25 Loyalty

Yu Yue had tried to live a life that she would be proud to talk about infront of her parents. After she had left the country, Yu Jian had called her every single day for one whole year. Even if she seemed reluctant to talk to him about anything more than the basic pleasantries and small talk. Even if she sometimes deliberately didn't pick up his calls, he had called every day, at the same time on the dot. A few months into this, she had realised that though he wasn't her Su Li's father, he was the father of the girl whose body she had occupied. He was Yu Yue's father and may be as a person he was lacking in some aspects but as a father, he could be counted as one of the best ones right at the top. She also had a sudden realisation that though she wanted to stay away from people and not form any connections, it wasn't possible. How could it be? Humans were social animals by nature so how could she expect to isolate herself from any kind of meaningful interactions? She didn't know for how long she would have to do the system's bidding and if she continued being a lone wolf, it would wreck havoc on her mental state. The most important and truthful reason was that Yu Jian didn't know that the soul in this body had changed, he was deeply hurt by her actions of leaving abruptly without any notice and had tried really hard to make it up to her for his seeming infractions and truthfully she herself had orchestrated it so that the lamp would be broken so why allow an elderly person to live in remorse and guilt. She wasn't sure if she would get the same kind of a loving father figure in the future worlds. Also, for these people life was but a few short decades but she would live on for much longer so if there was ever a time she was close to breaking or felt herself surrounded in darkness, she could look back at these memories and they would sustain her emotionally. She wasn't at a stage where she could whole - heartedly accept him as her father but she would definitely treat him as an uncle she was extremely close to. Therefore, she always made sure to check about his well - being. The only reason she didn't talk to him much was that she didn't know how to face him because in her heart she knew who the real culprit for that incident was.

Similarly, when Zixi asked her why she always kept her distance from him, she realised that to such a person who placed loyalty over everything else, it must be hurtful to see one of his master's so distant to him through no fault of his own. Then one day she had asked him what would be his response if he was ever let off from his service of the Yu household. His response had exactly coincided with the information she had recieved from the system. She was more than eighty percent sure after his answer and observing him, that if Yu Yan ever succeeded in running him off the residence he would takea rash decision to harm himself. This had also changed her attitude towards him slightly. His answer had reminded her of a person who had once exclaimed to her that for some people the basis of their identity is formed on their loyalty - be it towards a person, a group or an idea and if their loyalty was ever questioned, it was akin to telling them that they have no real worth. It seemed Zixi came under that small category of people.

Therefore, the reason for her hasty decision to go back was that loyalty of Zixi. If she was fortunate enough to recieve such sentiment from another person, it was also her duty to protect him from harm. She was not someone who would take undue advantage of others. If that guy saw fit to give his loyalty to her, she deemed it fit to leave everything behind to save him.

Earlier, she had thought that since she didn't have much contact with him, it would keep him safe from Yu Yan's hands. Still to be on the safe side, she had called Xun Mei and asked her a few questions. Her answers had clearly revealed that the same ploy she had recieved information about from the system was afoot again. Nevertheless, she would not let anyone close to her fall into the pit and even if they did fall, she had the confidence as well as the right to still retain them under her payroll.

As soon as she got off the airport she saw Yu Jian and Xun Zixi waiting for her. She couldn't help smiling when she saw the both of them craning their necks to look around for her. She stepped a bit away from the rest of the bustle and called out to them. When they turned towards her and saw her, they had walked towards her with brisk steps trying to take her luggage from her hands. Looking at their somewhat silly manner she had given Yu Jian a side hug and shook hands with Zixi

Later on in the car on the way home Yu Jian had talked non - stop asking her about her health, her studies, her friends, her future plans. She had told him about everything he wanted to know about and also added small tidbits to her answers to make them more personal. She could see from his expression that he was overjoyed by the closeness displayed by her. Fathers - no matterthe time or place would always want to give the best of everything to their children.

They had reached home and both males had turned off their smiles and were their usual stoic selves. She couldn't help but marvel that what tricks Yu Yan had played in all these years that there would be such a drastic change in their expressions. She hadn't cared to enquire about her from Yu Jian, Zixi or anybody else after she had left this place. The only reason she had even called Xun Mei and moved her tongue to question about the other person was because she was concerned about someone else. Now, it seemed it had been a good decision or she really would have been too angered if she had found out the tricks that had been enacted in here.

