Chapter 364 - Get her married

At Lu Xion and Zeng Shihong's house

Sitting inside a beautifully designed room made of bamboo Zeng Shihong was playing chess.

The evening breeze from the garden brought in the calming fragrance of flowers with a subtle hint of spearmint grown especially for the kitchen. It was Zeng Shihong's favorite room build specifically to hold his largest collection of succulents, cactus and exotic plants brought in from all over the world.

"Hahaha… And here you lost another game… CHECK… MATE!"

Zeng Shihong grumbled when he lost the third game in a row and gave an unpleasant glare to the person sitting across him.

"Don't look at me like this. Go scold your granddaughter who didn't came to meet you even once" The seventy or eighty-year-old man said in a teasing tone, arranging the chess pieces for another round.

The old man had a head full of silver hair, neatly combed and a gold-rimmed glasses rested on his nose.

Zeng Shihong's face shriveled into a scowl, "Why scold her, it's been only two days since she returned. Maybe she is busy or jet lagged. I know she cares for this old man, it's just she is….."

"…. Busy… or jet-lagged. I heard it" The old man reiterated in a mocking tone.

"Lu Gengxin, no need to be cocky just because your grandson brought you along with him" Zeng Shihong moved a pawn ahead and scoffed, "Let my granddaughter come, she always does some cute little things that you can only dream of getting"

"Really? For example"

"First she will call me affectionately in her chirpy voice, then kiss my cheek, and then give me a tight bear hug, spreading her sweetness in the life of this old man. Have you received any of this from Lu Xion?" Now it was Zeng Shihong's turn to tease Lu Gengxin whose face looked as if he has swallowed a lemon. Indeed, only girls do all this, he can never imagine Lu Xion kissing him. So scary.

Lu Gengxin was Zeng Shihong's confidant and his best friend. The friendship between Lu's and Zeng's was generations old and thankfully their kids and grandkids carried it forward.

Since Zeng Shihong had no son, he adopted Lu Gengxin's youngest son to take over the power of underworld after his death.

Although he never loved his daughter Zeng Ruo, he divided his property between them equally but kept underworld powers exclusively for his adopted son.

"Hm! Girls are indeed very adorable, their way of giving love is pure and innocent just like a child" Lu Gengxin moved the bishop diagonally four squares to the right, "Shihong, why not I too get to feel your granddaughters love?"

"She loves you too. What else you want? Don't expect she will treat you equally as me" Zeng Shihong chuckled; he inwardly praised his best friends intelligent move in the game.

"What if I want her to treat me equally," Lu Gengxin said picking the knight then putting it back down before he finally moved the castle killing the opponent's knight, "What if I want her to become by granddaughter in law"

Zeng Shihong looked up instantly; three lines formed between his bushy brows as both the friends looked at each other, one with a clear gaze while the other trying to grasp the situation.

"You mean…."

"Yes, I mean what I mean" his eyes shone as he continued "Both the children have suffered so much in their life; have been through hardships, endless pain, and loneliness. If it was not for their unconditional support to each other, they both won't be standing where they are right now"

"I know both are still fighting with their past, but life becomes easier when someone holds your hand and fights along with you. A compatible partner in life works like a magical healing medicine for the deepest of wound"

Elder Lu placed the chess piece aside and looked at Zeng Shihong seriously, he was not trying to convince his friend but was reminding his friend their parental duty towards their grandkids, "Shihong, I came here carrying this wish in my heart. How about our grandkids marry each other and fill the emptiness of their life. Here I'm being a little greedy, I like Xiao Mei and I won't get a better granddaughter in law as her"

Zeng Shihong heard everything all mute; unconsciously his hands went inside the pocket, his fingers touched the polished surface of the metal, tiny charms clinked as he holds it lightly in between his fist. This is the same bracelet he once tried to gift Xiu Mei, from that day he was carrying it with him with the hope one day she'll accept it.

"Gingxin, I'll be the happiest if my little Mei marries Xion. They surely are compatible but…." Hearing Zeng Shinong's 'but', Elder Lu's heart thumped. He knows his grandson's personality, except Xiu Mei and Meiying he has never allowed a woman near him.

"Are you skeptical because of Xion's past with Meiying and….." Elder Lu mused.

"No, No! I don't care about this, neither do I think there's any man in this galaxy who can take care of my granddaughter as perfectly as Xion. He is an ideal man in every sense, but I don't want to repeat my past mistake" Elder Zeng got up and plucked the dried flower on one of the plants and gently separated the dead petals one by one to get to the seeds hidden inside as he continued.

"I'm still paying for my tyranny against Ruo. This time, I won't be taking decision on Mei's behalf. This is her life, let her decide what she wants. If she is willing to enter Lu family's doors I'll support her. But if she is not I won't force her. However, if she chose someone else as her partner than that man will have to pass my tests to get my granddaughter" He wrapped the newly harvested seeds in a clean cloth and placed it in the drawer securely.

'I know I have lost the flower but seeds are more precious, they contains the essence of the dead flower' He hummed inwardly.

Elder Lu nodded, "Fair enough! How about we talk to our kids about it? Let's see if they are willing to give each other a chance"

"What chance are you talking about?"

Their heads snapped at the door simultaneously. The voice has a calming effect of a wind chime but strangely it scared the wits out of the two elders….

Xiu Mei stepped inside the room, her smile bringing in the warmth and the happiest amongst the two elders was the one who was sulking just a while before.

The aged man who was at the convention center on the final day, the one who was present when Feng Jianyu proposed her walked in simultaneously with Xiu Mei.

Zeng Shihong's face glowed as if a thousand bulbs were flashed upon him. His lips curled up reflexively yet he pulls them down into a scowl when he noticed her hands wrapped around the aged man's elbow.

He snorts….

Who said elders can't be childish? The more you age your childhood returns….

"Sweet child, finally you are here" Lu Gengxin guffawed, stealing a glance at his best friend; he understood that someone's vinegar eating system was activated. He looked at the aged man, "Ge Yifen, let me tell you something….. you are courting death right now"