The funeral hall was nearly empty.

  The picture of Zhang Limei smiling sat above.

  The twins, a boy and a girl, knelt beneath it. The little girl had silent tears falling down her cheeks while the boy was quiet as they waited.

  Lián Xīng called out quietly from the doorway, “Mùchén…Měi Lán.”

  The boy, Huáng Mùchén, didn’t even glance her way.

  Huáng Měi Lán looked over, her eyes still filled with tears.

  “Auntie?”

  “Hello, little one.”

  A choked sob came from the little girl as she got up and ran toward Lián Xīng.

  “You are late!” A sob came from the little girl’s throat as her arms tightened around Lián Xīng’s middle.

  “I know.” Lián Xīng kissed the top of Huáng Měi Lán’s head. “I’m sorry.”

  Lián Xīng had been at the ceremony, but the children had been kept away by their solicitor, not thinking it best for them to see their mother dead and about to be cremated. Lián Xīng might have made a different decision, considering the children needed closure, but she was not their mother.

  A familiar hand’s weight went on her shoulder, and she looked behind her to see her grandfather, Lián Liwei.

  He patted her shoulder before entering the room, going towards Huáng Mùchén, and kneeling beside

  him. “Your mother was a very special person.”

  “I know.” These were the first words Lián Xīng had heard the boy say since she entered the room.

  They looked at Zhang Limei’s pretty smiling face, which had frozen in time for a little longer, before Lián Liwei stood, offering his hand to the boy.

  “You two don’t have to be alone. Your aunt and I will be by your sides.”

  “She’s not my aunt! She didn’t save Mom!”

  “Lián Xīng didn’t know your mom was sick. Your Mom wouldn’t tell her and wouldn’t let me say anything either.”

  “Why not?” This time, Huáng Mùchén’s voice cracked as he tried to hold back a cry.

  Lián Xīng stepped forward, “Your mother was the most selfless woman I’ve ever known in my life. She probably thought…” She stopped herself, she didn’t want it to sound like she was blaming her good friend. “I’m sorry, Mùchén. I should have thought something was wrong the moment she didn’t video call me last month.”

  She held her arms out to include Huáng Mùchén in the hug she was having with his twin. He shook his head, and she dropped her arms. She realized then that it would take time for him to forgive her, but she was willing to do nearly anything to gain his forgiveness.

  Glancing up at her grandfather, he stepped forward, placing a hand on the boy’s shoulder, reassuring him just with the gesture. “I talked with your solicitor, and he said it was fine for you to come to the villa to spend the night.”

  Huáng Měi Lán released Lián Xīng and looked back at Lián Liwei, “Grandpa, can I stay in the star room?”

  The star room was a beautiful suite in the historical villa with beautiful tapestries with swirling galaxies hand-stitched upon them.

  “You’ll have to ask your aunt; it’s her room, after all.”

  Huáng Měi Lán looked up at Lián Xīng.

  Lián Xīng smiled at her. “Want to have a sleep-over?”

  The little girl nodded enthusiastically before Lián Xīng looked over at Huáng Mùchén. “Do you want to join as well? We can get out the twin mattresses?”

  Huáng Mùchén shook his head. “I’ll be fine on my own; after all, I’m older.”

  Huáng Měi Lán rolled her misty eyes. “By only ten minutes!”

  As the children followed them out of the room, their longing looks at their mother’s portrait not going unnoticed by the two adults, Lián Liwei spoke over their heads in a whisper. “Their solicitor wishes to speak to you tomorrow, first thing. Here’s his appointment card.” He handed her a holographic card that, if it was turned one way, had the date and time for the appointment, and the other way, the address and contact information of the lawyer.