The familiar restaurant was dimly lit, quiet, and almost empty when Wang Xiaoyun arrived.
The dim lighting cast shadows upon the walls, creating a hazy atmosphere in the restaurant. The few customers sat at their tables, speaking in murmurs as if in a library.
As she was led to their usual corner table, a wave of nostalgia washed over her. How many times had she sat here, laughing and planning a future with Lan Feng? Now, those memories felt tainted, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.
As she waited, her fingers nervously tracing the rim of her water glass, old memories resurfaced, making it harder to maintain her composure. She straightened her back, reminding herself of who she was – Wang Xiaoyun, a respected businesswoman, not some lovestruck girl waiting for explanations.
When Lan Feng walked in, Xiaoyun stiffened. He looked a shadow of his former self – his once-pristine appearance now marred by exhaustion. His eyes were sunken, dark circles betraying sleepless nights, and the charm that used to make her heart skip a beat was nowhere to be seen.
They sat in awkward silence for a moment, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavily in the air. Finally, Lan Feng spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.
"l... I never meant to hurt you, Xiaoyun. You have to believe that."
Xiaoyun's eyes clouded with unshed tears, but she blinked them away, refusing to show weakness. "Then why did you?" she asked, her voice breaking slightly despite her best efforts. "Why the lies? The deception? Was any of it real, Lan Feng?"
Lan Feng reached across the table, as if to take her hand, but stopped short when Xiaoyun flinched away. "It was real. All of it. But the situation... it's complicated. My family's hospital, we were in trouble. We need a huge amount of money to continue the building of the trauma Centre, because we couldn't afford another delay. I thought I could fix it without involving you, l know if l asked you would give me the money. But knowing the kind of man your Father, if he finds out, l'm died. Collecting money from you is a enough reason to show worthless, incapable l am. So I decided to ask Rho Shui for help. It was along that things got messed up. But to be true, I was trying to protect you."
"Protect me?" Xiaoyun's voice rose slightly, drawing a few curious glances from nearby tables. "Protect me from what!!? By Cheating on me? How was that protecting me, Lan Feng?"
Before Lan Feng could answer, a shadow loomed over their table. Wang Yuhan, who had secretly followed her sister, now stood there, her eyes blazing with fury.
"You liar!" Yuhan spat, causing several heads to turn in their direction. "You don't get to sit here and act like you're the victim!"
Lan Feng's face paled as Yuhan continued her tirade, her voice rising with each word. "You used her, you used our family's connections, and now you're here to beg for mercy? After everything you've done?"
People in the restaurant had begun to take notice, some discreetly (and not so discreetly) pulling out their phones to record the scene. Within moments, the confrontation was being live-streamed and shared across social media platforms, adding fuel to the already raging scandal.
Xiaoyun, mortified by the public spectacle, stood abruptly. "Yuhan, stop. We're leaving. Now." She turned to Lan Feng, her voice cold. "We're done here. Don't contact me again."
As the sisters hurried out of the restaurant, trying to escape the attention from onlookers and the flashes of camera phones, Xiaoyun's phone rang. The name that flashed on the screen made her heart skip – Grandfather.
She immediately answered, her voice still shaky from the confrontation. "Grandfather?"
"Xiaoyun," Wang Wei's voice came through, calm but firm as always. "I need you and your sister to come to the family house. Immediately."
Xiaoyun's heart pounded harder, wondering if her grandfather had already seen the viral clips now circulating online. "Grandfather, I'm so—"
"There's no time for explanations over the phone," Wang Wei interrupted, his tone leaving no room for debate. "Come immediately. This concerns the future of our family."
The weight of his words settled heavily on her chest, and without another word, the call ended. Xiaoyun turned to Yuhan, who had been glaring back at some of the lingering onlookers.
"What did Grandfather say?" Yuhan asked, her voice lowering slightly, concern replacing her earlier anger.
"He wants us at the family house. Now." Xiaoyun's voice was barely above a whisper, dread settling in the pit of her stomach.
