Astonishment
Shi Lian managed to travel downstairs without being caught by anyone. She is still wondering about what her father and her uncle must have discussed. "Shi, let's head inside," her mother tells her in her soothing voice. She nods and walks inside. Her father came downstairs about half an hour ago after she came. Talking for a while with them, they finally said goodbye.
Coming back to the Mo mansion, the first thing Shi Lain does is ask about the documents to her father.
"Father, I need to talk to you," she says.
Mo Zheng Yuan was going back to his room but is stopped by Shi Lain. He contemplates that it must about the discussion that he had with his younger brother.
"Alright, let's go to my office," he says to her and marches to his office.
Shi Lian follows him walking behind him.
"Father, is uncle blackmailing you with something?" she asks when they reach his office.
He turns back, "What makes you think like that?" he frowns.
"I heard about the documents that uncle mentioned. What documents?" she questions.
"So you were there. How much did you hear?" he sighs.
"Not much…I only got to know about the documents, after that I went downstairs" she answers taking a seat on the couch right beside her.
"I cannot tell you anything about the documents now" he declines to give her an answer.
"Why?" she asks stubbornly.
"Because it's not the right time now" he doesn't face her by turning his moving chair to the other direction.
"Is he blackmailing you?" she questions again. She cannot leave until she has some information about it.
Curiosity kills; it's true here in the case of Shi Lian.
"No, he isn't. I will tell you about it soon but not now….you need to understand" he says with a deep sigh.
Shi Lian can see her father is already worried about something, maybe it is for the best to not ask now, she thinks.
"Alight father, I understand," she tells him, "It's already late, you should have a rest. Good night, father" she wishes him with her sweet smile and leaves his office.
The next day
"It's Sunday, you don't need to go for work" her father commands her, eating his breakfast.
"It doesn't matter, work comes first. I should finish the task as soon as possible" Shi Lian objects, sitting across him on the breakfast table.
"You are already working very hard for this. You need to spend some time with your mother sometimes", says he, "Look how sad your mother looks" he points to Sha Sha who is sitting beside Shi Lian. Sha Sha doesn't know what to do at this time, she just smiles at her daughter while busying herself with cutting the waffles. Shi Lian thinks,
'He is right though. I hardly spend any time with my mother ever since I returned. I guess I should spend time with her today.'
"Alright! I'll spend my whole day with my sweet mother!" she declares, grinning like a kid. "Good" her father smiles.
Mo Zheng Yuan got on his car and left for work. Being the Chairman, he cannot take one single day's leave.
"What would you like to do, mother?" Shi Lain asks cheerfully, holding her mother's hand while they walk inside the house.
"Whatever you like" she smiles.
"I knew you would say this" Shi Lian pouts, "Um…..how about we do some photography?" she tells her idea.
Mo Sha Sha looks at her in confusion, "Of?" she asks.
"You….and our big beautiful garden…" she tells her.
She is already excited about the photography. She even thought to make her wear some of the clothes she designed when she was in America; luckily she brought them with her.
"We need to do some arrangements first. I'll ask Nanny Zhang!" she runs inside to find her.
Mo Sha Sha walks inside slowly chuckling all the way. She is elated to see her daughter so happy like this after such a long time.
"Nanny Zhang, can you make some arrangements according to this?" she requests her passing her a piece of paper. She wrote what she wants and hands it to Nanny Zhang.
"It will be done soon, Miss!" she smiles at her warmly taking the paper. She was teaching the maids some chores but she leaves it immediately and go to make the arrangements first.
"Thank you!" Shi Lian returns her smile and runs to her room to get the dresses.
'Where did I put them?' she searches it in her closet, where all her things were kept by Nanny Zhang.
'I did bring them, right?' she wonders. She searches for more and after searching for a whole lot for 15 minutes she finally gets the dresses. She takes all the four-set and runs back to her mother.
"Mother! You will look fabulous in this!" she is radiating excitement. Shi Lian put those dresses on the bed and ask her mother to wear them for the photoshoot but without looking at the mirror.
"But I had to see the mirror or how else would I wear it properly?" she articulates.
"I'll ask one of the maids to help you. Just wait" she runs to find a maid.
Luckily, she sees a maid cleaning the flower vases of the hall, so she calls her and instructs her what she needs to do.
"Mother, she will help you!" she bring the maid inside.
"You know what to do. Right?" she asks the maid again. The maid nods and with that Shi Lian feels relieved now. Before her mother can say anything, she already disappears from the room.
When Shi Lian is coming down carefully from the staircase, as she is wearing heels, high enough to trip her ann make her fall down, she hears a knock on the door. She thinks of opening as she is going outside anyway.
When the housekeeper goes to open it, she stops him and tells him that she will open it. He obeys her order and goes back to do what he was doing. There was another knock.
She has no clue who is coming but she is curious to know. She reaches for the door, grabs both the handles of it, and pulls it in her inwardly.
The door opens but what she sees is not what she wanted but at the same time badly wanted to see. She just freezes there, still like a statue. She cannot even speak. It's like she is seeing her most beloved thing now.
"Shi…" the person says and she cannot hold her emotions anymore.
Drops of water falling from her eyes and she cannot even stop it. Her heart aches at the sight of him but at the same time, it beats for him.
"Shi, are you okay?" he asks in his soothing voice. No response. She cannot bring herself to say anything because if she did, her heart won't be able to stop her.
Realizing what is going on now, she slowly gains her composure, wipes her tears, and be the Shi Lian she is now.
"I-I am okay," she says firmly. "It's a surprise to see you. I wasn't expecting you" she is trying not to lose it.
"I know. I couldn't wait anymore after knowing that you came….so I came to see how you are" he smiles.
His smile is intoxicating. His eyes, that mesmerizing brown eyes are so dreamy that can make you fall for them; with his handsome face, his voice adds another level of sexiness in it. Shi Lian realizes that he looks different from how he used to.
"Of course he will, you are seeing him after five years!" her subconscious barks at her.
"Uhm well, I am busy at the moment so …can we….talk some other time?" she tells him hesitantly trying not to look at his eyes directly.
"You hate me that much?" he smiles weakly like he is in some pain.
"No! I-I didn't mean that way…I was-"
"Atian!" Sha Sha exclaims from behind. Mo Sha Sha is dressed in the dress that Shi Lian gave her, the outfit looks stunning on her.
The one she is wearing right now is a traditional Chinese dress which Shi Lian completed in only 4 days, investing all her time in it from day to night.
She comes towards them in a hurry. After Shi Lian left for abroad, Atian never came to the Mo mansion; it's the first time for him after the accident to step outside and come here.
"How pleasant to see you here!" she smiles at him, although she is concern about Shi Lian.
She glances at Shi Lian's face, and as she expected she is not comfortable with all these that are happening now.
"It's been a while, Sha Sha" he greets her, just like how he used to. "
When you are done, please come to the right half section of the garden" she informs her mother, avoiding his gaze on her. She runs to the spot before he can ask anything further.