6: Su Chen

Su Chen

Su Xiang left Song Luli in the bedroom, walking down the hall.2

Unreserved, she entered the unlocked bathroom and found Su Chen brushing his teeth in front of the mirror, shirtless.

"Oh! Sorry," she said, backing away. Su Chen stopped her from closing the door, towering her at the threshold. He had tired-worn eyes from his long journey; his black hair tumbled over his long lashes. If she had to describe him, it would be handsome. Yes, she could call anyone handsome, and Su Chen was that.

He stepped back to spit and rinse his mouth. He then nodded at her to come in. Su Xiang walked in, and she said, "I have to use the toilet." Su Chen nodded and left.

He must have thought that she needed to wash her face. Before, she would do that next to him, since the bathroom had double sinks. But that was a habit from years ago.

When she finished, she exited, and Su Chen was leaning against the wall. He approached her swiftly. "Come find me after," he said to her. Su Xiang nodded and continued to pass him, stepping into her room.

She then said to Song Luli, "Are you ready?"

Song Luli released a breath, "Yes," she responded.

...

When Song Luli left the house, Su Xiang went to find Su Chen.

He was at the patio deck, reading a book with the porch lights on. He was wearing all black; his long sleeve shirt and trousers were tightly fitted, hugging his body.

Su Chen was one to get lost in reading, and Su Xiang was always envious at how he found the time for it when all she did was work and study, though he did that too and more.

Su Chen was her older adoptive brother. He was twenty-eight years old, adopted into the family when he was three. Su Xiang wasn't born yet when her parents had taken him in.

Her mother had told her that she had fertility issues until they decided to take in Chen. So Su Xiang didn't know his former name, nor anything about where he came from, or what his biological family was like.

But she didn't care; he was very much a Su as much as she was.

It made sense, though. Su Chen didn't look like a Su; he could pass for a Song due to his dark hair, but he didn't have features that resembled her mother's side of the family. The Song family was known for having dark hair and brown eyes flecked with gold; even she had the eyes. But Su Chen didn't.

But they've kept it a secret from her extended family, including him. He doesn't know, and Su Xiang swore to take the secret to her grave.

Su Xiang found out when she was ten years old. Her mother had to contact his biological family because he was experiencing some medical issues that blew away when they found out about his biological family's medical history.

Her parents kept it a secret, but Su Xiang overheard. Her mother had begged her not to tell Su Chen. She begged because Su Xiang was young, and young children often spilled secrets. But Su Xiang saw how desperate her mother was. Therefore, she didn't.

Su Xiang sat next to him on the bench swing. He was still reading, engrossed in it. It appeared as though he finished when he closed the book abruptly after reaching the last sentence of the page, marking the next one.

He then turned his head slightly, gazing down at her with his deep-set, chartreuse-green eyes.

"Xi," he called her low and deep. "Can you tell me what you have been up to the last couple of months?"

Su Xiang pouted. "I should be the one asking you that question."

Su Chen crossed his arms, releasing a short, breathy laugh. "I've been busy," he said.

"You've been ignoring us," she responded bluntly. Some part of her was angry; she was mad because Su Chen barely said a word during the last year, and he came back and acted as if nothing happened.

Su Chen exhaled a deep breath. "I must tell you because I think you know," he said, staring out to the darkness of night.

Su Xiang's heart began to pound. She was afraid of what he may say next.

"I am not a Su," he said aloud. "Aren't I?"

Su Xiang frowned. She didn't know how to respond. She looked out in the space; it was dark, but the porch lights were bright, and the night-calling insects began to creek louder.

Su Chen released a breath. "That confirms it," he said, observing.

"I..." Su Xiang began but trailed off.

"You don't have to say anything," he said. "I've known for a while."

"How?" she asked.

"I remember some things...it's not clear since they're only mixed fragments. Some of them could have been dreams or distant memories; I'm not sure. And I've also suspected years ago when I used to get sick often. I once overheard the doctors say I didn't match with either of you in terms of the things I needed to get better. He was speaking to another doctor. He didn't tell me directly; otherwise, it broke confidentiality."

Su Xiang froze.

"I won't tell our parents that I know. I am only telling you because I needed some space from everything...to clear my head. At school, I felt as if I shouldn't come back. I feel as though I don't deserve to inherit half of the company. I am no one; I am neither a Su or a Song. I think you should do it on your own."

Su Xiang reached out and grasped his arm.

"No," she said. "You are a Su. You deserve half of it. I can't do it all alone. Mother and father combined their companies, Song Pharmaceuticals and Sun Group; it's too much for one person, that's why they gave it to both us, regardless if we marry anyone in the future. It doesn't matter. You worked so hard to get your Doctor of Medicine degree."

Su Chen still didn't seem convinced. He looked guilty. Su Xiang bit her lip before she spoke again. Her expression changed; it was clear and confident, full of resolve. "I need you to do it with me. It doesn't matter if you don't have an ounce of Su or Song in you," she said. "But we don't have to tell anyone about who you really are if it makes you feel better. I know people will tear you apart if they were to know that you're not a Su," she said.

Su Chen gazed at her, focused. "Thank you," he said.

Su Xiang smiled. She then folded her legs up, hugging them. "I can't do it without you, Chen," she mumbled again.

Su Chen gave her a small smile. "You can," he responded. "But I will help you."

"Thank you," she responded earnestly.

...

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