35_Fan Family

In a place far away from the bustling city of country X, was a grand ancestral mansion located near a hill that was owned by the most prestigious family of this country.

A black Mercedes drove its way to the outer gate which looked like a black prison gate, equipped with high-end technology to not allow intruder's invasion.

When the car stopped in front of the gate, a beeping sound could be heard near the post just beside it. And two guards bowed their heads towards the person in the car although they couldn't see him due to the tinted window.

The gate was opened automatically and the car went inside. It was a long ride of five minutes before the car could be parked near the entrance where a huge water fountain was built in the center of the lawn.

The mansion was majestic. It was the main house of Fan family. A family that originated from outside but migrated to country X and built their glory here. This family had been here since the past four generations. And their standing was unshakable. They ruled the economy in country X effortlessly, with ease.

When the Mercedes halted, a man came out while buttoning his suit. He looked regal and was tall. He was probably in his late twenty. He was the same man who bumped into Mu Lihai at the hotel.

"Welcome back, young master." the butler himself went to greet the young man.

"Where is the matriarch?" he asked. His face wore a small smile.

"She's in the calligraphy studio. I'll show you the way." the butler then lead the way for the young man as he nodded.

When they arrived by the door, the man walked inside while the old butler went away to prepare some refreshments.

He stepped closer towards an old woman sitting comfortably with an ink slab in her hand. She was carefully analyzing the slab as if it was that expensive. And it really was expensive. The slab was a gift from the young man himself. So far, this slab was the most durable and suitable to her taste.

"How have you been, grandmother?" he asked with a smile.

"Good. Just practicing or else my skills might get rusty." she answered without looking at him. But her voice was soft and kind.

"I may have found her." he said, slowly observing the old woman's changes of expression.

"We tried our best to locate her whereabouts but nothing came out successful." the old woman sighed as she rested her back to the seat.

"Yeah.. but I think it's not my aunty, instead.. it's her daughter. She looks like aunty when she was young." the man said, narrating the old woman about his encounter with a man with the photo in his phone.

"How can you be so sure, my Jun?" after he finished talking, the old woman countered with a slightly irritated voice.

She sounded restrained as if trying to not appear hopeful. She was done being hopeful while waiting. She didn't want to be disappointed again. And how come she suddenly had a granddaughter out of the blue? She was looking for her daughter, Fan Shi not anyone else.

"I'm very sure. Wait for my findings in several days. I asked my people to follow this man. He boarded a plane to country Y." the man named Jun said. He was confident that the girl he saw in that photo was her aunty's daughter. They looked exactly the same!

As to why he was so confident about this? He had no idea. He just got the feeling. He had tried to find her aunty's whereabouts for many years but it was futile. Now that there was a woman who looked exactly the same as her- he wouldn't want to waste the slight possibility.

"Country Y?" the old woman said as her eyes circled widely. She looked as if enlightenment had hit her hard.

"That must be why we can't find my daughter, she's in another country all along!" said the old woman. She was wearing a helpless look in her face.

"Matriarch Fan, young master, refreshments are here." the old butler said as he knocked on the door. Both grandmother and grandson ceased their conversation as to give way for the butler to set the table.

When the butler was no longer in sight, Fan Jun faced the matriarch again.

"Grandmother, I found out that the man with the photo is Mu Lihai. He's the president of Mu Enterprise." he said.

"Mu Enterprise? A young master of Mu family from country Y.." the old woman's eyes turned to slit. She was thinking very deeply.

What was the relationship between Mu family and her long-lost granddaughter?

And where was her daughter, Fan Shi? She had been missing for 23 years! She really wanted to see her daughter once again. To make up for the past and to repair the broken bond. She was missing her so much.

"Be quick with the investigation, Jun. I really want to see my daughter again." matriarch Fan told Jun. who was also her adopted grandson.

Fan family's wealth was vast. It was countless. But the problem was.. it had no male heir. It had always been that way. After Fan family relocated to country X, it became a tradition for woman to lead the family and become the family head- the matriarch. No men were allowed to lead. It was the tradition that must be abide at all cost.

But matriarch Fan's daughter, Fan Shi didn't want to become the family head. She had many ambitions, many dreams. She wanted to work hard to earn her own money. She didn't like being in the center of attention and to study business to lead the company.

She was also hard-headed. She ran away from home to fend for herself when her mother decided to marry her off to another influential family from country Y.

"Don't worry grandmother, we'll find her." Fan Jun assured the old woman with a smile. He could do anything in order for his grandmother to be happy.