Anyways, she saw Yu Yan waiting for them in the sitting room. As soon as they entered she fluttered towards them in tiny steps and looked like she was about to give her a hug but before she could do more than raise her hands, Su Li had side - stepped her. This action of hers was seen by everyone present and the atmosphere turned awkward but Yu Yan laughed it off.

"Yueyue come... come inside, it's been so long since you left. I hope you were fine all these years outside. It isn't the same as home. I have asked the staff to start serving refreshments in a few minutes. Why don't you freshen yourself first and then we all can sit, talk and have some light food."

This was a manner of a hostess who inviting a guest in the house. Also, that indirect jab about the staff was a reminder that while the cat had been away, the mouse had come out to play. But Su Li thought if that was the extent of her speech, she was really inferior. As if those words would inconvience her in any way or form. With a mocking look she replied,

"Thank you but no need. I am too tired from such a long travel. I would like to rest for a few hours before I can bring my stomach to accept some nourishment. My body clock is still used to the foreign time."

She gave her father a slight nod and left for her room. In the evening, she called a maid and asked them to bring in her food to her room. It seemed Yu Yan had really played unchecked to her heart's content. The food that was brought in was incompatible with each other and would also be harmful after such a long journey. Huh, she'll let her be a clown for a bit more and then sort her and the people around her in one fell swoop. These small tricks wouldn't do much to her as she could still order the food to be remade but it was a slight inconvenience. She just sent the food back and asked for some light dishes and fresh juice. Afterwards, she felt so lethargic that though she had the heart to go down and talk with Yu Jian, her body wasn't up to it so she just passed on a message that he should stay home the next day as she wanted to spend time with him and recieved an affirmative response. Free of any worries she slept like a log.

Au contraire, Yu Yan was wearing down the carpet in her own room by walking around in circles with her features twisted into an angry scowl. She had really wanted to welcome Yu Yue home. She had thought during the talk she would ask for forgiveness about that blasted lamp during the conversation as that had really become a thorn in her path. Since that day no matter what she did, it was useless in front of father and the prominent people who really mattered. She had realised that though the outsiders didn't know the exact details of the incident, but everyone knew that she had done something unforgivable that the heiress had been angered into leaving the country for all these years. She had thought that to these people, end would justify the means, that they would see that a minor trick of hers was capable of making the first - born run far away from the seat of power however that didn't happen. Over the years, she had also seen people getting close to her just to make some kind of contact with Yu Yue. As if she was a ladder that could help them reach someone high - up. More vexing than that was the fact that the heir - apparents of first - tier families treated her like a court - jester who was jumping and hopping around them for their own entertainment. She let these people be, one day she will stand at the pinnacle of power in the capital city and crush all these brainless idiots and fools underfoot.

She had been so maddened by Yu Yue's rejection and response that she hadn't been able to help herself from asking the kitchen staff to make a few oily and heavy foods for their eldest miss. She'll show her that the vacum created by her absence had been filled by someone else and that now most of the staff was on her side excluding a few obstinate ones. Let her have a taste of knocking her head against a wall. She will not give that aloof princess the time to make any kind of moves. She will send her packing back far away from this place. Since she had already left once, she can leave again and as she would be the only one remaining by father's side he'll have no option other than to teach her the ropes of the business and give everything of his to her with both hands. The only thing was she couldn't get into the top tier social - circle of the city without help from father. The Yu name only went as far as to let other second or third - tier families to try and flatter her but she wanted to reach the appex and for that she would need Yu family patriarch's stamp of approval or others wouldn't even giver her the time of the day.

She even had a vague feeling that the incident a year ago was a play that was enacted by someone on her expense. How could it be that besides her none of the other girls had to deal with more than some inappropriate comments. Also, though the injuries on all of them looked about to be the same but hers had been more serious than others. All they had recieved were injuries to their bodies that looked bad but were completely fine on the inside but she had some light internal injuries that weren't visible from the outside. On the inside, she had hurt for close to a month straight. It had really reminded her of her days spent in the orphanage. She had even investigated the incident but hadn't found anything worth suspicion so she had just thought she had become paranoid and was thinking too much into things.