"How was my cousin, Ryu'er?" Xiong Zhi asked.
Xiong Nuen Zai was a little bit stunned as he did not expect Xiong Zhi knew his eight year old son.
"He is doing fine. He is a bit sickly but he was very cheerful and intelligent." Xiong Nuen Zai could not help but be proud.
He only had one child and that was his son, Xiong Nuen Ryu. His son was sickly since he was born. Nevertheless his cheerfulness hide it all. Probably his son wanted them, his parents, to be happy and burden free.
"It's good to know. Maybe one of these days I will visit Ryu'er and Aunt (Nuen's wife) in Paris. Ryu has never meet me." Xiong Zhi wanted to be close with those good people in the Xiong family. That was the family of his Uncle Nuen and her Aunt Xiong Mai.
Xiong Nuen Zai smiled. He did not ask how Xiong Zhi knew of his son. He was not a socialized person so no one outside of his circle knows that he got married and had a son. But it was Xiong Zhi. And Xiong Nuen Zai trusted her and that he knew she meant no harm but sincerely wanted to bond with them as a family.
"Sure. I will escort you to my home."
They talked more of their well being not minding the crowd's gazes to them.
Some of them knew Xiong Nuen Zai as someone from the third branch. They have just discovered today that the Young Miss of Xiong was actually close to the third branch.
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Xiong Mai was having difficulty to enjoy this banquet. Everywhere she goes, be it in the hall, in the dining area or even at comfort room people would try to converse to her and proclaim their name and distribute their business card. In fact her purse right now was full of business cards. That's why every year she dreaded to attend the anniversary.
'It's because of that one percent ..'
Xiong Mai calmed her self because she felt she would lash out on this people. She had one percent of shares of the entire Xiong Empire. She got it as an inheritance when her father died. And because of that one percent, she needed to attend this horrible anniversary. She was a woman who don't have any patience to play honeyed words to these people. In the first place, she did not get where she was through that, it was all by her hard work and talent.
She actually wanted to sell this one percent. But the problem was to whom. The elders did not buy any more shares as it was part of the rule. She could only sell it to the first or second branch. There's no one to sell to in the first branch as there was no son. In the second branch, the people there were full of greed. Full of schemes. And Xiong Mai doesnt want anything to do with them. Lastly, it was his father's will to left that one percent to her. For his father knew she had a stubborn personality and would not just sell it to anyone. Her father clearly wants the third branch to own at least a bit of Xiong Empire.
But she...clearly didn't want anything to do with it.
She just wanted to do everything in her own. She was independent and talented. Even with or without the surname Xiong she could fare herself well.
Without even touching that one percent, she managed to be a sensational business woman in Europe. Making her a great figure in business industry. That's why she had a guts to act mightier like the second branch. And the people around her revered her and curry favor to her even she came from the third branch.
Xiong Mai was getting irritated bit by bit when she heard a soft yet cold voice.
"Aunt Mai..." Xiong Zhi and Xiong Nuen Zai was walking towards Xiong Mai.
Earlier, while they were talking, Xiong Zhi mentioned Xiong Mai in passing. Xiong Zhi knew her Aunt Mai was a heavily guarded individual. She did not approve anyone easily. As of now, Xiong Mai was not close to Xiong Zhi nor she was concern about her. They were like strangers.
However Xiong Zhi knew what kind of person her Aunt Mai was. They met for the first time in her grandfather's funeral. As she was closed and treated well by Xiong Nuen Zai, Xiong Mai who rarely approach anyone talked to Xiong Zhi and willing to help her. She (Xiong Mai) even said before that she would be backing her (Xiong Zhi). At first Xiong Zhi was confused why that aloof woman initiated to help her as they just met. But later she found out that Xiong Mai and Xiong Nuen Zai, brother and sister relationship was good. They trusted each other's personality and decision. So seeing Xiong Nuen Zai helping Xiong Zhi with no power at all made Xiong Mai wanted to help her brother and her pitiful neice. And as time passed, Xiong Mai got acquainted to Xiong Zhi and even treated her as her own daughter.
Even it was just for a moment before she was got taken by Xiong Wuyue, Xiong Zhi for the first time felt how to have a Mother and be loved.
And she was thankful for that.
Xiong Zhi also learned that with a little bit of power it was not enough to shoo those who were eyeing her title and inheritance. In order to fight her fate she need to be stronger, powerful, capable, that even the Xiongs and Guans could not do anything to her.
She would be someone that was capable to protect those people she wish to protect.
But in order to do that she need to face her fears towards the beast. Remembering what happened earlier made Xiong Zhi felt bad and ashamed....and mad.
She promised herself to not be weak again. And she will step by step.
"Young Miss Zhi.." Xiong Mai was a little bit taken aback when this young Miss of first branch approached her.
She heard of the rumors. That this young Miss was not fond of any gatherings. Rumors says that aside from eight years ago when her (Xiong Zhi) parents died, she did not left the Xiong Mansion. She did not even have friends. And just attended school recently. Xiong Mai only knew that the girl in rumor was timid, shy, and aloof.
But seeing her infront says otherwise.
Xiong Mai and Xiong Nuen Zai were really brothers and sisters as they had the same impressions of Xiong Zhi. With just one glance they knew that she was like a raging beast waiting to be unleashed.
"I am Xiong Zhi to you Aunt Mai. I'll be more glad if you call me Zhi'er as we are family." Xiong Zhi said with a small smile.
Xiong Mai secretly laughed at what she thought first. Why she had thought that this little girl was so deep? This girl in front of her was still too young and should be green. She must be thinking too much.
Secretly glancing at Xiong Nuen Zai , Xiong Mai knew that this girl was different from the other Xiong. Her brother was very meticulous when it comes to his friends and acquaintances. The fact that Nuen Zai was together with Xiong Zhi means approval from the man. And Xiong Mai trusted her brother's taste. With that she did not make it difficult for Xiong Zhi to be acquainted to her and welcome her warmly.
"So Zhi'er it is. How have you been?"
And with that. Xiong Zhi got reunited to what she called 'family'.