《The Book of Jade (Book 1 of The Hunter-Zhang Archives)》


 1: The Pendant

    Chapter One


    THE PENDANT


    I had always been a peculiar child to the eyes of the people around me and even to myself. As a child, I preferred reading books in my family¡¯s huge library than to play outside under the heat of the sun with other children my age.


    I was one of those children branded as weird and troublesome at school.


    All of those were probably because I remembered my past life. Perfect details of it, even my death.


    It was a life where I had the power to heal, a life where I had friends and comrades whom I fight with side by side. It was a life where I found the love of my life that I sacrificed myself just to protect.


    I didn¡¯t regret sacrificing my life though. Especially when I gave it up for the people I love. What I regretted was not being able to fulfil my promise to the girl I loved.


    I never told anyone about it, because I knew nobody would believe me and people would think I was crazy. I grew up hiding it and I got used to it. I missed my powers though.


    My current life wasn¡¯t bad. Or so I thought.


    When I was seven, my twin brother, Chen, and I were told of our ancestry and our family¡¯s underground job, quite literally.


    My family ¨C the Zhang Family ¨C was a family of grave-robbers since ancient times. We were basically thieves, except we steal from tombs and graves. That family business served as our foundation and gave us what we enjoy in the present.


    At first, I thought it was pretty cool and did everything my father asked me to, to be a great grave-robber just like him and our ancestors. It was a great experience.


    I was taught how to dodge and create traps, identify antiques and artefacts, read and understand different languages both modern and ancient, etc. I was even taught how to fight, but as I grew up, I realized it was wrong.


    ¡®Stealing from a dead man¡¯s grave is just so wrong.¡¯ was what I realized.


    Back in my past life, the ancestor that established our family also descended from grave-robbers, but the great house of the Archduke Zhang flourished not by those means, but by becoming a loyal subject to the emperor of our country. We were a family of generals and healers back then.


    I immediately stopped my training. I was fifteen that time. I spent my time and attention on other things; studies for one, as well as music.


    I began to teach myself how to play various musical instruments, as well as how to dance and sing. I worked hard, harder and harder to divert my attention from our family business, but everything I learned from way back then became a habit and I couldn¡¯t help myself.


    There was this one time, when I was sixteen, I found myself in front of an antique store. It was located in the middle of a pharmacy and a general merchandise store. The area was in a busy street and people pass all the time, but nobody seemed to mind the old antique store.


    It had the name of Xiao Fen¡¯s Antique Store in cursive golden letters. The store lived up to its name as an antique store. It looked old and rundown. Its windows and sill were caked with dust and the plants in front seemed to be the only clue that somebody was taking care of the place. Feeling the pull in my gut, I went inside.


    As I was looking around, an old man suddenly approached me.


    ¡°Are you perhaps interested in antiques young man?¡± he asked.


    I guessed he was the owner. He had thinning grey hair, but he was still standing firmly and his wrinkly face was still full of vigor. He was lean, not thin and he had the characteristics of a Chinese, small eyes and milky white skin.


    ¡°Err¡­ not really. I was just marvelling at your collection.¡± I answered. ¡°I should probably go, have a nice day.¡±


    I bowed and was about to leave, but he stopped me.


    ¡°I see a complicated past behind you and a difficult future ahead.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you take this?¡±


    He suddenly took the white-jade pendant I noticed a while ago. He slipped it on a silver chain and gave it to me.


    ¡°Uh, I don¡¯t think I deserve such a thing.¡± I said and tried to give him back the pendant.


    ¡°No. No. This piece of antique has been here for quite some time, and I think it finally found its owner.¡± I stared at him with a confused look. ¡°This pendant was created in the early days of the Han Dynasty era, the old one. It is believed to belong to Emperor Yue, Liu Qing, himself. Legend says he gave it to his brother, Liu Fen when he died and somehow found its way here.¡±


    I began inspecting the pendant. My father had taught me that all antiques and artefacts have a distinct feature which could determine the era it belonged to.


    ¡®Well generally emperors were symbolized by dragons, but the phoenix was also Emperor Yue¡¯s symbol later on his reign. The phoenix in this pendant is also carrying a scroll which means this is the phoenix of wisdom, his other symbol, which came to be two years before his death.¡¯ I thought.


