Meeting the Cheng Family

"Mr. Cruz, we're here. This way please."

Luka Cheng said gesturing for Alex to follow him to an elevator marked 'PRIVATE ACCESS'. With his fingerprint and iris scan, the elevator opened and an animated voice welcomed Luka Cheng by name. Only the three of them, Alex, Luka and Zoey went up. 

Zoey maintained her eyes on Alex, and maintained a close distance with Alex. As for Luka Cheng, he had millions of questions. However, Alex had kept quiet on their journey through Taguig city ,closing his eyes in a relaxed manner. Luka thought he was cultivating intriguing him even more, while Zoey thought the guy was shy and was doing that to avoid her closeness and that broke her will to persist.

If they knew Alex was watching a drone footage of his island, they would be surprised.

With a ding sound, the elevator opened in the thirty seventh floor, where the whole Cheng family was waiting in the corridor as if they were waiting for their ancestor's decent and were ready to offer their filial piety.

When Alex saw this, he was shocked from within but maintained a cool posture.

"Grandma, grandpa. We're here. This is Mr. Cruz."

Zoey ran to her grandparents holding their hands happily to introduce the young man. Just like her, the whole family was stunned at how cute Alex was. No one thought he was handsome. Everyone thought of cuteness and pretty. The pictures they had from the video call in the hospital two days ago did not portray this level of beauty.

After being stunned for a while, they all cupped their hands Chinese style and greeted Alex. Alex who had studied in Taiwan was very familiar with many cultures in Asia, not to mention he had absorbed several people's essence from the Cheng family.

"Good afternoon Mr. Cruz. We finally get to formerly meet you. It is a pleasure to have you visit our humble abode."

The old Aiden Cheng was the first to greet Alex.

Before Alex could answer, Zoey introduced everyone in a line following the order of seniority.

"Mr. Cruz, this is my grandpa, Aiden Cheng."

"Oh, so its Mr. Cheng senior. I have heard a lot about you. Thank you for having you."

Alex said politely offering his hand for a handshake.

"Haha. Its an honor for this man to have you here. "

As the two shook hands, Alex secretly felt the pulse of the old man, and was surprised how healthy he was. 

"And this is grandma. Cecilia Cheng."

"Mrs. Cheng. Its my honor to finally get a chance to taste your very popular delicacies. "

Alex said humbly offering his hand for a handshake. Grandma Cheng was taken aback by Alex's words, and then looked at Zoey who was sticking her tongue out playfully.

"Haha. Then you will have to be ready for a few servings of my humble creations. "

The old woman who was not as healthy as her husband said grinning from ear to ear. 

"Then I won't hold back later Mrs. Cheng."

"This is my mom and Dad Mr. Cruz. Alicia Cheng and Henry Han."

Zoey continued with her self appointed task.

"Mr. Cruz, thank you for saving my baby. I am forever grateful to you." Alicia Cheng said genuinely.

"That's right. Whatever requests you have, if I Henry Han can fulfil them, I will go all out for your live saving grace." The middle aged man with the temperament of a political leader said holding his hand up, a habit he had developed from talking in many political rallies.

"It is my pleasure to meet you both. As of saving your daughter, this is what everyone should do. Don't take it so seriously."

Alex said dismissively, surprising everyone. This was the Cheng family and just any one of these people can make his life carefree for the rest of his life, and he is dismissing such a good opportunity?

"Mr. Cruz, to you it may have been a simple matter, but to us Cheng family, this is a huge gift that we have know idea how to repay. If we fail to settle this account, it will be hard to have peace in the future. Even if you want one of our daughters for a wife, we have no issues."

The old man Aiden Cheng said calmly, evidently putting Alex in an awkward position. Nobody disagreed, especially Zoey who was looking at Alex expectantly with a blushed face.

"This…can this be discussed after settling our stomachs?" Alex said disappointing Zoey who did not even get a glance from Alex.

"Haha, of course. Of course." The old man laughed stroking his beards in approval of the young man. 

He admired Alex a lot at this time. He was not impulsive, rude or flattering. He had expected Alex to be fawning over them or cower in the face of the Cheng family, but Alex seemed like one accustomed to this kind of life. He was composed from the very beginning, as calm as an old dog.

"Mr. Cruz, this is my eldest uncle, Jean Cheng." He is a three star general in Chinese air force. "

"So its Mr. Cheng . It is a pleasure to meet you." Alex shook the course powerful hand of the grinning man in a military cut. 

"Mr. Cruz, the pleasure is all mine. Haha. I like you Mr. Cruz. Lets be friends from now on. What do you think?"

Jean Cheng said as he increased some pressure in his grip testing Alex's strength. After seeing how Alex had dismantled a pistol in the hospital, he had been very curious about Alex. This was the best chance to test his grip, and offer his friendship. He did save their family a lot of heart and headaches after all.

After increasing some pleasure, he saw no pained expression on Alex's face and he continued increasing slowly by slowly until he used his full strength. From that, Alex could tell the guy was already at the level of 'The Twins' , even more powerful than the shadow rangers of the Black Rose cartel.

The grin on Jeans face just now had already disappeared and was replaced by surprise. Just as his thoughts were racing, he felt a severe pain in his knuckles as Alex used a little strength, mumbling his gratitude to his offer of friendship.

He quickly hid his pained expression, and only Bruno Cheng near him and Luka Cheng noticed it, surprising the two greatly. In terms of strength and martial prowess, Bruno Cheng was the strongest in the Cheng family followed by Jean Cheng who was battle tested and had ample experience. And just now a kid who was still green behind his ears was besting him?

From the moment Alex entered the building parking lot, he could tell there were two people with spiritual energy in the building. Jean Cheng and Bruno Cheng. However, just like his younger brother Luka Cheng, Jean Cheng had too little spiritual energy, less than ten percent of what Bruno Cheng had. 

Despite that fact , that little spiritual energy earned him the title of God of War in the Chinese military, commanding even more respect than his superior who was a full general, but inferior to Jean in terms of battle prowess.

When Zoey saw Alex shaking his uncle's hand for a longer time than the rest, she was jealous and started having weird thoughts.

"Does Mr. Cruz has interest in men instead? " The more she thought about it, the more it seemed more probable.

Finally releasing Jean's hand that was left numb and pale, Zoey introduced Bruno Cheng next. In all the people here, this is the person Alex was most interested in.

"Mr. Cruz, this is our butler and also the supreme head of security in our Cheng family. Bruno Cheng."

Zoey said hoping they would not prolong their hand shake, but she was wrong.