The next day, the sun decided to hide behind the clouds that resembled the white fluffy cotton. The air was cold, penetrating through the skin, making people numb.
Xu Hina was currently seated in the sofa facing the lanai. In her hand was a cup of brewed coffee, the smell scattered throughout the air.
Last night was the Annual Sciorn Gathering. Xu Wei was nowhere to be found but Xu Hina knew that her younger grandson, Xu Ming, was present at the event. She wondered how the party went through. For the past years, she attended the event. Only this time that she skipped due to her arthritis.
She shook her head. She has been aging lately. At this rate, she might die even before she can see her great grandchildren. Xu Wei was already thirty-two while Xu Ming was thirty. And yet, Xu Hina could not see even an ounce of enthusiasm from the brothers to enter the married life.
"Old Madam!"
Xu Hina almost spat her coffee when a voice interrupted her thoughts. She looked up, a frown was visible on her face. Entering her sight was her personal secretary. His face was flushed while his chest was heaving up and down.
"What kind of news did you bring that you look like as if Yama is chasing you?" she put down her cup of coffee on the table.
The secretary caught his breath first before opening his mouth to speak. "Old Madam, Second Young Master announced something at the party last night."
Xu Hina arched her eyebrow. "Oh? What could that be?" She knew Xu Ming loved to stir up trouble but he always fixed it after.
"Second Young Master announced his engagement."
"What?!" The voice of Old Madam Xu bounced back inside the ancestral house. Her knees buckled after she realized what her secretary had told her. Good thing, she was seated on the sofa. "What are you saying? And who is the woman?"
Xu Ming was the casanova between the two brothers. She was not really in favor of his behavior but her grandson just laughed it off, saying she should just concerned herself with her health.
"It is Li Chanying, Old Madam," the secretary informed her.
Xu Hina massaged her temple. Li Chanying? The adopted daughter of the Second Master Li? She knew Li Chanying. She was the owner and designer of Ying Design Limited. Her granddaughter has adored her designs.
Also, it was a public knowledge that the Old Madam of Li Family doesn't like Li Chanying.
"I haven't heard of them dating. Did you fail to monitor their moves, then?" Her eyes went sharp, sending shivers to the man's spine.
Xu Hina didn't become the City S Empress just because she was the wife of Old Master Xu. She was already a businesswoman before meeting her husband. Cold, decisive, and independent, she was able to control half of the businesses in City S. The other half was controlled by Old Master Xu.
She was famous for her cold stare. Other women from the elite society tried to imitate it but so far, no one succeeded.
"No, Old Madam. They are not dating. Apparently, Second Young Master announced it to help Miss Li," he said, hoping that the Old Madam accepted the reason. Or else, he was done for.
"What? Did that child forget that we do not back out from our words? How could he sputter nonsense just like that?" Lines appeared on her forehead, marring Xu Hina's face.
The secretary lowered his head. How could he knew? The Second Young Master Xu always did what he wanted.
Xu Hina reached for her phone and dialed Xu Wei's number. She needed an explanation from her eldest grandson. Xu Wei must knew something. Of course, the Old Madam Xu was mistaken.
While Xu Ming announced his engagement at the Annual Scion Gathering, Xu Wei was currently staring at the sleeping face of Li Nuxie at one of the rooms in Octagon Hotel. He was not aware of what happened simply because he put a sign 'Do not disturb' on the door handle.
No one would want to disturb him or he would raise hell.
Xu Hina furrowed her brows. How come Xu Wei's phone was turned off? She glanced at her phone, examining if there was something wrong. Her grandson's phone number was unlisted so it was not necessary to turn it off. Only her and the immediate members of Xu Family knew it.
Xu Wei has a different number for work-related concerns. She dialed again but she got the same response.
'The number you dialed is out of coverage area,' the voice of the operator reached her ears.
When she got the same response for the forth time, she exhaled and dialed his other number. But it was still the same.
"Do you know where he go? Your First Young Master?" she asked her secretary.
"Yes, Madam. He is in the Octagon Hotel," he said.
"Octagon Hotel? Then why was his phone turned off?"
The secretary didn't know what to say. How could he know? As if the Young Masters informed him of their activities. "Our people just reported that he came to the hotel using the back entrance. And -" he stopped.
Xu Hina peered at her secretary. "And what?"
"He was carrying a woman," he held his breath, waiting for the Old Madam to lash out.
Xu Hina stood up, pacing back and forth in front of her secretary. Xu Wei was carrying a woman? She had not heard of Xu Wei dating since breaking up with his girlfriend two years ago.
If this was true just like what her secretary has told her, then Xu Wei must be dating again. All his relationships were not short-lived so Xu Hina knew that the woman was really a shoe-in for the position of First Young Madam.
This time, she dialed Xu Ming's number.
'The number you dialed is out of coverage area.'
Sighing, she dialed Chang Lianna's number.
'The number you dialed is out of coverage area.'
"What is wrong with the younger generation now? How come all of their phones are turned off?"
Just as she would throw her phone on the sofa, her ringtone tore the stillness of the surroundings.
She glanced at the screen which displayed the picture of Master Xu, her son.
Xu Hina's son doesn't call often. But when he did, he would confirm something. She turned her head towards her secretary. "What would I do?"
The secretary felt like crying. Why would the Old Madam ask him? He was just a lowly secretary, for Pete's sake.
He took a deep breath as the phone continued to ring. "You need to accept the call, Old Madam," before Master Xu stormed inside the ancestral house, he silently added.
Swiping the accept button, Xu Hina brought the phone near her ear.
"Mother, what took you so long to answer the phone?" Her son's voice reached her ears.
"I was at the bathroom," she lied without batting an eyelid.
"Your schedule is at noon. How come you're at the bathroom?" doubt filled her son's voice.
Xu Hina pressed her lips. "What? You just called to ask about my bathroom schedule? How unbecoming."
"Of course not. I just wanted to confirm if Xu Ming will really get married now. You know he can't do that. Tradition dictates that it must be the First Young Master who should get married first," Master Xu said.
What can Xu Hina say? Other than the information she got from her secretary, she was practically blind when it comes to Xu Ming's affair.
"I'm sure Ming knows what he was doing. Shame on you, son. You should have more faith on your own son," Xu Hina chided him.
"Alright. Just keep me updated. My friends have been bombarding me with questions. Is it true that the woman came from the Li Family?" her son's tone changed.
Xu Hina shook her head. The animosity towards the Li Family ran deep in the Xu Family's blood. "Again, you should trust in your son's judgment."
Master Xu sighed helplessly from the other line. "I hope Xu Ming really knows what he's doing. He can marry anyone he wants. Just not from the Li Family."
Xu Hina raised an eyebrow. "He's your son. You should know him more than anyone aside from her mother. Anyway, how is your wife?"
"She's fine, mother. I'll call you later. I just need to sort out some things," he said.
"It's fine. I know you're busy. See you soon, son," she hanged up.
Sitting down on the sofa, Xu Hina leaned back, closing her eyes. She needed to think of a plan that will not disrupt the current situation in City S.