Chapter 211 - Knowing

Song Xuantin hugged Xiong Zhi.

"Finally, it's our turn! Happy birthday, Zhi!"

Xiong Zhi was infected by Song Xuantin's cheerfulness and laughed lightly.

"Um. Thank you for coming here. I'm just a bit guilty, I must have surprised you with that sudden invitation." Xiong Zhi knew that she acted a bit irresponsible, suddenly disappearing and then sending them an invitation for her birthday out of the blue. For sure, her friends were shocked.

"Of course, we're shocked! We barely had time to prepare our gifts for you!" Song Xuantin complained while pouting.

Gu Zhen chimed in.

"Happy birthday, Xiong Zhi. I've left my gift to your butler. When you see the gift, think twice before deciding. It is very precious." 

"...?"

The three people looked at him. It seemed that Gu Zhen is very proud of his prepared gift.

Song Xuantin did not want to lose. "Eh? My gift is much better, grander—" 

Lu Yin Ze suddenly glanced at Song Xuantin. Did she also gift Xiong Zhi a painting depicting their group of friends too?

"—and definitely more precious. Xiong Zhi would surely like my gift more than she would like yours." Song Xuantin, too, was incredibly confident of her gift.

Lu Yin Ze could not help but ask her.

"Did you perhaps give her a gift like the one I had received?"

"Oh, you mean, the painting of us four?" Song Xuantin looked at him.

"Painting?" Gu Zhen asked. His curiosity was piqued by this painting they mentioned.

"Of us?" Xiong Zhi finished his question. She was interested and curious about this painting, too.

"Yeah, I gave him one! Sadly, I cannot give more of that because all the pictures I based them from have been pulled down," Song Xuantin told them, disappointed since all those pictures, which were the inspiration for the painting, were gone.

Lu Yin Ze who had used his surname and had bought those pictures turned silent. "…"

"I want to see it," Xiong Zhi suddenly said. Lu Yin Ze's eyes turned wide.

"Um. Me too, I would like to see our group painting. We never really had one before, right?" Gu Zhen pondered. Lu Yin Ze was now thinking of how to reject them.

"That's decided then! Let's visit Lu Yin Ze's house this summer!" Song Xuantin declared, while the other two started looking forward to it.

Lu Yin Ze, who was not even given a chance to reject, was racking his brains on the feasibility of rejecting them on that day.

Suddenly, Song Xuantin sneakily pulled Xiong Zhi to a corner. 

"It's a girl's secret!" she shouted to the boys so that the two would not follow them.

Xiong Zhi looked questioningly at Song Xuantin. Song Xuantin held her hand.

"You're seventeen now. I am so happy."

Eh… Did she pull her to the side just to tell her this? Xiong Zhi wondered why Song Xuantin was acting weirdly as the latter continued speaking.

"It is time for you now, to do the ultimate move."

"Huh?" Xiong Zhi was confused, not getting her at all.

"I know you don't need material things because you already have pretty much everything within your reach..."

"That's not true—" 'I need more money'. But before she finished speaking, Song Xuantin cut her off.

"That's why I'm giving you a special gift. It will be very~ helpful in catching your man's heart."

"You mean..?" Xiong Zhi's eyes suddenly sparkled with interest.

"Um! I have consulted many specialists and made a list of how to make a man say 'yes', even when asking him to marry you!" Song Xuantin squealed in excitement, for she was already imagining all these romantic plots happen to Gu Zhen and her.

Xiong Zhi nodded. That would be great. But… 

Xiong Zhi looked at Song Xuantin. She have not told the important news to her yet. She opened her mouth.

"Xuantin."

"Hmm? Are you excited now to see it? Do you want to open it together with me? I can stay here tonight," Song Xuantin enthusiastically suggested.

"No!" Xiong ZHi unexpectedly cried out. This made Song Xuantin startled.

"B-because… I have something important to do later..." Xiong Zhi shyly added. She blushed a little, a bit ashamed that she blatantly chose her man over her friend. 

"Oh my, don't tell me!" gasped Song Xuantin.

Xiong Zhi nodded shyly.

"When?! Where?! How?!" Song Xuantin's eyes flashed, her gossip mode was turned on.

"Not now, not here. Later." Xiong Zhi was now blushing red. Must she really tell her friend what she and Linfeng had talked about on that night? 

"Oh my! I'm so happy for you! You finally seduced him! Operation One, success! Ha! Ha! Ha!"

"Shhh," Xiong Zhi hushed Song Xuantin as she looked around. They were near the fountain and it was slightly dark here. 

"We are not…official yet. We are still, uhm, waiting for the right time," Xiong Zhi faltered. 

"Huh? Oh! MU!" (E/N: pronounced 'Emyuu', M and U) 

"MU?" Xiong Zhi repeated her strange wording curiously.

