Visiting Family Zheng House

It was the day she had to step into her paternal grandparents'- Zheng family manor. It was the only day she could go in and out the house without having to meet the cousins and any face she think she would not like to have on her.

That's why, by hook or by crook, she had to fight her will from continuing her sleep this morning.

It was thanks to Da Chunhao that she get to know that today is the only day where the house would not have any visitors from any sides. There might be only her grandparents, and the servants tho.

There could be surprise visits, but according to Da Chunhao's information, there should be none.

Apparently, her relatives had their own tight schedule that they all seemingly agreed to not visit the manor, giving their old parents to have ample time to rest.

Not that the house always lively with visitors or full house, but they could not stop if one of them or their kids decided by themselves to visit the manor. Chen Ziyi was aware of that.

She had no idea on how and to whom that friend of hers had managed to get the info on the manor's today activity arrangement, but she for sure being grateful for the help.

She couldn't recall any memories if there were any occassions that should hold her relatives so occupied for that week, but who cares. It's good for her in any way.

'Scared of meeting them?' She still remember Lin Chao-xing's question when she had a short group call with the girls. She know that they could have a guess of what she had in her mind. Considering how her friends know her family situation, it was no wonder for them to have such ideas.

It wasn't scared. But, regardless of what she felt, she prefer to not meet any of her so called cousins or probably.. her brothers. So Da chunhao voluntary offer help on that.

Stepping closer to the manor's area, with her eyes never moved away from the mentioned house, she couldn't help but made comparison of how the house will change in the future along the way.

Upon arrived at the door, the door was opened from the inside when her hand was just trying to pull the door knob.

"Y-young miss Ziyi?" a familiar yet no so familiar person greeted her.

"I'm here to collect my things. Is there someone else in the house other than grandma and grandpa?" Even though she hold dislike feeling towards her grandparents, it was not that difficult to pronounce their title from her mouth when she was asking about them.

"No. Only madam and sir."

"Madam is currently resting in her bedroom. She had back pain previously and wouldn't want to be disturbed. Sir is reading in his study room. If you want to meet him, I can inform him first-"

"No need. I come here only to collect few things from my room. "

She can memorize the 'textbook' answer that the house servants will give to her everytime she asked about her grandparents' whereabout and what they were doing.

"I came here with my friend. But no worries, you don't need to prepare anything. She will be with me."

When the familiar-yet-not-so-familiar person just opened her mouth to say something, an old figure appeared with her seemingly pretending cold expression but still excited, like she was hiding her excitement expecting someone that she favors visiting the manor. Why did she say pretend to be cold? It was from how the old voice sound when she asked from a room, and how her walking step sounds so rushing wanting to meet the person who came to visit her.

"Who is it that coming? I already told them to not come if they're so busy.-" And the happy voice stopped when she had the full view of the person facing her.

Haa~That face. The previous pretending to be cold but still happy face was not pretending anymore. The disappointed then turn to be no expecting anything look. The face that rarely have gave a genuine smile to her but today, a small smile was there. Probably just for formality.

"Why are you here? Not telling anyone that you are coming? If you inform us in advance, I can at least tell the cooks to leave some food for you."

"I already ate before at home. I come here just to collect some of my things."

"I see. Just look at your things in the room. Try to avoid touch Lin er's and your other cousin's things. You should know how they hate it when people touch their things."

Chen Ziyi couldn't help but gave a sarcasti remark.

"I dont think you need to worry about that, grandma. We all know who touch whose things."

"You! How come you always like to talk back to me?! Why you couldn't even listen to one word of your elder? That's why-"

"Grandma, I bring a friend with me. She will be with me in the room for the whole time. So, there's no need to bring anything to the room, no need to cook additiona snacks. We're good." Refusing to listen to more of her grandmother scold, Chen Ziyi interupted.

Upon she said that, Han Meirong who had been standing nearby but couldn't be seen by her grandmother, introduced herself as Chen Ziyi's classmate.

"Oh, then, its good. I was just thinking to ask them to prepare some snacks for you, but since you say so, its okay then. There's no need to waste food, right? You also seem chubbier than before. Take care of your appearance. I heard that you're moving to a new environment with your mother. Be good. First impression is always important. Dont talk back to the teachers and the elders there like you do to me. Try to be gentle like-"

"Like Shuyu?"

"Hm. Shuyu is gentle and soft, we all couldn't deny it. I am not exactly telling you should make her as your role model. You can at least make your eldest sister cousin as your role model. Look how she can have so much friends, even teachers at her school also always compliemented her. Oh- You didn't nitpicking with Yu er again, did you? Its not that I am accusing you. You are all siblings, and you are the older one. Even if by only few months, legally, you still one year older than her. You should act like a proper sister, not keep fighting with her. Yu er didn't say anything to me, dont accuse her. I just feel worried about it. We love all our grandchildren fairly, so please dont make things harder for us. I know that you might have that attitude since you're living with your mother. Of course you will have your mother's alike attitude, but you sometimes staying here for few days since you were still small. You should already be good to harmonize with your cousins. Don't be so strong headed or nobody will like you."

...

"Is it true that you're moving away?"

When Chen Ziyi was on her way to her room with Han Meirong, her grandfather called for her. Apparently, he was the one asked one of the servants, who was visiting the manor. Upon finding out it was Chen Ziyi, with the news that he heard from his son, he felt the need to meet that grandaughter of his for the last time before she moved away. It also felt a wrong if he could not even get a goodbye from her. It will feel like they were strangers to each other. An unease feeling surged into his heart a little thinking that.

Leaving Han Meirong in the room that she intended to go in the first place, Chen Ziyi went to the study room.

"Yes, grandfather."

"Did your mom force you to move with her? was she being rough on you?" Moving his eyes to the book that he hold, he asked. Knowing how her former daughter-in-law could act, he couldn't denied the possibility of that cold-tempered woman to forcing her ideas on her only daughter.

Hearing no response from her, sighing, he closed his book, and put away his glasses before he properly made his eyes on her.

"I thought you dont want to be that away from us? You always mention that you wpuld prefer to live nearus ? Yi'er, You can stay here if you want, or I can tell your dad to take you in." Feeling that this one grandaughter of his was quite pitiful for unable have her own choice, he tried to give few comforting words.

"No. Mom did asked me to move with her, and I agreed."

"You're-agreed?"

"Uhm. I had a talk with my teachers at school. They all felt it is better for me to go to the school that is concidentally in the same area that we will be moving. Mom and I already began made our arrangement to stay there."

"when will you be -?"

"23rd december."

"Oh, its just in another one week then?" Chen Ziyi could see a her grandfather's eyebrow furrowed upon hearing the date.

"Yes. Grandfaher, I come here only to collect few things from the room. Can I...? My friend is waiting for me in the room. And later, her brother will come pick us. I think I couldn't remember much what was left since the last time I came here. I dont want to be late.."

" I did heard the news from your dad. But we never know- that you're moving that fast.."

"Grandfather, I will have to start the school in january next year. Even though I pobably start at a bit later date since I'm a transfering student, but I still have to make preparation. Futhermore, I dont think there is difference telling you now or earlier. Not that you will spend more time with me. Neither grandma. Neither dad. Neither my brothers."