THE SEED

Chu ShuZhi kept lowering his head when Lu Chang poured the tea into three cups on the table before he serve the cup to his wife and Chu ShuZhi. "Thank you." Chu ShuZhi said with a hanging head.

Lu Chang sat beside his wife who threw her face away from Chu ShuZhi in anger. "So...Care to tell us why did you yell at my wife as you did earlier?" Lu Chang asked.

Chu ShuZhi glanced at the lady who glared at him from the corner of her eyes. "Well," he lowered his gaze, "I've been told that you were a hermaphrodite snake and I thought that you are trying to take advantage of ChangCheng's kindness..."

Now, both husband and wife were dumbfounded. They glanced at each other before facing Chu ShuZhi. "Hermaphrodite snake?" Lu Chang repeated.

"Yes..." Chu ShuZhi nodded.

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Zhu Hong hugged herself, gripping her arms in high tension when she saw Zhu Jiu enter the surgery room from the glass. Her body turned cold in fear when the doctors prepared for the surgery.

"He will be alright." Wu TienEn muttered as his old eyes stared at his foster son, fists clenching nervously. Those words were more to convince him than Zhu Hong.

"Uncle Wu..." Zhu Hong peered at the old man, "if you worry about him why do you let him do it?"

Wu TienEn lowered his gaze. "Xiao Jiu knows exactly how it feels to lose someone dear..." he replied, "he lost two closest people in a single night."

Zhu Hong took a deep breath, remembering the day when Zhu Jiu told her about his family.

"My own son never wants to be a police officer. He hates this job because it makes me always away from my family." Wu TienEn sighed, "but Xiao Jiu...He doesn't want anybody to lose someone they love, that is the reason he joins the corps."

"But what about me?" Zhu Hong lowered her gaze, glancing down somewhere that nobody knew. "What about us who love him and don't want to lose him too?" she asked in heartsickness.

"You... I... We choose to love him, nobody forces us, our free will. Don't you think we should be brave enough to let him choose his own way and keep supporting him?" Wu TienEn peered at the unhappy lady.

Zhu Hong did not reply just took a deep breath once more only to hitch. But not only Zhu Hong, everyone's breath was stuck in their throats when Zhu Jiu took a stance. Lowering his body to Zhang Tian's head level with forceps in hand, Zhu Jiu prepared himself to take the chip.

"In the third count..." Zhu Jiu said to Zhao MingAn after he set his mark.

"Wait..." Zhao MingAn's sudden words made everyone look at him. "How fast are you?"

"Huh?" Zhu Jiu frowned.

"I have to inject you with the offee serum soon after you drop the chip." Zhao MingAn replied, "as the serum can't be late to be injected, I need to know how fast are you."

And now, everyone blinked as they just remember.

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"Are you ready?" Zhao MingAn asked soon after Wu TienEn joined them in the surgery chamber. Really, if not because of his healing ability then Zhang Tian would die as his head was pried open for so long already.

"On my mark..." Zhao MingAn glanced at Zhu Jiu. "Three... Two... One... Go!"

Like a lightning, Zhu Jiu moved and all they knew was in a split second Wu TienEn kneeled beside his foster son who lay on the ground. The forceps tweezer was still in Zhu Jiu's hand, as the chip was placed neatly on the special plater.

"Uncle Wu... How's-"

Zhao MingAn never could finish his words because Wu TienEn screamed, "he is unconscious... Help him!"

"Oh, damn..." Zhao YunLan muttered as he witnessed the commotion. He knew something was wrong even though he was not inside the surgery chamber.

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"Officer Chu... There is no such of a hermaphrodite snake on this planet." Lu Chang explained.

"But my twin said so." Chu ShuZhi persisted.

"And you do not bother to do some research before you believe your twin brother?" Lu Chang agape. His eyes blinked in awe at Chu ShuZhi's innocence or he should say... Stupidity... Lu Chang had mentally facepalmed himself.

Wing Chun in another hand lowered her gaze. She seemed to understand the real situation. "Was he said that when you talked about Xiao Guo?" she sipped her tea. She looked like had been able to suppress her upset.

"How do you know?" Chu ShuZhi shifted his eyes at Lu Chang's wife, this lady was so smart.

