NOVEL NEXT The servant broke in cold sweat. ‘Just what was this ugly duckling saying? Doesn’t she know second young master hates it if anyone rats him out? I would be so dead, I would be so dead. Ugh where will I go now?’ servant was shivering under the hawk like gaze of Huang Ming. The very moment a man entered the room. A pair of familiar eyes were staring at the girl sitting opposite to Huang Ming. For a second, Xi Jingfei doubted her eyes but soon the voice also felt familiar.
“We meet again…” The person said as he took a seat next to Huang Ming.
“Yes we did.” said Huang Ming casually but the man was clearly looking past the table, at the petite ugly girl sitting opposite to them. The servant heaved a sigh of relief and bowed to the newcomer inside his heart, he was saved from the wrath of second young master after all.
Xi Jingfei looked up, right into the man’s eyes and said, “You both….?”
There were clear doubts on her face. Observing her countenance, Huang Ming gave a light laugh and then explained,
“Yup. We are bros. Meet Huang Sheng, the famous fussy. Hehe.”
Soon as the last words left Huang Ming’s mouth, a smack was received at the speed of light. Huang Sheng though knew how finicky he was, but would fume if anyone pinpointed it. For this reason, Huang Ming had gotten uncountable slaps and punches that it no longer hurt him, but as a matter of fact, they weren’t alone in the room but with a girl Huang Ming had been courting or say flirting with, every now and then, so the whole incident could not be flushed down like always.
“How can you hit your younger brother? Ah, it hurts so much. Feifei you must bring me justice….” Huang Ming started acting cute giving an expression as if he was wronged and slyly held onto the girl’s left hand that was on the table.
Smack!
It was Xi Jingfei this time. How dare he try and turn the situation to his advantage?
“You both are teaming up and bullying a child. I won’t talk to any of you. Humph!!” The little guy pouted and fumed when the other two giggled. They were having light conversation when Xi Jingfei abruptly turned pale as she got reminded of her real purpose of coming here.
Standing up, she went to the French window, clenching her fists as a way to control her emotions and also the tears that had almost descended down her almond eyes. She then turned and came back to her seat and said, “I’m sorry for interruption but Mr Huang (looking at Huang Sheng) could you please step out for some time? I have some private matters to discuss with Huang Ming. I hope if you’re not here for anything too urgent, you could wait until I settle my business.” Her voice was cold, definitive and serious unlike the melodious and agonized one back in the train when she was singing.
‘She’s like a completely different person now. Guess there are several layers in her behavior and it changes accordingly. But I don’t feel like giving in to her. Let me see what purpose you have here.’ Huang Sheng was still looking at the girl.
Huang Ming could feel that the girl was being a little too serious. He immediately asked his brother to leave which he denied.
Realizing that the latter was not planning to step out, Xi Jingfei thought *They really are brothers. Both are thick skinned. Looks like I can only ask Ming to do it in front of this weird guy.* After giving it some thought, Xi Jingfei said, “Mr Huang (she was referring to Huang Ming in the most formal way she knew), please do the favor I asked of you, ASAP. I don’t intend to stay long.”
Dissipated from her tone of voice, Huang Ming looked at her and asked funnily, “What are you going to pay me with if I do the honor? Let me tell you, I have enough money and luckily I don’t lack a status either.”
Not being able to bear his laugh when she was devastated inside, Xi Jingfei stood up and stretched her hands to take back the Hard Drive. Finally realizing her seriousness, Huang Ming stopped her and made his way to the table with computer.
This was the first time he was seeing such an expression on Xi Jingfei’s face, like she is so furious that she’s about to cry. Without any other exchange of words, Huang Ming began his work.
The Hard Drive was not easily accessible but had several passwords. This was the reason why no one could get anything out of it. Thus, Huang Ming began to crack the first password of the Hard Drive.
The other man, Huang Sheng, looked at the girl with such an expression as if questioning her why she’s the way she is… How her simple expressions could change a good – for- nothing Huang Ming into someone so serious towards work.
Silence engulfed the study room and Xi Jingfei could feel her heartbeat raising and thumping hard inside her chest. The tapping of the keyboard was the only sound telling her she was still alive or she was already feeling a hand squeezing her heart over and over again.
Several hours later,
“At last, I can finally prove I’m a genius… It’s open.”
A loud proud voice rang through the silent study room where no one left in the meantime when Second Young Master Huang Ming was working and Xi Jingfei was restless enough to keep going back and forth while munching her nails due to nervousness. Soon as she heard that the Hard Drive’s content was open, she felt as if she had obtained ultimate salvation from the world.
“Move aside. Let me have a look…” Xi jingfei was anxious enough to not spare another glance at the men, breaking heart of the little kiddo.
Huang Ming: “….”
Huang Sheng: “…..”
“Alright… can you print them out for me?” Said Xi Jingfei ignoring the brothers’ blown facial expression.
Huang Ming (pouting): “Not even a word of thanks? How fickle.”
Xi Jingfei took out a handmade pen-stand from her bag that she had made herself in the hotel back in City L, to keep herself busy so as to not think about the ups and downs of her life, not contemplate the deadly events of the recent past days. Gifting Huang Ming the same, she turned around to take the printed material.
The pen stand was a notable piece of art. Adhering together three plastic water bottles cut into half, with a cardboard in their base. A craft rope covering all of the mentioned. A few stones and quiling art all across the sides of the pencil holder.
“Is this for me? Really?” the receiver was overjoyed as if floating on cloud nine. This was definitely more valuable than money and fame. These little gestures from Xi Jingfei were enough for Huang Ming to dance like a chicken.
The other man sustained his gaze at the other two, reminiscing his own younger years and then went out to call his old buddies he hadn’t talk in a long time being busy with his schedules.
It was the third time that the same servant was sent to the den of wolves, the study room, to call everyone for dinner. Xi Jingfei initially wanted to avoid having dinner here and was going to leave but her stomach couldn’t stand leaving delicious food untouched, and thus began to growl loud enough for the two Young Masters to hear its plea.
Meanwhile, in City L,
Soon as Cao Gao’s lackeys reached down the hotel Xi Jingfei was staying in, they kept waiting for her to come out until mid-afternoon. They went to her room disguised as waiters to clear their hunch. But found she was already gone.
When Cao Gao got the news, he freaked out and asked them to look for her everywhere. No fortune was on their side as they reached back empty handed after turning the whole city upside down looking for Xi Jingfei. By then Cao Gao had already used all his connections and contacts, but wasn’t able to figure her way.
After a lot of effort, he got information that she had gone to City U and that’s where her trails end. Cao Gao wasn’t too sure if he could find the girl back but he had to do all in his power, so he personally went there, but of course the girl had already gone away.
Not being able to find her, Cao Gao sat dejectedly in his “office” looking at a picture. It was a picture of an infant. She was so pure and fragile that no one could look away from her. A tear dropped on the picture as a man in his late 30s looked at Cao Gao and squeezed his shoulder lightly as if reassuring him that everything will turn out well.
One more had added in the list of people looking for Xi Jingfei. First it were the felons, then SMC officers, after that added the police and now was Cao Gao. Hiding from them all will Xi Jingfei be able to go on?
Author’s words: Hello all. Hope you are enjoying the story.
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