After a tiring 4 hours before a laptop, Xinya found herself with a new Swiss account and a bank balance of a few tens of millions. Her name once buried under the dust along side thousands of others, had once again swept through the list in the space of a couple of hours, she'd made it into the top one thousand, her eyes lingered on the verification button besides her name. She didn't know it but at that moment her actions had caused a ripple in the Hacker world. She had jumped into the nine hundreds and still moving upwards. She smiled, wondering to herself if her father would let her back out of the marriage agreement if she filled in the gaps in finances and if she found him a good financial advisor.
"If I handed him a few couple of millions, would he die of a heart attack" She wondered to herself "or would he accuse me of robbing a bank?" Xinya chuckled at her thoughts. "Anyways I still think it'll he a better idea to pose as an investor, but would he be willing to take up an extra investor to his company, considering that it might cost him a few shares?" Xinya turned around yelping when she saw the time. She shot up from her bed, and ran into her bathroom, hurriedly taking a short shower. She quickly moved towards her closet wondering to herself what the best idea for an outfit would be. The old her would have gotten a white or blue gown on but now all she wanted to put on was a black trouser suit. She finally decided to just go with a pale blue gown intending to be the old her just one more time, her face bare except a little nude lipstick and her demeanor weak, old quiet Xinya made what she intended to be her final appearance.
She headed downstairs, intending to get some moral support from Annie. She checked the time, it was a couple dozen minutes till 5o'clock. She walked into the kitchen.
"Good afternoon Annie". The older woman turned around a smile gracing her lips as she watched the younger woman she had come to see as a daughter walk towards her
"Good afternoon Xin'er, I see you forgot all about your treat this morning"
it was only then that Xinya remembered that the older woman had promised her a treat ealier that morning so she walked to the refrigerator,and pulled upon the top compartment.
"Goodness Annie, did I tell you just how much I love you?"
Before her was a delightful plate of cake and homemade ice cream. Xinya smiled her spirits which had taken a blow instantly returned and she felt refreshed.
However,as the duo talked, the door bell chimed, a maid opened the door welcoming the visitors Xinya wished more than anything else she could avoid.
'Perfect timing, peeps' she muttered under her breathe
Before she could say anything else her father moved down the stairs, talking as he went
Ah, Ken, Elaine, you're here. Welcome
Feng'er, see how much you've grown. come over, sit.
Feng'er?
Xinya smirked, in all the years she'd known her father she'd never gotten such an enthusiastic welcome from him.
They had exchanged pleasantries among themselves and were chatting before Xinya decided that it was time for her to come over.
She walked over
Uncle Ken, Aunt Elaine, Good evening and welcome. We've been expecting you.
She'd made small talk with the couple asking after them and how they've been over the years studiously avoiding everything that could bring the conversation over to Mu Feng
She refused to acknowledge the young man after all she believed as a man he should have rejected this whole ludicrous marriage contract considering how much he seemed to loathe her when they were kids.
Aunt Elaine hadn't seemed.to have noticed but her husband did. He looked at the two who seemed to have notice reach others presence and was wondering if he should do something to break the ice when his wife spoke up
"Xin'er, come over here and sit besides me. You've grown up. Look how beautiful you've become."
Xinya smiled
"Aunt Elaine, you are exaggerating, it's been a while though."
Soon both women were talking. Mother Mu had talked about anything and everything while Xinya had replied her but any who knew her well could tell that she was seeking an excuse to leave. Unfortunately, there was no such excuse and so she ended up accompanying her until dinner time.
Meanwhile, Ken and James had headed into the study to discuss work. They talked about the funding and other issues faced by the Greyson enterprises and how to make up the various lose s faced in some areas. The two had come up with the idea of a certain collaboration between the two companies. Before long, they began to discuss the marriage between their children.
"It seems like those two really do not like each other. They practically ignore themselves"
"They'll get around"
James replied. To him Xinya was going to have to get around marrying Mu Feng for the sake of the family.
Meanwhile, in a corner of the sitting room, Mu Feng sat watching the girl who hadn't spared him a glance ever since he stepped into the room wondering if his initial evaluation of her was wrong. He could sense that her attention seemed to wander yet somehow she had not faltered but had carried the conversation perfectly. It seemed like she was used to doing that.
However, that behavior to Mu Feng, who was used to rejecting the things he didn't like, seemed a bit too pretentious. Xinya had sensed his gaze but had pretended not to. She could already sense the emotions in the gaze but somehow she didn't care.
Suddenly, Aunt Elaine had asked her what she thought of Mu Feng.
Caught unawares, Xinya had looked up and glanced at him.
"Handsome and responsible looking"
It was a sterotypical answer which meant that she'd never really thought about him.
Mu Feng looked up, a smile gracing his features. He was about to respond when a voice came from behind them
"Come let's eat"
The three got up joining the two people who had just stepped out of the study.
Dinner was served.
Dinner passed uneventfully as the three adults had begun discussing a wide range of topics while the two youngsters acted as though the food before then was ore important than any other thing happening around them.
After dinner,the three adults had headed off to the patio to continue there discussion which had moved from business to the importance of antiques.
The moment the three left, Xinya had picked up her phone, her entire demeanor changing as she went through her messages.
Mu Feng had stared her her wondering which side of her was the real her.
"We need to talk"
She said as she looked up, pointing towards the garden facing them.