XG 53 - I will let you reunite slowly

Surprisingly, Charles Wong joined them in the living room and had Brother Lam tell everyone what he found out.

No matter the reason, Wong Xue Guo and Chen Yibo were grateful to get the chance to listen. After three days of living together, with nearly twenty-four hours together every day, the two young adults got closer and found each other to be quite a good friend, especially when both of them were the youngest in the group.

Everyone needs a good friend around their age. A bully and their victim could co-exist and help each other during danger, so why do the two that do not have a grudge towards each other not do the same?

Wong Xue Guo could not let her pettiness ruin what could be an excellent partnership.

Brother Lam shared, “We don’t have much clue on the possible person that possessed the boy. It’s too difficult to search for a dead person that’s not reported. It’s the same case as Kiat.”

Ta Kei added, “I’ve searched for a list of patients with severe injuries that survived. The list is narrowed down to this month, with five people left in the list.”

“Investigate them.”

“Got it,” Ta Kei answered his boss. “We had also accidentally stumbled upon this news. The politician Lok Hui Man had allowed a new group of people to enter the island.”

“Oh? Madam Lok is much kinder than she looks,” Kang Xunsu commented without much sincerity, remembering the fierce Lok Hui Man that originally refused to let their group stay.

Brother Lam’s sneer proved Kang Xunsu’s doubt. “She does not dare to refuse them. They are from a rich family who goes by the surname of Sui that agreed to donate a huge sum of money to her party if she let them in. It’s a family of three, with their father as an existing resident.”

“People entering are no trouble to us, as long as they are clean from any bites,” Aurora said.

“That’s only because we don’t have the intention to settle down,” Brother Lam refuted. “You had no idea how many people complained about it. The civilians had gotten terrified and wary of outsiders coming in. Don’t even mention food, it’s another messy argument. Funny thing is, Lok Hui Man originally refused to let them in, but her family and some party members insisted.”

Lok Hui Man was a politician supported by her family members. Thanks to their help, she could work with her back supported by those she trusted. But relying on their help heavily also means she was tied down to them.

A tall guy with a red eyepatch clapped his hands. “Aha! They must have gotten some benefit from getting them in!”

“We already know that, so why do you sound so happy to tell us!” His buddy retorted and both of them started a small argument.

“It’s still noisy then?” Kang Xunsu asked, ignoring the argument at the side.

“Lok Hui Man manages to calm people down by saying they needed funds, and the outsider had brought more funds in. She also tries to get everyone to pity the victim, evoking their sympathy to accept the newcomers that had worked hard to reach safety. It was also good for them as their father, who’s a resident and lives alone, is very well-liked by his neighbors.”

“Mr. Sui’s daughter-in-law is also from a wealthy family,” Ta Kei added. “Madam Lok needs more money and allows them in.”

“No other rich family tried to bribe their way in?”

Brother Lam sneered. “None of them are as rich as the Sui family.”

“They should have accepted trade agreements with lesser populated countries. They won’t be overly stingy with their resources,” Aurora complained under her breath. Since they still have helicopters, they should use them to get the resources themselves instead of waiting for the other party to deliver it.

Frowning in worry, Wong Xue Guo whispered to Chen Yibo, “Will it affect my mother’s arrival?”

“As long as Madam Lok allows it, Mrs. Wong will get in safely,” Chen Yibo assured but did not voice his true thoughts to prevent frightening her. Because by then, it will depend on whether Lok Hui Man still thinks that Suzie Yap was her potential cash cow or not.

“You still haven’t restored the line?” Charles Wong gazed at Ta Kei, who smiled wryly.

“Boss, give me another fifty-five minutes and the lines on this island will be restored!”

With that promise, Charles Wong no longer pressures Ta Kei and turns to Kang Xunsu. “Tighten the security.”

Kang Xunsu arched an eyebrow but nodded. The big boss had the right to worry if the family of three’s arrival would cause the island’s residents to show their dissatisfaction and create trouble for them.

“Buy more dried food. We will leave as soon as my wife arrives.” Charles Wong stood up and walked away, signaling the end of the meeting.

֎ ֎ ֎

Inside the house of the Sui family, the newlywed couple that just entered Penang Island was finally reunited with their father. At this time, they were glad that Grandpa Sui had insisted on living at Penang Island instead of following his children to where they were staying for their job.

