The cars of Li Chanying and Hong Chi both stopped in front of Li Nuxie's house at the same time. Of course, they still do not know if they can go beyond the main door.
"Do it," Hong Chi told Li Chanying. "You are her cousin. She will open the door."
Li Chanying crossed her arms. "I am her cousin that's why I know that she will not open the door."
"You are so pessimistic. You haven't even tried," Hong Chi pouted before placing her hands at the back of Li Chanying, pushing her towards the door. "Come on. No harm in trying," she further urged.
Li Chanying shook off Hong Chi's hands from her back. "Then, why don't you try?" she said, scowling at her.
Raising her two hands in the air, Hong Chi sighed. "Okay, okay. I'll do it," she took a step towards the door. She took a deep breath before pushing the door bell button, twice. Then before Li Chanying can blink an eye, Hong Chi rushed away from door, taking refuge at the bushes nearby.
Li Chanying widened her eyes. Her brain stopped thinking. What did Hong Chi just do? She turned her back from the door, wanting to run too but her legs would not move. As she lifted her left foot to dash away from the door, the door swung open. Li Chanying felt the hairs on the back of her neck rose.
For the next minute, she did not hear anything that she started thinking it was all inside her mind. She turned around slowly, almost balking when she saw Li Nuxie.
Li Nuxie was leaning against the door frame. She already changed into a shorts and plain black shirt. "I'm not in the mood to play hide-and-seek."
Li Chanying forced a smile, sweat slowly formed on her forehead. Damn Hong Chi. "Hi, Xiexie! Do you want to go on a vacation to Island H?"
A line marred Li Nuxie's forehead. "Vacation? Why would I?" She glanced at the bushes that lined up beside her fence. "I wonder if there is a stray dog behind those bushes?"
Li Chanying burst out laughing, completely forgetting the fear she was feeling a while ago. "Oh gosh, Chi, I didn't know you can be mistaken for a stray dog."
Hong Chi stood up from hiding with some leaves sticking on her hair. "You're so mean, Xiexie," she crossed her arms.
"Oh, my bad," Li Nuxie put her hand over her mouth. "But what are the two of you doing here?" Her aura shifted suddenly; a stern look replaced her easygoing demeanor.
Li Chanying gave a sideway glance to Hong Chi, the smile slipping from her lips. "Well, something happened and it is better that you leave City S, first."
"Until the issue dies down," Hong Chi further added.
Her brows snapped together. "What issue?"
"Are you sure you want to talk about it here?" Li Chanying asked her cousin. Although the neighborhood was pretty deserted, it was better to be on guard than be caught off guard in the future.
Li Nuxie waved her hand dismissively before turning around and went inside the house. The other two closely followed behind her, closing the door as soon as they were inside. She occupied the single sofa while Li Chanying chose the cleopatra. Hong Chi remained standing.
"What happened, now? Did that woman do something again?"
"Nope. It was about that Xu Wei."
Li Nuxie clenched her jaw, the hands in her lap balled into fists. "What about that man?"
Hong Chi took out her tablet from her shoulder bag and gave it to Li Nuxie. Li Nuxie reached for it and with a tight grasp, she stared at the screen, her eyes darting back and forth. Her hand fell on her lap together with the tablet. Her shoulders went slump.
"Ha. That jerk is the First Young Master Xu." How could he?
Li Chanying's eyes bored into her cousin. The revelations were just too much, even for her. How much more for Li Nuxie? "Xiexie –"
Li Nuxie raised her right hand. "Stop, right there," her breaths quickened as she stood up. "How dare that man do this to me?!" A thud made Hong Chi dropped her jaw.
Hong Chi can only cry silently. That tablet was custom-made in the US and Li Nuxie just let it fall on the floor. Li Chanying can only offer her condolences to the Young Lady of Hong Family. Treat it as a karma for abandoning your friend in front of the sleeping volcano's door!
Li Nuxie, with clenched fists, turned her head at Li Chanying's direction. "Get me that Xu Wei jerk's phone number now."
