Chapter 181 - Emoticon

Linfeng arrived at the Xiong Mansion.

His father, Butler Zhou Min was waiting for him. Besides his father, was Xiong Wuyue.

Linfeng glanced at Xiong Wuyue then turned to his father.

"Why did you call me, father?" 

"Good evening, Linfeng." It was Xiong Wuyue who greeted him first.

Linfeng who wanted to ignore her got a warning gaze from his father.

"Good evening as well, Miss Wuyue."

He had no choice but to greet her.

"Let's talk inside."

Butler Zhou Min lead the two in the main living room.

Linfeng took a quick glance to observe Xiong Wuyue.

He was wondering why the young miss of the second branch was here in the Main Mansion in late evening.

'Is she planning to stay here?' 

Linfeng glanced at his father with a question on his eyes.

There was a strict hierarchy in the Xiong family. 

The main branch, the second branch, and the third branch lived in different mansions. 

The first in line in the Xiong family could only have the right to stay at the Xiong main Mansion. They also have the right to stay at any mansion. But that was not the case to other Xiong's from the second branch and third branch. They only have the right to their own mansion. 

It was unfair because only birth was the way to got those rights. It does not matter if a person from the second branch and third branch had more capability than the first branch. They could only watch the first descendants receive the glory that the Xiong family could offer. That's why people like Xiong De exists.

Linfeng cut off his thoughts. His father knew of this rule, so he will just wait for his father's explanation. 

Xiong Wuyue took a seat. As well as Linfeng.

The Zhou family has only an unbreakable treaty between the first descendants of the Zhou family and the Xiong family. 

However, because of these long years of tradition, the Zhou family descendants got used to being a butler of the Xiong family. 

Hence, the Zhou family profession changed to that of a butler, even becoming the first ranked butlers all over Asia.

(A/n: refer to chapter 56, Zhou family was originally the partnered business of the Xiong family in their tea house.)

Of course, the Zhou family only wanted to serve the Xiong. So aside from the first descendants who were required to serve the first descendant of Xiong, the other Zhou's also served the other Xiongs.

The Zhou's have this mentality that the Xiong was a higher level above them. No matter which branch of Xiong they came from.

However, that was not the case to Linfeng. Linfeng studied the treaty since young. Even now, he was still studying it. He respected it since it was the wish of the Zhou's first generation. So he knew the in and out of the treaty. 

It was only said that the Zhou were to only bow their heads to the 'first descendant' of Xiong.

And Xiong Wuyue was not from the first descendant. So he doesn't need to stand behind her and act like her butler.

Butler Zhou Min did not seat and explained the situation.

"Mr. Xiong De asked our family to take care of Ms. Wuyue for the time being. The elders assigned you to take care of her for a while."

Linfeng stayed quiet.

"Linfeng, thank you for accepting my father's wish. Recently, he was so busy-"

"I haven't accepted yet." Linfeng cut off Xiong Wuyue. He stared into her eyes with a cold gaze. He still hasn't forgotten how this girl from the second branch hurt his young miss.

"And it's not my duty to baby-sit you."

"Linfeng!" Butler Zhou Min shouted at Linfeng's disrespectful way of speaking.

"Father, I am Young Miss' butler. " Linfeng stand up. If he knew that this was the 'urgent' matter his father called him for, he would never have gone here.

"I need to go. I have a duty to take care of my young miss." 

Xiong Wuyue's face was pale.

"Zhou Linfeng! Stay here!" Butler Zhou Min shouted loudly. His voice resounded in the wide living room.

Linfeng stopped walking and face his father. He knew his father was angry. But he was angry too. The Zhou family were not dogs of the Xiong family. They could not just give them orders and expect them to do it.

Butler Zhou Min could see the stubbornness in Linfeng's eyes. 

His son was intelligent, more intelligent than him. Linfeng was always respectful and he had never disobeyed him. His son was very capable too. Too capable for his age. 

But the problem was his son's stubbornness and beliefs were too much for him. He had the mind of a master, not a butler. 

Zhou Min who understands his son's behavior needed to bend over his son's stubbornness.

"Don't take a step." Butler Zhou Min said in a threatening voice.

Then he turned to Xiong Wuyue who was shocked by the situation.

"Miss Wuyue. I'm sorry you have to witness that. I will send a butler to escort you to Zhou Mansion-" Linfeng's eyes become colder when heard the 'Zhou Mansion' 

"-I'm sorry you have to go first. Me and Linfeng will follow you shortly." Zhou Min awkwardly smiled. 

Xiong Wuyue stood up with shaking legs. She just couldn't believe how Linfeng acted so cold to her.