    I traced the jewellery with my hand.


    ¡®Jewelleries from the Western Han Dynasty are usually smooth, thin and sharp at the edges, and a bit rough in the center. This one is definitely from that era.''Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    ¡°I guess you¡¯re right, grandpa.¡± I said.


    ¡°Oh? You can tell?¡± he asked sceptically.


    I then launched to an explanation of how I was interested in history and artefacts, but before I finished, I stopped myself and shied away.


    The old man laughed heartily. ¡°I see you know a lot about antiques then.¡±


    ¡°I just happened to study them.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? Then you must definitely have the pendant.¡±


    ¡°But, I don¡¯t think I deserve such an important thing.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense. I already said a while ago, didn¡¯t I? That pendant finally found its owner. So it¡¯s yours.¡± he gave me a warm smile.


    For a moment, I was amazed by his white even teeth. ¡®How can a grandpa have such teeth?¡¯ I thought. But I immediately brushed it aside since it was inappropriate.


    ¡°It is believed,¡± he continued. ¡°That that pendant brings good luck to its owner. Why don¡¯t you give it a try?¡±


    I eyed the pendant. I felt really guilty receiving such a thing. I was clumsy and careless (unlike the me in my past life), I might lose it.


    ¡°Just always wear it and never take it off, it shouldn¡¯t go anywhere.¡± he suddenly said, as if he read my thoughts. ¡°I didn¡¯t, I can see it in your face.¡±


    ¡°Oh. Really?¡± he nodded. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll accept it, but if I lose it, you can¡¯t blame me.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Although remember, even luck has its consequences.¡±


    ¡°Everything has consequences. Even I know that much.¡±


    He stared at me for quite some time, and then said; ¡°You¡¯re unlike children your age who only care about having fun and doing what they want without second thoughts or worrying what the consequences would be.¡±


    ¡°Sometimes, but I know enough.¡± I gave him a knowing smile.


    ¡°Is that so. By the way, I see you¡¯re carrying a guitar. Do you like music?¡±


    ¡°Very much. And dancing and singing.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ Tell you what, why don¡¯t you give the pendant a try by taking part in an audition in three days?¡±


    ¡°What audition?¡± I asked eagerly.


    ¡°An entertainment company from South Korea is holding an audition at the covered court in the business district. Why don¡¯t you go and give it a try?¡±


    ¡°An entertainment company from South Korea?¡± I could imagine my eyes sparkling when I said this.


    ¡°Yes. If you pass, then you¡¯ll become a trainee and if you do well, you might become a famous celebrity.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about being a celebrity or being famous, what I want is to change the future set by my family for me.¡±


    After my talk with the old man, who later introduced himself as Xue Fe Yin, I immediately went home and practiced.


    The next day, during breakfast, my younger twin brother asked me;


    ¡°Lei, you were practicing last night, are you performing on the music festival at school next week?¡±


    Chen and I were the only ones having breakfast that morning. Our father was out on a business trip and our mother was already gone. She died ten years ago because of cancer.


    ¡°Even better, I¡¯m auditioning for MM Entertainment in two days.¡± I answered proudly.


    Chen and I were what you¡¯d call fraternal twins. We were born in the same day, had the same mom and dad (err¡­ let¡¯s talk about this one later), but we do not look alike at all.


    Chen had light brown hair and chocolate brown eyes which he inherited from our mother. He also had olive white skin, pointy nose, a small forehead and thin lips which he got from our father.


    I on the other hand, had black hair, hazel eyes and a pale skin, which I was told was a trait from mom¡¯s side, my grandfather¡¯s to be exact. Like Chen, I inherited my father¡¯s pointy nose, small forehead and thin lips.


    Both of us were tall, smart and a bit more mature than our age, I was more mature of course, being mentally older.


    Chen was my only brother, and he was younger too. He would remind me of my past life¡¯s younger brother at times, especially when he was being childish.


    ¡°MM Entertainment? That company from South Korea?¡± he asked, wide-eyed.


    ¡°Yep. Wait, your favourite girl group is from MM Entertainment right?¡± I asked in a teasing manner. ¡°If I get accepted, I could introduce you to them later.¡±


    ¡°Shut up and stop dreaming. If father hears you, he won¡¯t let you go there.¡±


    It made me stop.


