Chapter 53 - Xiong Wuyue (IV)

Xiong Wuyue's movement became more bold as seconds passed. She did not just raised her legs. She even spin and lifted up her skirt, allowing the audience to have a glimpse of her long white legs. The small bird was gone, but a bold bird was now born.

Xiong Wuyue did not forget to glance at Linfeng. Who were also watching her.

She made her moves more alluring and seductive that made the woman, young and old, to twitched their brow.

Xiong Zhi who was aware of what Xiong Wuyue wants glanced quickly at Linfeng.

Linfeng felt the stare. So he turned to look at Xiong Zhi.

They just stared at each other.

Linfeng could not help but ask.

"Is something the matter young miss Zhi?"

'Is she uncomfortable?'

Linfeng who was always under the torment of Xiong Zhi's gazes knew how to differentiate her gazes. The look in her eyes right now was telling him something. But even he slightly understand the silent eyes of Xiong Zhi, he cannot read minds. Thus, he began to worry.

Xiong Zhi who noticed the worry in Linfeng eyes breathed out a relief. Then she smiled happily.

'Looks like Linfeng is not affected.'

Linfeng was stunned for a moment. Why the young miss stared at him like she wanted to say something but just let out a beautiful smile instead?

Xiong Zhi returned to watching. Linfeng also did. However his mind was still trying to figure out what his young miss confusing actions mean earlier. What she wanted to say? Did she want to excuse herself and do her business (pee)?

Thinking this, Linfeng coughed.

In the platform, the ignored Xiong Wuyue was still doing her best to flaunt her figures and curves to a certain person.

Then the music all sounded all together as the small bird won her tribulations , achieved her freedom and slowly turned into a phoenix.

The yellow girls and purple girls danced rhythmically with Xiong Wuyue. Xiong Wuyue was their center, they were like the wings. A layered wings. The phoenix bird had the wings of yellow  and it's outer layered feathers were purple. They danced gracefully, leaped together, and spun in chorus. They were pleasing to watch. 

They danced like that for a minute accompanied by a beautiful music.

The other instruments stopped once again, and like from the start only the sound of dizi could be heard.

The dancers in the platform returned to their original position. The purple dancers stopped first, then the yellow dancers, then the small bird who was now the phoenix.

The dizi also stopped.

Silence met them first, until someone clapped, then all the audience followed. Exclamations of pleasant surprise, smiles, and praises about the beautiful and alluring Xiong Wuyue echoed through the hall.

Xiong Wuyue left the platform and bowed to the audience. She enjoyed the glory and praises that they were singing for her.

How hard she worked and practiced for this performance! Especially that leap that was so high! How many dancers she fired whenever she did not get the timing right! Now all those suffering and foot ache did not disappoint her. When she looked at the elders, the elders smiled warmly at her. Even the Old Xiong was pleased with her.

Then she looked at Linfeng.

She longed for the admiration and l.u.s.t in Linfeng's eyes for her.

But when she turned to his direction she was infuriated.

Linfeng was scratching the back of his neck while glancing at Xiong Zhi. He has an adorable look on his face. His cheek was a little flushed like he was embarrassed but trying to cover it up. He had a helpless look. While Xiong Zhi was hiding her small smile in her hands studying Linfeng's embarrassed expression. They look cute and look like a couple if someone noticed them. But the crowd attention was on Xiong Wuyue who just performed.

Xiong Wuyue was furious. That s.l.u.t!! What did she do to Linfeng?! Did she steal her time to shine to Linfeng?! Linfeng supposed to be praising her right now! Only looking at her! Not that s.l.u.t! That bitch!

Xiong Wuyue was angry, her face was red as she was holding back her body to pull Xiong Zhi's hair and slapped her. How dare that dumb girl to flirt with her Linfeng!

"You've done well. The guests are all pleased by your performance. You and the younger generations are the future of the Xiong family. Tell to this Old man what reward do you want?" Old Xiong's words wake up Xiong Wuyue from her fury. When she heard his words she was stunned.

Every year, she was performing her best, but not enough to let this old Xiong to reward her.

Hearing the word 'reward' made Xiong Wuyue's eyes bright.

"I--"  there's many thing I want! I want to become the young miss of Xiong! To live in Xiong Mansion! To be served by Linfeng !

"--want--" but before she could continue she saw her father, Xiong De, swiftly shaking his head. His eyes telling her to not want for anything right now. Their future would come soon.

'You need to be patient..

Be virtuous..

You need to show them that you are only thinking for the good of Xiong Empire..

Capture their favors, their hearts, let them leave an impression of you as a deserving young miss of Xiong...

Then our dreams will come true...'

Her father's words reminded her.

