___At Stars Residence___
Soon they arrived at Jane's home inside the Signatura Colony of Villas, the perfect childhood perch of both the girls.
Song Lin felt a nostalgic relief of being back at home. Her eyes glimmered with the sight and the air.
Xiao Jane's parents always had treated her like their own daughter.
Since she lost her parents at very young age and raised by her grandparents only, it was a total different and elegant feeling to have the love of the parents. Though she miss her parents, Xiao elders had never tried to replace their place, they just tried to fill the emptiness inside her with their care and support.
Song Lin wanted to capture each of the moment and pictures with her eyes, before returning to her work, to inhale the fragrance of the peaceful air of home. Only people living away from home can understand this easiness and comfort.
Xiao Jane, too, was happy when she arrived at her hometown a week back. She had been engaged in her job overseas. No one knows what kind of job she is doing except her parents and Lin Lin, something she has a passion for since childhood, people may suspect it must be one of high ranking jobs with monthly income of millions or billions or something and they might be right, but what matters for Jane is the satisfaction she gets from her work.
Her younger brother Xiao Guan is at last year of his graduation, he's 22 now! Soon when he will apply to his company for internship programes and after gradual promotions, he will ultimately be chosen as the next CEO of Xiao Empires and will lead it further.
They usually belonged to a rich family, had first class living standards, own company and multiple subsidiary businesses.
Father Xiao Ming never wanted Xiao Jane to do job on her own at overseas. But still she insisted so no one dared to oppose her decision. She always gets support of her mother more. Mother Xi Cheng was happy with her progress, considering it's something she likes to do.
She planned to return home for a long vacation as her Father insisted her to come.
She wanted to return on a special day, she remembered it's importance and even called Song Lin here to join the family, take a break from work and celebrate their friendship of 10 long years.
When they entered the home, Mother Xi Cheng greeted them with huge smile. She pulled Song Lin in her embrace and kissed her on the cheek, blessing her.
Xiao Jane intentionally twisted her mouth in a sweet pout and said, "Mother forgot her first daughter when second came! I see I am being neglected here!!" And with these she started fake crying and winked at Song Lin.
Mother Xi Cheng is aware of her daughter's childish tantrums. She and Song Lin both knew it and pulled Xiao Jane into a deep embrace. She smiled and hugged her mother and Lin Lin. She felt relief and comfort.
Father Xiao Ming saw the scene from behind and replied in a pitiful tone..., "so non of my daughters loves me! They only care for their mother! I see.....who would even care for a old man now..."
After listening to his words, the three of them bursted out into laughter.
Xiao Jane gestured Song Lin and both of them hurriedly ran and bumped into Father Xiao Ming and hugged him tightly from both sides.
"Ah Lin, Father was throwing tantrum too, and you ask me where I got this behaviour from haha! But he doesn't know, his daughters loves Father the most too!"
"Yes Jane Jane...we love father and mother the most!"
This was a happy and long awaited gathering of children and parents. They took their night meal, talked a bit,mother suggested they should rest and Lin must be tired from her journey, and after dinner, both besties dashed into Xiao Jane's bedroom. It seemed like father wanted to talk to Xiao Jane a bit more but Mother Cheng sent them to rest.
As soon as they entered, they decided to discuss anything new or spicy that happened recently in the independent life they were living. Xiao Jane was about to speak when they heard a knock and Father Ming's voice rang into their ears.
"Ah Jane! Father wants to have a word with you first. Come down and we will talk in the study!" He said and left downstairs.
Xiao Jane was a little sad to leave Lin Lin alone even for a minute after all this time, but she can't disobey her father and act like a child again! If he came all the way here to talk, it's must be something important, she thought.
She pressed Song Lin's hand in reassurance as to say she will come soon.
Song Lin understood her, Xiao Jane left the room and let out a deep sigh.
At Xiao Ming's study----
"Father, you called for me?" Xiao Jane asked in a curious as well as suspicious tone.
At first he looked at her with heavy eyes, took a deep breath, then finally spoke, "Ah Jane! You know your little brother still had a year ahead to join the company. Even if he joins, it won't be like he's going to take the leadership right away. It will take time.
At this point,only you are capable right now to take the company's stand....
Your Father is turning older day by day and I'm afraid I might not be able to lead our Company to its best."
"What are you implying father?" She asked as to wonder if her father wants her to quit her job overseas and look over the company. If that's the point, she can't help but refuge his demands.
He looked at her and abruptly said, "Basically the company belongs to you but as you had rejected to hold onto it once, even now,.....I wanted you to join the company so that I'll make you the Head...
But you child....I have listened to your every demand.....even I agreed to give the leadership to your younger brother.... it's not like I don't have faith in him, but it will take more time then needed..."
"Father, Guan is a good child and you know that, he had never disappointed us in any possible way till now, he-" she said furiously when Xiao Ming cut her words in between,
"Ah Jane!! My daughter.....listen to me....you know there's still time until he truly becomes capable to hold the position of the company! And we don't have time right now.....I can't hold the leadership any longer!" He looked sad and tired.
Xiao Jane replied in concern,"Father, is it your health concern? Are you not in your good state of health? I know I still have a job overseas and I love my work, but even though, I haven't studied business that long and can't handle the effort to manage the company on my own you know! Why-..."
Father Ming cut her words in middle and stated his words in a serious tone, "Ah Jane! It's not like I am forcing you to handle the company alone... I know it's really uneasy and risky for you to handle it while still working overseas....
But I have come up with an idea and I am looking forward that you will help me Ah Jane!"
Xiao Jane's expressions mixed up. She wasn't sure what her father was implying at this point.
'Does he want me join the company at any cost? Or is it totally different then my thinking '
She blinked her eyes as Xiao Ming passed a serious statement.
"Ah Jane! Father wants you to marry someone I know!" He said and stopped.
Xiao Jane couldn't believe her ears! What she heard was something,not in her rarest nightmares she had expected to hear, after coming back to her hometown. Her eyes went wide stretched as she exclaimed, "Father, Are you really asking me to marry someone at this time? What's the point and relation between company problems and my marriage? Am I a burden to you now? Father how could you.....It's totally unfair! How can you-". She felt betrayed and blabbered every possible hurtful words she could so that she can hear her father say that she heard him wrong.
But Xiao Ming was silent....his silence was saying that what he said a while ago is not a joke nor a slip of tongue or anything. It was true....that he wants her to get into an arranged marriage.
When he refused to say further,Xiao Jane found it better to stop saying anything.
As the matter of fact, she was unable to digest the words of her father.
'Marriage? With someone I don't even know, it's unfair!'