"Madam, our men have retrieved the shark that attacked you," Mushu reported.
"Burn it." El Padre blurted out angrily.
"Get the shark’s fin before you burn it. It’s excellent food!" Chatty innocently exclaimed.
"How could you think of food when that monster attacked our Madam?" Pharsa angrily disputed.
"Why were you so reckless not to protect Madam and even keep yourself from being bitten by the shark?" Chatty retorted back with a snort. Chatty is Chatty; this is his personality. He speaks his mind regardless of who he is talking to without second thoughts.
"You!" Pharsa never expected Catty to rebuke her, and she couldn’t even find the right words to answer back.
Seeing the two in a heated discussion, "We don’t need to burn that shark. Why waste it anyway? The locals here would love to feast on that meat. Let them have it. They have a delicacy that mainly uses shark meat. Please give it to them. It would feed them for many days," Ling Li conveyed.
"And Chatty, I mean Ehem, Murphy is right." Ling Li said. ’Why did I slip my tongue and call him Chatty? Dang!’
"Take the shark’s fin and send it to my father. He loves shark fin soup." Ling Li informed them of her perception.
Chatty was smug as he smiled broadly and delightedly at Pharsa even though Pharsa was furious with him. If looks could kill, Chatty would have died many times already.
The cheerful conversation carried on among them. Just before noon, Shi Min, with a concerned furrow on his brow, leaned in close to his mother and gently inquired, "Mom, are you absolutely certain you’re feeling well? Please don’t push yourself too hard."
"I’m doing great, son. Please don’t worry too much. My body is in excellent shape so these wounds won’t cause me much pain," Ling Li reassured her son with affection, gently ruffling his hair as if he were still a young boy.
"Mom, I can see right through you. Even when you’re in pain, you put on a brave front. But those injuries are serious. I’ve seen them with my own eyes. Please let El Padre see them too. I know he’ll be just as concerned as I am," Shi Min emphasized.
"Let me see! Let me see," El Padre started demanding Ling Li as if he were her father.
They have been inseparable companions and dependable confidants, enduring numerous challenges together. Revealing their battered bodies would be a routine display of their unbreakable bond.
Ling Li was dressed in her traditional black Kimono, her favorite daily attire both at home and outside. As she stood before them, she bravely displayed the evidence of her recent injuries. They observed a series of freshly stitched wounds: two large, five-inch-long gashes on her abdomen and another pair of stitches, about four inches long, on her back and side. Her entire body was also marked with numerous scratches.
El Padre couldn’t contain his frustration as he exclaimed, "Dammit! Why are you still awake? You should be in bed!" Even the three guests were shocked to see the extent of her wounds.
Shi Min exclaimed while rubbing the bridge of his nose, "Now you understand my point."
However, Ling Li was adamant, exclaiming, "I’m perfectly fine! I’ll be so bored if I have to stay in bed." She had a hint of a whine in her voice as she spoke.
"Such a stubborn woman!" El Padre said.
"Mom, you’re injured. Can you at least consider yourself a patient?" Shi Min is evidently trying to convince her mom to rest.
"Don’t waste your time convincing her. It’s a waste. Can’t you see that your mom is not a patient patient? She’s a terrible patient! In short, a very impatient patient!" El Padre advised Shi Min. Discover more novels at novel★fire.net
Ling Li almost choked on the tea she was drinking when she heard El Padre’s words while the others chuckled.
"What? You’re not convinced? You don’t think what I said is true?"
El Padre looked at Ling Li and rolled his eyes. Ling Li could only purse her lips and remain silent.
"Don’t worry, Shi Min. As long as Capitan and I are here, your mother won’t be lifting a finger on anything." El Padre assured him.
"I shall be very grateful to you, El Padre. My heart will be calm." Shi Min said it politely.
"Why are you so polite? That is why we are here. We are family!?" El Capitan replied and gave Shi Min a tap on his shoulder.
Shi Min, with concern and affection in his voice, pleaded with his mother, "Mom, take care of herself. I have a series of important meetings scheduled for the afternoon. I already planned to postpone them, but since El Padre will be here to look after you, I’ll go back first. I promised to return in a day or two to check on You. Mom, please be good and listen to El Padre, okay?" Shi Min urged, emphasizing the importance of following El Padre’s guidance.
"Of course, my dear son, you may take my helicopter and have several of my security personnel accompany you on your return. Also, make sure to change your route. Your helicopters can return as it is." Ling Li gave detailed instructions to his son.
"Mushu, arrange his flight back." Ling Li added.
"Yes, Madam." Mushu rolled out the order.
"Mom, you’re being overly protective. I appreciate the offer to take your helicopter, but I really don’t need to change the route. Taking that route would add another hour to my journey, but I’ll be alright," Shi Min said firmly, determination in his voice.
"You have to be good. Bye, everyone. It was nice meeting you." Shi Min left with his bodyguards and boarded Ling Li’s chopper.
The five helicopters steered everyone’s attention as they glided effortlessly above the glistening water of the ocean. Though they swiftly moved away, they remained visible to Ling Li and her friends seated by the shore. Suddenly, one of the helicopters burst into a violent, fiery explosion, quickly followed by another.
Ling Li felt an overwhelming urge to leap to her feet, sprint towards the shore, and snatch her phone. She discovered that Shi Min’s helicopters had been destroyed.
"Shi Min, are you alright?" Ling Li asked worriedly. "I saw what happened."
"Yes! We saw it, too. We are okay, but what on earth was that? Mom, I’m relieved to be in your chopper," exclaimed Shi Min, peering out of the chopper window. He could still see the remnants of his chopper slowly sinking into the ocean.
"Don’t turn around. I’ll send more securities to follow you, and we will retrieve your choppers and your men." Ling Li instructed Shi Min and ended the call.
"I have dispatched my men to follow Shi Min." El Padre announced, and as he said, choppers were flying out one after the other to follow Shi Min.
"Thank you, El Padre.