It was very bright inside the Li mansion, as if someone was worried or scared of the dark . Su Yansheng had raised his head up to count how many lights were on when he saw the face of a stoic faced beautifully dressed woman sitting on a gold couch with dragon carvings around it.
She was currently comforting a pale faced young man beside her, he had peach blossom eyes and a face capable of raising anyone's affinity for him once they met, his hands in hers, silent tears in his eyes.
She was the Guo zhens mother.
Father Li had found his way across from them and had not found the right words to say yet.
Madam Li looked behind Secretary Fu, trying to catch the gaze of the person her daughter and husband were calling her biological son.
When she laid eyes on him, tall, muscular, with silver hair and red eyes, she inhaled a bit, slightly startled.
At the Edward's estate, she had only caught his glimpse from behind once, not having the time to care about the allegations her daughter was raising because she had a fundraiser to officiate, and she trusted her husband, he would not cheat on her.
When she wanted to look at him some more, she felt her son Li Wei shudder beside her, as if he was cold, completely taking her attention from the person she was trying to assess.
Li Wei moved closer to his mother, trying to get comfort or strength from her, before summoning the courage to stand up, facing Guo zhen with a shy smile.
"Elder brother, welcome." He still didn't lift his head up fully, avoiding his eyes, but when he received no response, he looked up and coincidentally stared directly at a crimson sun, instantly becoming scared, he scrambled to sit beside Madame Li.
Madame Li saw the exchange and for some reason, instantly became annoyed. She reached out, patting Li Wei, comforting him first, before turning back to face Guo zhen.
"What sort of attitude is this, why did you frighten Li Wei so much? He was just trying to welcome you." The anger madame Li felt kept increasing for no new reason. She looked directly at Guo zhen, and turned her head away not up to five seconds later, understanding now why Li Wei had been scared by him.
The goodwill she had managed to muster for him vanishing with his cold behavior.
Su Yansheng shook his head at this. Tsk tsk.
Guo zhen saw everything that had transpired and simply raised an eyebrow at the situation. His mother didn't seem to like him very much, he filed that information for later as well. Also, his delicate looking 'swappe' probably didn't want him here either. Well that was fine.
As long as he had his cheap fathers support, he could do without the rest.
Guo zhen hears heels clack against the marble floor.
Well this sister of his might be a bit troublesome, but he didn't care. He knew he wasn't really wanted here. He had come with his own agenda so he was fine with everyone having theirs.
Deep down though, Guo zhen felt a bit stifled at the reception he was getting. He had always wondered, a very long time ago, what it would be like if he was born into a different kind of family. Now his thoughts or wishes had come true, but this was the hand he was being dealt..
The universe definitely had it out for him.
Father Li had seen everything that had happened as well. He wanted to reprimand his wife but decided against it, he didn't need to do that for an outsider. Guo zhen was still an outsider. Until he proved his worth, he wouldn't raise his hand to help.
"Sit down." Father Li, looking at Guo zhen directed him. Then he asked the rest of the staff to vacate the room.
"Whats the point?" Madame Li asked.
"Without my permission, you had already announced to everyone in the estate that you were bringing another young master home."
"How is Li Wei supposed to face everyone now."
A chuckle escaped Guo zhens throat. He now realized it was much worse than he thought.
Ignoring him, Father Li almost looked disappointed at his wife, not understanding why she was choosing to behave like this. She was always the kind one.
"He is your son, A'ying."
"I didn't say he wasn't." Madame Li, standing up looked angrily at her husband. Then she pointed at the person behind her.
"But isn't Li Wei also my son." She said, almost screaming. "I raised him for nineteen years, a whole nineteen years, then you bring this disaster courting demon home and expect me to accept him, no!"
Father Li stood up as well, looking at his wife with slightly bewildered eyes. "Who told you this?" He had given the order to scrub the history of Guo zhens time in all the foster homes he had been in. Even though information about him after he was fourteen was a bit sketchy at best, everything that had a record, he knew his people would erase. It would be disastrous to the Li family name if other people find out it.
The ever silent Li xui finally spoke up at this time from where she had been sitting on a chair by the window.
"Please don't be angry at Li Wei father, he must have passed the information to mother after he had snuck the file out of my room."
