7 o'clock in the evening – Si Mansion
The autumn air was a bit chilly since it started to rain. There were still some light rain showers when Si Weimin arrived at Si Mansion with a heavy heart. The ambiance was gloomy just like what he felt.
He didn't really want to go back since he knew that Grandpa Si would only force him into marrying Zhou Bingbing.
Before Si Weimin entered, he messaged Xu Jia Li.
[Don't forget to eat your dinner, Ms. Vicious- Tongue Xu. :P ]
His mood somehow lightened when he saw her reply,
[Come here and I'll punch you. >:D ]
[I'll come but let's not settle for violence. How about you give me a kiss? Since I want kiss, not punch. :P ]
[Pft! Kiss your ass! -_- ] a cute monkey gif was sent with the message.
[HA HA HA! Alright, don't be stubborn. Eat your dinner.]
[I will, Mr. Arrogant Si. You, too. Bye bye! :) ]
Si Weimin had a smile on his face as he walked inside the mansion.
The female servants were stunned to see their young master smiling. It was such a feast to the eyes. His usually cold demeanor and nonchalant gaze were replaced by glimmering eyes and delighted expression. They were giggling as they greeted him in chorus, "Good evening, young master."
Si Weimin only nodded. The smile suddenly disappeared from his face.
"Welcome back, young master!" Butler Mo greeted Si Weimin the moment he saw him walking inside the mansion.
"Thanks, Butler Mo. Did Weizhe give you problems lately?"
"Ha ha… not at all, young master. The third young master has been a really good boy since he came back." Butler Mo answered as he led Si Weimin on the receiving room.
"That's good to hear, then." Si Weimin nodded as he sat on the couch.
"I'll inform Elder Si of your arrival, young master."
"Hmm."
After Butler Mo left, Si Weimin loosened his necktie before he leaned his back against the couch. He began massaging his temples as he closed his eyes.
He suddenly felt tired. He really needed some sleep. If only he didn't need to come back, he really would appreciate a long nice sleep. Then, Xu Jia Li's beautiful image flashed in his mind as he dreamed of being with her.
"Bro, you're back!"
Si Weimin lazily opened his eyes when he heard Si Weizhe.
"Bro, grandpa will be happy to see you here." Si Weizhe sat beside Si Weimin, his face beaming, "He has no reason to nag at me now."
"You deserved it."
"Bro, how can you say that to me? I don't even need to bear all that if only you came home soon." Aggrieved, Si Weizhe clucked his tongue.
"Then, how about your evening escapades that stress grandpa?" Si Weimin asked as he raised his brow, "You're still as stubborn and easy go lucky."
"Eh, bro, you know where I got this stubbornness…" a teasing smile flashed across Si Weizhe's face.
"Don't give me that. I'm only stubborn with things that I have high conviction of. Settle your future. Stop being a lazy body."
"Bro, you're so impossible! I'm still young. I need to enjoy my youth or I'll become like you. Ah, it scares me just by thinking about it! Tss!" Si Weizhe shook his head, greatly abhorring the thought.
Si Weimin didn't have the time to respond when his grandfather walked inside the room. Si Weimin nodded at him, acknowledging the old man's presence before he spoke, "Grandpa."
"Ah! You rascal! I'm glad you still know I'm your grandpa!"
"How can we ever forget that, grandpa?" Si Weizhe chuckled.
"I'm not talking to you! I can't believe I raised brutes like you." Grandpa Si exclaimed as he clenched his chest.
"Grandpa, relax. Okay. See? Eldest brother is here, isn't he? No need to be this hot- headed."
Si Weimin remained quiet while Si Weizhe pacified Grandpa Si. Si Weizhe even poured ginseng tea on the old man's cup.
After a few minutes, Grandpa Si spoke, "You can't back out from this agreement. If you do, you'll have no other choice but to attend my funeral."
Si Weimin's expression turned sour after hearing the old man. He was becoming really impatient. He couldn't help it as he spoke in gritted teeth, "I really don't want to talk about the Zhous, grandpa."
"I don't understand your hostility towards the Zhous! Even your direct rejection of Bingbing is hard to understand!" Grandpa Si shouted.
"I don't love Zhou Bingbing! What's so hard to understand? Stop forcing me to marry her." Si Weimin annoyingly answered.
Seeing the two in heated argument, Si Weizhe only sighed, thanking the good heavens for making him the youngest child. After all, he almost imagined what could have happened if he was in Si Weimin's shoes.
He shivered just by thinking about forcing him into marriage, much more marrying someone he didn't love. There were goose bumps all over her body, 'What a scary thought!'
"Elder Si, Mr. Zhou Jiayin and his family have arrived." Butler Mo informed the old man while the Zhous followed behind him.
Si Weimin furrowed his brows when he heard Butler Mo. He really didn't have any idea that they would come. If he knew, he would never come back, no matter what.
***
Zhou Bingbing was elated upon seeing Si Weimin. It had been a week since she last saw him. She was really excited since this night might be the best night of her life.
She battered her eyelashes as she glanced at Si Weimin. She made sure to look good. She even specifically chose her dress tonight.
Zhou Jiayin and Ye Lingling greeted Grandpa Si and the two Si brothers. They handed expensive vitamin drinks to the old man.
Seeing her parents done greeting the three men, Zhou Bingbing bowed her head before she greeted Elder Si, "Hello, Grandpa Si!"
Then she moved her gaze at Si Weizhe, "Hello, Weizhe! I'm glad to see you again. It's been so long."
"Hi, Ms. Zhou!" Si Weizhe spoke before he smiled meekly.
Zhou Bingbing walked closer to Si Weimin before she smiled sweetly as she greeted him, "Weimin-ge…"
But even before Zhou Bingbing finished her sentence, Si Weimin nodded as he answered nonchalantly, "Ms. Zhou."
Zhou Bingbing suddenly felt embarrassed but she didn't show it at all. She walked towards her parents before she sat beside Ye Lingling. Her heart was filled with rage from the embarrassment she was feeling. She didn't know why Si Weimin never treated her right.
Since the rumors about Si Weimin and Xu Jia Li were cleared, Zhou Bingbing relaxed a bit. However, she still couldn't afford to let her defenses down. Deep inside, she knew that all she had to do was make Si Weimin fall in love with her.
"The dinner is served, Elder Si."