Both Lu Chang and his wife sighed, now they understood what kind of pain Chu NianZhi faced. "Officer Chu..." Lu Chang scratched his temple, "one can live in denial as long as one wants. However, one can't live in peace that way." he smiled.

"What?!" Chu ShuZhi flustered, "I don't... I don't live in denial... I don't like ChangCheng in a romantic sense..." he stood for himself.

Lu Chang glanced at Wing Chun who only pursed her lips. They did not need any further information to see the denial and realized that neither did they need to say anything about it. Chu ShuZhi was aware of his feeling but somehow kept pretending to stand in the dark for some reason they did not know and they did not need to know.

"Officer Chu..." Lu Chang massaged his temple, "I dont remember that I talk about Xiao Guo and you..."

"Well... That's..." Chu ShuZhi trailed off.

"Officer Chu..." Wing Chun took a deep breath, "I will not spend our time convincing you about your feeling about Xiao Guo, you can keep it hidden as long as you want for any reason just you who know... However, everyone just has a limited time in this world and no one knows when their time will end. I just wish that you won't regret your decision when your time is up because time is the most precious gift from the gods. Too precious so that the gods themself will never repeat it." She said.

Chu ShuZhi lowered his gaze when he heard Wing Chun's words.

"Right now, nobody looks at Xiao Guo romantically yet. But no one can guarantee what will happen in the future." Lu Chang took a deep breath. "I think Commander Chu already advised you the same, wasn't he?" Lu Chang asked when Chu ShuZhi fell silent.

"Yes, he did-" Chu ShuZhi halted when something dawned on him. "Do you know my twin brother?" Chu ShuZhi lifted his eyes.

"Of course." Lu Chang sipped his tea, "we both work for the National Guard." Lu Chang said innocently.

"Chu NianZhi, you ass!" Chu ShuZhi growled in a low heavy voice.

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"Clear the way!" Zhao MingAn shouted in front of the surgery chamber as everyone unconsciously surrounded the stretcher that brought Zhu Jiu out.

"Zhu Ge!" Zhu Hong screamed when Zhao YunLan grabbed her to move away from the stretcher.

"Calm down!" Zhao YunLan said softly, "let the doctors check him." he struggled to keep the panicked lady in his hold.

"What happened to him?" Shen YeZun asked his lover who stood in tiredness. Zhao MingAn looked messier than the others.

"I don't know... Many things can happen. Let's hope for the best." Zhao MingAn rubbed his face.

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"So... They managed to pull the chip out from Zhang Tian's head." Ma TiHua sneered, "that's good..." he leaned his back on his leather office chair.

"They used some help from Lieutenant Wu and his foster son..." Ding Dun replied. Stood near the table in full reverence.

"I see..." Ma TiHua played with his newton pendulum on his desk.

"You said that there will be a consequence for helping Zhang Tian." Ouyang Zhen glanced at the cozy man.

Ma TiHua did not reply just laughed. "Do I ever play around with my word?" he asked, eyes pierced into Ouyang Zhen's mind.

"No..." Ouyang Zhen gulped.

"Then wait..." Ma TiHua smiled.

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Everyone sat in the waiting room, hearts pondering about Zhu Jiu's situation. Zhu Hong cried in Wu TienEn's hug, Shen YongZheng sighed so many times, Chu NianZhi rubbed his face in despair, and Zhao MingAn fell into Shen YeZun's embrace for comfort, as Zhao YunLan and Shen Wei leaned their back on the wall. Anguished was the exact word to describe their feelings.

The doctors and nurses were in a hurry-scurry. The noises and bustles finally reached Han YiTing's ward. "Butler Heung..." Han YiTing glanced at his old butler.

"Yes, Master?"

"This commotion... What happens outside?" Han YiTing asked.

"I don't know, Master. I can find out why if you want."

The old butler walked outside soon after Han YiTing agreed. He peered around until he found a nurse who ran along the corridor. "Excuse me, Miss..." the old butler called her. "What happens here?" he asked when the lady nurse stopped.

"Oh... Sergeant Zhu's heart stop beating after he helped with a special surgery."

"Special surgery?"

"I think you already know about it, Sir..." the nurse said.

"No, I don't."

"It's Young Master Zhang's surgery. Young Master Han is the founder."

