12 Li Family Reacts

"I'm Khalil. I used to babysit you."

Yiheng wondered if he heard the right thing or he just had bad hearing. As for the one who said it, Khalil, he only smirked at the confused expression of Yiheng.

"That's normal. You were very young when we last saw each other. I think you were six or seven that time."

Yiheng could only glance at his father who only gave him a nod return.

"What's going on?"

"Food's here!" Qianhao announced and walked out of the kitchen.

Andrea snapped her fingers and the chips and cans in the coffee table all vanished. To Yiheng, being shocked was an understatement! Something just disappeared right before his very eyes!

"But- How- How did that happen?" Yiheng stuttered.

Andrea only smiled. She glanced at the couple who looked unimpressed. Khalil apparently used his powers a lot in front of them.

"You have a lot of things to know, Xiao Heng." Khalil said. Yiheng couldn't help but wince at the name. Somehow, he found it familiar. "So, Weixian, Qianhao and Yiheng, this is Andrea, but at the duration of her stay with your family, she will be known as Xueyue."

"Why did I even agree with such a complicated name?" she grumbled to herself and then flashed a smile to the trio. "Hello. Please take care of me on the duration of my stay."

Weixian stood up and shook Andrea's hand. Qianhao did the same. Meanwhile, Yiheng just stood agape.

"Time out! Can somebody tell me what the hell is going on?" Yiheng exclaimed.

"Ah, I think we broke him." Andrea commented in a whisper.

"Xiao Wei." Khalil motioned for the father to head to his son and explain.

"Son, let me tell you the secret our family have been keeping for a long time." he pointed at Khalil. "He is Khalil. He helped our ancestors establish the Li Family and start our business."

"Ha? But-"

"I'm not human Xiao Heng. If you think of it that way, it's usually easier to swallow." Khalil said.

"Not human? Then- then what are you?"

"I'm a demon." he answered with a smile. "Andrea as well. Well, sort of."

"What he said." Weixian added. "He has been helping our family in the shadows since a long time ago. And the girl beside him is your new sister."

"Sis-sister?!"

"Hello. I am Andrea. And starting today, I am Li Xueyue, your younger half-sister. Even though I'm a demon, I don't have appetite for humans, okay?"

"Son, there are things out there that is considered impossible. Khalil and Andrea are one of those."

"So, our family had always been involved with demons?" asked Yiheng.

"Yes, but I'd appreciate it if you keep mum about it as well." answered Khalil. But all of a sudden his expression changed to that of a dangerous one. "But if you can't keep your mouth shut, I suppose I don't have to tell you what will happen, right?"

Yiheng swallowed the non-existent lump on his throat. He glanced at the other people around the room. He looked at his parents who were trying not to look in his eyes and then to Andrea who was only staring at Khalil with an expression of disbelief. All of a sudden, Andrea hit Khalil in the head.

"Ow! What was that for?" complained Khalil who was massaging the part of his head where he was hit.

"Stop scaring my new brother." she sneered. "I don't think he's a person who can be intimidated by that kind of thing."

"Ha? Wait, your choice of words is strange."

"Stand aside."

Andrea sat next to Yiheng who only stiffened in fear.

"Don't be afraid, I told you, I'm not going to eat you... or harm you. We're nice demons, okay? Khalil and I are not the kind of demons you read from fairy tales." she flashed a sweet smile. "Truth be told, we just want to be part of society and lead our lives. I hope you wouldn't mind if I use the Li family name for quite some time. Don't worry, I'll protect it with all my might."

Weixian looked nervously at the conversation between Andrea and his son. Her words seemed to convince him and he was thankful for that.

"Then, you won't hurt my family right?"

"Unless they hurt me first, but yes, I won't."

Yiheng felt a little relieved. Although he couldn't completely trust a demon's word, he didn't have a choice. And besides, the demon Andrea seemed to be very nice.

The family of three left a few minutes later. Khalil reminded the couple to tell Yiheng about the other Li Family secret as well, which puzzled Andrea. Once their car was out of sight, she took this chance to ask Khalil about it.

"Ah, that. The Li Family actually manages the shadow operation I set up."

"What shadow operation?"

"An intelligence network. A man has to have one. It operates in the shadows and the Li Family manages the East China Area."

"An intelligence network at your disposal?"

"Yep."

"That's Riai'a forte though." she commented.

"Don't remind me. Anyway, you can use it however you wish."

"Okay."

The next week, Andrea was officially introduced to the rest of the Li Family. To say that it was eventful was an understatement.

The Li's was a family of six members; a father, a mother, three sons and one daughter. Yiheng was the eldest child and had just entered university in the Business Department to prepare himself as his father's successor. The second child, Erhua, was the only girl in the family. She was gifted with arts, specifically at drawing, and had made a name for herself at a young age. She would enter senior high school in the new school year together with her younger twin brother, Sanhao. The third child, Sanhao, was an excellent pianist but he was a little timid, unlike his confident twin. The youngest child, Simeng, was eight. But he was a little mature for his age. Then entered Andrea, no Xueyue, who was apparently Weixian's daughter from another woman.

"Dad, what is the meaning of this?" asked Erhua who was a little miffed at the bomb her father just dropped on them.

"It means what it means Erhua. Xueyue had been staying in New Zealand all these years. Her mother died a few months ago and there's no one to take care of her. I already discussed this with your mother and with Yiheng."

"Don't you think you should discuss it with us as well?" she asked again, her voice a little louder than her previous statement. "You can't just-"

"Calm down Huahua." whispered Sanhao who was trying to get her back on her seat.

"Shut up." she sneered. "I will never accept her."

"That's not for you to decide." said Yiheng. "You should control that temper of yours Erhua."

Li Erhua is a talented girl, but she has a short temper. It would flare at the slightest disagreement of her opinion. But looking at the situation, who wouldn't be mad? Her father had been hiding a mistress and an illegitimate child! She turned to the newcomer who was only watching with a neutral expression.

"You, I will never accept you!"

"You don't have to." Xueyue replied, sounding calm. "Don't worry, I don't have plans on playing family with you guys. I only need a family name I can use. And since my mother's dead and I'm a minor, I need a guardian as well, even if it's just in name. You can keep the image of a perfect family by yourselves."

Xueyue couldn't help but sigh. So much for first impression.