Chapter-26: The Powerful Families

The Wang family, one of the five most powerful families in the country because of their automobile industries set up right after the war period by the elder Wang Jun Hie and Wang Li Jing -the grandfather and grandmother of Mu Chen respectively.

They succeeded in becoming wealthy and affluent in no time as the profits they brought contributed almost one-third of the tenth economy of the country.

Later, it was handed over to his both sons - the eldest Wang Zi Xin, and the youngest Wang Ruo Xuan who were competent enough to run the automobile industry they inherited from his father. He even established several other branch companies throughout the world making it globalised.

Wang Zi Xin (Mu Chen's father) expanded Wang's ascendency into the pharmaceutical industry with the help of his wife Wang Shi Han who was that generation's prodigy drug scientist and renowned for her accomplishments in inventing several marvel drugs.

While the youngest Wang Ruo Xuan married his lover Eu Meh who was an orphan.

His father Wang Zi Xin didn't approve of the marriage at first as he already arranged the marriage with his friend Feng Hui Fen's daughter(Xin Yi's aunt).

Thus the youngest Ruo Xuan lost his favor by going against him and marrying the poor woman.

Elder Wang started talking with him after Wang Bai Hu was born.

And the third generation heir, Wang Mu Chen who was a born genius has shown his capability to the world by owning several buildings and lands in the country at the age of fifteen growing the Wang's mark into the fields of real estate and finances making the Wangs unrivaled and the most influential.

Finally, Wang Bai Hu - a famous idol known for his out-of-the-world handsome looks has the nickname 'Genius Musician' in the entertainment industry.

He started his career as a solo artist under Li Entertainments and flourished as the heartthrob of the country in no time.

As Bai Hu was the youngest in the whole Wang family, he was spoiled by all of them even by Mu Chen.

Wang's relationship with another prominent family Fengs was deep with three generations of friendship making those two business worlds par excellence.

The two families thought to deepen their relationship even further by the marriage of their children, but as Ruo Xuan married Eu Meh it didn't happen and so they decided to marry Wang Mu Chen and Feng Xin Yi.

But unfortunately, they too couldn't do it as both of them were opposed to the idea of marriage and wanted to just stay friends forever.

That was how the planned engagement ceremony was canceled.

The other reason for breaking the pre-determined engagement between Mu Chen and Xin Yi was because of Bai Hu.

As he had been in love with Xin Yi since his childhood and when Bai Hu proposed he accepted it readily and they became lovers even though they met frequently due to Bai Hu's tight schedule as an idol they never missed calling each other every night.

That was how Mu Chen escaped the wrath of his grandfather and everyone agreed to the relationship of Bai Hu and Xin Yi but didn't make it official yet as their youngest was an idol and fooled the media making them think that Mu Chen and Xin Yi were still engaged.

Then there came a proposal of marriage from the Li family to the Wangs in the meantime giving a breather to Mu Chen from his grandfather's search for his marriage partner.

Li family, -the formidable one among the five great families in the country. Their ancestors were known to be from King's family who ruled over for a long time. Thus had long-standing and were proclaimed to be diamond spoons.

They have a strong footing in the entertainment industry and politics of the country.

The elders of the Li family, Li Yu Ze and Li Yi Ran were known for being the greatest politicians of the century and also for being romantic even in their eighties.

Their only son Li Zhao Yang chief judge in the supreme people's court was a respectable person in the country and known for his uprightness.

But he was also famous for his epic love story with his wife Li Xia Dan who was the famous top actress at that time.

It was an understatement to say that the whole country cheered for their love and blessed their marriage.

Their eldest daughter Li Hui Ying, just like the meaning of her name clever beauty, a prodigous business woman, currently taking care of Li's business in the Europe branch.

Their youngest son Li Feng Mian despite having the reputation of a philanderer, his skills in the business world were unparalleled to none except his only friend Wang Mu Chen with whom he became a business partner at the age of fifteen.

All these prominent figures were having a small party of the youngest generation or we could also call it an unofficial meeting of the eldest generation in the Wang family's farmhouse located at the outskirts of S city.

At first, it was just a causal families meeting over a dinner between Wangs, their branch family Caos(maternal family of Mu Chen's mother Shi Han), and Lis, their branch family Qis(maternal family of Feng Mian's mother Xia Dan) to discuss the marriage between Qi Li Fan and Cao Shen Yu.

But due to the recent uproar over the secret engagement between Wang Mu Chen and Song Xiao Bo, it became a small-sized party between the three powerful families of the country, the Wangs, the Fengs, the Lis, and their branch families Caos and Qis.

Song's family was invited to it as a guest. Wang Mu Chen as promised called Song Yi Ming to inform him about the party and then asked him to refrain from asking Xiao Bo to go home as he was planning to go on dates with his youngest son.

Greedy Song Yi Ming immediately agreed to it.

Xiao Bo was relieved and grateful for the elder's help. The week passed by in a blink of an eye and the day of the party arrived.