    ¡®I forgot about dad!¡¯


    My father, Wu Fen Zhang, wanted me to focus on my training and inherit the family business, both legally and not, in which I had never dreamt of nor wish to.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care. I will go to the audition, and no one¡¯s going to stop me.¡±


    On the day of the audition, I was about to leave the house when bodyguards stopped me at our doorstep.


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± I questioned.


    ¡°We were ordered to keep you inside the house, first young master.¡± answered one of them.


    ¡°On whose orders?¡±


    ¡°Your father¡¯s.¡±


    My mind immediately drifted to Chen. He was the only person I told about the audition.


    ¡°What the hell¡¯s your problem? Why did you do that?¡± I shoved my younger brother by the shoulders.


    ¡°What is wrong with you? What did you say I did?¡± he asked with a very confused look.


    ¡°You told father about the audition!¡± I answered angrily.


    ¡°What? No I didn¡¯t!¡± I gave him a look of disbelief. ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth! I neither told dad nor anyone for that matter! I swear!¡±


    ¡°Chen Zhang!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth!¡±


    ¡°That is enough! Both of you!¡± a new voice interrupted.


    Our grandmother, Rin Yue Zhang, entered the room we were in. Grandmother had greying hair and wrinkled skin, but she held a regal posture and the aura of the leader.


    If my father was only a bit strict, my grandmother was way worse.


    ¡°I was the one who told your father.¡± She announced.


    ¡°What?! Grandmother!¡±


    ¡°Lei Zhang! You are the successor of the Zhang Family! The Zhang Clan! I will not have you tarnish our name by becoming an inferior person such as a celebrity!¡±


    I was speechless. How could she say such a thing?


    ¡°Becoming a celebrity is neither shameful nor inferior grandmother.¡± I said in a controlled tone. ¡°And you can¡¯t stop me.¡±


    I was about to walk away, but I was stopped once again.


    ¡°Is that your final decision?¡± she asked.


    ¡°In the past, the only decision I made for my sake was choosing Artemis and dying for her, the majority were for the sake citizens of the empire. In this life, I will make my own decisions, for myself.¡±


    The room was silent for a moment.


    ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± Chen asked.


    ¡°None of your concern.¡± I faced my grandmother. ¡°I will go to that audition and pursue my dreams.¡±


    ¡°Lei!¡± she called. ¡°Once you step out of those gates, I will consider it as you turning back from the Zhang Clan and that you are no longer part of this family. You are no longer the family¡¯s future head and you will get no support from us.¡±


    I looked at her in the eyes.


    ¡°Then so be it. I¡¯d rather be a stranger who pursues his own dreams, than to be a thief that raids dead people¡¯s graves.¡±


    I started walking away.


    ¡°Lei!¡± Chen called, but he was interrupted by our grandmother.


    ¡°Let him be. It¡¯s his foolish decision. From now on, you are the successor of your father.¡±


    ¡°But-¡°


    I didn¡¯t hear the rest of their conversation. I ran out of the manor and headed to the covered court.


    There were many people who wanted to join the audition. I sat in a corner and just stared at nothing.


    ¡®Was my decision too hasty? What if I don¡¯t succeed? I¡¯ll be a beggar in the streets! Will I even be deported?¡¯ such thoughts were running in my mind.


    At first, I thought I was hallucinating, but I swore I saw the jade pendant glint even with the absence of light. I just didn¡¯t mind it and started thinking about my performance.


    I didn¡¯t know which god heard my prayers, but I passed the audition. For the second time, I saw the pendant glint and I became sure that the pendant was indeed lucky.


    ***end***

 2: The Fateful Encounter

    Chapter Two


    THE FATEFUL ENCOUNTER


    I faced a difficult obstacle before I headed to South Korea to become a trainee.


    Since I was a minor, I needed my parents¡¯ permission to go.


    ¡®I got kicked out of my family. And grandmother probably removed me from the family registry already. How am I supposed to get consent?¡¯


    Luckily, I saw Chen after the audition and told him of my predicament. He was watching me do the audition. He was such a supportive brother.


    ¡°And let me guess, you want me to have father sign this consent form?¡± he asked in which I nodded.