"Ah..." the old butler lowered his gaze. "Sergeant Zhu's heart condition... Is it bad?" he asked.

"Very bad. Even offee serum can't help him. We need to find a new heart for him or he will not survive..." the nurse said before she ran again.

"What happens?" Han YiTing asked soon after he saw his butler. Butler Heung lowered his head and told his master everything the nurse told him. Han YiTing took a deep breath, "it seems YuSen is very infatuated with Zhang JiKeng's son despite my effort to prevent his feelings about that young man." he sighed.

"I thought after he found out that Liu AnHe is a man, Young Master will stop chasing her. I never think that..." the old butler trailed off.

"Butler Heung, please call a doctor for me," Han YiTing said.

"Yes, Master."

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"We've found the donor!" a doctor ran towards the waiting room.

"Really?!" everyone was stunned.

"Well, that's fast." Zhao YunLan muttered, glancing at his lover.

"Indeed." Shen Wei creased his eyebrows.

"Who's the donor?" Wu TienEn asked the doctor amidst his happiness. The others gathered in curiosity.

"The donor is the former Minister Han." the doctor replied.

"What?" Shen YongZheng shouted.

"Father..." Shen YeZun patted his father's back to calm the old general.

"But, if he donates the heart... It means..." Shen Wei lost his words.

"Father, can you talk to Uncle Han?" Shen YeZun looked at his father, "we could find another donor. We even can use an animal's heart."

"It's no use." Shen YongZheng clenched his fists, "Han YiTing is the most stubborn person in HaiXing. Once he decides on something, not even the gods can change his mind. He will never become a prominent minister without reason."

"It seems, Minister Han is not a horrible person." Zhao YunLan sighed.

"Han YiTing's weak point is his wife. He loves that lady dearly." Wu TienEn shook his head.

"The love that encompasses everything kind of love, huh?" Zhao YunLan snorted.

"But how about his son?" Chu NianZhi gulped.

"Good afternoon." Han YuSen showed up in the hospital, clueless about what just happened. Everyone shifted their attention to the clueless young master.

"This young man is blessed with a long life." Shen YongZheng rued, "we just talked about him and now he appeared."

"His destiny isn't better than his previous life but at least, he won't die young." Zhao YunLan whispered to Shen Wei.

"Agree and disagree." Shen Wei replied.

"How's he? Zhang Tian?" Han YuSen peered around, trying to read the expressions of the people around him.

"He will be alright now..." Wu TienEn replied, "the chip was pulled out from his head already." he smiled. There was a sense of pride inside his tone.

"Thank you." Han YuSen replied, voice between laughing and crying.

Han YuSen almost sprinted to Zhang Tian's medical ward when Shen Wei called him, "Young Master Han! Your father is looking for you..." Shen Wei lowered his gaze. Once again, with the somber mien.

"Oh, alright." Han YuSen nodded, his heart panging for some reasons he did not know. "I'm leaving, excuse me." he smiled.

"I hope he can take what life threw in his way." Zhao YunLan sighed.

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"Father..." Han YuSen called out to his father soon after his butler opened the door for him.

"YuSen..." Han YiTing opened his eyes. "How are you, son?" he asked.

"I'm fine, Father." Han YuSen strode to his father's side. "Um, Father..." he lowered his gaze, lips could not stop smiling, "I have someone I want to introduce to you."

"Is it Zhang Tian?" Han YiTing smiled.

"You know?" Han YuSen's eyes widened.

Han YiTing laughed, "you are my son. I know everything about you."

"You don't mind it?" Han YuSen lowered his gaze once more.

"What should I mind about?" Han YiTing chuckled, "I heard about the new technology that can make a man pregnant. Or, he can transform into a woman. That way, he can give birth normally."

Han YuSen smiled, shyly.

"I truly wish that your mother can see that expression of yours." Han YiTing sighed, "she always said that your shy expression is very cute. And she is right..."

"Father..." Han YuSen held his father's hand even though that hand could not feel anymore. "I'm sorry for not giving you a chance to talk to Mother for the last time."

"That's alright, son." Han YiTing smiled.

"But at least, you will be able to see your first grandchild." Han YuSen's eyes shone with happiness.

