Raelle could hear the hushed voices of her grandfather and Mu Chenyan even before she entered the dining room. But as soon as she strolled in, both of them ceased to talk making Raelle suspicious. Nevertheless, she wasn't inquisitive enough to probe them for answers that's why she simply trotted over to give her grandfather a kiss, "Morning!"
"Good morning!" replied Grandfather Xiang as he peeked at her with knitted brows.
Mu Chenyan also noticed Raelle's attire and frowned in confusion. She was dressed in black leather pants with a white button-down paired with a windowpane blazer and black strappy shoes. "Young Miss, you're going somewhere?"
Raelle slid into a seat beside Mu Chenyan and nodded her head, "Yup! I have a flight to catch." She opened the lid of her laptop and continued to work as she clarified offhandedly, "I've got to deal with somethings personally in Country G. But don't worry, I'll be back in no time."
"Poppet, it's Lunar New Year," reminded Grandfather Xiang.
"I know," replied Raelle. "Isn't that's why I'm leaving now?" She looked up at her grandfather and went on, "Opa, this holiday is the whole week long. Since I can't possibly revoke the public holiday here, I might as well check up on my employees elsewhere."
Grandfather Xiang exhaled a long breath, "This is the grandest traditional festival here. You have never celebrated it here. Why don't you stay and see the beauty of this festival?"
Raelle's eyes were stuck on the laptop screen as she answered, "What do people do at this festival?"
Mu Chenyan was exhilarated to hear that Raelle exhibited some interest and impatiently list down, "They have annual family reunions, make dumplings together, and then eat the grand new year meal together. Watch the new year festival show on the tv and set fireworks. Oh, and they also send or receive red packets. I even heard how youngsters have an app where they play red packet games."
"Sounds very tedious," was Raelle's candid and genuine response. Seeing how she dampened Mu Chenyan's excitement, she sighed, "Yanyan, we don't need annual family reunions. We don't have any family members other than us. We eat one meal together daily. I don't like watching tv and as for red packets... You can prepare one for me, I'll be more than happy to take it."
Mu Chenyan pressed her lips together and didn't utter another word. From the moment, Raelle mentioned how they don't have anyone else in this family, she didn't know how to continue this conservation. Because everything Raelle added was true. She couldn't even argue with any of it.
Even Grandfather Xiang didn't continue this discussion as always his granddaughter ended the conversation on 'money'. The way she always thought about money was as if she lacked it. He really didn't know what sense of accomplishment she was looking for by earning so much.
Shaking his head, he remonstrated, "Leave the laptop and eat your breakfast."
Raelle simply opened her mouth, "Ahhh..."
Mu Chenyan chuckled silently at her and put a bite of eggs into her opened mouth which she chewed with a smile and continued to work.
"Don't you have your own hands?! Let Chenyan eat as well." bellowed Grandfather Xiang.
Mu Chenyan said indulgently, "It's alright. I can eat later."
"Yanyan is the sweetest. Opa is so not sweet this morning."
"Should I arrange another blind date for you?"
Raelle almost choked on her food and putting her hands together beseeched, "No, no! There is no need for that. My Opa is the best in the whole world."
Grandfather Xiang's eyes softened in amusement. It had been four months since her last blind date and this was the longest she had gone without a blind date in the last two years. Without having to deal with those troublesome blind dates, she found her days rather more enjoyable.
Although now it had been about six months since she came to Country H, she still wasn't that accustomed to things here. Take this long public holiday for the lunar year for instance. She always heard about this festival from her grandfather and Mu Chenyan, this was her first time seeing it being celebrated.
"Good Morning, everyone!"
Raelle didn't even spare a glance to the newcomer as she informed, "You're fifteen minutes late, Cloe."
Cloe's face stiffened and she grumbled something under her breath unhappily. "I'm sorry for being late, Chief!"
"Cloe, have a seat. Did you have breakfast?" inquired Mu Chenyan.