"Can't do," Li Chanying shook her head. "Call me incompetent but his phone is unlisted."
As expected of the Xu Family's heir. Li Nuxie's eyes narrowed into slits. This Xu Wei has a lot of debt to pay, she thought. With a hardened expression, Li Nuxie turned around and marched towards her bedroom.
"What will she do now?" Li Chanying asked as soon as her cousin was already out of sight.
Hong Chi bent down and picked up her tablet. A sigh of relief escaped her mouth as she flipped her tablet, examining it for visible damages. "Thank goodness."
"I don't understand why you love that tablet that much. I mean, you can have another custom-made one if you want to," Li Chanying commented, her eyes rolled at the obvious disregard of her question.
"I am not rich to afford another one," Hong Chi said, bringing the tablet closer to her chest.
"Says the Young Lady of the Hong Family," Li Chanying's voice oozed with sarcasm.
Hong Chi remained silent. Her gaze went past Li Chanying's shoulders. Amazement flashed in her eyes that Li Chanying also turned her head back.
Li Nuxie changed into an outfit. A white top and black shorts paired with a peach overcoat that fell below the hem of her shorts. Her legs looked slimmer with her wedge sandals. She skipped her eyeglasses today.
"Where are you going?" Li Chanying asked, a nagging sensation crept over her heart.
"It's payback time," she said, heading towards the door.
Li Chanying and Hong Chi chased behind Li Nuxie but didn't try stopping her. She lowered herself in the car before zooming out from the neighborhood. The two friends didn't waste time and boarded Li Chanying's car, following behind Li Nuxie's.
The Xu Corp. was located inside the massive Xu compound, just east of the City S. The 31st floor towered over the surrounding buildings. The security within the compound was strict. No one was allowed in the compound unless there was a prior coordination. Even the business associates of Xu Corp. needed to have an invitation to get in.
Li Nuxie's car slowed down. She lowered her car window. The guard approached the car.
"Yes, madam? May I see your invitation?"
Li Nuxie shrugged before extending her arm on the passenger seat. "I don't have an invitation. I was tasked to give this to Xu Ming," she handed the paper bag to the guard. It has the logo of NU C. "You can give it yourself if I am not allowed to go in."
The guard eyed Li Nuxie suspiciously before glancing inside the paper bag. The stones glittered against the mid-afternoon sun. He didn't respond, turning on his heel towards the guard house.
The other guard has a frown on his face. "Who is it?"
"She didn't tell me her name. She just said she was delivering something for Second Young Master Xu Ming," he said.
Craning his neck, the other guard asked "What did she want to deliver?"
The guard scratched his head. "The paper bag said 'NU C'. I think it was expensive with those stones --"
The other guard's mouth fell open as he cut the first guard. "Quick, open the gate!" When the first guard didn't move, he rushed to the control room and pushed the button. The first guard didn't know what happened as he just stood there, watching the other guard dashed here and there.
Li Nuxie smirked as the gate opened before her eyes. Another guard approached her side. "Madam, we're very sorry to keep you waiting."
"No worries. I know that you followed stringent measures here," she gave the guard a warm smile.
The guard's face went red as he scratched the back of his neck. "Y-You can go in, Madam. Second Young Master Xu Ming is inside."
"Thanks!" The car went inside the compound.
On the other hand, Hong Chi and Li Chanying just stared at Li Nuxie's car disappearing from their sight. "How could Xiexie do that?" Li Chanying asked, slapping the middle of the steering wheel with her hand. "Ouch!" she massaged it after.
Hong Chi rolled her eyes. "Serves you right. As if you don't know Xiexie."
"So, what now?"
"We just need to wait," Hong Chi leaned back on her seat. "Then, crossed our fingers that nothing bad happened."
Li Chanying smacked Hong Chi's left shoulder. "Ouch!" Hong Chi slapped Li Chanying's hand. "What's your problem?"
"Stop saying that. Whenever, you say that, something happens."
Hong Chi raised her hands. "Okay, okay. No need to get physical."