    ¡°Please? Pretty please with cherries on top?¡±


    ¡°You do realize grandmother kicked you out right? Did you know she¡¯s planning to have you removed from the family registry?¡±


    ¡°I thought she already did.¡± I commented.


    ¡°Ge! (Chinese endearment for older brother) Are you being stupid? Or are you just really stupid?¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t they just the same?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not the point!¡± he huffed, but then he sighed. ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll find a way to trick dad in signing this. You owe me.¡±


    I gave him a smile and a thumb up then gave him the consent form.


    The consent form stated that as long as I am a trainee of MM Entertainment, I will be their responsibility and any decisions concerning me and the company will be decided by the company. Or something with the likes of that.


    ¡®The only problem now is where do I sleep?¡¯


    ¡°Hello Lei.¡± I heard a familiar voice.


    ¡°Grandpa Xue Fe!¡±


    ¡°Has the pendant brought you luck yet?¡±


    ¡°Maybe.¡± he asked me why. ¡°I passed the audition, but I got kicked out from my family.¡±


    ¡°I told you even luck has its consequences.¡±


    I just stayed silent.


    ¡°Do you need a place to sleep?¡± I gave him a ¡®how-did-you-know?¡¯ look. ¡°You just said you got kicked out of your family. You can sleep at my house if you want.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± he nodded. ¡°Grandpa Xue Fe! You¡¯re such a godsend! Thank you very much! I¡¯ll take that offer!¡±


    Grandpa Xue Fe was a really good host. Even though he lived alone, his house was clean and his cooking was really delicious.


    ¡°Grandpa Xue Fe, I wish you were my grandfather. You¡¯re cool.¡±


    ¡°Why thank you, Xiao Lei.¡±


    ¡°By the way grandpa, don¡¯t you have a family?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ My wife died a long time ago, and my children went to their chosen paths and are already living their own lives.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you lonely?¡± he shook his head.


    ¡°I have my store, and it lets me meet interesting people. Like you.¡±


    ¡°Wow. Thank you grandpa.¡±


    ¡°My pleasure.¡±


    ¡°When I get to South Korea, I¡¯ll always contact you and when I become famous, I will never forget you.¡± I gave him a smile.


    ¡°I won¡¯t forget that. It¡¯s best to be humble and kind even if you¡¯ve already achieved great things, okay? Those will be your greatest virtues.¡±


    That night, I slept soundly.


    The next day, Chen contacted me and said he already had the waiver signed. We met in Grandpa Xue Fe¡¯s store and gave me the documents, along with my passport and savings.


    ¡°How did you trick dad?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Well, dad was sleep deprived, and he had stacks of paperwork to sign. I just slipped it there.¡± he answered with a smile.


    ¡°Thank you!¡± I hugged him. ¡°You won¡¯t forget me right?¡±


    ¡°How can I forget my own brother? I should be the one saying that, once you become famous and all. By the way, here¡­¡±


    He gave me a plane ticket to South Korea.


    ¡°Go pursue your dreams brother. You deserve it.¡± he gave me a sad yet knowing smile. Like he knew something I didn¡¯t and I was not supposed to know.


    ***


    The moment I arrived at MM Entertainment, surprises kept coming. The first one was my four dorm mates.


    When I arrived at MM Entertainment, I signed a bunch of papers and was oriented. After that, I was brought to the dorm where I would live together with eleven other people. They said we would train together and would debut together in the future.


    ¡°Guys, this is Zhang Lei. He will be your new dorm mate.¡± one of the staffs introduced in Korean.


    At the back of my mind, I was thankful that I studied many languages. Korean included.


    ¡°Hello! I¡¯m Zhang Lei, from the Philippines.¡± I bowed as a sign of the Korean greeting.


    When I stood up, I froze. My four new dorm mates looked exactly like my friends from my past life.


    ¡°Hey, my name is Lee Shin Woo, but you can call me Seven.¡±


    Seven was sporting light brown hair and a pale skin. It was like he grew up in the cold mountains. He also had dark brown eyes that could easily be mistaken as black. He was a little shorter than me, but his facial expression was very well guarded.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    ¡°I¡¯m Tsuchimikado Kazuki, but you can call me Coby.¡±


    Coby had dark red hair. He had hazel colored eyes, fair skin and slightly pointed ears. Not as long and pointed as elves back in my previous world, but it definitely looked peculiar. He was also tall, taller than me.