"YuSen..." Han YiTing took a deep breath and once again Han YuSen could see the sorrow. "To save Zhang Tian, Sargeant Zhu almost lost his life."

"What?" Han YuSen's mouth gapped, "But... But why did nobody tells me? What happened?"

"His heart could not handle the electric shock from the chip Ma TiHua planted inside Young Master Zhang's head. Even the offer serum couldn't save his heart." The old butler replied.

"What..." Han YuSen's eyes jiggled between his father and his butler. "Then we should find a heart donor for him."

"We already find the donor." Han YiTing answered.

"Well... That's good..." Han YuSen was reluctant. Somehow, he could not pick up any happy atmosphere. "Who is the donor?"

"It's me..." Han YiTing smiled.

Han YuSen was agape, no words come out of his mouth. He could not complain nor did he could plead to his father to reconsider the decision. Only tears strayed from the corners of his eyes.

"YuSen..." Han YiTing took a deep breath, "I am old and paralyzed. I even can't talk well, my voice is no more than a whisper. Zhang Tian's recovery will absorb your time and energy. And me... All I want is to see my wife." he gulped. "At least, let me mend my sins." he pleaded.

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"Even though Han YiTing is persistent, the one who holds the power is Han YuSen. Do you think he agrees with his father?" Chu NianZhi glanced at his watch. It's been more than thirty minutes and the clock was ticking. His subordinate's fate was need certainty.

"The agreement is signed, we can start the procedure now." the doctor shocked them all.

"He agreed?!" Shen Wei and Zhao YunLan agape.

"Young Master Han already signed the documents." the doctor replied.

Nobody had a chance to be surprised as a stretcher was pushed passing them toward the surgery chamber. Han YuSen walked beside the stretcher that carried his father. No tears in his eyes, his chin was up, and his broad chest puffing. "I'm sorry, Young Master. But this is the end. You cant enter the surgery room." the lead doctor said.

"How can you say that?!" Shen YongZheng almost screamed, "he will lose his father. At least, let him go inside!"

"But..."

The doctor was not even finished when Han YuSen faced his father. "Pa," he kneeled beside Han YiTing, "I only can accompany you this far. Please, be careful in your journey in the afterworld. I'm sure Ma is already waiting for you there. When you see her... Please, send her my regard." he smiled.

"Mhm..." Han YiTing nodded, "you too, take good care of yourself. You are the head of the Han family now. Don't take decisions recklessly. The whole members of our family depend on you."

"Mhm..." Han YuSen nodded.

"Butler Heung..."

"Yes, Master." The old butler replied to Han YiTing.

"I entrust YuSen in your care. Please, take care of him and his family in the future." Han YiTing said.

"I and my family... Our lives are dedicated to serving your descendants." the old butler bowed.

Han YiTing smiled in satisfaction. "Doctor... Let's go. I can't keep my wife waiting." he glanced at the lead doctor.

"This way, Sir." the lead doctor opened the surgery chamber.

Nobody can hold their tears flowing as they witnessed the stretcher pushed into the surgery chamber but Han YuSen. And slowly, the door was closed. Shen YongZheng put his hand on Han YuSen's shoulder in silence. Nobody had an encouraging word to support the young man at this moment. Han YuSen nodded at the old general in appreciation for the kind gesture.

"I know it sounds cliche. But if you need anything, don't hesitate to tell us..." Shen YongZheng patted Han YuSen's shoulder.

"Thank You, General Shen..." Han YuSen smiled, "now please, excuse me. I have a funeral to prepare for."

"Mhm..." Shen YongZheng nodded.

"Butler Heung..."

"Yes, Master." the old butler bowed and followed his new master.

Everyone released their sob soon after Han YuSen disappeared behind the wall. None of them understood how the young man could face this situation without shedding a tear.

The seed was the fertilized ripened ovule of a flowering plant containing an embryo and capable normally of germination to produce a new plant broadly.

Ancient said that blood was thicker than water. The DNA structure could not be denied. Every child would carry their parents' marks whether they like it or not. But everyone was indeed unique and the one that could mark the difference was called decision...

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--- time is the most precious gift from the gods. Too precious so that the gods themself will never repeat it.---

Goey SwanKoen

Courtesy of my late God grandfather. I still keep your words, though you never do what you taught me...

Picture credit by mahyco