Chapter 27 - The Reunion
As soon as the car entered into a large mansion in the suburban region of the city, a place where the wealthy families of imperial city lived, Wan Yi Jun slowed down recalling his last visit to Han family's ancestral house.
It was during his cousin's birthday, two years ago. As the only girl child of the Han family, his cousin's birthday was celebrated rather lavishly since she was moving abroad for studies. That day, the mansion which was situated in a vast compound was filled with guests. It was so huge that it even had a golf course and horse stable. After that he haven't visited Han mansion in the past two years.
As soon as he pulled over near the giant door that embellished with intricate designs and detailing
The moment, he got down from the car, a well dressed butler came out to greet him.
"Welcome, young master." The butler politely said and led him inside the mansion without any delay. Even after rushing the car in maximum speed limit, he could only reach the mansion bit late.
He just hoped that everyone must have already started the meal without him. So that he can avoid speaking to others. But unfortunately, Han Ze Min's words turned true as he watched the entire Han family was indeed waiting for him. Apart from Chairman Han, the head of the household there was Han Lao Dao, Wan Yi Jun's second uncle and Han Ze Min's father was there for the New year meal.
"Good afternoon, everyone. Sorry, I was late." Wan Yi Jun apologized and looked around as he pretended to greet everyone, but was actually searching for that wierdo who threatened him.
"No..no..you are not late, Yi Junah. Ze Min told us that you are caught up with some work." Lin Jian, the last of the house added with a big warm smile and asked him to take a seat.
"Yeah...I came from the office." He informed and turned towards his uncles who remained with a stern stone cold face as if they were literally annoyed by him.
"How are you uncle? Any information regarding the intruder who break into the mansion?" Wan Yi Jun tried to break the eerie awkward moment in the living room.
"I heard that you were reluctant to take up the case?" Han Lao Dao asked with giving his nephew a chance to come up with an excuse." You were so busy as if you had to take care of the entire imperial." Even though he spoke with a better off tone, it was clear that he was indeed disappointed with the youngman.
"No..it wasn't like that...we were in the middle of another case and I eventually agreed to look into it. But again, the case got transferred to someone else when I had to take over another case." Wan Yi Jun corrected his second uncle in 'not-so' affected voice.
"Two police officers are in the family and still they can't do anything when there is an emergency." Han Lao Dao remarked and sighed heavily as if he was complaining.
"I will inform mother and let's have lunch." Lin Jian suggested when she figured out that both brothers are going to interrogate her poor nephew.
"Sister in law, I think it's better if Yi Jun goes and bring aunt for lunch. She was being adamant that she won't come down if her grandsons are here." Mei Xing, the second aunty also played the role of saviour to Wan Yi Jun and sent him to the first floor, away from his uncles. After all, both of his aunt's were on his sides, unlike his uncles who were ready to criticize him.
As soon as Wan Yi Jun left the vicinites of the living room and climbed the stairs leading to the first floor, he let out a sigh of relief. He walked towards the room in the far eastern side and gently knocked.
"I have already told you, I'm not eating anything unless that brat is here." A fierce reprimand heard from the room and it immediately made a smile bloom in Wan Yi Jun's face.
It seems like whatever Han Ze Min said was true- His grandma indeed pulled a trick into bring her family together.
With a smile gleaming in his face, Wan Yi Jun pulled open the door and stated in a jovial tone to the old woman lying on the bed.
"The brat is here."
The moment, Grandma Wang heard the familiar voice she was dying into meet reached her ears, she immediately turned around with a surprise.
"Yi Junah…" She uttered the name in a doting tone and called him over to the bed.
"Yi Jun? My Queen, I just heard you calling me a brat." Wan Yi Jun tilted his head and asked in sulky tone.
"Brat...I wasn't calling you...it was for someone else." She came up with a quick excuse to pacify her grandson whom she wasn't seen for a while.
"Someone else? You mean the brat who threatened me that you will kick me out of the family?" Wan Yi Jun refused to move closer to his grandma as he started to show his childish side by staying away from Wang Yu Min.
"He was just joking...You do know that grandma will never kick you out of the family, right?" Grandma Wang smilingly said and opened her arms, intending to embrace her grandson. Her glistening eyes were welling up in joyous tears by the time Wan Yi Jun rushed towards her to reconciliate.
"I missed you, so much grandma." He uttered while lying inside the old woman's warm and soft arms. "I really, I really missed you...!"
"Grandma was waiting for my Yi Jun, everyday. Why didn't came to meet me any earlier? Wang Yu Min's words were soaked in tears as she heard his confession. "I know why you are avoiding us...you still despise us, right?" She asked in a frail voice while peeling off her arms from her grandson. She was very much aware of the reason why both of her grandsons started to treat each other like enemies...no, more like strangers and Wan Yi Jun had to leave the country by cutting off his ties with Han family.
"What are you saying, grandma? How can I despise you?" Wan Yi Jun retorted as if he pretended to not know what she was pointing at- the incident that changed every single one of their lives fifteen years ago, especially the lives of Wan Yi Jun and his cousin. While the elders in the family acted tough and unaffected, the younger ones were the only people who suffered the loss.
"You are my queen and I love you the most. How can you even say that I despise you?" He cupped her wrinkled face and asked with an innocent smile, that calmed Wang Yu Min's conflicted thoughts.
"Grandma too, loves my Yi Jun, the most." She gave an agreeing smile while the strings of tears fell from her eyes.
"Thanks. But try to say it infront of Han Ze Min, too. Then we will get to know who is your favourite." He jokingly said and glanced around the room as well as the old lady in the bed. By the clean and oddly arranged bookshelves, it was evident that she hasn't moving around a lot. His grandma was a person who loved to make a mess in the room that was cleaned by maids, just to arrange it by herself. She was someone who was self reliant and absolutely disliked the idea of keeping a maid to look after. But thanks to her old age, she had no other option but to let others take care of her.
"And By the Way, what are you doing in bed on New year? Wake up, wake up." Wan Yi Jun gently grabbed Wang Yu Min's arms and made her sit on the bed.
"Where is your chariot, Majesty?" He asked while glancing around the room and found the wheel chair next to the closet room.
"Why did you park your chariot there? How could go somewhere if you park it so far?" He complained and stood up from the bed to take the wheel chair to her.
"I spent my day and night in this bed, waiting for death. Now that you are here, I can finally die in peace."
"Huh, why are you saying that? You Just had a stroke, that too fifteen years ago. I think you are healthier than any of us." Wan Yi Jun almost chided his grandmother when he heard her mentioning death. He pulled the wheel chair to the bed and carefully removed the quilt that covered Wan Yu Min's fragile body. Like her grand children, Wan Yu Min fall ill as an after effect of whatever happened on that wretched day when a death news came to Han family house. She had a stroke and got paralyzed right after hearing that news. Though she came to her normal life after years of treatment and medication, she wasn't the same as before.
"Nowadays, I began to dream about those people who already went to the afterworld. I just think that is sign for me." Wang Yu Min declared with a bitter smile, "It's time for me to go."
"What are you saying, my queen? You will live long enough to play with your great-grandchildren, or maybe great-great-grandchildren." Wan Yi Jun pulled her cheeks and tried to cheer up her mood. However, the next moment he regretted his choice of wards when he noticed the glow in his grandma's eyes.
"I don't think that would happen very easily. If None of you wants to get married, then how would I get to see my great-grandchildren? So get married as soon as possible..." Wang Yu Min asked....no she literally ordered her grandson who clearly had no intentions to marry someone.