In a world where people depend on relationships, bringing someone near to them or keeping them far away is the line that separates chaos and steadiness in their lives..., Once people are chosen to stay close, everything will be revealed ... their messy life, the good they want to hide, the bad they want to engrave... and... the scars of the past will start to hurt again... everything will be uncovered once you bring someone close to you. For this reason, selecting people to establish any kind of relationship, either those who will be close .. or those who will have to leave, is the most risky process of anyone's life ...
However, sometimes the more you struggle to chase away some people, fate brings them closer to you.. it's there when you start being bewildered and confused... and once your mind shakes, your whole steps will be unstable ... all your plans start to change... this is not the only problem, actually, a plan can be replaced... but what pushes people to be afraid is that at the end, it is their souls...their minds... and themselves which are going to change ... at most, people are afraid of being changed...or to change!!!
The Jun's family is so mysterious, not many people know much about them... there were even some rumors surrounding their very existence. Yet, their strong reputation, both socially and in business, had soon killed all these gossips ... the very esteemed family then started to shine and rise on the top of society... they are now one the most powerful families in the country, if not the most powerful...
This encouraged others to make every effort to be close to them... yet, for some reasons, the Jun Family started to isolate itself from other people.... and their meetings were limited to business ones ... Strangely, this did not trigger any rumors or gossips, as if none noticed the Jun's withdrawal from social events, or may be people knew that talking about it would not bring any fortune or any benefits to anyone ...
The strength of the Jun's group has always been known since its creation, its success has been known since the past...it extended during Sao Yao's occupation of the chairman position, and this strength has been kept stable and steady when Di Ray Jun took over the group... yet, since Wang Lei took over the president position, the group's benefits has extended threefold ...the group had more branches abroad.. and the stocks' price increased steadily... that's why he has been shortly given the group and became the youngest chairman in the country...
However, the unseen side of the Jun family, which the media could not uncover up to date stays mysterious. The other members of the Jun's are not known except for Di Ray Jun's family, none knows about them anything... it was rumored that Yao Sao had a younger daughter which was married to the Luo's family, she was known as the sister-in law of the chairman of the largest and the most reputable law firm... but few months of her marriage, her news have disappeared and none talked about her later... not only her... Yao Sao's wife's family disappeared at once ... one year later, his wife died too ...
Yao's cousin, Zhang Lin Jun, was running an importation company...it was successful for few years, but suddenly, it went bankrupt, nothing is reported about them ... At that time, people started to gossip that in spite of the power of the Jun's group, they could not save their cousin... it was then that the news about the Jun's started to fade away.. three months later, Wang Lei took over the presidents' position... everything was strange... and happened quickly, none had the chance to investigate deeply, when they were about to do that.. all the news have been erased... and none could uncover what happened at that time ...
The competitors tried to know more, and the paparazzi everywhere also tried many times, but not even a small mistake could be seen... in situations like these, reporters find it strange... there were no strangers who come in or out of the Jun's family... not even one... so they could not find any piece of information that can help them in deciphering this mystery.... Yet, regarding the achieved power of the Jun's, so many families try to marry their daughters to the two princes of the Jun's, either to gain the strength they need, or to find out the truth of this family. None succeeded even to get close to the external gates of the Jun's family...
Among all the families that have sent the marriage proposals, only two have been promised to consider their proposals five years ago: the Luo's and the Li's ... but the promise has been soon took back by the Jun's for unexplained reasons... later after five years, the Jun's themselves sent a marriage proposal to the Lis... for this latter, it is a tremendous honor and a great privilege for them to be proposed to by the Jun's... None knew the reasons either... but Jiao Huo believed that Sao Yao selected them based on their old days' acquaintance, little he knew about the mysterious plan plotted behind.
Wang Lei is known for his sharp mind ... but his cold character makes it difficult for any girl to get closer to him... many plans of getting him by actresses or reputed ladies of the country failed... these ladies then shifted to the Wei Jun, who was seen more as a gentleman and a polite prince. Trials also exceeded to get Yue Jun to be married to their families. Yet, all these plans have failed... it seems none has attracted the attention of anyone of the Jun's or may be something else is going on.... That's why, the Li's now are over the clouds, because the engagement offer came directly from Sao Yao; so, there is no room for the engagement to be cancelled for any reason.
