly familiar with Balzac too; his expression didn’t change, but his eyes did become warmer. “It’s all useless,” he lamented.

“If it were all useless, then why did you help me by bringing Mr. Stanley here?” After saying this, she suddenly remembered. “Right, what did you promise him that would get him to say all this?”

Ian didn’t immediately answer, and instead pointed at the seat next to him. “Sit down here.”

Amber thought that what he was about to tell her was a secret and very important, so she sat down without hesitation. Then, she lifted her head towards his, waiting for him to explain.

The overhead light shone on her white skin, as translucent as a well cut piece of jade.

Ian again had that aching feeling in his heart, just like back in the small town. It was as if there was a feather lightly scratching the tip of his heart.

Very lightly, but enough for him to feel a difference.

He leaned down slightly, intending to kiss that rosy hued jade. But despite being nonplussed, Amber was able to dodge it, and his lips landed on her half dimple instead.

He opened his mouth, biting down without hesitation.

“…..”

********

Author note:

1. Lu Xun is one of the most well known Chinese writers of the 20th century