SHEN FAMILY DINING HALL (8:00)
After spending time with her little family in the yard, they have left to their respected room to rest, before the dinner time.
The long dining table in the room was filled slowly, by the variety of dishes, little favourites of everyone present on the table as a huge feast, it wasn't intentional, but they know in their deep heart that it was necessary especially tonight. Soup was warmed, rice was steamed gently, with various dishes, and aroma filling the table which made the small children stomach grumble with hunger.
Lin Jingxu sat by her husband side. Shen Madam adjusted her cushion without asking as if it's a natural thing she has been doing over the years, and placed the medical soup bowl closer to her reach. "Focus on eating, we can talk later" she added before going back to her seat.
Jingxu smiled "You always do this mother"
"And you always forget, you didn't have to refuse" Shen Madam scolded her with love.
Around the table, Shen family gather together, chairs shifted closer to the people to gossip, to share the news, the minimum but restrictive business conversation slipped in under Madam Shen warning about no business during dinner rule, getting warm scolding from their respective partners. Shen Patriarch sat on the head seat, and was studying her quietly, seeing her conversing with everyone on the table, being attentive to everyone, not at all showing her pain to anyone, she was smiling, she is happy and contended with her life.
After being hush by Shen Madam, to focus on eating, none spoke, and they shared their dinner together.
"Grandpa - why does Aunt Jingxu eat this slowly everyday ?" the youngest grandson asked with his innocent face and voice, his spoon paused mid air and spoke the silence on the dining table, and create a laughing environment.
Shen Patriach laughed and said "She eats, like she listens, proper etiquette"
Jingxu laughed louder, that she was surprised by herself, and mumbled "That's not a compliment."
"It is a compliment" Yicheng interrupted immediately. Their daughter notice this and asked slightly "Dad - you smile again"
Yicheng gave a small smile and replied "I always smile"
She shook her head and said "No, this is one,it's a rare one"
A ripple of laughter of amusement came from around the table.
"Be careful, you're exposing him" Yiming added dryly.
Yicheng raised his eyebrow at the perfect arc and said "I'm not mysterious"
"You have always been mysterious, shrouded in dark aura" Yulan added supporting his eldest brother Yiming.
The conversation drifted, old memories resurfaced, incomplete family trips, small and funny arguments, failures of life and business, memories spend with children, their mischiefs. Jingxu listened more today, as if she is reliving the memories, her expression soft, attentive and full of love.
"Mother --- were you ever angry, broken ? truly broken?" Haoran asked voice barely above whisper, but it was still heard by everyone at the table.
Jingxu didn't reply immediately. "Yes - often", her daughter looked at her, surprised. "You've never showed it"
"I've learned early that anger, and words spoken in anger can destroy relationship.", Jingxu sighed, before adding "But I chose not to stay there any longer"
"That sounds like you mother", she said, but later mumbled to her self "like a lonely soul" but everyone heard.
Jingxu smiled and said "It was - but loneliness kept it from spreading."
Shen Patriach nodded his head and added "Some people carry bitterness and hatred forward - while other absorb it to not let other get affected with it" Jingxu lowered her gaze. Seeing her like this, something unresolved shifted in Yicheng chest.
The youngest son, seeing his father pained expression, changed the topic and ask the question by leaning forward as suggestively grinning "So - when did this turn officially into love?" Laughter burst through the table, slowly changing the atmosphere.
Jingxu lifted her head, amused by the sudden question but she replied calmly "When he stopped focusing to manage the outcomes and started listening" she replied to her daughter calmly. All of them turn towards Yicheng. He froze and then exhaled. "That late?" Yiming questioned eagerly, to get some juicy gossips about his youngest brother.
He turn towards Jingxu instead and replied "No, It was earlier, I just didn't realised it," The dining table was silenced with his confession - because it sounded so genuine and honest. He continued "I've fell in love with you, when you first started to assist me in changing the Shen family dynamics, it was not love at first sight, it was slow as time pass by it started growing stronger after seeing you protecting my family, and fighting with everything you have to protect us." Jingxu stared at him in shock "You didn't need to -"she began speaking but was interrupted with her husband saying "I know - But tonight, I wanted you to know to."
Shen Madam smiled sadly at the couple, eyes glistening, but she didn't interfere. "You help me in carrying our family, becoming the guiding light in the darkness, and never asked for anything in return." Yicheng said turning slightly so that everyone could hear.
His voice softened, "The time when my father was in critical condition, and we brothers were outstation and Yulan was being the assistant doctor, and later attending doctor, you were the only one who was managing the family as my wife, office as my secretary, and taking care of my family at hospital as daughter in law, exhausting your self to the bone."
