To Love You Again

Xiong De was bowing in front of Old Xiong.

"I've received reports that my daughter hurt our young miss. It's my fault as I did not discipline my daughter well. My wife died along with our Young Miss's parents. My daughter doesn't have a mother to discipline her since young. Please punish me, uncle."

Old Xiong was just calm and nonchalant.

"What had your daughter done for you to bow like this to me?"

Xiong De was speechless for a moment. Old Xiong must have known about it already. Why he was playing like he doesn't know at all?

Xiong De had no choice but to play along and explained.

"My daughter appreciates the Zhou family who had been working with the Xiong family ever since. She wanted to learn a few things from them. So I sent her there. But my daughter is young and offended our young miss. A dispute among children happened. This is all my fault."

Old Xiong looked at Zhou Min with fake shocked expression.

"Something like this happened?"

Butler Zhou Min knew what Old Xiong wanted to do. So he played along too.

"I am not clear yet. I haven't received any reports from the elders."

Xiong De got paled when he heard Zhou Min's answer.

Old Xiong nodded.

"I see. Maybe we will know later once the elders made a report." Then Old Xiong looked at Xiong De.

"But it was still surprising that you learned news faster than us. Tell me, what was your secret. I would like to have that too." Old Xiong was clearly mocking Xiong De for planting spies.

"U-uncle, my butler had just heard the news from his good friend. I hope you don't misunderstand."

"Oh? So it was the new friend's fault for releasing confidential news like that outside the Zhou mansion. Take note of it, Zhou Min."

"Yes, I will investigate it immediately."

"You don't have to worry, to not cause misunderstanding Xiong De would help you out." Xiong De bit his lips.

"Yes, uncle." He had no choice but to sell his spies for now.

"You could not blame Zhi'er to misunderstand the second branch. If she saw that a second branch was visiting and staying at the Zhou mansion that only the Xiong could stay at, she would misunderstand your intentions." Old Xiong continued to roast Xiong De.

"I understand, uncle. I will call my daughter back. " Xiong De had to lower himself this time. They were at fault. He needs to retreat for now to not disrupt his plans. Now, he was sure that Old Xiong was suspicious of him.

"Alright. The young ones are hot-blooded, they keep saying big things. Don't worry, I don't misunderstand the second branch at all." Old Xiong said this with a light-hearted tone. But his eyes were sharp and in contrast to his words.

"I am glad uncle is wise. Please excuse me, uncle. I will call back my daughter now."

Xiong De was about to turn around but Old Xing stopped him.

"Wait."

Xiong De turned back with a polite smile.

"You are asking me to punish you earlier, have you forgotten?"

Xiong De face paled.

******

It was the very first time after a hundred of years that two Xiong's stayed at the Zhou Mansion in one night. This should be a happy occasion for the Zhou family. But right now, the atmosphere in the mansion was uptight and edgy.

After Xiong Zhi said those words Xiong Wuyue denied and insisted that it was Xiong Zhi's fault. The elders could only calm down the two and separate them for a while. This was the matter between the first branch and the second branch. But if there's a separation between those two, it was clear that the Zhou family would side on the first branch.

Xiong Zhi knew of this so she was confident. She knew this little trick would not be able to impact the father-daughter duo. But it could at least made the Old Xiong be suspicious of them and the Zhou family to take sides early on.

That afternoon, a butler came and said that Mr. Xiong De was getting his daughter back.

The elders met with Xiong De. After the talk, the elder's expression was not good. They knew that this matter had reached Master Xiong's side.

From today onwards, the Zhou family should be cautious of there moves. They need to stand clear which branch they serve.

The three elders were staring at the wall. It was a roller coaster ride for them.

Xiong Zhi felt guilty to these people who got implicated because of the words she said. But she did not regret it. If what happened in the past repeat now in this lifetime, it would be better to let the Zhou have a stand for now.

"Grandpa, I will take care of Young Miss. So please, take a rest first." Linfeng suggested to Grandpa Zhou. 

Grandpa Zhou looked like he had seen a ghost.

"My boy, we make the Zhou family lose face." 

"Grandpa, it's not your fault. It is the issue of the Xiong family." Linfeng consoled the old man.

"Linfeng, the Xiong's family issue is 'our' issue." Grandpa Zhou emphasized.

"I know grandfather. It is my issue now. So rest and I will take care of the rest."

