Chapter 611 - Gathering Turbulent Clouds

Old Xiong also did not know that his precious granddaughter was engaged with something even more dangerous and murky than this.

Thus, Xiong Zhi shook her head. "It is too late. I have already signed the papers and became an official VVIP. Most importantly, like I said earlier, I will not have the power to help your faction at the upcoming election. I came here to inform you."

Old Xiong's frown deepened. He drank tea to cool down his annoyance.

Xiong Zhi continued. She was slightly nervous while telling the elder of her big mistake.

"The other faction approached me earlier this day. I had no choice but to tie my own hands. I do not want to help them gather one more critical vote, but I also cannot help grandfather's faction."

Old Xiong choked and coughed. He was stumped. 

"Cough! They approached you?! Those--cough! Are you alright?! Who dared to threaten my heiress! Cough!"

Zhou Min frowned too as he stepped forward to wipe the spilled tea and patted his Master's back. 

The opposite faction surely moved too fast.

Xiong Zhi tried to pacify the old man. 

"Nothing happened, do not worry. They would not have been able to touch me even if they wished to because Linfeng was by my side earlier. I came here urgently to confess about my blunder. I am afraid that my vote may be the critical key for the faction to win, and yet I completely wasted it. I will accept any punishment." 

The young woman somberly bowed her head.

Old Xiong: 'So Linfeng was with her. That's good.'

The elder finally calmed down. Even though he did not like the stinky brat always sticking to his grandaughter's side, he was thankful that they were actually together when that happened.

He shook his head. "One vote is indeed a big help. However, our faction is composed of a large portion of people. Just our legendary families' influence should be enough."

"I am truly sorry."

"Don't be. You don't have to worry about your vote. It might be a good thing you are not voting."

"A good thing?"

"This period is too sensitive and the opponents are not simple... I don't want you to get more involved. Just leave this to us."

However, Xiong Zhi could not leave this matter behind since their enemy was involved in this.

"Grandfather, do you know what is the current situation right now? Do they have the upper hand?" she asked seriously.

Old Xiong did not want Xiong Zhi to get involved, but he also did not want her to remain ignorant now that she was one foot in. He honestly shook his head. "Based on the current reports, we are most likely to have a tie with them. The remaining people in our faction have strong relationsh.i.p.s with us. Even the foreign VVIPs on our side have no weaknesses that the other faction can take advantage of. We will not allow them to dominate the organization."

"What if they still win in the number of votes?"

Old Xiong remembered the movements their faction had detected and the information gathered from the opposite side. 

The two factions' conflict of interests... They were far from simple. 

"If they did win, then hell might break loose."

It will be a very chaotic period.

Xiong Zhi gulped. 

"Grandfather, when will the faction have a meeting?"

"Once I spread this message to the other families, there should be a meeting very soon in one of these days."

"May I come with you?"

"No." Old Xiong answered without hesitation. "Once they learned that you allowed your weakness to get exploited by the enemy faction, you will be criticized. I don't want your reputation to be sullied."

Xiong Zhi shook her head. "I can handle it, I will accept their criticisms. It's my mistake after all."

"You might be willing but I am not. I am your grandfather. I will not allow them to blame my chosen heiress."

"But it is indeed my mistake."

"Then live with it in your conscience. This time, I don't want you to go."

Old Xiong was adamant in not letting Xiong Zhi come with him to the meeting. He did not want to see others blame his granddaughter. Even if they withheld their words, their eyes would definitely look sour. 

Seeing Xiong Zhi's determined face, Old Xiong finally sighed. 

"How about it, I will bring your butler with me instead. At least with this, he can report the situation to you right away."

Old Xiong hoped to use Linfeng to cushion the criticisms on his granddaughter.

Xiong Zhi frowned and straightened up. 

She did not like the idea of Linfeng being the one to face all criticisms due to her carelessness. She was planning to personally attend, inform the others of her mistake, and take responsibility.

"Grandfather--"

Zhou Min who was already talking to the phone suddenly interrupted. 

"Master, Young Miss, my son agreed."

Xiong Zhi looked numbly at the phone on the man's hand.

Since when did he brought out his phone and called Linfeng?

Old Xiong nodded in satisfaction. "Then that's it. No other opinions allowed." 

'My butler is really capable.'

Xiong Zhi had no choice but to comply with the old man. 

She felt unsettled though. Her lashes flickered. 

She felt guilty, knowing that she was the one who caused this trouble, yet these people wanted to protect her instead. 

A sour and warm feeling spread in her chest. 

Although she was not close to her grandfather, she felt a bit moved. 

Her grandfather might be doing this to not taint her reputation as the heiress, but even so, she still felt grateful and indebted.

This matter about the signatures caused a ruckus for a few days before it finally died down.

Then the incoming days became peaceful, like a calm before a storm. In the vibrant and thriving cities, an undercurrent was slowly stirring. The storm that was about to come in four months was slowly gathering turbulent storm clouds in a place where no eyes could see.

*****