The conditions

The Grandfather and the granddaughter were sitting in their favourite pavilion, which was on the edge of their private lake. They were enjoying tea, both of them enjoying just being in the other's presence after a long time.

" Tell me about the Beau Valmont." Said Elder Chen.

Ying Yue rolled her eyes. Their supposed affair was even made into a feature in one of the gossip magazines. There were even photos of them hugging and strolling around. It was so ridiculous that the only thing she could do was laugh at that time. It was funny that in Europe, pictures of them hugging goodbye and just taking a morning walk was made into a big issue. But she knew it was only because of Beau's fiancé's influence that it was blown out of proportion. There was nothing but friendship between the two of them.

" He is a good friend, grandpa. A better business partner. His fiancé is a jealous monster who couldn't handle him paying attention to anything other that her. I think it was the company that she was more jealous of, than me. But she wanted to destroy both of us." She explained.

" Don't worry about it. I don't have the energy to get involved wit someone immature like her, that is all. I have other things to concentrate on." She said with a meaningful look at him.

" What good friend. I don't like him. He has no backbone, no will power." He muttered with a dark expression.

She sent him a look.

" Sometimes, people give in to others because of respect and love, not just because they are not strong enough to go against them." She said, hoping he can realise the atrocities he has done to Jiao Long.

He made a sound, but did not contradict her.

" Tell me the conditions you mentioned before." She changed the subject.

He sighed and look out the lake with a faraway expression. It was a while before he started speaking.

" Your grandmother and I built Huo enterprises from the ground up. But Huo cosmetics was entirely your father's sweat and blood. I want you to take over it. The company will be declared independent, and will not be a part of Huo Enterprises anymore. That is your legacy." He said in a grave voice.

Ying Yue looked at her grandfather, who was busy staring out at the lake.

" Ok." She agreed. It seemed reasonable, and it was the plan she had made with her cousin before. She was going to vote for him at the shareholder meeting, and he in return was going to sell her the company, if she ever wanted to come back to the country.

"What else?" She asked.

" I will not ask you to get married, don't worry. I know you better than that. But I want to know that you will not be alone. I will also screen the men that come to the party, just attend with an open mind."

The words he used struck a chord deep inside her. She realised that he has accepted that he was going to die soon. Over her dead body, she would need let him go that easily. She needed take a look at his reports and test to know what was making him sick, and how sock he was. And no matter what it was, she would battle it with him.

" Ok." she agreed again. " What else?"

" The ancestral property… I want you to have it. I know how much you love it, the main residence can be shifted to the mansion in the city. You and I can stay here. In return, I will hand over all the duties as of today to your beloved cousin. I am retiring officially." He threw the bomb on her.

She processed everything he said, and the things he had said without actually saying the words. Her heart was breaking for the man who had raised her. She could feel the guilt slowly eating from inside her. She had stayed away for so long because in her heart her grandfather was indestructible. She should have returned to take care of him a long time ago.

" Ok. I would love it better if it is just the two of us anyway." She said, not letting the tears fall down.