"When they told me that you sleep a lot, I never thought that you would still continue even while I'm here," Huang Xiaoxuan's voice echoed against the marble tile into the minimally decorated walls of the living room. She rose from her seat and glared at Lyca. "You really dared to make me wait for more than an hour?"
"Did I?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow. A sly smile escaped her lips as she walked past her cousin and into the dining room of the mansion.
"Where are you going?" Huang Xiaoxuan's shrill voice reached her ears.
"Eat."
"You— How dare you? I will tell grandfather about this matter! You just wait and see! I'm sure— "
"You'll tell him that I wanted to eat?" Lyca sat on the long rectangular table that was already full of her favorite dishes. "Sit and eat," she commanded.
Huang Xiaoxuan immediately exploded when she saw Lyca's nonchalance. She walked towards Lyca. "You are unbelievable!" she gritted her teeth. "Do you think you already have grandfather's favor just because he chose you? Grandfather is not a partial man! Once I tell him that— "
"Noisy." Lyca raised her head and met Huang Xiaoxuan's furious gaze. "Sit down and eat."
"Hah!" Disbelief flashed in Huang Xiaoxuan's eyes. "I may be younger than you but I— "
"If you plan to disturb my meal, please leave," Lyca interrupted as she started eating the fruits in front of her.
"You— "
"Yes. It's me. Please leave."
"Lyca! You are going overboard! I am here to have a decent conversation with you, and you just ask me to leave?"
"Hungry. Can't talk. Go… Sit. Down. And. Eat." Lyca commanded, making sure to emphasize each word. "Simple instruction. Even a toddler can understand it."
Seeing the disinterest in Lyca's face, Huang Xiaoxuan stomped her feet and sat on the vacant chair next to her. She would never forget the embarrassment that she received today! She grabbed one of the strawberries and put it on her plate. "Now! Can we talk?"
"Who talks while eating?" Lyca rolled her eyes.
"Ahhh! You— You— you stupid— you are crazy! This is insane!" Huang Xiaoxuan snapped. This Lyca was famed for being a lazy introvert. She did not have a job and spent most of her time cooped up in her room reading books about the stars and the universe.
This woman only spent her time reading, sleeping and eating! Because of this she had never developed any relationship with her cousins. Everyone in the Huang Family generally avoided Lyca for being too… different. Most family members just ignored her while some like Huang Xiaoxuan and her father looked down on her.
Well, this was before her secret was revealed by the old man last night. Seeing Lyca eat as if she never heard her call her crazy only made her more infuriated. What kind of person would allow another person to call them insane? Was this because Lyca was looking down on her which was why she could not be bothered to answer her?
"I want you to ask grandfather to make me the heiress and not you," Huang Xiaoxuan declared. "I know you were only forced to agree because of your parents. You shouldn't force yourself into doing something that you don't like." She stared at Lyca who was now eating a… "You are having burgers?" she asked incredulously. She was certain she saw Lyca eating some bananas earlier.
Why was she eating a big greasy burger full of cheese now?
"Can you at least pretend to be normal while talking to me?" she hissed. She could feel her fury boiling inside her. Huang Xiaoxuan felt that talking to someone like Lyca was just giving her stress. Staying with a person like this could potentially give her anger management issues and probably stomach ulcers too! "Are you listening to me?"
"Are you deaf?" Lyca fired back. "I said, 'No talking while eating,'" she repeated without even looking at Huang Xiaoxuan.
"You—" Huang Xiaoxuan balled her hands into fists. She glared at her cousin. "You don't deserve to become an heir. Tell me. Did you pay someone to fool grandfather about your supposed achievements abroad? Do you think you can fool everyone? Aunt Ying and father will never believe you and your father's lies." Still, Lyca ignored her.
"It is very disrespectful of you to stay silent while I am talking here! Is that how your parents raised you? Does grandfather know about this?" Huang Xiaoxuan added. Seeing Lyca continue to ignore her, she raised her hand and slammed it on the red oak table.
*BANG*
The table shook, causing some of the fruits to fall on the floor.
"Answer me! I will not stand anyone disrespecting me like this!" Huang Xiaoxuan raised her voice. Her face turned scarlet. She stared at Lyca who had turned to look at the fruits on the floor before shifting her eyes towards her direction. Seeing that she finally got her cousin's attention, a smug smile dangled on Huang Xiaoxuan's lips.
"Just because grandfather declared you as the heir does not mean that it is already set in stone. Did you forget about the challenge? Once I win it, and we both know I will, you will be stripped of your last name and your status. Are you not afraid of that?"
In response Lyca grabbed a napkin. She elegantly dabbed it on her lips before she cleared her throat. "Is this how your father raised you?" Lyca's voice was not loud but it was crisp and clear. It contained a tinge of authority and grace. "Huang Xiaoxuan, you must have had a sad, sad childhood. Didn't you?" She shifted her gaze and looked at Huang Xiaoxuan. "What a pity. It seems you are nothing but a pretty face."
Huang Xiaoxuan widened her eyes. For some reason, Lyca's words seemed to penetrate the deepest parts of her brain. "You know nothing!" she hissed. "You and your sheltered a** know nothing about me!"