The Wang's farmhouse was filled with noises of the servants moving here and there hurriedly to complete their given task by the time of sunset when the guests start to arrive one by one.

Later in the evening, almost all the guests had arrived roughly and were chatting with each other about business while having sips of the cocktails and enjoying the starters in the lawn.

"WHAT THE HELL??"

A loud noise coming from the inside broke the peaceful atmosphere and grabbed the attention of everyone outside on the lawn.

Inside, Cao Shen Yu's corners of eyes were glossy.

His face was flushed and he was looking at his parents furiously that the smoke was coming out of his ears.

Let's rewind to know what happened. A few hours before the start of the party, Xin Yi, Shen Yu, and Xiao Bo were getting ready for the party in their dorm room.

Mu Chen arrived there to pick up the three of them.

As soon as his eyes landed upon Xiao Bo who was looking ethereal in his Dior men's white loose shirt with a deep V neck and above it the black wool jacket with Marini flower brooch, straight cut pants tightened with Saint Laurent's monogram belt.

He wore a few accessories such as Louis Vuitton's pendant chain LV turquoise necklace and look it black bracelet on his left hand.

He was looking simple yet elegant that Mu Chen was charmed by his beauty.

Xiao Bo's face instantly turned bright red by the elder's stares. He covered his warm cheeks with his palms and looked at his friends,

"I am looking weird in this, right? I told you I don't want to wear all this-"

He was cut off by Xin Yi, "Even though it's a normal gathering between families, you are the star of the evening. You have to look decent to make a good impression on everyone, especially Mu Gege's grandfather."

"S-Star...of the evening? Me?"

Xiao Bo's muscles tensed upon hearing it. He plopped on his bed,

"Can I not go?" He looked at Mu Chen with pleading eyes.

But Mu Chen couldn't hear what the younger was saying as his eyes were ravishing the exposed collar bones of Xiao Bo which became more evident as he sat.

He gulped his saliva and cleared his throat looking away,

"Don't you think the neck is too deep?" He pointed at Xiao Bo.

The younger looked down and immediately covered his exposed upper chest becoming bashful,

"I think so too. But this Shen Yu isn't listening to me. I am looking weird in it...I know. It doesn't suit me."

Mu Chen turned to face him and blurted out,

"No, it's not weird, you are looking pretty in it."

Xiao Bo was stunned to hear praise from the elder's mouth.

If he was tomato red before, now he was totally in the dark red shade of a beetroot.

Shen Yu and Xin Yi looked at each other and at them with a teasing smile.

"I never knew Mu Gege knew how to compliment anyone. It's like a miracle," Xin Yi commented.

"I know right? And it will be so good if he doesn't say 'You're looking pretty in it' with such a straight face. Gege, how about you put some expression on that stone face of yours, huh?" Shen Yu imitated the elder.

Mu Chen glowered at his cousin who shut his mouth instantly.

"Mu Gege, stop scaring him. He is right, if you don't show any expression your face will become stoned permanently, I am telling you," Xin Yi stated.

"Not you too, YiYi," Mu Chen sighed defeatedly.

Xiao Bo blinked his eyes in confusion...

>>>But in my past life he used to smile heartfully whenever he talked with Xin Yi...and how can I forget the disdainful expression on his face whenever he saw me...

>>>He wasn't a stone-faced person. Maybe because he isn't in love yet in this life... that's why...

"We are just stating the facts, Gege."

Shen Yu giggled having fun teasing his elder brother.

Mu Chen rolled his eyes, "Whatever. Come down after you finish, I will be waiting in the parking lot." That said he left the room after taking a quick glance at the Younger who was looking at him with big doe eyes.

>>>He looked just like a rabbit with those reddish cheeks and sparkling eyes.

The corner of his lips deepened into his cheeks as he remembered the Younger's surprised blushy face.

Soon after, the three of them came down to their dorm and walked towards the parking lot.

"Yuyu, didn't your roommate come back yet?"

Xin Yi asked getting curious cause Shen Yu had been sleeping in their room for the past five days as he was scared to sleep alone.

"No, he is attending the classes but isn't coming to the room. The last time I was about to yell at him to come back to the room but he was in a hurry to leave the University. Maybe he is busy with something," Shen Yu answered.

Xiao Bo wasn't paying attention to their conversation at all as his entire focus was on Mu Chen who was standing a few meters from them leaning to the side of the car with his hands in his pockets looking ever so handsome.

Just then he was startled by a kitten that crossed their path.

It meowed seeing Xiao Bo who looked terrified seeing the feline.

"Aww so cute, did you get lost, little kitty?" Shen Yu crouched down and petted it.

"It seems so. I saw a cat that lives behind the dorm which was pregnant a few days ago. Maybe it is one of its litter. Let's take it back," Xin Yi suggested.

But hearing Xin Yi, the younger became even more scared.

His body was visibly shaking, as he felt suffocated and breathless.

He stepped back holding his chest trying to breathe,

His mind was wandering around the words,

...Pregnant cat...

...Kittens...

Xiao Bo felt dizzy. He started hyperventilating.

*****