Just be yourself

A warm hand took hold of hers and she glanced at Fei Huangjin uneasily. He gave her a reassuring look. "Don't be nervous. My family doesn't bite."

"If they're anything like you, I'm sure they will." She bit her lip and frowned. She suddenly realized that they only talked business on the way over, and Fei Huangjin never gave her any pep talk on what to do or what not to do when they got here. "Do I need to know anything before we go inside?"

Fei Huangjin pondered for a bit. "Just be yourself."

"Like that advise is gonna help!" She admonished.

He chuckled at her frustration and patted her head. "My grandmother is easy to please, but my grandfather may be a bit distant. Don't mind it. That's just the way it is with him. You already know Haocheng, so he's nothing to worry about."

The car slowed to a stop and she flashed him a panicked expression, similar to the one she sported in his office earlier. "And your mother?"

"Just don't mention my father and she'll be fine." His mother was still bitter over his father's treatment of her after she gave birth to them. She tried to get him to love her, but her efforts had been futile. After he'd made it clear to her that she was only a means to produce heirs, Lin Wenshun never spoke to her husband until his death.

Ying Yue nodded.

The door to Fei Huangjin's side opened, and he slid out of the car fluidly, buttoning his suit while he was at it. He waved away the maid who attempted to open Ying Yue's door, and he circled the car to open her door himself.

He took her hand and she flashed him a grateful but nervous look -- a far cry from the usually confident woman she was. She looked so adorable that he had the urge to plant a kiss on her face.

"Do we change into slippers or… ?" She whispered as they crossed the doorway.

"Keep your shoes on. Grandmother allows shoes to be worn on the ground floor." He whispered back.

Despite the masculinity of the house's exteriors, the inside décor was actually quite neutral, weighing heavily on dark brown and beige. Her eyes ran across the expensive interiors until they landed on the elegantly-dressed set of people in the living room, looking like they were on a set of a television drama.

Startled, Ying Yue tightened her grip on Fei Huangjin's arm. She couldn't help but wonder if she was actually under-dressed. The people in the room looked like they were going to a dinner party.

He immediately noticed her discomfort and moved his arm around her back, leading her gently to the living room. The pampering look in his eyes was noticed by Grandma Fei, who gasped silently in her seat.

"Huangjin." A middle-aged woman in a mint green dress stood up to greet him, but the woman's eyes were trained at the pretty girl beside him.

"Mother."

Lin Wenshun didn't say a word and just openly stared at Ying Yue with her sharp eyes. The girl looked docile and easy to bully.

Fei Huangjin frowned at his mother's behavior, and turned Ying Yue over to his grandparents instead. "Grandfather. Grandmother. I'd like you to meet Ying Yue."

Just by looking at the Fei's old master, it was clear as day that Fei Huangjin inherited his looks. They had the same strong jaw and fierce eyes. There was no mistake to it.

"Good evening, Master Fei, Madame Fei." Ying Yue put her hands together and bowed her head in greeting.

The old madame eyed her kindly and nodded. Anyone that her eldest grandchild liked, she liked, too. Besides, she was very superstitious herself, and the girl had a very auspicious nose, with hips that were adequate for birthing. It wouldn't be a problem for her to bear children for the Fei family. She chuckled.

The elder master didn't respond to her and instead narrowed his eyes at Fei Huangjin. His voice was clear and anything but calm as he called him out. "You brat. You didn't even bother to answer our calls. Do you still know what respect means?"

The younger man sighed. "I apologize, grandfather. Work has been… a little hectic recently."

Grandfather Fei stood up, gripping his cane tightly by his side. "Follow me to the study." The old man started wobbling away.

Ying Yue flashed Fei Huangjin a look that told him she didn't want to be left in the living room to herself, but he had no choice but to leave her there. He may be the future master of the Fei's, but while his grandfather was alive, the old man's word was law in this house.

A tender look crossed his face as he saw the unease on her face and he couldn't help but lower his head to leave a brief kiss on her forehead, hoping that it would be enough to reassure her for now. "I'll be back. Sit here with grandmother. Haocheng will be here soon."