Father Li looked at his daughter, he knew what she was doing but he wouldn't call her out on it. She wanted to take this chance to kill two birds with one stone, or was it three? Internally he was proud of the strategist she was, then he realized she had schemed against his wife so he gave her a stern look before moving to diffuse the situation.
He moved towards his wife, grabbing her arms, "Calm down A'ying, even if it was true, all of that is in the past."
He then guided her to sit beside him, holding her hands to calm her down. "Now that he is here, we can guide him properly. He is my Li Tianlongs son. You can't expect me to keep him in the shadows right?"
Coming to her senses for a bit, she seemed to understand what her husband was saying. Then she heard a sob across from her.
Li Wei was looking at her with tears in his eyes, his eyes red and puffy from crying for too long. "So.. so what father means is, I'm not your son?"
Li Tianlong wanted to agree, but he remembered that this son of his seemed to still have some use. His talents as a painter was unrivaled in Sther country and beyond. Already creating mater pieces at such a young age.
"Of course not, Li Wei," he said, after coughing a little. "But I cannot hide my blood either."
How ridiculous, what if they hid it and other people found out, or worse, Guo zhen leaked the news himself. He could already imagine the headlines and crash in stock prices. He couldn't let that happen. 'Also, that person would be coming soon…'
"In a week, when your gallery opens, we would also host a banquet to announce Guo zhens identity, and celebrate you as well."
"Of course we would not treat you badly, everything you've been getting before, in resources and opportunity, it would continue to yours."
Li xui looked at her father, wondering why he was rushing to expose Guo zhens identity. 'Was he displeased with her, did he still want a male heir after all?' These thoughts kept going through her mind but on the surface, she put up a smile.
"Would your masterpiece be available by then younger brother?"
Li Wei was a bit surprised at the question from this sister of his who might or might not like him. It seemed she always had a mask on. Also, only he knew that he was done with the painting already, but he felt she knew as well and she wanted him to say otherwise.
"Actually, the shock of the last few days haven't allowed me to concentrate," he sniffled a little.
Wanting to go comfort her son, madame Li tried standing up but her husband held her in place.
"You cuddle him too much," he whispered near her ears.
"No excuses Li Wei, you have two days to finish the painting, we cannot change the schedule because you decided to have a breakdown. Invitations have been sent out."
Unable to resist, Li Wei looked between his sister and father and could only comply, "Yes father, I will do my best."
Giving a little snort, Father Li stood up, pulling his wife along, "Zhen'er."
The almost forgotten Guo zhen was finally spoken to at this time.
Li Tianlong looked at him, slightly appreciating that he hadn't spoken all along. "Have Secretary Fu guide you to your room. There are several documents with him as well, go through them."
"Let him know if you need anything." He started moving his wife toward the stairs. One of the maids passing by the kitchen saw him and wanted to assist him but he stopped her.
"Yes Father." Guo zhen stood up looking around, at his sister who looked like she had swallowed a fly, a swappe who looked like he had offended the deity of wealth and at himself who was probably never destined to receive love from his parents.
He tilted his head back to laugh, to laugh at the situation of things and at himself who had for a fraction of second, hoped that at least one person would love him wholeheartedly.
A notification on his phone went off.
"Big brother, are you okay?"
"Do you need us to come storm the Li mansion?"
Oh, he had almost forgotten. He didn't need to feel sorry for himself at all. He had Fang Rui, he had his other brothers in the agency. They were all he needed. He immediately corrected his emotions, giving that relaxed look on his face, which he didn't know appeared to others as if he was looking at them condescendingly.
"No need." Guo zhen replied Fang Rui's texts.
"Also, which elder brother needs his younger brothers help. Make sure you take your break properly."
A few seconds later when he thought he hadn't nagged enough, he sent one more message. "Get enough sleep!" Then he closed his phone.
The other two people had looked at him when he had suddenly started laughing, thinking he might have a screw loose. Then watched him receive a message from someone and the laugh left his face, looking like someone owed him money again.
Li Wei instantly stood up to run away to his room. Offending one diety was enough, he really didn't have the bandwidth to offend this second one. Though thinking about it, he had probably offended him already.
Since he had taken this path, he needed to continue. Madame Li had always felt guilty about his premature birth and poor health. He just needed to make sure she and Guo zhen never got to connect emotionally and that guilt would forever be a shield for him instead.