    ¡°Byun Kang Woo, but call me Blake.¡±


    Blake, like Seven, had light brown hair. He also had light brown eyes that went really well with his fair skin and thin lips. In terms of height, we would probably be the same.


    ¡°I¡¯m Tachibana Mikihiko, but my English name is Alexander, so call me Xander.¡±


    Xander was shorter than me (what? I have a thing for heights!). He had hair as black as coal and his piercing jade-green eyes looked like it could see through you. And with the way his name sounded and the color of his eyes, I immediately deduced that he was half-Japanese.


    As they did their introductions, I was frozen on the spot. I could only swallow the non-existent lump on my throat.


    ¡®Not only do they have almost the same faces, but they have the same names too, or at least nicknames.¡¯


    ¡°I¡¯ll leave you guys to get acquainted.¡± said the staff and left.


    ¡°You said you were from the Philippines?¡± asked Seven in which I nodded. ¡°But your name sounds Chinese.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I am Chinese. It¡¯s just that, my family had been staying in the Philippines for the last few years.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? By the way, how old are you?¡± he asked again.


    ¡°Err¡­ Sixteen?¡±


    ¡°Birthdate?¡±


    ¡°July thirty-first?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ I¡¯m older than you then. It¡¯s nice to meet you.¡± he said and went inside his room.


    That guy felt exactly like the Seven I knew. He was cold and calculating to the people he meets for the first time.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mind Seven-aniki. Oh aniki means older brother in Japanese by the way.¡± said Coby.


    ¡°I know. But it¡¯s only used for formality.¡±


    ¡°So Lei-aniki, don¡¯t mind Seven-aniki. He¡¯s just like that to people he meets for the first time.¡±


    ¡°Took the words right out of my mouth.¡± I mumbled. ¡°And I see you¡¯re still as hyper as ever.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± he gave me a confused look.


    ¡°Anyway, Lei-hyung,¡± Blake scooted closer to me. ¡®Hyung¡¯ was the Korean term for males to refer to their older brothers. ¡°Welcome! Since you¡¯re sixteen and I¡¯m still fifteen, so is Coby by the way, you¡¯re older than us. So please don¡¯t mind us referring to you as an older brother.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°Are you not even curious why Lee Shin Woo is Seven, Tsuchimikado Kazuki is Coby and Byun Kang Woo is Blake?¡± inquired Xander. ¡°Again, I¡¯m Xander. I¡¯m seventeen.¡±


    ¡°They decided to call themselves that, should I even ask why?¡±


    Xander just nodded and patted my shoulder. ¡°Good. I think we¡¯ll get along.¡±


    I gave him my thanks in Mandarin and he answered me in the same language.


    A few months later Kyle, Leo and Seth arrived which caused me more surprise. The next year, Dean and Kai came and a year after that, Calvin and Tim.


    When I saw Tim, tears involuntarily fell from my eyes. Everyone asked me what was wrong but I replied,


    ¡°Nothing. Something just got into my eyes.¡±


    I wasn¡¯t the best of liars, but they seemed to believe me or they were pretending to.


    Throughout our training days, the twelve of us became really close.


    Ever since I was born in this world, I had never felt so happy. The twelve of us were together again. Although with a different purpose, but we still ended up with each other.


    Three years later, my father contacted me for the first time. I was very happy when he did, but when he told me why, I immediately regretted it.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a long time son.¡± he said, we were on video call.


    Yeah, my father was rather, tech savvy.


    ¡°Father.¡±


    ¡°How are you? Are finally going to debut?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. The company¡¯s CEO is planning to have us debut next year.¡± I explained.


    ¡°How about your studies? Are you not going to college?¡±


    ¡°I took a special exam to accelerate father. I¡¯m already on my second year in S University.¡±


    ¡°And your course?¡± he seemed unsurprised by it.


    ¡°Something to do with archaeology.¡±


    ¡°Archaeology? Nothing different with our family business.¡±


    ¡°It is different. Way different. What do you really want father?¡± I inquired.


