THE CEO's LOVE 107 A Cold

"Where's mom?"

"That's not the answer to my question."

Xiujun sensed the man close to him and turned around, only to be met with those big eyes, already shrinking back in, as the years pa.s.ses by.

"An arms length," he put out his hand to push the man back. "That's more like it." Xiujun said when his arm straightened.

"You got hurt." The smile on the man's face disappeared. "You hurt your wrist some weeks ago and now? Your jaw too?" The man tried to reach for his jaw.

Xiujun avoided the man's touch. "I hurt myself,"

"Like that? Or Jing..."

"No. He didn't do this, I did it myself." Xiujun moved away from the man's reach. "I'm okay."

"I'll pretend to believe!" He smirked. 

"I swear I really caused this!" Xiujun a.s.serted.

"Really?" The man confuted. "You've learned to lie, I must say. Perhaps, you're trying to protect him."

"Dad..."

"Good!!!" The man grinned. "I was waiting for that. You know that's the only way to make me succ.u.mb." 

Xiujun pressed his mouth tight together. He rolled his eyes. "Where's she?"

"In her bedroom," the door opened. "Oh, at the door."

The woman walked in, with her elegant emerald night dress. 

"Xiao Xiu," she got close. "You've thinned a lot." 

He shrugged off her hand on his shoulder. "I didn't!"

She opened her mouth to say something and saw the older man shook his head.

"You like her, don't you?" The man went back to his sit. 

Xiujun frowned. "Better don't do anything stupid!" He warned sternly.

The man raised both hands in surrender. "I promise not to!" He smiled.

They only knew how to interfere. He didn't like Xueyan in that way yet, but still, he didn't want them poking their head.

"Anhao, you don't like her right?" Xiujun question took the woman aback. Her face paled.

"What do you mean?" The woman shook her head at her husband as the man's smiling face dissipated. "I like her."

Xiujun dropped his gla.s.s and strode to the door. "Daddy, find out yourself!" He dashed out of the door. A lingering smile on his face.

"Are we leaving?" Jingtang asked.

"Prepare him a room. I'm tired." Xiujun said to the butler. And climbed the stairs, headed to his bedroom. A warm shower to help him relax. He closed his eyes to sleep and her image appeared.

He tried to reach for her but she disappeared.

He opened his tired eyes. "What's she doing?" He pondered. 

*

Meanwhile Xueyan was in her tent, Mei Han's tent close by. Who said being a celebrity was easy? She got tired while doing nothing. Famished by just watching the stunt girl. But this drama came with a big reward. Now, with her as an actress, Qingran's future was a.s.sured. Her daughter would now be able to go overseas to study. What country would Ran'er like? She wondered. I'd ask her when I return home. 

Then her thoughts wandered off to him. Wait, why is she thinking about him? He had sent her a text, saying he was sick. She wondered how true it was. She shook her head to remove Zhaolin from her d.a.m.ned head. She didn't like thinking about that sc.u.mbag!

*****

"Your cold has subsided," in the golden lit room, the doctor said. "Are you feeling any better?" He asked checking his patient's forehead for temperature.

Zhaolin slapped his hand away. "You can leave."

"Oh, that must be the new way to say thanks. I was with you all day long, all you can do is say thanks. I wouldn't mind." Xiangyang shook his head, then started arranging his properties. "Did you see her again?" He whispered.

Zhaolin rolled his eyes. "Just get away..."

"Easy there, you need to rest!" Xiangyang touched his friend's forehead and immediately withdrew his hand. "Zhao, listen. Nothing would come out of this. You will end up hurting a lot of people." He took in a deep breath. "Look how your family gathered, when they were heard you got sick and fell unconscious. Do you want to hurt them?"

"It's for my happiness. Whatever I'm doing, is because I want to be happy! If you're not in support of it, stop giving me advise and hurry away to go get married." Zhaolin cold and distant face, said he didn't like anything that came out of Xiangyang's mouth.

Xiangyang chuckled. "Don't you dare scare me like that again! I will take my leave." He carried his case, and walked to the door. As if recalling something he turned around. "Everything you two shared, was in the past! We're in the present so let's be grownups and..."

He watched as Zhaolin plugged his ears with his fingers. 'You really need advise... You should just let her go.'

He stepped through the door to see the worried faces of everyone. s.h.i.+ya pacing about with her index finger in her mouth. 'Is she trying to control herself?' Rongbo and his wife Xiaocan resting on the gla.s.s guardrails and Zhihao sleeping downstairs on a couch.