Cloe's whole person bloomed up being faced with such warmth from Mu Chenyan. She sat down opposite Raelle and smiled at Mu Chenyan, "Thank you! I actually didn't get a chance to eat anything."
"Then eat first," Grandfather Xiang also chimed in.
Cloe almost shed tears of joy as she directed a glance towards Grandfather Xiang filled with gratefulness, "Sir, you're still as kind as ever."
"There is no need to flatter him anymore. He is not your boss any longer. I'm the one paying you now," reminded Raelle as she continued to eat the food that she was being fed. "So, if you're eager for a pay raise, try flattering me. It might work like a charm!"
Before Cloe could react to that, Grandfather Xiang asked, "Cloe, did you cry? Or you didn't sleep well last night?"
"It must be both," said Raelle. "She must be watching those chick-flicks late into the night. Must have shed some tears along with pitiful girls."
Cloe felt like her boss was personally attacking her but she couldn't even argue. Not because the latter was her boss but because she was right. Her boss really knew her inside out. It was scary how she was able to read people so well.
With a shallow laugh, Cloe said sadly, "I indeed had been watching movies because I thought I'd be lazing in my bed today till noon." Then she gave Raelle a pointed look as she went on, "But a certain someone called me an hour ago to tell me to pack my bags and get here. Being the pitiful assistant, I could only come when my boss asks me to." She even wiped a nonexistent tear saying, "What can I possibly do? It's all for my paycheck. I have to bear with it."
Raelle gave her a disdainful look before asking her grandfather, "Where did you find such a piece back then? She is so emotional and dramatic."
Grandfather Xiang narrowed his eyes saying, "I actually thought, her emotions might rub off on you but I was wrong. Very wrong!"
Raelle wasn't really surprised to hear this reply. She also knew why her grandfather had placed Cloe beside her. It was quite obvious. Cloe had the complete opposite personality. But this tactic was pretty useless though because instead of Cloe's colorful personality rubbing off on Raelle, the latter's blackened personality rubbed off on the former.
Raelle closed the lid of her laptop and took a napkin to wipe her mouth but even that was done by Mu Chenyan. Raelle of course was more than happy with that. It was pretty normal for her. From a young age, she was served everything on a gold platter. She never had to even lift her finger to get anything.
She stood up and hugged her grandfather saying, "Opa, take care of Yanyan. I know she'll take care of you so you also take care of her." Grandfather Xiang shook his head at her as he hugged her back.
"Can't you delay this visit?" asked Grandfather Xiang.
"Can't do," was Raelle's response. "The International Business Center project of ours is already in the last phase of the planning. After coming back, I have to choose the contractors and once the work begins, it'd be difficult for me to make time for anything else. So, I just want to take advantage of this holiday to settle some things back home."
Grandfather Xiang squinted his eyes at her unhappily, "This is your home now."
Raelle smiled at him, "Yes. How can I forget? My home is wherever you and Yanyan are."
"Cheeky," muttered Grandfather Xiang.
"When will you be back?" asked Mu Chenyan.
"Mmm... Not sure."
"Come back before the end of the week, we have something important to tell you."
Raelle shrugged her shoulders, not really agreeing or disagreeing. "Let's see." Then she pinched the arm of Cloe who was eating with gusto, "Get up fatso! We got work to do!"
Cloe reluctantly parted with the food while waving goodbye to Grandfather Xiang and Mu Chenyan. It was always difficult for her to leave this home, this family was so warm it made her feel lonely! Even this aloof, rough, and wild CEO of hers was very warm in her own strange way. But she'd never say it out loud.
The driver was also waiting for them outside, Cloe took the seat in the front while Raelle slid into the backseat. As soon as she settled in, she took a book and started reading it. Cloe rolled her eyes at this. Her boss had plenty of bad habits, but the one she hated the most would be; Her obsession to stay busy all the time.
The car rolled out of the circular driveway front yard and smoothly got out of the residential district. However, just as the car passed through the security check of the residential district, the car came to an abrupt halt with a screech!