Mingmei Yip - Song of the Silk Road

“Alex, tell me honestly, how do you feel?”

“Cold and a headache, otherwise OK.”

“Don’t worry, the doctor said you’ll be fine.”

“Hope so, since my plan to marry you still hasn’t changed.”

I smiled, then began to rub his hand. “How was breakfast?”

He rolled his eyes. “Horrible. The nurse treated me like I was her baby.”

“How so?”

“She kept blowing off steam from the porridge with her thick, wet lips before she fed me. I swear I saw her saliva shooting into the congee.”

“Then why didn’t you eat it by yourself?”

“Because she wouldn’t let me!”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Alex, she’s not treating you like her baby, but her boyfriend. She likes you. Excited, too. I bet you’re this hospital’s first Barbarian patient,” I teased. “What don’t you like about her? She’s young and lively, not bad looking, either.”

Alex made a face. “Are you kidding me, Lily? Have you lost your mind?” He paused, then said, “I don’t care whether she’s young or lively, old or ugly, pretty or horny. I only want you, Lily. If you still don’t get it by now.”

“Sorry, Alex, just kidding.”

He cupped my face and looked deeply into my eyes. “And thank you for saving my life, twice. How am I going to repay you in this life?”

“Alex, this time it’s the Japanese doctor who rescued you, not me.”

“Who’s this doctor?”

“Remember the guy who took pictures with a big camera? He was the one who held your head above water as he swam back to the shore.”

“Yes, I remember.”

Some silence, and Alex spoke again. “Sorry that I failed to retrieve Lop Nor’s necklace. I know it means a lot to you.”

“Alex, I feel guilty enough for your near drowning, so please don’t apologize again, ever.” Then I saw tears in his eyes. “You all right?”

“Lily, I made a promise to take very good care of you and protect you, but I failed. It turned out that you’re the one who’s been protecting me, twice. I’m so sorry….”

“Alex, please. Accidents happen…. ” I paused, then said, “Maybe it’s better that Lop Nor’s necklace is gone.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s reunited with him, where it belongs. I believe this is a sign telling me it’s time to let go of this tragedy.”

Alex nodded.

As I was leaning over to kiss him, a voice jolted me to a halt. “Hi. Morning.”

I turned and saw Akira Muramachi.

I introduced the two men and told Alex this was the person who had saved his life.

“Thank you for saving my life, doctor. I owe you.”

A warm smile rose on the Japanese’s deeply tanned face. I noticed his teeth were white and neat. I also noticed that jealousy was gradually spreading on my young lover’s face.

“Akira, please. And Alex, thank your girlfriend. She’s a brave woman. She was about to jump into the lake to save you had I not stopped her in time.”

Alex lifted my hand to his lips. “I know, I’m the lucky guy.”

Akira spoke again. “I’ve just come to check if you’re OK. I don’t trust hospitals in remote parts of China. May I?”

“Of course,” Alex and I said simultaneously.

He leaned close to examine Alex’s head. “Just want to make sure that they changed the bandage and that the wound is clean. You seem fine.”

After some pleasantries, Akira threw me a meaningful glance. “I think I should leave you two alone. Lily, you have my hotel phone number. So in case you guys need me for anything, just let me know.”

I took his hand and smiled gratefully. “Thanks, Akira, it’s very kind of you.”

Alex chimed in a loud, “Thank you again for saving my life, doctor.”

I watched Akira leave the room, then turned back to my young lover. “Alex, this man is your jiuming enren , life-saving noble man. But I didn’t hear much enthusiasm in your voice.”

“I’m sorry, Lily, I’m still not feeling well and I’m just not myself. Please forgive me. You think he dislikes me now?”

I took his hand and smiled. “Alex, are you jealous?”

Suddenly a strong current of qi surged in his voice. “What do you think? I have to be cautious. First Chris, then Lop Nor, and now this doctor photographer Akira!”

Now my lover talked like a boy whose favorite toys were being snatched away one by one. I burst out laughing.

He cast me an annoyed glance. “What’s so funny? Don’t make fun of me, I’m serious. Men like you too much!”

“Relax, Alex. You’re just so cute.”

“Maybe so are you in this doctor Amiba’s eyes.”

Knowing that he deliberately mispronounced Akira’s name, I burst out laughing again.

Ispent the next two nights dozing off on the bench in the same corner of the small hospital. The following day in the afternoon, while I was watching Alex sleep, I heard a small commotion outside the hospital room. Wondering what was happening, I turned and saw Frank and Donna walking in with Plump. I immediately stood up to greet them. Donna shook my hand, hers cold as the Black Dragon Pond, but to my surprise, Frank pulled me to him and gave me a hug. Then they went to look at Alex.

An audience of curious hospital staff and patients had already assembled to gawk at the foreigners.

Plump waved them away with an authoritative air. “Go back to work or your beds. Don’t disturb our honorable guests!”

After the small gathering dispersed, I asked Plump, “How did you know to bring his parents here? You speak English?”

She giggled, looking very happy. “Miss, no English. Who else will they come for except your boyfriend who’s half ghost?” She lifted her hands. “Although I don’t speak English, I can use sign language!”

I smiled. “Right. Thank you.”

She winked. “You lucky girl! Handsome boyfriend and rich parents!” Then she went outside the room and closed the door.

Donna scrutinized her son for a moment before a suppressed scream shot out from her collagen-enhanced lips. “Oh, my God, his head is bandaged!”

Just then their son woke up, probably having heard the noise, and felt the annoyed qi from his mother.

Both parents took their turn to kiss Alex, then the father asked, “How are you feeling, son?”

Alex sat up, a tired yet big smile blooming on his sunken face. “Hi, Mom. Dad, I feel OK. Thanks for coming right away.”

“You’re our son, Alex,” both parents enthused.

Then their beloved son grabbed my hand and pressed it on his chest. “Lily has been caring for me the whole time, without her, I…” He stopped, too choked with emotion to continue.

I saw Donna’s face darken as Frank laid his thick palm on his son’s shoulder.

I stepped outside the room to let the trio enjoy their parents-and-son minireunion in privacy. A few minutes later when I re-entered the room, Frank announced his plan—to bring Alex back to New York right away so he could be treated at Columbia Medical Center in a private room by real nurses and world-leading specialists, instead of this dirty bed in a dingy, remote hospital.

Concern spread on Alex’s face. “Then what about Lily?”

Frank turned to me. “You can come with us if you want. We’ll pay for your ticket.”

I wondered if “paying for my ticket” was also a subtle suggestion that I was too poor for their son.

I smiled. “Thank you, but I need to stay here to finish a few things.”

Donna was frowning at me, and I was pretty sure she was dying to ask me what the hell was I doing in China all by myself. I pretended not to notice her questioning glance in the hope of discouraging her itchy tongue from wagging—or slashing. I guessed she was relieved that I’d turned down Frank’s offer to go back with them.