Right. This was not the time to act selfish. She needs to gain their favor and good impression of her.

So Xiong Wuyue suppressed her greed. She smiled politely and bowed her head like she was shy and ashamed to receive such compliment.

"Wuyue'er thank grandfather for his kind words. Wuyue'er did not deserve any rewards for I am benefitting from the Xiong family. It is Wuyue'er entire fortune to be a family member of the great Xiong. What Wuyue'er done is only to express my gratitude to the elders who worked hard for the family and for the Xiong Empire."

Xiong Wuyue answer greatly pleased Old Xiong. Actually, he was determined to reward her but also testing her attitude.

Seems like this granddaughter from his second brother was patient and  intelligent.

But not enough to move his heart.

He lived for so many years. So he was adapted to the scheme of every human being especially the scheme within the family.

As long as they do not brought harm to his surname Xiong and to the Xiong Empire. He would tolerate them.

He did not even care if they touched his descendants. If his descendants lost it means they were weak. And they did not deserve to lead the entire Xiong Empire to future glory.

Their world was to eat or be eaten.

Cruel.

But that's the truth.

"En. If that's what you want. You are making the Xiong family proud." Old Xiong said. He was about to conclude the entertainment session when Xiong Wuyue speak.

"I thank grandfather again...but Wuyue'er heard something interesting."

Her words caught the attention of the entire crowd especially Xiong Zhi.

Something Interesting

These words were like a fire for this rich people. In other words,

Rumor.

They now all felt agitated. What is it? They all want to ask. Of course Old Xiong's interest was picked.

"What is it?"

"Wuyue'er heard that little cousin Zhi'er is great with Guzheng. It will be a good fortune for the Xiong Family if little cousin played to ask the gods to bless us."

All the guest was silence when they heard this. Then they erupted. Some were clueless, murmuring how great it will be if they heard the young miss of Xiong played guzheng for them. But some were sharp, that it was a declaration of challenge.

They all looked towards the young miss of Xiong, Xiong Zhi who was silently sipping her tea.

Old Xiong left brow was raised. He never heard Xiong Zhi played a guzheng before nor practiced any instrument. He let her study what only the young miss should. Since playing guzheng or any instrument was a job of an entertainer.

He looked at the direction of his granddaughter, Xiong Zhi.

But Xiong Zhi was calm. Not minding the stares around her nor the sticky situation she was in. She was leisurely listening to them, seemingly amused.

This made the Old Xiong smile lightly. Seems like a show was about to start.

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A/n: DON'T SKIP

*the small bird turned into a phoenix. I just made it up. Don't try to Google it. You won't find any.

An extra for the entire scene that Xiong Wuyue witnessed earlier ~

Happy Reading ????

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The dance was finished however Linfeng mind was still disturbed. So when the people start to gather at the girl in red in front, Linfeng whispered to Xiong Zhi.

"Young miss, you can excuse yourself now while the crowd is still busy."

Xiong Zhi did not understand what Linfeng meant so she looked at him with confused expression, which made Linfeng's disloyal heart skipped a beat.

'Ah... so close'

So Linfeng took a step backward and calmed his betrayer heart.

Xiong Zhi asked him,

"What do you mean?" Why did she need to excuse herself? Did she forgot an important meeting that was supposed to be today? But, she was sure she had no meeting today. Then what is it?

Linfeng thought his young miss did not get what he meant. He looked at the crowd, they still busy to curry favor at the girl who just performed. If her young miss was spotted to left after that girl performance they might thought his young miss did not like the dance play and might cause misunderstanding. His young miss would be disadvantage if that happens, people would talk that she was envy and arrogant at the girl from Xiong Bi mansion. Since there was a feud earlier.   So he leaned again because the words he would whisper was a little bit....uncomfortable if someone hear it.

"Didn't you need to pee?"

The words stunned Xiong Zhi. When... Did she say that she need to pee?

She looked lost at Linfeng's words.

Linfeng thought something was wrong.

'Didn't she need....?'

But when she examined the blank look of Xiong Zhi, Linfeng get the idea that he misunderstood her.

Like he was struck by lightning he quickly gave space and scratch the back of his neck.

' That was so embarrassing! '

It took him a lot of courage to tell her that, but it turns out that he was wrong!

He even mentioned the word pee...

Why didn't he say 'her business' , 'to powder her nose', or even 'call of nature'!

Now what his young miss would think about him? That he was a guy who also mind the girl when she will pee?!

'Noooo!!'

He steal a glance at Xiong Zhi who had her hands now covering her mouth.

Is she disgusted by him that she wanted to vomit?

However, in reality, Xiong Zhi was covering her little laugh and mischievous smile.

'Linfeng is so cute when he is embarrassed.'