Jin nervously stood rooted in his place, clasping his hands together. He let out a quiet breath with Nuo's words replaying in his mind. Nuo was wrong in the sense that Shui was unaware of his predicament.
Six years ago on a Guangzhou trip, Jin was forced to confront his feelings and share the burden he carried to Shui. Even if Shui was ready to move past it, Jin couldn't. He had made too many mistakes to forgive himself. He even went to Paris to distance his heart from Shui.
Then what was this strange pull they held between them six years later too?
Why did it feel that things were still unresolved between them?
"Jin?"
He snapped out from his daze and blinked at Shui, who now faced him.
Oh shit!
"I wasn't being a pervert!" He babbled out unconsciously.
"..."
Shui held his stare. "You know, when you say it like that, it feels even more suspicious."
He coughed. "I wasn't really..."
"I know," she smiled. "You are a gentleman. But why were you standing here? You looked zoned out."
He stiffened. "I..."
"Jin, Shui!" Xinyi called them out from a distance. "Breakfast is ready. Come down already."
"Yes, Mom!"
She glanced at Jin and asked, "Shall we go?"
Jin was busy staring at something inside Shui's room. "H-Huh?"
"Mom called for breakfast. See, you were dazed again," she frowned.
He coughed again and quickly smiled. "It's nothing. I was just thinking about something. Let's go."
—
Mui cried. "Dad, it's a misun-"
He raised his palm and forced her to stop from talking anymore.
Ren Luoyang stared at Alix. "That's why he must know that we are not taking this lightly either. We don't forgive Mui's actions. That's why we want you to take over our family business."
Mui stared at them blankly. "Huh? Wh-What do you mean?"
Ren Cuifen said, "It means what you understood. We cannot let you run the business anymore. Not after what you did. You cannot expect things to still be normal."
"That's preposterous!" She jumped on her feet, breathless. "You are making sis the CEO? I don't accept this! It's my company and I won't-"
"It's a family business," Ren Luoyang cut her off, "You were in charge, yes, but some decisions need to be taken when you make us go through such a situation. We have not decided this. You made us decide this."
Mui's already reddened eyes teared up once again.
"Hopefully, this placates Liu Jin's anger."
"Y-you...you cannot do this!" She then glared at Alix. "You planned this, didn't you? You aimed for this the whole time! You were eyeing my chair...!"
Alix gave her a disdainful look. "I don't need your seat. I can build my own empire from scratch if I want to."
Mui begged her mother, tears continuously rolling down her cheeks. "Mom, t-this is not fair. I have worked so hard for this company!"
Ren Cuifen narrowed her eyes. "Fair? What you tried to do with your own sister...how was that fair then? You should feel thankful that we didn't disown you. It's only the CEO's position we are taking away. You should take this time and reflect upon your actions. Maybe we could reconsider your position in the future. But not now."
Hoooo...Color me impressed, Alix thought.
Mui gritted her teeth and feeling hopeless, she ran upstairs tearfully.
Silence befell again and finally getting some privacy, Alix openly stared at the old couple.
"I clearly stated who I am when I woke up from my coma. Well...not who I am exactly but who I definitely am not. So why? Is it because I am your daughter by blood so you don't see any other choice but to put me in the CEO's chair?"
They remained quiet.
"Alix..." Ren Luoyang whispered, "was always supposed to lead our family business. She was passionate about it. She worked hard to learn everything. Unfortunately..." his voice quivered, "she lost her way and she wasn't in the mental state to run the business. We had to decide what was practical at that time. But after what Mui did last night, we cannot let her take the reins anymore and you..."
He couldn't complete the sentence or rather he didn't know how to frame it.
"I think...Cuifen and I feel...that you will do a fine job just like," his eyes ached, "she wanted. We can feel it. Our company will be in good hands."