    ¡°About your engagement with my friend¡¯s daughter.¡±


    I froze. ¡®How can I forget about that?¡¯


    When I was nine, I got engaged to the daughter of my father¡¯s friend. It was an arranged engagement and I neither knew her name nor what she looked like.


    ¡°Not now dad. I¡¯m not allowed to date, much less get engaged or worse married.¡± I replied as I stared into his eyes.


    ¡°We will be in Seoul in three days. Chen will contact you about the rest of the details. Goodbye.¡±


    The call ended before I could even retort. I let out a frustrated scream and muffled it with my pillow. The door suddenly opened and Leo appeared.


    ¡°What happened to you?¡± he asked.


    I stared at him for a second then replied a negative.


    ¡®His ears are as sharp as the one I know. And he changed his hair color again.¡¯


    ¡°I thought something happened. I heard you scream.¡±


    ¡°I muffled it with a pillow.¡± I answered sarcastically.


    ¡°You still screamed.¡±


    ¡°Your hair¡¯s pink this time.¡± I said to change the topic.


    ¡°Oh, the stylist did that. I found it cool, so I didn¡¯t complain.¡± was his cool answer.


    Leo entered the room and sat on the bed across mine. Had I mentioned Leo was my roommate?


    Leo Chen or Chen Rong Yi is half-Chinese and half-American. He was scouted in China because of his good looks, but he had the skills to be an idol. Like my past life, the two of us became the closest among everyone in the dorm. There was Tim, but he was more like the childish younger brother than a friend.


    ¡°So what happened?¡± he asked and started rummaging his bedside cabinet.


    ¡°Oh, so that didn¡¯t divert your attention.¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡± he laughed monotonously. ¡°Spill.¡±


    ¡°My father wants me to go with my engagement.¡± I answered in Mandarin.


    Whenever I was with the Chinese co-members, Leo Kyle and Tim, I always spoke in Mandarin. It became a habit, but I was okay with it, so were the rest.


    ¡°Eh? I thought you got kicked out from your family?¡± I shrugged at his statement. ¡°I have always heard my father saying that the Zhang Clan in Guanzhong is strict about their rules and teachings.¡±


    ¡°True. I don¡¯t even know why my father is still after me when I already cut our connection three years ago. But he was quite insistent about the engagement, when he still has Chen.¡±


    ¡°Your younger brother?¡± I nodded. ¡°Hmm¡­ Maybe you should see them and tell them your decision.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s rare for you to give out an advice.¡± I said and gave him a smile.


    ¡°Just giving my younger brother a piece of my wisdom, you looked like you needed it. Now come on, Dean cooked salted fish and Kai brought kimchi from his sister¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°Kimchi?¡± I bolted out of the door.


    Even with my past life¡¯s memories intact in my head, there were times that I just couldn¡¯t do anything. I was mentally older than anyone in our group, but there are lots of times when I really rely on them. It made me remember a line from a book I once read.


    ¡°¡¯Once is a coincidence. Twice is already suspicious. Third is just fate.¡¯¡±


    Maybe it was fate that brought us together.


    Three days later, I made my way to downtown Seoul. Chen emailed me the previous night and told me about the meeting place.


    I took the bus and got off on the nearest bus stop. I spent the rest of the time walking towards the restaurant, the meeting place.


    Ever since I became a trainee and came to South Korea, I could hardly walk around for sightseeing. I had never toured Seoul and there was a 10% chance I could get lost, but that time I didn¡¯t mind it at all and just marvelled around.


    As my attention drifted to different scenes, I suddenly felt someone collide on me. I looked in front and saw a girl with long wavy honey-colored hair crouched on the ground. She was picking up the scattered papers which probably belonged to her.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry about that.¡± I said and started helping her.


    Once done, I handed her the papers I gathered. When she looked up, I froze.


    Familiar piercing silver-grey eyes which seemed to glow under the light stared at me. Pale skin, a small forehead, prominent pinkish cheeks, pointed nose, curly eyelashes and thin pink lips. Just like hers¡­


    I couldn¡¯t help but stare at the young woman in front of me. She looked exactly like the girl I loved in my past life.


    ¡®At this point, I won¡¯t be surprised if she has the same name.¡¯


    ¡°Thank you.¡± she took the papers and bowed.


    She started to walk away. I wanted to follow her, but I noticed a shiny thing on the ground. I picked it up and saw it was an ID.