Guo zhen headed to his room with Secretary Fu's help, leaving Li xui alone in the living room.
It seemed they were always leaving her behind, even with this new outsider, it was still the same. She picked up a cup from the center table, then smashed it on the floor.
Mo Ying appeared immediately.
"I'm fine."
"Find out whats so special about next weekend."
Mo Ying had bent down to start picking the glass shards from the floor.
Li xui looked at him, watching his anxious back. "Stand up, leave that for the maids."
"Take off your jacket and come to me."
Mo Ying stood up from where he had bent over to clear the floor, approaching Li xui carefully, taking of his jacket in the process.
"Bring one of the shards with you."
Mo Ying went back to pick one.
Handing it to her, the previous anger on Li xui's face was replaced with a serene smile. She then tugged at Mo yings sleeve, forcing him to bend to her level and roll up his sleeve arm.
Li xui looked longingly at the shard, then at the cut marks on Mo yings arm. Caressing the injuries softly, some still freshly scabbed over, some healed. She then made another cut on his arm, exhaling like she could finally breath.
The blood from the cut spilling over, turning his white shirt red from where it was splashed.
Li xui dipped her finger into the blood and licked it, relishing the taste. Mo Ying still on his knees, like he didn't feel the pain.
She moved to make another cut. The door to one of the slammed shut. Li xui looked up, trying to see who it was.
Li Wei ran back to his bed, shirt drenched and it seemed he was also haveing a mild panic attack.
He didn't care, next time he would defy his father. His elder sister was too scary okay.
"Wow, what kind of play is this, and even though you've left, how can this be in your memory?" Su Yansheng was staring at Li xui while asking Guo zhen.
Guo zhen pointed to the staircase, at the memory him looking at the ground floor, having full view of what was going on.
"Ohhhh." Then he stood up, losing interest in the whole affair.
"Guo zhen."
Guo zhen wasn't sure he had ever heard Su Yansheng call his full name. He immediately went on high alert, hoping this wasn't another confession. They hadn't know each other very long and he wasn't sure how to let him down gently.
Su Yansheng turned to look at Guo zhen, still dressed in his stuffy three piece suit, not letting any flesh show.
So stingy.
"When are we going to meet Lu zhihao?"
Guo zhen went still for very different reasons again.
"Is it the classic, he had been bethroned to Li wei since they were young but since you're the original young master, you decided to trade places, falling hopelessly in love with him in the process only to be brutally rejected in the end?"
Guo zhen just kept staring at Su yansheng, wondering where he had learnt all these kind of rubbish from?
Recieving no response, Yan continued, " or have Li wei and Lu zhihao always loved each other but due to diffence in status, they couldn't be together. You the overbearing Ceo comes in with your new found wealth and status, stealing Lu zhihao away only for you to discover years later that he never loved you and was taking revenge against you for his true loves sake?"
Gu zhen wanted to beat someone up. Who, he wasnt sure yet, but he really needed to let off steam very soon or he might do something he regrets.
Through gritted teeth Guo zhen finnaly spoke, "Lets go."
"Where?" Yan was busy looking around at the art on the walls, wondering if he could bring any back to the inn with him to serve as a scratching post for his stupid fat cat.
"To meet him."
He just really needed Yan to stop making absurd conjectures, he would do anything.
The reaction was instant, Yan left what he had perusing, rushung to Guo zhens side, a big smile on his face. "Yes yes, lets go."
if he didn't urge him to meet the one who caused his D and D levels to go off soon, who knows how long this memory walk would take.
He wanted to go home, he mised his wide range of drinks, he missed the foods (especially the Tarayan dried meat he had left out on the balcony) that he could touch and eat. In the memory walk he couldn't touch anything other than the guest, and he missed Fei bao, his Fei Fei.
'Was he so excited to stand beside him?' Guo zhen wondered. He needed to end this soon, lest Su yanshengs feelings for him increase to a point of no return. He definitely didn't want to lead anyone on.
Concentrating on the gallery opening and his identity banquet reveal, Guo zhen realized that he didnt dread the memory as much as he normally did. What had changed with him, he wasnt sure yet. He would file the behaviour away to scrutinize later.