Xiong Zhi stepped forward.

"Master Zhou, I am sorry to bring you trouble. But I am glad you stand at my side. Linfeng would take care of me. Don't worry." Xiong Zhi added some words to comfort the old man as well.

The three oldies finally leave the two alone.

"Linfeng.." Xiong Zhi started out. She knew what she did implicated the Zhou family as well as Linfeng.

Linfeng turned to her with a smile.

"You've done a great job. I couldn't believe it. With just a few words form you, this family of mine was finally free from serving the second branch.." Linfeng was right. Starting from now, the Zhou family would limit themselves on giving assistance to the Xiong's second branch. 

Xiong Zhi stared at him.

"Are you fine with that?" She asked.

Linfeng nodded.

"The Zhou family is only loyal to the first descendant of the Xiong. Not the entirety of the Xiong."

Xiong Zhi just stayed quiet. It seems she was thinking too much. She felt a bit better that now she knew what she did was a good thing for Linfeng.

But Linfeng's next words brought her smile to halt.

"Do you know what's the cause for the Zhou family to be loyal to the Xiong's first descendant?"

Linfeng looked at the front. To the painting of the teacup that was in every living room of the Zhou Mansion.

Xiong Zhi looked at what he was looking at. Her eyes turned sad.

"It was because of a teacup. "

Xiong Zhi doesn't want to hear it. She had heard it before. It was Linfeng who told her the story. She felt sad and wanting to cry when she heard the story. She doesn't want to listen to it right now. Especially, when Linfeng looked so distant and cold.

She was afraid that after telling her that story, he would leave. Like before.

So she spoke.

"I don't want to hear it. Not now." Xiong Zhi's eyes were serious when she looked at Linfeng.

Linfeng looked at those eyes.

He patted Xiong Zhi's head.

"Let's apply some ointment to your bruises first."

He smiled warmly. 

He too doesn't want to really tell the story now. But there's a feeling in his heart that he should tell her and once she heard it, she might understand.

She might understand why he needed to do those things in the future.

*******

Xiong De felt his heart ached when he saw Xiong Wuyue's appearance.

"Those useless trash! How did they take care of you?!"

"Daddy! It is Xiong Zhi! She is so burglar and violent! She did this all to me!" Xiong Wuyue cried. She cried because her bruises were hurting. She cried because the one-week-plan turned into a disastrous one night. She cried because according to the situation, the second branch would be isolated by the Xiong's first branch and the Zhou family. She cried because she could no longer see Linfeng freely.

Xiong De carefully wiped his daughter's tears.

"Don't worry, my girl, those two would not have peaceful days. Their day will come." Xiong De promised Xiong Wuyue.

"NO! They need to pay right now! That bitch! She needs to pay! " Xiong Wuyue then grabbed his father's sleeve.

"Let's return what she did to me ten times! No, a hundred times! Father, let's hire some experts. Let's beat that bitch! Let's ruin her mouth until she could not smile and say such lies!" 

Xiong De patted Xiong Wuyue.

"My daughter, everything is planned already. You don't have to do anything. Let's lie low for now."

Xiong Wuyue was shocked.

"Daddy! I already looked like this and you can still say 'to endure'?! To let me endure?!" Xiong Wuyue was shouting loud.

Xiong De calmed Xiong Wuyue.

"Shh. Listen to father. I told you to not do anything because we are preparing to strike one huge blow. Guan Gao Huan contacted me. His plans and mine go along well. Just two years, just two years and you will be the Young MIss. We will be the first branch that time."

Xiong De said the words that Xiong Wuyue would like to hear.

But two years? Can she hold on for two years?

"Daughter, you have been enduring this shame for seventeen years. Those two years would be gone instantly before you know it."

Xiong De offered some consolation words. It was always effective because Xiong Wuyue started to calm down and think carefully.

"For now, just focus on recovering. Do you want me to send you to France? There's a lot of fashion companies who were asking for you."

Xiong Wuyue shook her head.

"No. I want to be the queen of entertainment industry in Asia. Then to Hollywood." Xiong Wuyue had a really big appetite.

"Good. Focus on your career first. I will make a path for you." Xiong De smiled warmly to his daughter.

For now, they would lie low while everything went to the flow. That time, they would strike the Xiong's first branch and be the righteous heir.