"Calix, what's wrong?"
Old Madam Xu slightly frowned when she saw her grandson suddenly look at his behind. He abruptly did that when Rowan was greeting him back.
His grandmother's words pulled Calix's attention. He turned to stare at his family and his in-laws before once again glancing at where Leslie was.
Calix was surprised when out of nowhere, Leslie screamed in agony. It was not too loud yet, the twisted expression on her face showed how much she was in pain while pressing both sides of her head.
"Oh... I just..."
Calix paused, his eyes still locked on Leslie. Now, she was also looking at him.
"Go. Go to them. I'm fine."
Color was drained slightly from Leslie's face yet, she didn't appear to be in great pain like a moment ago. Putting an index finger across her mouth, she gestured at Calix not to say anything and behave as usual.
Calix blinked. He put his focus back on his family and the Li family members. With an impeccable smile on his lips, he bowed to them to apologize.
"I'm sorry, everyone, especially to my parents-in-law. I thought I saw something. There's nothing to worry about."
Old Madam Xu squinted her eyes at her grandson but, she had to hold back from nagging at her. Three guests were with them who were also Calix's new in-laws.
"CEO Xu is a busy man. You probably are still thinking about the company matters," said Rowan. He was smiling albeit awkwardly.
Calix nodded, his action was without flaw as if he didn't do anything weird just a moment ago. He subtly glanced at Leslie before saying.
"Dinner should be served soon. Why don't we move to the dining room now? We can talk while having dinner."
"Yes, let's go to the dining room," Vernon sang the same tune as his younger brother. He looked at Rowan, Bianca and Irene, "Please make yourself at home. You're our in-laws now."
"Thank you for your hospitality," Rowan glanced at Bianca and Irene, "Guests, it's time to eat."
"Come," Old Madam Xu softened her smile, trying to lessen the tension coming from the Li family, "As my eldest grandson had just said, we're in-laws now. We hope you'll have a pleasant time dining with us."
Lucille carried Amelia in her arms while Vernon helped Old Madam Xu to walk. Rowan, Bianca and Irene slowly stood up from the couch to follow them.
"This way."
Calix gestured in a direction. Uncle Gu was already outside to lead the guests to the dining room. It was not that far from the Begonia Room.
Before following them, Calix quietly looked at Leslie. Shaking her head, she told him.
"Calix, I'll stay here for a moment."
"..."
Calix nodded subtly. His expression was laced with worry. He was slightly frustrated because he couldn't openly ask Leslie what made her yell earlier.
Leslie's faint smile was imbued with helplessness. She said again, "Go. Do you wanna act weird in front of them? Control your mouth and action ah."
"..."
Calix raised his brows, trying to signal that he understood. Soon, he walked out of the waiting room.
Leslie was left alone in the Begonia Room. Once Calix disappeared, her smile also vanished. Exhaustion was manifested through her sullen expression.
"I guess... all those are her memories?"
Murmuring under her breath, Leslie looked at her palms. She clenched and unclenched them a few times, trying to register what had just happened within a short time.
As soon as Leslie placed her eyes on Rowan, Bianca and Irene, a massive surge of memories hastily appeared.
Thousands, or probably more moving images flashed in her mind as if they were forcibly rammed into her head. As if her skull would crack open, a piercing pain flared out.
Then, as if nothing occurred, the head throbbing instantly disappeared.
"Their presence... triggered me to receive her memories, right?"
Even though Leslie had stopped feeling the ache, the phenomenon left her unsettled. She wanted to call for Mimo before immediately dropping the idea.
"Let's go to them."
Leslie hovered past the closed door. An image of a nervous Calix appeared in her mind, slowly making her smile.
CEO Xu was so pitiful. If he really called out her name earlier, his action would surely raise suspicions to everyone.
Gently shaking her head, Leslie headed to the dining room. She didn't have any difficulty looking for it. Not far from where she was, she saw a few attendants bringing food trays in a direction.
As expected, everyone was there.
Leslie entered the dining room. She saw Old Madam Xu sitting at the head of the long table. Calix, Vernon, Lucille and Amelia were on the left side, facing Rowan, Bianca and Irene. They were making small talk.
Without saying anything to notify Calix that she was already inside, Leslie headed to the empty chair next to Irene.
"Should I sit there?"
Through the corner of her eyes, Leslie saw Calix glancing at her. Smiling, she made the gesture of zipping her lips, earning a brief deadpan look from him.
Finally, Leslie sat on the chair. She held back from laughing at the sight of Calix trying to be as subtle as possible to look at her way. The conversation that occurred between both sides echoed inside the dining room.
"...my heart truly feels guilty. After all, Charlene is your eldest daughter. I apologize for our family's lack of courtesy toward you."
Old Madam Xu brought up her remorse over Calix's action in hurriedly marrying Charlene Li. She didn't point out the fact that Rowan also played a part as he agreed with the arrangement.
"I'm honored that CEO Xu thinks fondly of my eldest daughter. Charlene has been..."
"Father, please call me by my name," Calix interrupted, "Mother and Irene as well. Aren't we family now? You shouldn't call me by my title."
"Oh, that..."
"Calix is right," Old Madam Xu showed her approval, "Now, Calix is your son-in-law. Shouldn't all of you be less formal by now?"
"That... we understand," Rowan nodded, followed by Bianca and Irene who were quiet, "We'll do that."
As Leslie watched the interaction between the Xu and the Li families, more thoughts were constructed in her mind.