Chapter 293: Dictate My Life

Cloe observed Hyson as if she was looking at him for the first time. She had already figured out that Hyson was always conceited when he talked about his best friend. She wasn't surprised to see his proud expression but she seemed to have a whole new understanding about these two best friends.

She sighed out, "I feel like Hyson, you're the hidden Big Boss around here." Hyson smiled as his brow quirked up playfully. He didn't say anything as if he was silently agreeing with those words. 

Seeing Hyson's pleased look, Raelle asked, "Feeling happy?"

Hyson nodded his head vigorously, "Definitely!"

Raelle didn't continue as she let him be. As long as he was happy why did anything else matter? She never even cared about her own image in others' eyes. So what if everyone thought she was dancing on Hyson's fingers? 

She turned her attention to Soren, "Shall we?"

Even with those two words, Soren knew she wanted to get over with the matter she was here for. Really, this girl valued her time more than money. "Let's eat something first."

"How long?"

He knew she was asking about how long it'll take before the meal is served, so he answered honestly, "About twenty minutes."

"I think twenty minutes are enough for us to talk," responded Raelle. 

Soren could only follow her lead and took her to his study leaving Cloe with Hyson. He opened his secret safe and pulled out a tightly sealed envelope before placing it on the table before her. Raelle picked it but and took out the documents. But just seeing the very first page, she paused and looked up at him, "This is highly classified. Do you really want me to see this?"

Soren waved his hand, "I have permission from the higher-ups. As soon as they knew I want Raelle Xiang to become a part of this project, they were eager to have you onboard." While Raelle was pondering something, he continued, "Don't doubt your popularity. You've made quite some waves in the field of physics even when you're only fourteen. I even heard several renowned scientists wanted to take you in as a disciple back then." He heaved a sad sigh, "It's a pity, you chose business as your priority."

"Do you think I ever do anything for fame?" asked Raelle.

Soren shook his head, "No way. You don't do anything for fame. It's always about profits. And surprisingly, money is not the only thing that you find profitable. Is that right?" Raelle looked up at him in silence as he went on, "Don't you like to challenge yourself? You even took a similar project three years ago just because you were interested in the prospect of learning something new."

Raelle rapped her fingers on the armrest of the chair before she picked up the documents again and started reading them attentively. Anyone who saw her would say she was just skimming through it because of how fast she flipped through the pages but Soren wasn't one of those people. He knew her reading abilities were abnormally fast just as her understanding was a lot deeper.

After merely ten minutes, she placed the documents down and said, "It's quite interesting."

Soren smiled when he heard that. That was what he had been waiting to hear all this time. As long as she said, it was interesting, the deal was done!

"You think so?" he asked in a good mood. "So, you're willing to join the team?"

"I didn't say that," answered Raelle. "Give me some time to think about it."

"When did Raelle Xiang need time to take action? Aren't you always decisive about everything?"

"It's not about my decisions. I have to ask someone first," told Raelle seriously.

Soren's mouth was agape as he stared at her, "You actually have to take permission from your husband? Is Master Xian really that kind of a husband?"

"Think carefully before spouting nonsense about my husband," responded Raelle. "It has nothing to do with him. I have to ask my grandfather first."

"Huh? Why?"

"You might not know this but Xiang family has a long-standing history of serving the country in the army. I can be considered the only one in the history of the Xiang family who chose to follow a different career. And that's because my grandmother wanted me to stay away from the army. This was also the reason my patriotic grandfather decided to leave his homeland and take me elsewhere." Raelle didn't hide anything from him and detailed everything in a plain manner. "This project is strongly involved with the military and even the research and development team from the army will also be a part of it. So, I can't make this decision on my own."

Soren was silent for a minute before he spoke out his thoughts, "It's hard to believe that an independent and strong woman like you is still allowing your elders to dictate your life."

"My Opa has never dictated my life," said Raelle. "I always do what I want to do. But just because I can't understand feelings doesn't mean I'm willing to ignore the feelings of those who are close to me. In simple words, my Opa had been my whole world. I am Raelle Xiang because I had Xiang Tianyu as my grandfather. He doesn't owe me anything but I owe him everything I have including my own life."

Soren's eyes widened a little when he heard that. He never thought he'd hear such strong words from Raelle. It took him a while to get back to his senses. "Okay. Then you let me know after you're done discussing with him but..."

Raelle took advantage of his pause and said, "You don't have to worry about anything. I won't disclose anything about this confidential project."

Soren shook his head, "I wasn't worried about that. I can never worry about such things when it comes to you." He asked her to walk out saying, "Let's go and eat something now."

Raelle didn't continue either and they went to eat with Cloe and Hyson who were already seated at the dining table. Both seemed to be talking about something.

"Best of luck to you then!" Raelle heard Hyson saying to Cloe as he even gave her two thumbs up. Cloe only smiled and went quiet when she saw Raelle and Soren joining them back. "Ellie, give Cloe best wishes. She is finally willing to play on the field again."

"Playing on the field?" echoed Raelle. "What is she playing? Do I have to go to cheer her up?"

Hyson chuckled at her words, "She is going to play hearts. You should definitely cheer her up."

"Okay," answered Raelle taking his words very seriously. Although she knew Hyson loved to talk nonsense, she'd still take his words seriously. 

"Chief, don't listen to him," Cloe chimed in as she thought about Raelle's peculiar way of thinking. She couldn't even imagine what cooked up in Raelle's mind. "I'm just going on a blind date. It's no big deal."

Raelle listened to her and said, "How is it not a big deal? I know how troublesome blind dates are. So, I'll definitely cheer you up."

Hyson laughed at that, "Yes, yes. Ellie is always right."

"Let's not wait anymore. The food is getting cold," announced Soren and picked up his chopsticks. "Raelle, Cloe said you have no preferences in food so I just cooked a few of my specialties."

"It's not my first day knowing you. When did you get so formal?" asked Raelle.

"Can't you just let me be polite for a minute?" retorted Soren.

"There is no need," replied Raelle choking Soren, not knowing what else to say.

Hyson silently picked up some dishes and put them into Raelle's bowl saying, "Eat."

Raelle listened to him and started eating in silence. And since she didn't talk while eating, Hyson didn't talk that much either. Meanwhile, Cloe asked Soren, "Are you gonna send those photos to your daughter?"

"No," answered Soren. "I'm sending it to my wife."

"Why?"

"So that she can show those photos to my daughter," said Soren. Seeing how Cloe looked at him, he added, "My Xena is only six. Do you really think she has her own phone?"

"Tsk. Tsk. How stingy of you!"

"It's not about me being stingy," retorted Soren. "She is really young for it. I don't want her to get addicted to the phone at this age." 

Cloe rolled her eyes, "You're hoping for too much, Soren. We live in an age where it's impossible to extract yourself from your phone. Even our payments are done by phone. Do you really think you should be this strict?"

Soren sighed out, "I'm not being strict. I just want her to stay innocent for a couple more years. Once she is over ten, I'll definitely give her a phone."

"And earlier you said, my Opa dictated my life," came Raelle's voice as she put her chopsticks down indicating that she was done with her meal.

"I'm not dictating her life," argued Soren. "I'm trying to protect her."

"And what makes you think my grandfather hadn't been doing the same?"