"I-I'll go first. " Xiong Wuyue said as she walked dazedly. A butler who was standing at the entrance of the living room escorted Xiong Wuyue to the car.

Xiong Wuyue could not glance at the cold Linfeng.

After the two had been left alone, Zhou Min sat with a heavy sigh.

"Sit here." 

Linfeng followed. He sat in front of his father. His expression was cold.

Butler Zhou Min knew what his son might be feeling now.

"Linfeng, please bear it for this time."

"Father, you've told me that before when I was just six years old. And I bear with it. I can accept to serve Xiong Zhi. But not some girl from the second branch." Linfeng said coldly. 

Zhou Min stared at his son. 

"I will not reprimand you for calling Young Miss by her name, and also for disrespecting the young miss from the second branch when we are alone. But I will not allow you to do that in front of them or in front of other people. Faced your punishment in the reflection hall for two hours. " 

Linfeng stood up to receive his punishment now. He rather be punished than to babysit that girl from the second branch.

"We are not yet done talking. Sit down." Zhou Min cold voice sounded again.

Lin Feng had no choice but to sit down.

"You have to take care of Ms. Wuyue for at least a week." Zhou Min continued.

"No." Linfeng strongly rejected. It wasn't his duty to serve that miss.

Zhou Min took off his glasses to massaged his brows.

"The elders decided it. Not me. You know I don't have the authorization to decide."

Linfeng looked at him with blame.

"You are Master Xiong's personal butler. How could you not do anything? Why did you not report it to Master Xiong? If he just said anything.."

"I can't. You know that too. Xiong De personally asked the elders. And how can you expect Master Xiong to decide the fate of a meter butler? The butler's matter is our own problem. It hasn't nothing to do with Master Xiong."

Linfeng knew that. But he still hopes that Master Xiong could at least be possessive to his own butler or to his granddaughter's possession.

"It's just one week, Linfeng. Please bear with that." Zhou Min pleaded to his own son.

Linfeng doesn't want to see his father pleading.

But still...

"Why at the Zhou Mansion? Is she planning to stay in my room?" Linfeng asked with a sarcastic face. That Xiong second branch was really greedy to the point fo exploiting the first descendant's only privilege.

"Of course not. She would stay at one of our master's bedroom." 

The Zhou villa has a mansion that only for the Xiong to stay at. It had been vacant since the beginning it was built.

"Ha." Linfeng laughed exasperatedly. 

'How could the elders decide for that? Are their mind were so muddled that they took it seriously to become Xiong's dogs? This is really insane.'

Linfeng clenched his hands. They were so pale because of the anger that was building inside of him.

They were being treated like dogs again.

Dogs were actually much better than him. Because dogs have no dreams and ability to surpass their masters.

But it was not the same for him.

He has his dreams. His ability. His thoughts. His feelings. His rights. His freedom.

Those were always ignored by the Xiong.

Linfeng could feel his desire to free from the Xiong got stronger.

********

Linfeng had a frown while looking at the window. He borrowed one of the drivers to drive him to Zhou Mansion.

He recalled what his father said.

"The elders promised Mr. Xiong De that you will personally assist Ms. Wuyue. I know you don't like it. But at least show your face to the mansion. Just tour her a bit."

Linfeng closed his eyes. 

Beep.

There was a text message.

Linfeng opened his phone and saw Xiong Zhi's message.

[I apologize for not answering the call. Xuantin confiscated our phone. I only opened your voice mail during the break. Is everything alright?

By the way, your moose cake is so delicious. I did not cry. But Xuantin stole half. I am angry at her. (눈‸눈) ]

Linfeng read the message two times more. 

He then smiled at the last part. 

Xiong Zhi knew how to use emoticons now. 

Linfeng started to type.

[ It's alright. Father just passed something bothersome to me. How about you? Are you not tired yet? Make sure to change your towel on your back. If you can't do it alone, make Song Xuantin do it. 

And if you like my moose cake, I'll make more for you. Besides, this emoticon suits you the best ಠ益ಠ ]

Linfeng clicked send. He did not notice that he was smiling why he was typing this. His bad mood was gone now.

A reply came quickly.

[Am I that ugly? (>▂<) ]

Linfeng laughed. He laughed loudly that the driver glanced at him.

After laughing for a bit, he typed a reply.

[No. I take that back. This suit you more (⌐■-■) ]

He waited for a reply. But a minute had passed already and there's still no reply yet.

Then his phone rang.

It was Xiong Zhi.

Linfeng coughed first. Then answer the call.

Xiong Zhi cool voice sounded first.

"Is that cute?"

It was her innocent question.