One month later:
Qian Meigui organized a vase of bluebells as the sun shone brightly illuminating the entire hospital room. She watched as the patients down below walked around the yard for their daily exercise, some young, some old. It was a beautiful hot day to go somewhere, to do something wild or enjoyable. But Qian Meigui wouldn"t ever want to be anywhere without the person she waiting for to wake.
One of the sun rays. .h.i.t the room, so she turned around, facing Song Sheng, where it hit his perfectly crafted face, his eyes still closed shut. And she never missed anything more than to stare into his gold-flecked eyes again. It had been nearly thirty days since the incident, and his dark hair had already grown near his neck; his muscles softened, he had lost weight, but nothing changed the fact that he was still Song Sheng, the man who protected her with his life.
The last month was agonizing, but she knew that when Song Sheng was ready, he would come back to her. It wasn"t the end of their story.
Qian Meigui stepped towards him, leaning down on the bed to plant a gentle kiss on his smooth forehead.
She had confessed to Song Jinyi and Song Jun the truth. The twins told her that they already knew. "Song Jun and I followed you sneaking out of the house once" Song Jinyi told her, amusingly. "You weren"t very good at being discreet," she finished. They didn"t care that Song Sheng and Qian Meigui were lovers; on the contrary, it only made their familial bond stronger. She embraced the twins, staring into their eyes, knowing that they would become brilliant people in their unique way, no matter where that road led them. She still had not told the world yet about who she was, but now she was ready.
Qian Meigui savoured another longing glance at Song Sheng before she turned her heel to leave the ward. Song Ren was leaning against the door frame wearing scrubs as she picked up hours to volunteer at the hospital. Qian Meigui gave her a wave of good-bye before Song Ren entered the room.
Afterwards, she drove home to pick up some doc.u.ments, throwing her purse over her shoulder before she exited the house. Qian Meigui then drove to the courthouse, where she had to speak against the crimes that happened twelve years ago. The best part about that day was the fact the Song Rui had dug up the original autopsy reports of Qian Aiguo"s and Qian Shanyuan"s bodies. Instead of injuries from an accident, it identified that bullets indeed killed them. It made her feel confident and at peace.
Zhong Liu represented her case. She took the podium, facing every person who attended the court. Some were representatives of Song Corporation, and others Song Entertainment. Supporters of Sun Group and Wen law firm also came. Yang Minzhe and all the rest appeared as well. There was a s.p.a.ce between Song Jinyi and Su Feng, but Qian Meigui felt relieved when she saw Song Ren entering hurriedly in her scrubs, squeezing in between her family and friends to sit. She then glanced up Qian Meigui giving her a curt nod and smile. Qian Meigui figured that Song Ren had gotten someone else to watch Song Sheng.
Qian Meigui straightened her back, holding up her chin high, inhaling a deep breath. "My name is Qian Meigui..." she began.
So she told her entire story, details of the beginning. From the time before her conception to the time that Qian Aiguo and her husband were shot and killed. She didn"t waver, didn"t look towards Lin Anni. The entire time she remained focused, though, it was difficult to tell. Although she was about to receive justice, she felt disheartened. She spent years on this case, it gave her something to look forward, and now that it was solved, she felt like she had nothing.
"So the Song family had protected me all these years, blending me as one of their own. Though my death certificate is a forged doc.u.ment from the Rui Inst.i.tute, I don"t want to charge Song Rui. He may have also hidden the evidence of my parent"s autopsy reports, but he did it for me, to fake my death. Call it a form of witness protection; that"s what he did. And I am grateful for him and his family."
The judge listened to her story. Many people in the benches that didn"t know about her ident.i.ty were shocked, and they felt for Qian Meigui, for her tragic life. But afterwards, she felt some relief. She had confessed who she was.
Song Rui gave his testimony about what happened years ago. And after the hearing, witnesses and testimonies, Lin Anni was charged for Murder on the first degree, for plotting and premeditating the entire thing. She was also charged for kidnapping with intent to harm the victims. Her sentence was for life. The charges against Song Rui for obstruction of justice dropped due to Qian Meigui"s plea.
Song Zemin was dead; therefore, Qian Meigui felt like she pa.s.sed the final test of her life.