Yuhan's brow furrowed, but she nodded, taking her sister's arm. "Then let's go. Whatever it is, we'll face it together."
As they made their way to their car, neither sister noticed the sleek black vehicle parked across the street, its tinted windows concealing the figure of Chen Liang, who had witnessed the entire scene with keen interest.
***
When Wang Xiaoyun and Wang Yuhan arrived at the Wang family's old house, an weird stillness seemed to envelop the grand mansion. The usual calm and quiet felt heavy with anticipation, as if the very walls were holding their breath, waiting for the drama about to unfold.
Li Wei met them at the door, his usual stoic expression tinged with what might have been sympathy. "Your grandfather and father are waiting in the study," he informed them, leading the way through the familiar corridors.
As they approached the study, Xiaoyun's steps slowed. She could hear muffled voices from within – her grandfather's measured tones, her father's more agitated speech, and... a third voice, one that seemed vaguely familiar but she couldn't quite place.
Yuhan squeezed her sister's hand reassuringly. "Whatever it is, we're in this together," she whispered, her earlier anger now replaced by fierce protectiveness.
Taking a deep breath, Xiaoyun pushed open the heavy oak door. The scene that greeted them was pretty much tensed – Wang Wei sat behind his imposing desk, his face an inscrutable mask.
Wang Zhiqiang stood by the window, his posture rigid with barely contained frustration. And there, standing to the side with an air of calm confidence, was William Chen.
Xiaoyun's breath caught in her throat. She recognized him from various business conferences – they'd crossed paths briefly over the years and exchanged pleasantries, but she had never imagined he would be standing here in her family's private study, especially at a moment like this.
Xiaoyun started, trying to keep her voice calm. But before she could speak any further, Wang Wei raised his hand to stop her.
"Xiaoyun, Yuhan," he said solemnly. "Thank you for coming so promptly. I assume you have both seen the recent... occurrence... that is making its way through the internet?" Xiaoyun felt the heat rising in her cheeks, a vivid red spreading across her face like a sudden sunrise.
In stark contrast, Yuhan marched forward with unyielding confidence, his words cutting through the air as he bravely admitted to their grandfather, "Grandfather, I bear responsibility for what occurred at the restaurant. I..." couldn't bear witness to Lan Feng's deceitful ways as he toyed with Xiaoyun's emotions once more."Wang Wei's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Your intentions may have been good, Yuhan, but your actions have only added fuel to the fire.
This scandal has grown beyond our control, immediate actions must be taken to salvage our family's reputation."
Xiaoyun felt a chill as her grandfather spoke.
"What do you mean?" she asked softly, alarms sounding in her head. Wang Wei leaned forward slightly, his sharp eyes piercing through her.
"I have made a decision that will secure our family's future and put an end to this public spectacle." Xiaoyun felt a tug of curiosity pulling at her, but before she could voice her questions, Chen Liang took the lead.
Stepping towards the sisters with a respectful bow, he finally broke his silence in the room. "Ms. Wang," he began, addressing Xiaoyun directly with a smooth and controlled voice.
"Although we are not formally introduced in this setting, you may refer to me as Chen Liang for the duration of our private conversation."
Surprisingly, a hint of warmth coloured his words, catching Xiaoyun off guard amidst the tension in the air.
As the pieces slowly clicked into place in her mind, Xiaoyun's gaze flickered between her grandfather, father, and Chen Liang, silently seeking confirmation of a suspicion that both intrigued and unsettled her.
Yuhan's sharp gaze cut through the air as she spoke, her voice laced with an edge of aggression. Wang Wei held his ground, his words direct and uncompromising.
"The Chen family's heir has made a proposition," he stated firmly. "Our family name not only represents our heritage but also strengthens our position in the competitive business world."
Xiaoyun's breath caught in her throat. She looked to her father for help, but Wang Zhiqiang remained silent, his eyes a storm of frustration and resignation.