"Is he any better?" Rongbo asked.

"Yes." Xiangyang's answer, clean and cut. He was no longer smiling and a professional look. "He will be back on his feet by tomorrow."

s.h.i.+ya finally noticed him. Stopped and came towards him. "Are you leaving already? What if we need you at night?"

"Well, you won't. I gave him sedative to help him sleep better." Xiangyang bowed. And climbed down the steps. He then saw Songyan, "You still haven't left?"

She shook her head, "Was waiting for you."

Zhihao heard the doctor's voice and sprang up. "Can I go see daddy?" He asked. He looked tired. 

"Yes boy. But don't stress him." Xiangyang warned. Without waiting for him to finish, Zhihao dashed to the steps and disappeared into his father's room.

"Let's go, I will drop you off." Xiangyang said, ready to leave. 

"I will go by myself,"

"I insist!" Xiangyang's tone cold. He turned and walked to the door and Songyan reluctantly followed... Reluctantly, that's what they think. Actually, she's the happiest, right now on mother earth.

*****

The next morning, they were awoken at four. 

"Isn't it too early?" Mei Han asked, uncapping a mineral water for Xueyan. She then pa.s.sed it to her.

Everyone had taken their bathes. And very soon breakfast would be served. 

"It's not! The fourth scene begins at dawn. It's the right time to transport the slaves." Xueyan shrugged. She wasn't so sure. But she needed sleep, enough of it, and now she was awoken to start the days job. It was just a day but it feels like it was taking forever.

Soon the casts playing the villagers gathered around. There was fire lit in the middle. Children cries rang through the open s.p.a.ce.

Five people were tied to a rope and a bamboo stick carried on their shoulders each and a.s.signed a man in black to accompany them. 

Ruqin looked around and saw how men was beaten and suffered swollen eyes. Some had open wounds and would easily be infected. Women and children wailing. She closed her eyes as she couldn't look any further.

"The Young Miss will be the leader," Master Su announced with sinister smile. The men in black laughed too. It would be fun to watch her leading her own people into darkness.

The long journey started. Ruqin stood at the front, her legs and hands tied. She saw from the corners of her eyes, someone looking at her. She turned and saw it was her handmaiden. Maid Xia. How did they catch her? Or was the handmaiden that dumb that she allowed herself to be caught.

Tears trickled down the girl's face. It made Ruqin's heart hurt. The women looked dirty and some part of their hanfus torn. She didn't want to imagine what might have caused it and prayed it was only struggle.

The children were left behind.

"No! Please don't take me away from my child!" One of the women yelled.

"Please don't!" Another supported.

"Please! Take them along!"

Ruqin saw the wailing women but didn't know what to do. How to react. Why didn't this evil men take the children along. 

"Hey!" She called out. And almost everywhere quietened down except the new borns. 

Master Su turned around and smiled at Ruqin. "Hey? You are sure gutsy. Look, we might be in your village, where you were born and brought up to control this people. But don't try that on me. Call me Master Su!" His eyes revealing his displeasure.

Ruqin remained unfazed. "Take the children too!" It was a command. 

Master Su suddenly chortled and his minions joined in. "Oh, oh. I'm so scared! Please don't hurt me! Please!" The man acted like he was scared. "And if I don't?" His funny expression some seconds away turned dangerous. He looked ready to strike if she said one more word.

"Which kingdom do you come from exactly? Oh! You might not be the master, you must be one of his dogs. You're scared that taking the children along will put you in danger. Is he that horrifying? Or you're a chicken serving a..."

"Be quiet!" One of the masked men shouted.

Master Su unbuckled his sword and poked the sword edge, directly on Ruqin's chest... 

"What did you just say?" He smirked. "You really have some guts, huh? If you're such a true leader, why don't you slaughter us all? You can save your village!"

"Hahaha!" The laugh echoed their surrounding. It was the giant man. He sneered at Ruqin. "You have some guts, girl."

"Take them along, I say!" Ruqin commanded. 

Hahaha. The masked men continued to laugh. 

Ruqin took a step toward Master Su, "You think your kingdom will survive the hit, if the province retaliate?"

The man hesitated this time. No one laughed because he was the only one that heard it.

He took a step forward and bent close to her ear. "I don't care." He stood straight. "Let's move out!"