Their elderly father was happy to reunite with his family and especially looked forward to meeting his five-month-old baby grandson for the first time.

When the father reached out to the bundle in his son’s arm, his son quickly moved back. “No, dad. He’s asleep. I will put him in bed first. You can see him tomorrow when he’s awake.”

Grandpa Sui wanted to say his grandson was clearly awake with how energetic he moves under the blanket, but his son had already carried his grandson up to the bedroom.

Mother Sui placed her hand on her father-in-law’s arm. “Father, we do not dare to sleep during our way here. Sui Han will be in a better mood to talk tomorrow when he’s well rested. It’s already late now, you must also be tired of staying up to wait for us.”

Grandpa Sui also understood so he did not insist. “Alright. Go and rest. I will prepare a nice breakfast tomorrow for our family reunion.”

Mother Sui wanted to reject, but with her father-in-law insisting, she gave in. “Father, when you sleep, lock your bedroom door. It’s still safe here, but it’s just a precaution if there’s a thief.”

With how tired his daughter-in-law looked, Grandpa Sui did not argue and agreed. It was just locking his door anyway.

After watching him slowly make his way into his bedroom on the first floor and lock it, only then did Mother Sui climb up the stairs, her tired face finally revealing a trace of fear. Normally, they would close all the lights in the living room before going to sleep, but tonight, she could not bring herself to do so and leave the lights on.

She clutched the stair’s railing to support her shaking legs, not knowing if it was from fatigue or fear. She had just made it to the top when she noticed someone was standing not far away from her, silently watching her progress.

The suddenness startled her so much she nearly fell. When she noticed who it was, she let out a relieved sigh. “Did you-”

“Yes, don’t worry,” Father Sui assured his wife.

Mother Sui nodded tremblingly. “I told father to lock the door.”

“Good. You did well.”

She collapsed in her husband’s arms and could not stop herself from letting out a mournful sob. “What should we do? Our baby…”

“We will lock him up until the cure is found. No one will know if we hide him.”

“Your father… will he support us?”

Father Sui chuckled, hugging his wife tightly so that she would not see his red eyes. “Did you forget how happy my father was when he knew you were pregnant? He fought with us for months to have you stay here under his care until our son is born.”

“And he finally gave in when we promised him my mother would take care of me…” Mother Sui bit her lips in agony at the memory of her mother sacrificing herself to protect her grandson.

But it was useless. Her baby boy was bitten too.

Even knowing that their son was bitten, they still made their way to Penang Island. They covered their son with thick blankets, restricting his movement and appearance from view. Their infected son indeed was much stronger than before, but the adult Father Sui was still stronger than him and able to restrain him.

They had to act that their newborn son was being wilful and unable to calm down, using it to tire down the guards to finally let them in without checking their son properly. Mother Sui had to give up all her money to bribe them, making their entry easier.

Heavens had not closed all their doors!

When Father Sui and Mother Sui finally fell asleep, the bedroom door on the first floor opened. Grandpa Sui stepped out and made his way to the second floor, all the while switching off the light.

“What a waste of electricity,” Grandpa Sui mumbled under his breath.

Father Sui does not have the key to lock his son’s newly furnished room and he does not dare to ask Grandpa Sui for it, for fear of his suspicion. He also does not think that his father would suddenly go into his son’s room in the middle of the night.

Looking down the crib, Grandpa Sui does not find his grandson there. There was a faint sound coming from inside the closet and he went to open it.

“Ah, there you are, my cute little grandson!” Grandpa Sui happily lifted away thick clothing from his grandson. “Oh my, how could your parents tie you up like this! Don’t worry, grandpa will free you soon.”

Father Sui and Mother Sui, thinking that they were now safe, slept deeply after spending days fleeing to safety. They did not notice the sound of their bedroom door unlocking and being pushed open.

“How could they sleep with the lights on?” Grandpa Sui grumbled but did not turn it off. He placed his grandson onto the bed before removing the cloth that restricted the baby’s limbs.

He watched with a smile as his grandson crawled rather well on the bed towards his parents, his little mouth drooling uncontrollably. “I will let you reunite slowly.”

Walking out without closing the bedroom door, he headed down the stairs with a smile on his face. He did not go back to his bedroom but strolled to the front door and removed the locks.

Suddenly, there was a scream coming from upstairs and Grandpa Sui’s smile became wider. He left the house with the door wide open, ignoring the terrified screams inside the house, and walked away.