Raine watched as her brother left and for some time, she basked in the warmth she felt on seeing her brother after a long time. However, she didn't dwell on it for long because she knew that she had other things to deal with.
Now that she was aware that the person behind most of the things occurring around her and her family was not just her uncle but her maternal grandmother as well, she knew that she couldn't continue being passive.
Once again she looked towards her beauty that had been destroyed by her lovely brother and this time sighed. She had paid an exorbitant amount of money to get the car and it had been rendered useless only after driving it once.
She shook her head and stood up straight. She had left her guest inside her home for way too long. She walked away from her car and towards the door at the end that led into a relaxation room. She went to the refrigerator and took a bottle of water then looked towards her right to where a door stood.
She thought about it for a while then decided against it and instead walked towards the door at the left side of the room. She opened it and walked through the passage leading to the living room.
"April, thank you for keeping me company. I hope I'm not bothering you, I know my cousin sister is always busy so you should be the same." A sweet melodious but commanding voice sounded out.
As Raine rounded the corner she saw the owner of the voice and shook her head. Her eldest cousin sister from her mother's side had not changed over the years. She still looked very kind, virtuous and noble.
However, even after leaving the army for eight years, she hadn't lost the dangerous and commanding aura she had once wrapped around herself like a cloak.
"Ms. Xu need not be worried about my work, I'm actually here to see Madam President as well." April replied with a nervous laugh.
Although she had been conversing with Xu Ying for a while as they both awaited the arrival of Raine, she still couldn't find it in her to speak comfortably with her. This came as a surprise to her because she hadn't ever felt as nervous as she was feeling presently with Raine.
Frankly, Raine looked scarier than Xu Ying, but with Xu Ying, she felt that she could see into her heart and that she was taking note of everything she was saying, digesting it and noting down the mistake.
"Hmm, that's great news then. Tell me more about Raine; what is it like to work with her? Is she dictatorial?"
April coughed and took the cup of water she was offered by Xu Ying. "Are you okay? Why the sudden cough. Please drink this and calm down…is she that bad that you had to choke on your saliva?"
"Ying Jie, please do not kill my personal assistant unless you have someone better to give me in return." Raine said as she announced her arrival.
Earlier when she had arrived and had heard their conversation, she had decided to wait before showing herself to them because she had been perplexed about April's reaction to Xu Ying.
April was a person that was able to cope with all kinds of people and her talent was in diffusing tension so Raine found it interesting to know that the tension diffuser was for the first time feeling tensed. It was so much of an oxymoron that she wanted to know how long it would take her to get to her limit and for her façade to crack.
As Raine appeared before them, she glanced at April then looked towards Xu Ying who had already gotten to her feet with a lovely smile gracing her lips. Every single movement she took showed her genteel breeding and caused Raine to be impressed.
Even decked in an ash-grey cashmere off shoulder sweater half tucked into her dark blue boyfriend jeans and paired with wedge sandals, she looked as refined as ever.
"Why don't I offer myself as a replacement?" Xu Ying replied with dog eyes and April choked for the second time in a row.
Raine shook her head in exasperation and motioned to Xu Ying to follow her. She sent April a look and April nodded in response.
"Ying Jie, please stop playing around. Working with me must be the last thing you'd ever wish to do." Raine said as she led Xu Ying to her room.
"I have always and would always wish to work with you Raine. You can doubt me for other things but not this. To me, what happened eight years ago wasn't your fault!" Xu Ying mentioned and Raine stopped walking and turned towards her with a chuckle.
"It is funny how Ying Jie can happily state that when your whole career was destroyed because of it. I cannot believe you do not hold even a little bit of hatred for me or have you decided to let thing go because Wai Po has not stopped you from returning?"
"Juan!!! I cannot believe you are saying this! Do you really think that I would blame you? Why do you delight in making yourself seem like a villain?" Xu Ying bitterly said as she stared straight into Raine's eyes.
"Do not call me that ever again." Was all that Raine said as a reply before turning around.
"I do not care about your hierarchy in your father's home! As your elder sister, I command you to turn back to me and if you have an iota of guilt for me then you will comply."
Xu Ying didn't want to play the guilt game but she knew that if she didn't do so then it would be hard for her to get Raine's attention and she was right as Raine turned back to her though her jaw was clenched tight.
"Have you ever asked yourself why you are not willing to be called by your Chinese name? You still miss our homeland, just admit it to yourself and move on. What happened that year wasn't your fault at all, I share part of the blame and…they were also to balme." Xu Ying said as she hid back her tears.
"When will you stop shouldering all the burden by yourself? Do you think he would accept these?"
"Don't talk about him to me…Ying Jie, I never want to hear about him and why don't you confront your grandmother when you get home about me putting all these behind me? Believe me, I'll follow whatever she says."
Xu Ying shut her mouth instantly she saw the bitter smile on Raine's lips. She knew something must have occurred from her Nai Nai's side for Raine to suddenly mention her. She was someone Raine admired and that was why what happened eight years ago hit Raine much deeply than anyother person and it had become a stone in her heart that she wasn't willing to remove.
However, much more than any other person, Xu Ying knew that the front she was putting up was just a façade. She had never stopped loving their grandmother and she still hoped till now to be recognized and forgiven by her.
"Let's go in first to talk." Xu Ying replied as she took Raine by her left hand, squeezed it a bit then let it go.