    It read; Artemis Hunter. Hyun Jin University Medical Center. General Surgery Resident.


    My eyes widened for a moment, but then I calmed myself down.


    ¡®Snap out of it. They¡¯re not the same.¡¯


    I called her out.


    ¡°How did you know my name?¡± she asked, so I gave her the ID. ¡°Oh. Thanks.¡±


    ¡°Since I know your name, I think it¡¯s good manners for you to know mine. I¡¯m Lei Zhang.¡±

 3: Doctor Artemis Hunter

    Chapter Three


    Doctor Artemis Hunter


    All the way to the restaurant, I couldn¡¯t help but think about what just happened. I just met Artemis¡¯ counterpart in this world!


    ¡®So I really am in a parallel world.¡¯ I thought.


    I was in deep thought that I didn¡¯t notice I had already arrived in the meeting place, a Chinese restaurant in downtown Seoul.


    ¡°So a Chinese man came to South Korea and booked a Chinese restaurant.¡± I mumbled to myself. ¡°What irony.¡±


    I lightly shook my head but went inside afterwards. I immediately spotted Chen and my father.


    ¡°Lei!¡± Chen called and immediately hugged me the moment I got closer.


    ¡°Hey little brother.¡± I greeted back. ¡°It¡¯s been three years.¡±


    Chen was still looked relatively the same although his hair had gottten darker and he had this mature aura around him. But it was probably the suit he was wearing.


    ¡®I thought he hated suits?¡¯ I thought, but then I caught glimpse of my father. I gave him a bow as acknowledgement and he nodded in return. There was only silence between us and it was becoming really awkward.


    For three years, I noticed that nothing really changed about my father.


    My father, Zhang Wu Fen, was someone with a youthful face. If someone didn¡¯t know his age, that person would assume he was still in his late twenties to early thirties, but in reality he was already approaching forty-three years old. His black hair and fair skin made him look younger, but his aura was very mature.


    He was wearing a dark blue suit. It looked like he was going to attend a formal business meeting. And then there I was. I was only wearing a blue-white striped polo, a pair of black denim jeans and rubber shoes. I also had a pair of sunglasses and a baseball cap.


    Talk about being underdressed, but the two didn¡¯t comment on it.


    The awkward tension in our table only broke when a very familiar person suddenly stepped in my view.


    My eyes widened as I looked at the foreign man who just arrived. He held a cold and calculating gaze, just like someone I knew. His black hair was swept to one side and his silver-grey eyes seemed to peer on your very soul.


    ¡°Uncle Victor?¡± I unconsciously called.


    I suddenly felt that all eyes were on me which made me embarrassed so I looked away. They seemed not to mind what just happened since dad just greeted him casually.


    ¡°Victor, it¡¯s been so long.¡± my father said in fluent English.


    My father could speak a total of eight languages including English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Filipino. I inherited my language skills from my father.


    ¡°Wu Fen, it has been a long time.¡± the two shook hands.


    ¡®What is he doing here?¡¯ I thought.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°These are my sons, Chen and Lei.¡±


    Chen and I stood up straight and gave him a bow. To return our greetings, he shook our hands, with me last.


    ¡°I see. So you are Lei?¡± he stared at me for a few seconds. ¡°You have an interesting gaze Lei. It¡¯s the gaze of someone who has seen and experienced many things, including death.¡±


    I swallowed the non-existent lump on my throat.


    ¡®And your observant personality still scares me.¡¯ I wanted to say, but I decided to just not say it, lest I would be sent to an asylum.


    ¡°And you seem to know me even though this is the first time we¡¯ve met.¡±


    I gave him a nervous laugh.


    ¡®Even in this life and world, he¡¯s still a bit¡­ extreme for me to handle.¡¯


    I didn¡¯t know how to respond to his statement, good thing father immediately changed the subject. We all sat down and started to order food.


    ¡°Your daughter seems to not be with you. I thought she and Lei are supposed to meet today.¡±


    ¡°Yes, that was the plan. But an emergency came up in the hospital.¡±


    ¡°Hospital?¡± Chen asked.


