Chapter 12 - Take It Easy

Sera went upstairs and opened the door to her bedroom and was surprised to smell the pleasant fragrance of roses. Her mother might have replaced the old flowers with new ones.

Thinking about her mother and smiling Sera entered her bathroom to shower and catch up on some sleep. She was tired from all the stress she was having lately.

While Sera was in the bathroom Su Yin entered her room and was waiting for Sera on her bed. Sera came out and was surprised to see her friend, realizing that her friend's curiosity is not yet satisfied she decided to tell her whatever she wanted to know.

"Hey.. you still don't plan on telling me. do you?", asked Su Yin in annoyance. Her friend was behaving very secretly after completing her studies and coming back from abroad.

"Well.. it's not much but I heard grandmother talking to an old friend about my marriage. So I was scared and ran away from home", explained Sera.

"So you ran away because you didn't want to get married?",Su Yin was astonished by her friend's silly behavior.

"I know it's silly but I was shocked by the sudden thought of getting married and that to a complete stranger. You should understand my worries you're my friend",Sera was annoyed by Su Yin's casual behavior.

"Oh, now I get it. It's not that you don't want to get married, you're just against arranged marriage!",Su Yin excitedly told her friend about her discovery.

"Whatever, I just know that I'm not ready. I'm too young to get married",Sera pulled a pitiful expression.

"Fine, just talk to your parents don't go about running recklessly you're not a child anymore",Su Yin was again back to her naggy mother mode.

After talking for a while Su Yin went back and left Sera alone to rest.

At the dinner table the Lu's were waiting for Sera to come downstairs.

Sera went to greet her father, Mr.Lu was emotional seeing his daughter after two whole days. He missed her.

Mother Lu was smiling dotingly looking at the father and daughter duo.

Jinan came back from office and was greeted by the sight of the loving father and daughter, smiling happily he sat at the table.

Aunt Zhong and Butler Wu served the food, the table was set with a variety of dishes. It was no less than a feast, everyone's faces were etched with smiles seeing the young miss of Lu family.

"Sera, my precious I know about your worries but you don't have to worry about anything. Your grandmother will take care of everything for you",madam Lu started as soon as the dinner was done.

She was waiting to talk to Sera about the engagement between the Lu's and the Lee's.

Sera was feeling uncomfortable having this talk with her family, she avoided their gaze and looked down like a wronged child.

"Fine if you don't want to marry, we'll not pressure you princess", Mr.Lu was more than happy to keep his princess at home, all to himself.

"Yes.. yes, but you HAVE to meet him to see for yourself if he is good enough", madam Lu said with a stern gaze towards Mr.Lu. Her idiot son was spoiling her plans.

"Yes sweetie, mother is right. You have to at least meet him to decide", chimed Mrs.Lu in hopes of appeasing her mother-in-law and convincing her precious daughter.

Sera was confused, seeing the happy faces of her family she was somewhat upset. She was feeling bad thinking about how they want to push her to a complete stranger and that to so happily. Jinan was in the study so Sera excused herself and went to him.

"Brother, Am I not important to you all?", Sera asked with a wronged expression.

"Why? You don't know your importance? Of course you're the most precious treasure of our family", an amused Jinan answered smartly to avoid Sera's imagination to run wild.

"Then why, why is grandmother so bent upon driving me away. I don't want to get married"

"Do you have a boyfriend?", Jinan tried to pull her leg and drift away from the topic.

"Huh!.. What?! No.. no I don't brother..", bowled by the off topic question Sera was forced into a coughing fit, after drinking some water she answered Jinan.

"Okay, don't worry I was just asking. Go get some sleep it's late", amused by her reaction Jinan smiled inwardly and sent her away.

Next morning at the breakfast table, Madam Lu was sneaking glances at Sera. Getting conscious by the intense atmosphere Sera didn't dare to raise her head and buried herself in her breakfast.

Seeing her daughter in a tricky situation Lu Shanshan decided to do something, she silently mouthed " take it easy mother" words to her mother-in-law who was initially frustrated with her intrusion but later caved in.

"Sera, Next week I want you to free your schedule. My best friend's birthday is approaching and we're all invited to the party", Madam Lu carefully told Sera about her plans.

"Okay grandmother, just let me know I'll do as you want me to do", unaware of her grandmother's intentions Sera innocently agreed.