The Feud Between Us

Shi Yen walked into the house, watching as Yuan Shun fed Shizi. He was sitting on the floor, right next to her, watching her eat from her bowl.

Shi Yen rolled her eyes and chuckled. Yuan Shun then stood up immediately once he saw her, taking slow and skillful steps towards her. He scooped her waist with his outstretched hand, dragging his lips across hers.

"Mhmmm," Shi Yen muttered against his mouth, kissing him back breathlessly. She panted wide-open and dazed when Yuan Shun left her mouth. He grinned, gripping her waist.

"I made dinner," he said.

Shi Yen leaned against his form, embracing him. "You're very cute when you're trying to impress me."

"Is it obvious?" he asked.

Shi Yen chuckled.

"Come," he said, taking her to the dining room. Shi Yen held his hand as he led her to the dining room area. She had never used it for obvious reasons, but he had transformed the table, filling it with her favourite foods and desserts.

Damn. She really wasn't used to this. Shi Yen wasn't used to someone constantly surprising her, and she didn't expect Yuan Shun to be the romantic type, and he very much was.

He had sat her down gently on a seat and pushed her chair in slightly.

"What's all of this for?" she asked, smiling.

Yuan Shun poured her a glass of wine, and he offered it to her. Shi Yen took it, and they clinked their glasses. He drank some, not taking his eyes off her.

"Can't I do something nice for you?" he teased, taking one of her hands and running a thumb idly over her skin.

Shi Yen's eyes widened, and she blushed. "I didn't expect it," she said. "This is all new for me."

"This is new for me, too," he replied. "But I want to show you how serious I am about you."

Shi Yen reddened, contemplating his words. "If you're serious about me, would you tell me the truth to anything I ask?"

Yuan Shun grinned. "I would," he replied honestly.

Shi Yen bit down her lower lip. She wanted to bring up the topic of his brother, but why would she? It would force him to remember a time he most likely wanted to forget, and it'd be cruel of her to do that just because she wanted him to prove himself.

"Can you tell me how you were able to undermine my father?"

Yuan Shun stilled. He appeared to be torn. "Do you really want to know?" he asked.

Shi Yen nodded and smiled. "I want to know how a man like you was able to beat someone as powerful as Shi Yan."

Yuan Shun threw her a small sideways grin. He poured himself another glass of wine. "It was simple, really," he said, taking a sip. "My brother owned the bank at the time, but I was the one who had proposed an idea. I knew that Shi Group was trying to sabotage the bank. I don't know how Shi Group did it, but you guys managed to steal the personal information of our clients, hacking into their accounts, pouring out distrust. The reputation of the bank had started to diminish when our clients asked to end our contracts. People had begun to join with our competitors. But I noticed when it had started, as it was a small amount at first, and not yet a scandal…"

He paused, contemplating what he was going to say next. "I traced it back to Shi Group and I knew what they were doing, so I had contacted your father, who was oblivious of what I already knew. He told me he wanted to start a bank with his company, so I offered him a deal. I told him that we would collaborate together. I offered him advice to invest in subprime mortgages and to offer loans with the money he already had. In exchange, he offered me a partnership with Shi Group. Of course, I said yes. Then when he invested, the values of those assets have become zero—of no value. He failed, and many of his other competitors took it as an opportunity to hit Shi Group altogether after I did until it collapsed altogether. Your father was then forced to file for bankruptcy, and since it was tied with Yuan Bank, we took everything."

Yuan Shun stopped, and he didn't look at Shi Yen after he had finished speaking.

Shi Yen shivered. The man in front of her had schemed to get to where he was, but it was her father that had started the feud. Yuan Shun took everything she was promised, and yet she wasn't angry about it anymore. It was smart of him to do what he did.

She ran a finger over the rim of her wine glass, propping her chin with an elbow resting on the table. "You're one calculative person. It's why I hated you for so long, but not for the reason you think. I envied you. I wanted to be you," she admitted, and Yuan Shun appeared to be disheartened when he heard her say it. "But, I like that side of you, the side that thinks ahead, that doesn't care about hurting people when it comes to protecting those you care about. When you did what you did, who were you doing it for?"

"My brother," he replied. "My sister and mother, for anyone that would have been affected if I didn't act."

Shi Yen smiled. "That's honourable," she said. "But I wonder about now. What about me? Would you protect me if I ever needed it?"

He faced her directly. He would gladly give his life for her. "I would do anything to protect you, Yen. We didn't know each other years ago, and we were forced to be divided because of our family feuds and turmoil. But, Yen, if I had known you…"

"I know," she replied, cutting in. If he had known her before, then none of this would have happened. But she didn't want to think about the what if's. "I believe you. Thank you for telling me."

Yuan Shun looked at her torn as if he couldn't quite forgive himself.

They both then ate their meals, and Shi Yen updated him about her meeting with Long Jie. She raised his spirits by telling him how happy she was to have returned to the team.

After they finished, Yuan Shun went back to his side of the house, and Shi Yen went to her room. She washed up and placed on a sheer white nightgown. She took Shizi to bed with her, and she scrolled through her phone, reading about articles written about her.

Shi Yen had been receiving a lot more attention, and it gave her some anxiety. But there was no way that she could give anything away with her past even if her face was plastered everywhere. She was careful about every move she made, and she did very well to hide her tattoo, even from all of her friends.

Shi Yen slid her hand under the back of her hair, over the nape of her neck. Her hand grazed over the ink of a Lion.