Redeeming The Golden Ticket To Life

[POV Zhang Wei]

"I always remembered it from day one," she said.

My heart jolted. There was a myriad of emotions, as I remember the broken girl that I rescued from the Highway as she made a successful attempt to escape from behind the enemy lines.

"I am sorry if I scared you," she said as she moved towards the window. The moonlight kissed her face but the darkness served as her armour. They night illuminated all her secrets and pains but there was no one to witness them.

Tonight I accidentally stumbled across her.

For how long has she been tormenting herself? 

I walked out of the room, it's best to leave her to her own at the moment.

I clenched my fist and gritted my teeth, if only Hu Qiang took better care of her, she wouldn't have faced the disaster that she survived.

I walk into the kitchen and move to the cooking station. 

There was already someone who beat me at my job.

"Xiao Wei, what are you doing here?"

"Uncle Wei, I am trying to fix Mamma's meal."

The little boy was currently standing on a broad stool as he moved it from here and there to fix a plate of the meal for his mother's dinner.

"Let uncle help you with it. Here," I took the plate from his hand and placed some salad and a bowl of soup. Then I placed some dumplings and a slightly spicy chilly oil and vinegar sauce.

"Uncle Wei, why does Mamma always eat steamed food or soups? When will she eat more solid and spicy food?" The boy asked with concern.

"Your Mamma is still healing so she needs to eat more of the nutritious food," I replied.

"Will she go to deep sleep if she eats spicy food?" he asked.

I place the plate aside and simply hug him. 'How do I explain it to him?'

"Okay, have you had your dinner yet?" 

The boy shook his head.

"Okay let me fix a plate for you too, go to the study room and have your dinner with Mamma."

'Maybe this would help her to eat something tonight. Looking at Xiao Wei may become her motivation.'

"What are your grandparents up to?"

"They are in the activity room looking for you. But as you went to look for Mamma, so they didn't bother you now."

"Okay let me put the food on the warmer and deliver it to the study room, you accompany me and tonight do not trouble your mother too much."

"Is she okay? Is she ill?" he asked as his little face scrunched up.

"No but tonight, she is a little upset," I answered the little boy.

"Is it because of my useless father? He is really good for nothing. Always causing trouble for Mamma. He really doesn't appreciate Mamma at all. Uncle Wei, I do not want to share Mamma with him at all." 

I am a little surprised inside. This little boy is a lot more sensitive than I expected.

"Let us go"

I took him and the food served on a serving tray and delivered it to the study room.

Then I left the pair of mother and son together to heal each other's wound, as I made my way towards the elder Hu's room.

***

[Knock Knock]

"May I come in, this is butler Zhang Wei," I said as I knocked on the door.

"Please come in," a heavy voice replied from inside.

I opened the door and walked inside, "You were looking for me, I heard."

"Yes Zhang Wei, please take a seat."

The old senior, Chairman Hu was seated across me behind a round oak table.

I looked slightly towards his left, Madame Hu was putting down the book she was reading. Her complete attention was towards me.

"Please sit down, Zhang Wei," Madame Hu urged.

I made myself comfortable on a wooden chair.

I made myself comfortable on a wooden chair.

"How is she?" Chairman Hu asked.

"She would be better with time," I replied.

He looked at me directly while Madame Hu straightened up.

"What do you mean?" Madame Hu asked sharply.

I keep my silence. These people may have raised her but they had their own motive. I don't want to give away anything.

"Butler Zhang Wei," Chairman Hu raised his voice.

"I apologize, if you have nothing else to ask, I will take my leave," I stand up to walk out.

"Please butler Zhang, we are her parents and care about her." Madame Hu tried to reason.

"Sorry Madame, last time I checked she still used the surname Shui. And three years ago you all made your choice. It was me who saved her from while you all left her without support."

Madame Hu visibly paled.

"Butler Zhang, you are crossing your boundary," he slammed the table.

"Keep it down Chairman Hu, last time I checked this property was legally under Shui Bai Chang's name. Let me inform you, she paid the due cost of it to your company already.

And to you all, I am Commander Zhang Wei. I am no butler of your's," I said and stormed out of the room.

Inside I was feeling a little light as I spoke the unsaid words after such a long time.

How can I forget how these people used Shui families name, connection and properties to build up their current empire.

They had taken in little Bai Chang under their custody to get their hands on the property and funds.

They got her married to Hu Qiang just to hold on to the powers that come with her custody after all Dr Shui and his wife were great people with more influence.

When they treated her well I went on to protect her from the shadows but what happened next? 

They abandoned her during her greatest hour of need. That Hu Qiang simply treated her like air and at the last moment the Hu family chose to protect their heir and sacrifice the autistic girl as collateral damage.

I can never forget that night from three and a half years ago. That chilly night as the winds blew hard and from heavy rain, there was a thin layer of ice on the roads. I got to know that Bai Chang was kidnapped.

I hurried outside and hit the roads in search of her.

After hours and hours of cross-examination and calling out numerous favours I just got an idea of a general location, and I drove towards it at full speed.

That night I didn't save her, instead, she saved herself. She practically came under my car as I was driving.

It took me time to even recognise her for who she really was! 

There was blood flowing freely from her body.

When I rushed her to the hospital, the doctors told me she had a hundred deep wounds, countless medium to light tissue tears, her fingers and nail beds were all pricked and poked and she had been electrocuted many times. She had a brain haemorrhage and there were deep knife wounds on her abdominal cavity.

She was brutally tortured.

I failed to keep my promise to Dr Shui, he asked to safe keep his jewel of a daughter from all harms and yet I failed.

'I failed miserably.'

So after three years when I received news that she woke up from the coma. I dashed out to her side on first notice.

I visited Dr Shui's grave and I made a promise, that this time I will look after her as a hawk. I will do anything to keep her safe.

So I applied for the steward's post.

And to my surprise, she picked me up for the job right away.

From then till now I have been a silent spectator to all her accomplishments.

She is truly Dr Shui's daughter. So talented.

I saw her slowly but steadily build her own influence and means. I saw her grow strong with each passing day. I saw the smart girl develop her own intelligence network.

She cleverly put Hu Corporations as her shield. But I also came to realise that she was turning herself self-reliant. 

And today I got to know the reason behind it.

'Because she was never amnesic, she had all her memories crystal clear right from the moment she woke up.'

She simply carefully took one step at a time.

She will never trust others. Especially the Hu family if she remembers her complete past.

The sole connection between her and Hu's family is Xiao Wei.