After the trial, Zhong Liu approached her, shaking her hand, "h.e.l.lo, I am Zhong Liu." Qian Meigui smiled at him, shaking his hand, "Nice to meet you, Zhong Liu. I am Qian Meigui." Zhong Liu grinned.
News spread of the case of the little girl who died in the triple deaths that occurred years ago, it shocked the news outlets: She was alive! Hidden in plain sight!
Many netizens were impressed at the fact that the Song family had pulled off the trick. Since Song Rui had four children, not many questioned the fifth. She was the middle child, in between Song Sheng, Song Ren, and the lovely but naughty twins. But it made sense, Qian Meigui didn"t look like them. She was beautiful but different from the Song"s imperial beauty.
Theories then enveloped the internet with old pictures that surfaced and evidence about the trials. Old News articles returned about how her parent"s deaths were initially not believed to be suspicious but now ruled as a double-homicide.
Qian Meigui shut off the internet, for now. She only wanted to focus on Song Sheng"s health. So she went to the hospital.
Although Song Sheng"s hair grew, so did hers. Qian Meigui decided to wear a modest white-flowered print dress. She wore her wavy hair braided with thin waterfall braids as the other half of her hair was kept loose. She went to exchange the bluebells that were dying with new ones when she began to hear low grunts coming from behind her. Qian Meigui froze with her hands in the air, holding the stems of the flowers in her hands. Her heart raced, but then Song Ren rushed in, smiling, panting.
She began to check on the equipment, pulling out data. "I didn"t want to tell you just in case it may not happen. But Song Sheng had been showing a lot of gradual brain activity for nearly two weeks now. It had to be any day now, I knew it. He had been showing a lot of improvement in his body, and he had grown healthier," Song Ren said to her as she kept busy.
When Qian Meigui glanced up at him once more, she realized then. His face regained colour, his body full and shaped; his body twitched, waking.
The next thing she knew, he opened his eyes and was looking at her with his gold-flecked eyes. Song Ren stepped forward, "You"re okay big brother. You"re in the hospital." She began to check his vitals. "What you are experiencing now is confusion. I have already called for the doctors. But if you can hear me, I need you to blink twice for me." Song Sheng blinked, and he blinked again. Qian Meigui felt emotional that he was responding. But as Song Sheng paid attention to Song Ren, he occasionally stole a glance at Qian Meigui with his gentle gaze as if relief washed over him.
"Mei, love," Song Ren began. "I know you"re happy that he"s all right. But the doctors and I are going to do more tests. When he"s okay, you"ll be able to see him. All right?" Qian Meigui nodded.
It had only been 11 hours, but to her, it felt like a lifetime. Song Ren came over, her eyes tired, but happy. "He"s awake and fully conscious. He wants to see you." Qian Meigui lept towards her, embracing her. A tear fell from her eyes, "Thank you, Ren." Song Ren hugged her back, "You"re welcome," she responded, smiling.
Qian Meigui took steps back to the ward; her heart raced as she took slow steps. She was eager, but she was also afraid. She found him gazing out the window, at the brink of dawn, towards the bluebells. Song Sheng must have heard her footsteps as he turned, glancing at her with a tender grin. "What day is it?" he asked, out of the blue. Qian Meigui chuckled. "It"s the third of August," she said. Song Sheng smiled gently, becking her to come closer with a wave of his hand.
Qian Meigui cautiously took steps; her chest thundered through her ears. He was reaching out for her, and when she met his touch, electricity surged through them. He held her against his chest, cradling her head, "Happy birthday," he said to her. Qian Meigui chuckled with br.i.m.m.i.n.g tears. "I"m sorry, I missed yours." Song Sheng shook his head. "I"m an old man," he teased, "birthdays no longer count for me," he finished. "Twenty-nine years old? Hmm, no. You"re at your prime," Qian Meigui responded, playfully. Song Sheng gazed down at her with a warm smile, a look of longing. With tears in her eyes, Qian Meigui admitted. "I love you."
Song Sheng leaned down, kissing her lips deeply as a tear cascaded down his face. "I love you too," he whispered against her salt-tasted lips.