The next morning, Sara tried not to think back to whatever transpired between her and Jianjun. She really did feel bad but there was nothing she could do about it. Breakfast was quiet. Even Joreen who always talked about her prize giving wasn"t saying anything now that it was the D-Day. Sara and Jianjun said nothing either. Bilike still hadn"t returned from the hospital. They only hoped he was not doing any other funny thing outside staying with Mr Chu. They were sure going to pay Mr Chu a visit to find out. Luckily for him, he was going to be discharged the next day.
"I"ve lost my appet.i.te" Joreen said before getting up. She didn"t wait for anyone to say anything else. She just took the plates to the kitchen and went to their bedroom to organise her remaining items and costumes for school.
"Do you hate me now?" Sara asked sadly. She didn"t like that everyone was sad and she was the cause of it all.
Jianjun put his chopstick down and ma.s.saged his temples with both hands. "Did you really mean it? Shaving your hair and remaining single for the rest of your life?" He asked.
Sara nodded gently. She was really going to do it.
"Why? They are a lot of men out there that will love you"
She shook her head and added childishly "I am not interested in any of them"
He sighed deeply then got up and took his unfinished meal to the kitchen also. Sara just pouted after him. She had also lost her appet.i.te.
They all stood up as Madam Li joined them on the long dining table. Every member of the Li family were present there. It took them by surprise that she had suddenly come to City B without letting anyone know beforehand. It only meant one thing, there was trouble.
The mansion was big. Very big. It had been the Li family"s home when Li Han and Li Fazhan were still kids. But after they both got married, Madam Li had gifted them with their own separate mansions still inside thesame estate. After which, she left the place since it was too lonely and boring for her. Her husband had died many years back and her children were both building their homes. What next for her?
Feeling nostalgic, she moved to City Z where she had been raised. Notwithstanding, her mansion was still taken care of on a daily basis. If there was one thing the 71 years old woman hated, it was dirt!
Madam Li had a domineering aura all around her. There was no hope of a smile appearing on her face. She was not too tall. Her grey hair was tied in a neat bun while her blue long gown perfectly went with her silver and blue house slipper.
She sat down on the head seat and signalled for them to sit after they greeted her.
Both daughters-in-law threw caring questions at her concerning her health but it was as if she heard nothing and simply went straight to the point.
"You all have been disappointing me" She said in a calm but angry tone.
Heya s.h.i.+vered when Madam Li looked at her first. "Dana, does your daughter look fit for marriage?" Madam Li asked in irritation.
Heya put her head down in fright and shame. Did she have to start with her every time?
"Mo...ther... She... I.. " Dana stuttered. Thankfully, she was cut off by Madam Li again. "You should be preparing her for marriage. But look how she is." Madam Li spread both hands open "So can we say you have been playing your motherly role well?"
"Mother" Li Fazhan cut in. But she also waved him off with a hand. "You let your only daughter move in with her brother." She swung her head freely from side to side "And not only that, they gave her a rascal as a coach" She scoffed. "Is this family a joke?" This time, she looked at Li Muchen whose eyes were glazed. Hoy also had the same expression. Minde wasn"t hoping on saying anything today at all.
"She is not a rascal. She is Heya"s coach and she has been doing well" Muchen spoke up.
Madam Li raised a hand so the elderly maid who had been following her placed a doc.u.ment on it.
When she took it, she threw it at Muchen. "Even I, couldn"t dig up some things about her. Do you think she is a normal girl?"
When Muchen opened the first page to see it was truly a doc.u.ment on Sara, his fist tightened around it before he closed the doc.u.ment and gently placed it on the table.
"I employed her. You cannot dig on my employees without my permission" He tried to sound normal. But the anger in his tone was evident.
"Li Muchen!" His parents called simultaneously.
Minde who had been sitting beside him had to pinch his thigh under the table to let him know it was enough.
"You see how your son talks to me now?" She shook her head and looked at both Dana and Fazhan. "He said I needs permission. He said I, Li Sun needs permission." She mock-laughed. "Do you think so?" She looked at Li Han, who said nothing, then, at their eldest son Minde
Minde literally almost hid under the table when their eyes met. "You!"
Minde"s hands found Muchen"s under the table and held it tightly for support "Scoundrel" she muttered.
Her eyes also landed on Hoy. For the first time, she smiled. "You have been doing a good job as a director. If your cousin keeps messing up..." She paused to look at Muchen. "It won"t take time before you to become the CEO" She said with a sly smile.
The atmosphere in the room became tensed.
Hoy looked at Muchen to see his face was completely expressionless. "Thank you grandmother. But I do not deserve it. CEO Li is doing a very good job" He gave her a warm smile in return.
"Oh dear.." She said excitedly. But everyone was more concerned about the words she was going to say next. And it did come..
"It"s so lovely that you take your cousin"s side—Even though you both fancy the same girl"