Old Frank was looking at a piece of oracle bone script. It was a rare item that was once showcased in the British Museum, a treasure that was seized from the Old Summer Palace during the Siege of International Legations.
Passing through many hands, one of those oracle bone scripts fell into Old Frank’s hands.
However, Old Frank led an honorable life. Since it was an item of his ancestors’ country, no matter how much he treasured it, he would not take it as his own.
Yanny entered the house. “Old Frank, I have something to tell you.”
Old Frank waved Yanny to come closer. “Little Yanny, come here. Look at this new treasure I found.”
Yanny approached him. Seeing the piece of oracle bone script weathered by time in Old Frank’s hand, she said, “This piece of oracle bone script has many rare writings.”
Old Frank held the bone script in one hand, then examined it with a magnifying glass on his other hand. He replied, “Yeah. It’s a rare item. However, this is not something I will take as my own. Little Yanny, bring this along when you go back this time. Bring it back to our homeland.”
Yanny knew that Old Frank had high moral standards, but she did not expect him to be untouched by greed with such a priceless treasure before him.
Yanny respected him greatly. “Sure. I’ll bring this piece of oracle bone script home and return it to our country.”
Old Frank placed the oracle bone script in a small silver colored security case, then passed it to Yanny. He took off his glasses and said, “I heard from Sam that you’ve decided to go back to North City for real this time?”
“Yeah. Old Frank, thank you for your care for the past two years. Words are insufficient to show my gratitude. Back home, I have my family, and some past that I have yet to fully cut ties with. I have decided to go back and face them.”
Old Frank nodded in agreement, saying, “Might as well. You shouldn’t have to live in hiding. Go back and put an end to all those past that haunts you. Some things require you to put an end to them personally before you can continue moving forward. Otherwise, you’ll forever be trapped in the shadow of your past. Life is wasted if lived unhappily.”
“Yes, it is as you say.”
Old Frank took up the brown paper bag on the desk and passed it to Yanny. He smiled kindly and said, “This is a gift for your journey home. I believe you will need it.”
“This is…?”
“This is a media company that I had Sam register back in the country. You’re now the biggest shareholder of this company, and also the legal representative of the said company. Most importantly, you’re the director of the company. Meanwhile, I’m your angel investor. As of this moment, I’ve handed over the entire company to you. I want you to help me run this company and have it listed.”
Seeing Old Frank’s determined look on his face, Yanny was stunned for a moment. “Old Frank, you… you’re really giving me the entire company?”
“My daughter Lynn was also a smart one like you. However, talented ones usually die young. She passed away from illness at a young age. When Sam brought you to me, you were stuck in a state of deep depression. However, I felt as though I was meeting an old acquaintance. I suppose that’s the fate that you talked about. God has allowed me to take in a disciple and also a godchild as a blessing for me. Meanwhile, you’ve not let me down. Little Yanny, accept it. This company is not given to you for free. If you don’t run it well, I’ll be taking it back.”
Yanny’s eyes reddened with tears, and slowly turned into a smile. “Old Frank, I won’t let you down.”
Yanny accepted the documents wrapped in a brown paper bag.
That return home gift was great and meaningful.
She did not expect to receive fatherly love from someone unrelated within her lifetime.
Old Frank was her mentor, and also her godfather. More importantly, he was her family.
Yanny smiled with teary eyes and said, “Unfortunately, now that I’m going back, I’m afraid that there’ll be nobody to prepare ink for you.”
Old Frank looked at the study table just as Hajar was coincidentally grinding the ink. Old Frank laughed out resoundingly and said, “Isn’t that your successor?”
Yanny could not help but laugh.
However, after laughing, Yanny looked steadily at Old Frank once more and said, “Old Frank, once I’m done with the matters back home, I’ll bring my grandmother here to England. When that time comes, I’ll grind your ink for you everyday.”
“All things must come to an end. Little Yanny, don’t worry about partings. Life is filled with constant partings. However, if we’re fated, no matter how large the world may be, we will still meet eventually.”
…
Jinn Group…
Henry entered in a hurry, reporting, “Master Shayne, the missus’ coroner’s report was secretly destroyed. I’m sure it’s because someone had done something to it and did not want us to find out in later investigations.”
“What about the other matter I had you investigate?”
“Back then, Samuel went to Oxford University for his masters and started his internship in the field of venture capital back in the city of London. He was favored by an extremely rich Chinese investor with English nationality that became his angel investor. Later on, Samuel grew his career in England as expected and was taken in as a godchild by that investor. Oh, that investor Louis Frank also has close connections with local royalties. He used to have a daughter by the name of Lynn Frank, but she passed away early in her life. The family business had always been keeping a low profile. Just two years ago, this investor adopted a daughter. This adopted daughter assumed the identity of his biological daughter. Meanwhile, the timing that Louis adopted a daughter nicely matches the timing the missus met with the accident back then.”
Shayne’s dull eyes suddenly brightened up. “Continue investigating Lynn Frank. Notify me immediately if you have any information.”
“Yes, sir.”
Shayne looked at Yanny’s photo that he placed by his desk. His gaze seemed distant as he mumbled to himself, asking, “Lynn Frank, is it you?”
If that was a joke by the heavens and Lynn Frank turned out not to be Yanny, Shayne was unsure if he could endure that kind of disappointment.
However, even if there was a 50% chance for him to suffer that gut wrenching dread and disappointment, he was unwilling to let go of the slimmest chance of reuniting with Yanny.
This was even if the chances were slim and even if fear would consume him.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Passionate Devotion: Master Fudd's Beloved Wife