"Mutual Understanding! It means, you are not officially in a relationship yet but you understand and know that the two of you like each other!" Song Xuantin explained fervently.

"Oh," Xiong Zhi nodded in understanding. "That's the perfect description, given our current situation." 

"Right. But Zhi." Song Xuantin's face turned serious. "Be careful. In this stage, feelings and emotions are very sensitive. With just one misunderstanding, it might lead to the two of you parting ways, or it might also make your relationship grow stronger. "

Xiong Zhi nodded. She would not let the former happen. If there was a misunderstanding, it must only lead them to bond more strongly.

"Besides, you guys are not official yet, so both sides can cheat easily or, you know, be open to anybody. And the other party can't even find faults because they're not in a 'relationship' yet," Song Xuantin added.

"He is not like that. And I won't let that happen," Xiong Zhi said firmly.

"Okay, okay. I'm just saying. Anyways, my gift is still useful for you. The things inside will definitely make him love you more." 

These uttered words were so soothing to Xiong Zhi's ears.

The two boys waved at them, calling them back as there were more guests looking for Xiong Zhi, the birthday celebrant. Xiong Zhi and Song Xuantin went back to the hall to greet the guests .

Moments later after they had left, a figure slowly walked out from behind the fountain. The two girls had not seen her because she was sitting cross-legged in silent meditation. She would hide and do this once in a while during parties, to calm herself and endure the annoying long dresses she wore. It was her way to have a calm and peaceful mind.

"Even the Young Miss of the esteemed Xiong family does her best to seduce her man."

Her eyes sparkled after a realization came to her.

********

(a/n: the episode when Linfeng met little Ryu )

Some time earlier.

Xiong Nuen Zai looked around the mansion. The amount of times he had come here was less than the fingers in one hand.

"Papa, does my cousin live here?" Little Ryu looked around the big mansion with his wide eyes.

"Yes. Your big sis grew up here."

"It is so big. Does she play around here all day?"

"Hmm. Yes."

"Can I play here too?"

"You can play with your cousin."

"Alright." Little Ryu suddenly ran off.

"Ryu!" Xiong Nuen Zai wanted to catch his son but Xiong Mai stopped him.

"Let him be. He finally acted like a child for once."

Xiong Nuen Zai sighed. Well, it was the Xiong Mansion after all, one of the places in the Orient possessing the greatest security. He was not really afraid that his son would be kidnapped. His son was also very intelligent and wise enough to not do dangerous things.

As the two walked to their table, Little Ryu ran around the mansion on his short legs. It was his first time seeing such a huge estate. While looking here and there as he ran, he accidentally bumped onto someone. He was about to fall down to the ground when the person steadied him.

"Watch out." Hearing the calm voice, Little Ryu looked up and saw a handsome face.

"I'm sorry, big bro." Little Ryu apologized in a waxy voice and bowed lightly.

Linfeng was surprised seeing a child in the mansion behaving so politely, totally unlike those spoiled children from the noble and rich families. He chuckled when he heard how the boy called him.

"Big bro? I like that term, young master." 

"I'm Ryu." Little Ryu instantly liked this handsome elder brother.

"I am Linfeng, your big bro," Linfeng teased.

"Are you a guest here?" Little Ryu studied the elder brother's clothing. He looked like a guest, but his aura and mannerisms reminded him of a certain family. To be specific, the butler family.

"My family works here."

"Ah! Zhou Linfeng?" Little Ryu confirmed, his eyes lighting up.

Linfeng gently patted Little Ryu's head.

"Hmm, you are very smart and sharp. Then, maybe you can help me pass a riddle to someone?"

Linfeng had been racking his brains on how to pass a message to Xiong Zhi. Thankfully, this little boy from that family which he invited in his father's name opened up a path for him.

He knelt down and whispered something in Little Ryu's ear.

"Did you memorize it? Or do you want me to write it down?"

"No. I memorized it. Are you close to my cousin?" Little Ryu asked.

"Well, yes," Linfeng answered with a smile.

Little Ryu's adorable smile got bigger.

"That's good! I had thought my cousin felt lonely in this big house playing by herself. But since you are her friend, then it is not bad at all!"

Linfeng's smile froze. The innocent words of the child struck him.

It was true. Xiong Zhi was left alone in this mansion, without any warmth from familial love or friendship. Eventually, she turned cold and indifferent to anything. 

He suddenly did not know what to say.

"If your riddle can make big sis happier, then I will surely pass these words to her! You can count on me!" Little Ryu's paws patted his tiny chest proudly.

Linfeng patted his head again.

However, his mind was preoccupied of the thoughts when Xiong Zhi was left alone in this empty mansion devoid of warmth. He hesitated for a bit. Would his decision hurt her more? But their path was never smooth to begin with. He wanted to stay by her side, not as a butler who could only serve her, but as…someone whom she could freely fall in love with.