35 Chapter Thirty Five

Driver Yang bows low in the direction of the girl walking towards the car, a satisfied smile on her face and a bit of a skip in her step. The man was respectful and polite, not daring to ask her why she was smiling so wickedly. "Miss Zhou, the old master has requested you to come back to the main house. It seems that young master Liang is looking for you." The girl pauses in step and glares at him irritably seeming to shift gears too fast for a normal person to process.

"Why did you only tell me this now? Liang Zhong Zemin is an important person to me." Driver Yang gingerly opens the door for her while feeling as if she was forcing him to walk on thin ropes. As the girl settles in the back of the car he explains carefully and patiently. "I had just gotten off the phone with housekeeper Shuang and was about to bring the news to you. But miss came out before I could go report this." Zhou Hua Fan waves her hand at him impatiently not having any patience for his explanation. "Alright alright. Let's go back before grandfather eats the young master Liang alive." Driver Yang shuts the door and sighs only for a second before hurrying towards the driver seat.

Hua Fan took her time walking up the front steps towards the door as if she was in no rush and the girl who snappishly told Driver Yang to drive faster was not her. When Shuang Hui Ning opens the door for her she brings a finger up to her lips mischievously. His smile deepens upon seeing her actions. The maids quietly take off her layer of fur and shoes while she smiles naughtily at the housekeeper. "Housekeeper Shuang is here to welcome me? Did grandfather send you out to stop me from going up to the study or to warn him of my arrival?" Hui Ning chuckles and took her coat from a maid's arms to hang up expertly. "If young miss wishes for this humble one to answer then I will have to disappoint you. The old master has my utmost loyalty and support." She gave him a subtle look of discontent while sighing dramatically.

"What a spoilsport. Then at least tell me if I should go change or not before interrupting their talk." The old housekeeper finally gave her a genuine smile. "If you wish to be betrothed to the young master then please do not interrupt their meeting." Without much thought, Hua Fan strolls up the stairs toward her grandfather's study with a small purse of her lips. Hui Ning chuckles to himself finding her actions quite childish. So, she really is still a child when she wants. She knocks on the door politely "Who?" Her grandfather's voice was cold and unwelcoming. Clearly whatever he was talking about with Zhong Zemin was rather serious.

But that was why Hua Fan needed to interrupt them in the first place. "Ye Ye." She says sweetly, the complete opposite of his own tone. "-I've arrived." Instantly her grandfather answers her with a more gentle attitude. "Mm, enter." Hua Fan smiles warmly at the old man as soon as she enters the study. Zhong Zemin was sitting on the sofa with a stiff expression and nods at her robotically. She crosses the room without much thought not bothering to acknowledge Zong Zemin quite yet. Childishly taking her grandfather's arm Hua Fan greets Zhou Jian Kong warmly. "Ye Ye I'm home!"

Jian Kong's entire countenance softens hearing her honey-like voice. "Mn, was the gathering to your liking?" Hua Fan crinkles her nose lightly "Ye Ye I have found out today that those types of invitations need to be filtered more thoroughly in the future." The old man's frown became a gentle look and his eyes held amusement. He happily spoils the girl further without asking her to explain the reason why. From the way she looked, he knew his granddaughter was not the one who suffered a loss today. "Is that so? Should I arrange for Ning to sort through your invitations from now on as well?" Hua Fan declines his help "No need. I will have someone coming in to help me in a few days."

He rose a brow with slight interest "An assistant?" She doesn't shoot down his guess and instead changes the subject to avoid having to lie to him. Finally turning her head over to look at Zhong Zemin, Hua Fan scrutinizes his face carefully. He didn't fidget under both of their stares or cower away but his back became straighter instead. She could see that he was thinner since the last time she saw him. Though he came every other day to tutor her during the holidays he had taken a break four days ago. She had assumed he was going to settle their deal before the end of the year and she was right it seems. Although they were not close they did bond a bit during her lessons. His face was gaunt and his eyes were a bit more empty compared to before at least. He must have told his family.

His clothes were sort of, dirty, and he had nothing on him except a book or two on the coffee table. And even from this far, she could see the books were also in bad condition. Some pages even hung out limp and loosely from their spots. This was within her expectations since she knew the future of course but to see it for herself. Her lips purse as a murderous thought flashed in her eyes for a second. They truly cut off ties with him, didn't they? Hua Fan's heart softens after fully taking in his pathetic appearance. So instead of making fun of him as a welcome, she turns back to her grandfather to pull at his sleeve. Hua Fan flutters her lashes and does her best to look charming and innocent. "Ye Ye~, I haven't seen brother Liang in days and wish to catch up with my studies. Can we arrange a room for him?"

Zhong Zemin lowers his head so they could not see his face. But from the corner of her vision, she saw his hands forming into fists on top of his knees. Jian Kong also looks over Zhong Zemin for a second before giving his consent. His aura became more tolerable and gentle in her presence. The old man does not sigh but his tone was a bit exhausted "If that is what you wish, I will have Ning rearrange the room two doors down from yours. For now," He felt a twinge of sympathy for the young man and lowers the pressure in his words. "-for now, brings him to the guest room. Ning will bring him a change of clothes." Zhong Zemin lowers his head further toward the two.

"Thank you, Chairman Zhou." His voice did not shake with emotions but they could hear the sincerity in his thanks. Jian Kong removes his gaze as he returns to his paperwork. "It is not me you should thank." Hua Fan didn't wait for him to thank her and she quickly plants a shy but appreciative kiss on her grandfather's cheek before hurriedly pulling Zhong Zemin out. Before her grandfather could change his mind and she would have to resort to more shameless methods. "I will show you the way! Hurry up you're slower than a turtle, don't drag your feet!" Only when the study door closed did Jian Kong smile to himself and chuckle lightly.