Chapter 203 - Two steps away

The group took a rest at the terrace of the Lu Mansion. They suddenly got the news that Guan Gao Huan immediately left after visiting the burial site. Gao Huan's butler just left them words that he was in a hurry and they would catch up things to each other next time. 

The group doesn't really care about them and it made them more relieved that they don't need to act civilized with another person involved, especially, a Guan at that.

It was almost evening when the jet plane arrived at the capital. The group declined the dinner as they needed to get home to make their presence known to their family. It was this case to Gu Zhen. Song Xuantin left too with him.

Xiong Zhi looked at Lu Yin Ze.

Lu Yin Ze seems to understand her. 

Xiong Zhi reached out to her bag and gave a small box to Lu Yin Ze. (A/n: the box, refer chap 31)

Lu Yin Ze accepted it curiously.

"I pick it up when that man threw it at you."

Lu Yin Ze just looked confusedly at her.

"In your birthday. When you have a conversation with a man at that time."

Lu Yin Ze's eyes widen. He now gets it.

This box..came from his brother?

He then remembered that his brother told him something about their Father wanting to greet him and gave him a present. He was so emotional at that time that he wasn't aware of everything.

So this gift..is from that demon?

Lu Yin Ze looked at this small box with the size of his fist. He was a bit afraid to open it. 

"I'm sorry it took a long time to give it to you. I am more at ease to give it to you today than at any other time. Open it whenever you're ready." Xiong Zhi was usually not noisy in other people's business. But since Lu Yin Ze was her friend and since she made up her mind that she would help in a way she can in the Lu's business, she tried to say a few more things.

"I can stay with you if you want when you want to open the box." She added.

Lu Yin Ze shook his head. He could not rely on Xiong Zhi every time he wants to overcome his trauma.

"Thank you. I will do my best to see it alone first."

Xiong Zhi observed Lu Yin Ze. Then she nodded.

"Alright. As Xuantin said, if you need help just let us know."

"Mhm." Lu Yin Ze smiled. 

Xiong Zhi then turned around and was about to go.

"Zhi'er." 

Xiong Zhi turned to look at him. She waited for Lu Yin Ze to speak. But even after a minute passed, Lu Yin Ze just stared at her with serious eyes.

Seeing those silver-blue eyes made Xiong Zhi remembered the two beautiful blue moons she saw at 'that' time.

"It's fine now, huh?" Those silver-blue moons turned to crescent.

"Huh?" Xiong Zhi could not understand what he meant.

Lu Yin Ze just smiled.

"It's nothing. Just take care on your way back." He then waved at her to bid her goodbye. 

Xiong Zhi looked askance at him for a while then she ignored it. She followed the driver to the parking area.

As the car drove away from the Lu Mansion, Lu Yin Ze just kept smiling.

'I think I got closer to you..' Lu Yin Ze was happy that Xiong Zhi seemed to not mind that he called her in her first name.

He then looked at the box. He clenched it with his hand. 

He went to his room and stand next to the window sill. He took a deep breath before opening it. He doesn't need a day to open a box so small like this.

As soon as he untied the ribbon, he opened the box and saw a soft cushion. On it, was a familiar ring.

Lu Yin Ze's eyes darkened.

*******

Linfeng wore his cold face as he studied more papers and signed more doc.u.ments. As soon as the last batch of folders was done, he stood up and was about to go out from the master's office.

But when he opened the door, he saw the Zhou elders looking shocked at him.

"Y-you already done?" Old Zhou asked Linfeng with a tremble in his voice.

Linfeng answered coldly but respectfully.

"Yes. I am done now. Please excuse me." Linfeng was about to go passed him when Old Zhou spoke loudly.

"T-the! The business in City F! We, elders have decided to let you handle the signing of papers with our co-partner. " Old Zhou was talking about the dealers in Zhou family business. 

"You need to prepare for your journey to City F. The signing is tomorrow at 10 am. I will prepare the plane for you tonight. So you can rest at City F once you arrived. " Old Zhou added.

City F was a bit far away from the capital. If by plane, it would take at least two and a half hours to travel. So Old Zhou was suggesting to travel tonight, take a rest in City F, then do the job for the signing deals.

Linfeng furrowed his brows at this. His cold mask shattered a bit. Looking at the three oldies who seems sweating so much, Linfeng's assumption was confirmed.

He sighed.

"Grandfather, did father put you to this?"

"W-what! No! Your father has nothing to do with it." Old Zhou shook his head.

Linfeng was now a hundred percent sure that it was his father's instruction.

"Did he tell you why? Or how many more days he would keep me here?" Linfeng's doubts had already sprouted in day two since he was kept here.

Earlier three days ago, his Father called him that he was needed at the Zhou mansion. After he finished the first job, continuous tasks were assigned to him. Even the jobs for the head butler was assigned to him as well. He managed to finish them- the work that was supposed to be finish in one week shorten to three days. This showed how quick thinking he was and the great capability of Linfeng's talent.

But he made it quickly because he had jobs to do every morning and after school. And knowing that girl, not seeing him three days straight without any news of him would surely make her worry. Linfeng could not contact her for some reason. The number was blocked. It means someone with power erased the function to contact Xiong Zhi's number from his phone. And the only one who could possibly do that was his father. Linfeng decided then that after he saw her, he would ask for her any other emails that the head butler of Xiong wouldn't know.

After that confession, Linfeng had a resolve to treat Xiong Zhi a bit more different than before. He was a bit excited to meet her again in the next morning. But then his father summoned him early morning and threw tasks at him.

Now his mind was full of her. 

Did she go to school alone with Mr. Ji? Or did another butler served her? Did she sleep well after that night? Was there anything special in her day?

Linfeng wanted to know the answer in every question. He wanted to hear it from her and checked on her. But right now, these people were keeping him in the Zhou Mansion. He guessed why his father was keeping him here. But these things should end.

"I want to talk to father."

Old Zhou sweated.

"I told you, child, it doesn't concern your father. I will prepare your flight now." Old Zhou was about to escape the scene. He doesn't know what's truly happening. But his son, Zhou Min, was the current head who was serving their Master. They needed to do what the head instructed to them even without giving them the details of why. Old Zhou trusted his son than his teenage grandchild.

"Grandfather, please wait."

Old Zhou stopped on his tracks.

"I just need to ask somethings from father. Can you call him for me?" Linfeng had tried to call his father since day one. But his father's line was busy.

Old Zhou looked st Grandma Zhou. Grandma Zhou nodded.

After just one ring, Butler Zhou Min answered.

Linfeng quickly took the phone and speak.

"Father, I don't know what are you thinking. You have to stop now."

"..are you done with all the tasks?" Butler Zhou Min hesitated to answer for a while.

"Yes. I don't need to go to City F just to do the task that any lower class butler could do."

"..stay there for a while." Butler Zhou Min could only say this. He knew his son had already figured out that it was his doing of keeping him there.

"Why?"

"..you are attracting Master's attention. You need to stop what you are doing, Linfeng."

Linfeng was silent for a while. He had guessed it.

"Father, it is for the Zhou family."

"We don't need that. We are living peacefully and in luxury that any butler family could wish for. We don't need any more meddling." Butler Zhou Min's voice was stern.

Linfeng was a bit far away now. He had been walking far away from the elders since he took the phone.

"Father, I'm not only doing it for the family. I am doing it for myself and for the future generation who will be like me."

"Son, you are too arrogant. What will happen after you get what you want? Can you raise the Zhou family alone? We will be on the bottom once it happened. Not only that, can you face the Xiong's wrath?"