He took a small pause before starting again, all the time his hand on Jingxu, and moist eyes focus on her, "Then it was discovered my father was in need of the Kidney transplant, with us being absent, and Yulan, being the important for his medical assistance couldn't be the one to donate the kidney. But I thank the heavens, for sending you to my family as a saviour, your blood-group and kidney matched with his, and you donated it without a second thought, your selflessness on that day, hit me very hard, and I fell for you harder. You did many other things for our family, and you never used that weight to demand anything from us." he added, as the people on the table has become emotional.
"And that's when I started stopped seeing this marriage as a business deal or family arrangements, and started seeing as a my home, my safe place." he again added after giving a light peck on her knuckles as a sweet gesture.
Jingxu hands trembled which were held tightly in his hand, she calmed down herself a bit, "Why are you saying this now?" she asked quietly. "Because silence did it job, and now truth can do too." No one interrupted him. Shen Patriarch cleared his throat, and said "You chose well."
The eldest great grand daughter laughed softly "This is not how I expected dinner to go"
"It's much better" Haoran said. After finishing the dinner, they sat for sometime, and then Yulan went in the kitchen to fetch the dessert prepared for everyone, and have a wonderful dinner together.
A camera was brought, "Lets take some pictures" Ruihan announced. Jingxu hesitated then then lead into Yicheng side. The camera clicked, once, twice and the memories was captured in the camera, saving it for the future, without knowing that it will be the last one with filled with happiness.
Dinner ended slowly, no one was rushed, and for that night Shen was complete - because nothing was left unsaid.
SHEN YICHENG AND LIN JINGXU BEDROOM
The room was dark, with only light coming from moon. Not just dark-but softened.
The curtains were half drawn, moon light filtering through in muted tones that leave it traces behind the furniture, without insisting on form. The bedside lamp was switched off. The world had finally agreed to keep the distance.
Lin Jingxu lay on her side, looking out of the window through the curtains gaps, her back against Shen Yicheng's chest, his armed circled her, pressing her firmly against him, in fear of losing her, firm but careful not to hurt her, praying to God to stop the time for a bit longer. Her breathing was shallow, slower now.
"You haven't slept yet" she asked quietly, while turning around to look at him, "I don't think, I can sleep peacefully tonight" he replied looking down into her black eyes. She lowered her head and said softly "I didn't mean to scare you all so badly". He laughed and said "You didn't, but I scared myself to the wits today"
She smiled faintly and said softly "I have a feeling, that I won't be awake tomorrow." He didn't argue about this, no matter how much he wanted to deny this. After a long pause he asked "Are you afraid?", she look him in the eyes and shook his head indicating as no, but later said "I'm finished, and that's makes it different." He admitted after a moment "I'm not"
"I loved you" she confessed softly, "Not loudly, but completely"
His throat tightened, he replied "And I loved you too - the way people love when they intend to last for the lifetime"
Their foreheads rested together again't each other, she opened her eyes again and looked into his steel grey eyes "If there is another life, lets meet before I'm tired" . "Then lets meet before the storm comes, before the weight settles" came the immediate reply.
Jingxu brings her pinky finger for a promise "Let's promise to meet each other early in the next life, and love each other like no tomorrow, and live a happy life" he chuckled and brings his pinky finger and made the promise and seal the deal.
Her breathing became shallow and slowed down, as time passed by, it came to stop.
Yicheng didn't move at first, fear of accepting the harsh truth. his palm resting on her chest, waiting for her heart to start to beat again, but nothing happen, he whispered her name once, twice, trice but no response.
Carefully, he pressed his forehead to hers and stayed in the same position there, unmoving. After a long moment he kissed her on the forehead, followed by kissing her on rosy cold lips. Not to wake up her, only to honor to the bond they shared.
He cried silently for a longtime, he whispered softly "Thank you, for choosing us. I promise to choose you in every lifetime, and will never let you struggle like this again, I love you Jingxu."
He held her fully then, no longer afraid of breaking anything vulnerable and fragile. Outside the long night continued, but time in the room stayed still, as if time has been stopped. And something far beyond silence, prayers and promises were acknowledged and wishes were fulfilled. A system completed its observation throughout the space.
SUBJECT EVALUATION COMPLETED.
COGNITIVE COHERENCE : INTACT
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE : HIGH
EMOTIONAL INTEGRATION: COMPLETED>
SELF AWARENESS UNDER PRESSURE AND SUSTAINED DEPRIVATION : EXCEPTIONAL.
CAPACITY FOR MAKING CHOICE UNDER CONSTRAINT: VERIFIED
SELECTION APPROVED.