Hào Rán stepped out of his convertible, ego woven around him like cotton. He adjusted his beige suit and straightened his tie. His sun glasses reflecting the surroundings. An attractive messy haircut and a plastic smirk on his face.
The entire family stood outside the mansion waiting for the young man to collect himself and come to us. But he took his precious time, declaring his presence.
Meanwhile, another car, velvet black Bugatti, pulled up behind the convertible. It stole the attention of everyone present including me. I watched as a foot with a Gucci horse bit loafer stepped out of the car, a man with sunglasses on with a blank look on his face. He dusted invisible dust from his black tuxedo and stood daunting.
I've never seen a human so mesmerizing.
He glided with grace towards us, his hair combed neatly behind him; I was lost in his appearance.
Like Xiǎo Lì I had a thing for fine men but I trusted them less now, although I could still feed my eyes.
He glanced at me for a split second and looked away, my heart beat increased and I tried to mask my growing curiosity.
Every eye was on the man walking with quiet grace. Powerful aura contrasted his blank expression.
"Lóng Wēi!" Bàba cried out with excitement, his wrinkles stretching across his eyes and lips. He extended his wrist clasping it with Lóng Wēi's
"Mr. Wáng." His voice, like velvet chocolate, echoed in my ears. His hunter eyes looked at everything and everyone as though suspicious. Lost… I lost myself in his 'etherealness'.
"You brought a fine man" Xiǎo Lì whispered, predator gaze exploring him.
"Let's go in… and talk more" Bàba led Lóng Wēi and Hào Rán into the house, finally noticing the young man.
When everyone was seated on the dining table, Bàba began,
"So, how long have you been seeing each other?" Māma finally spoke.
"Two years…ma," Hào Rán said, glancing over at my direction. I didn't give him the attention he sought, cutting my stake with calm precision.
"Two years!" she exclaimed acting surprised.
"And what are your plans" Bàba asked,
"I plan to throw an engagement party in a few months. I care about your daughter so much and I will be so happy to have her in my life forever."
I could feel several eyes on me but I focused on my stake, my expression stoic and unreadable.
"Huá Huá" Māma called
"What do you think?" she asked. I dropped my cutlery and scanned everyone on the table.
"Um, I'll think about it" I replied with a small smile, Hào Rán shot his eyes at me with a confused expression.
"What's there to think about? The young man clearly adores you. Why make him wait?" Māma said, her voice growing cold. I stayed silent.
"The engagement is not until months away, let her think it through," Bàba defended.
"You always defend her even when she's wrong!" Mom shot at Bàba
"Anyway, my beautiful daughter, Xiǎo Lì here, is also available for marriage. How blessed our family would be if one brother took one sister." She chuckled lightly, covering her mouth with one hand and looking at Lóng Wēi.
"Mum?!" Xiǎo Lì exclaimed, her face flushed red. Lóng Wēi still had a blank look.
Three hours later, the whole introduction came to an end and it was time to say goodbye to Hào Rán and Lóng Wēi. Xiao Li was particularly flirty with both men but I didn't care. I left for Bàba's library, an attempt to hide from the questions coming.
Baba's library remained the same as it was a decade ago. Old but expensive furniture. A large wooden table surrounded by wooden chairs with cursive encryption on them. His rocking chair and neat shelves filled with several books. I sat on the rocking chair, hoping to feel the peace baba always felt when he sat on it. It rocked back and forth in a soothing rhythm, calming.
On the small table beside the rocking chair, were several papers placed in order. But the information on them got my attention. It looked like a resume.
Zhang Hào Rán. 30 years old. COO of AI MD (AI Medical Diagnosis)
Accomplishments…
Zhang Long Wēi. 35 years old. CEO of AI MD (AI Medical Diagnosis)
Accomplishments…
So baba had already started his investigation on the two men. He's fast I must commend.
I knew about Hào Rán already. My attention was on Long Wēi. In my previous life, I had never heard of him or seen him and that puzzled me. If he was a sibling to Hào Rán, it's only natural that I would have met him once or twice, but I haven't.
I looked closely and the small picture glued to the side of the paper. Those hunter eyes as though it could see through me. My pulse increased and I put down the paper, taking a long deep breath.
"You must be really uncomfortable in you Fathers house," baba said. He smiled walking with his staff in calculated movements. I jolted from the rocking chair. Baba did not like his special things touched.
"No baba I love it here" I was getting better at lying to baba, guilt tugged at my chest. I moved aside so he could sit on his rocking chair
"Are you sure of the young man? Marriage is not something you plunge into or view with the eyes of a business woman." he looked at me searching for answers hidden within my expression.
"I…I'm getting to know…"
"Your heart doubt, Huá Huá. The heart is the most honest organ, do not do what you'll regret later on." he said. If only he knew.
"I'll keep that in mind. Thanks Bàba, I'll take my leave now"
"Rest early, dearest." I bowed and left the library.
Hào Rán was already planning an engagement? Pfft. Fine, I'll play his game but this time, better.
The evening breeze held certain nostalgia. The soft wind brushed my face as the car sped towards the penthouse.
Again I was alone. My reincarnation a story I wanted to spill. How long was I going to pretend to be strong? How long was I going to ignore that I died and came back? Was this normal to others or it's just me?
The pain I buried deep inside me. The hurt I hid from the world threatened to resurface but with a deep breath I pushed it back in. I wasn't going to cry, I wasn't going to break down like I did in my previous body.
The game has begun.