    ¡°Yes. She¡¯s a three-year resident doctor in Hyun Jin University Medical Center.¡±


    ¡°I see. What a waste.¡± my father said in a low tone. ¡°I thought they¡¯ll finally meet today.¡±


    ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Chen interrupted. ¡°Mister Hunter, isn¡¯t your daughter supposed to be nineteen? How come she¡¯s already a three-year resident in a hospital?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a very wilful and smart kid. She skipped a few grades on a whim, but it is what she wants.¡± he said in a proud tone.


    ¡®So she¡¯s still the same; stubborn, wilful and so damn smart. Artemis sure gets whatever she wants.¡¯ was my passing thought.


    ¡°Exactly Lei. She is just like that. You seem to know her, my daughter, Artemis.¡±


    ¡°I said that out loud, didn¡¯t I?¡± I mumbled, but then I realized something. ¡°Wait, the girl I¡¯m supposed to marry is Artemis?¡±


    ¡°Well, she is my only daughter. How did you-¡°


    ¡°Ah, I met her outside.¡± was my immediate answer. ¡°She seemed to be in a hurry though.¡±


    I didn¡¯t hear the rest of their conversation. I zoned out because my head was full of thoughts.


    Thoughts like; ¡®Artemis is my fianc¨¦e?¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s amazing!¡¯ ¡®If I agree to this, it¡¯ll only seem like I¡¯m marrying her because of my past life, because she is the Artemis Hunter of this world.¡¯ ¡®Damn parallel worlds!¡¯ and many more.


    ¡°I don¡¯t agree!¡± I said all of a sudden and slammed my hands to the table.


    ¡°Lei!¡± father called in an angry tone,


    ¡°Father, I don¡¯t want to marry her.¡±


    They all gave me a confused look.


    ¡°And why are you refusing to marry my daughter Lei?¡± asked Uncle ¨C no, Mister Hunter.


    ¡®He¡¯s not the same person you know.¡¯ I reminded myself.


    ¡°For reasons I can¡¯t tell you without sounding mad, but what I can tell you is that, I am a trainee of MM Entertainment.¡± I said confidently. ¡°My current contract forbids me from having a romantic relationship for now. I haven¡¯t even started my career yet you know?¡±


    ¡°Xiao Lei¡¯er!¡± my father called out angrily in Mandarin.


    ¡°That is my decision father! And that is final!¡±


    My father just sighed in disbelief and Chen was trying to make me take back my words, but I didn¡¯t budge.


    I probably sounded unreasonable to them, but I knew what I was doing. I loved the Artemis in my past life dearly, but I didn¡¯t want to have an instant relationship with her counterpart when I still have lingering feelings for her. I didn¡¯t want the Artemis of this world be just her replacement. I once thought that if I was going to love someone in my current life, it would be because I really did love her.


    Mister Hunter looked at me in the eyes, and I didn¡¯t back down. Then he suddenly laughed heartily.


    ¡°I like the look in your eyes kid.¡± he said after laughing. ¡°I honestly do. Only a few would actually speak what¡¯s in their mind and heart whenever I¡¯m around.¡±


    ¡°Artemis is probably one of them.¡± I muttered.


    ¡°Wu Fen, I¡¯m afraid we¡¯ll have to cancel the engagement.¡±


    ¡°What? Victor that¡¯s ¨C if it¡¯s what he said, I¡¯ll go talk to him. I¡¯ll get him to agree.¡± father insisted.


    ¡°That¡¯s not it old friend. In fact, even my daughter is against this engagement.¡±


    I was taken aback by his statement.


    ¡®But then again, I am a total stranger to her.¡¯


    In the end, the engagement got cancelled with both sides in agreement. But dad and Mister Hunter were both insistent I meet Artemis and have dinner with her.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡± was my response.


    My father gave me an earful once Mister Hunter had left, but the matter was already settled. It seemed like Mister Hunter ¨C oh right, he asked me to call him something else ¨C Uncle Victor was the one who gets to decide about the engagement.


    ¡°You do realize I still don¡¯t approve of you becoming a celebrity.¡± he said once he had calmed down.


    ¡°I know, but please don¡¯t stop me. This is my dream.¡±


    ¡°Do what you want. Let¡¯s go Xiao Chen.¡±


    He left the restaurant. Chen gave me a down-five and signalled to call him later before he followed our father out.


    ***


    To be continued...