Despite this, the Li's were surprised by the unnamed choice. it was easy for the Jun's to put the name of Rilla in the proposal, she is well known all around the rich families both for her beauty, background and even her hard work; but most importantly, because she already made acquaintance with the Wang Lei... the unnamed choice made the Li's confused and wanted then to secure the two Jun's princes by implying the youngest daughter Ha Nia. Albeit this, Rilla's plan shacked the initial plan and introduced Mei Mei to the Jun's. Mei who was inexistent to everyone since her birth... some people do not even know about her existence... but because of Rilla's eager to prove herself in front of her cousin Mei Mei, the Jun's now have a third choice...
For Li family members, Mei Mei now is not interested in getting married ... yet, for her, if selected, she would not refuse, because for her, a guest should obey their hosts' rules.. and the rule in the Li's dictates that daughters have to pay off their cozy life and the debt of their parents... initially, Mei Mei wanted to go along with Rilla's plan, but something has made her retreat... for some reason, she did not want to have more interaction with them during that day's dinner... she had seen something off in the Jun's eyes ... their eyes mirrored the hunger of wolves , but still controlled themselves to set up a perfect environment to start hunting... she knew that they were not just to propose for a marriage... there was a hidden intention in their minds... and because of this, she refused to go back and sprained her leg ... from one side, she could get herself out of the mud of the Jun's, and second to help Rilla achieve her goal by being selected and win against Mei... at least, that's what Rilla wanted... it is easy for Mei to gift her what she wants... because in Mei's heart, Rilla is different from her parents... for her, Rilla was never a mere cousin, but rather... a sister she needs to protect... although Rilla's jealousy, her loosie plans to trap Xiao Mei were a piece of cake for Mei... Later, Mei discovered that Rilla's only intention is to prove herself in front of her family... "she is cute" Mei Mei always says...
Rilla's plan that Mei called childish was as simple as this, pretending to be good, invite Mei to participate in the evening, show which one is better, and be selected because she deserves to be selected.. this will make her feel some kind of self-accomplishment.. in a way... Mei Mei considers herself a guest, for some reason, she considers the Li's family a temporary shelter ... and one day, she will come back to where she came from... to the place she considers home!! so, playing along with Rilla is something she should do, to pay off the debt of staying at her home, and occupying some of her space in the Li's family.
That dinner night, Mei closed up her self in her room, Sheila left, and the Li's were trying most to know what happened between the two... they even went to ask the family doctor, who said that nothing happened between them, at least when he was treating her.." the Lady asked the maid to go to the bathroom", he said while remembering what happened..."I did not notice anything strange" he added!.
Jiao Hua tried to call Sheila many times but her phone was off since that day... Dei Li was boiling out of anger; not only that Mei attended such an important event, but also, she caused trouble... she talked to her father about the mistake of introducing her to the Jun's, yet, Jiao Hua kept silent and did not answer...
After a three long days, Jiao Hua asked for a locksmith to open Xiao Mei's door, to their surprise, Mei Mei was not in her room... she has already left... the same way as seven years ago... "she did it again and left" Jiao Hua murmured ... she did not take anything... neither clothes, nor jewelry to sell them... Jiao Hua was very annoyed to the extent that none dared to talk to him... he immediately asked his assistant to send his men and look for her .."they shouldn't come back without her if they want to keep their jobs" he screamed.
Rilla was dragged out by her mother to interrogate her... in the Li's, it is known that Rilla is the closest to Xiao Mei regarding that they are in the same age, they went together to the same schools... in spite of the seven years' gap, the family thinks that Rilla is still the one that knows her best.... but Rilla said she did not know anything about her, not even her being knowledgeable about the etiquettes and so on because Mei never talks about her plans.. and never trust anyone in this house... Rilla fears her mother most... she is the one that helps her and supports her to be as successful as today.. so she rarely lies on her... she obeys her most of the times... it is just in the matter of Mei Mei, things are different.
Rilla recalls in the past day at night when she went down to the garden bellow Mei's room, she wanted to know whether Mei comes out to have some air... after watching for so long, Rilla was about to leave, but Mei called her: "Sister! aren't you tired of watching my room?"
Rilla surprised " You finally came out? I started to freeze here" she turned to her... surprisingly, Mei was wearing a black trousers and a black sweater ... her face glows under that black hoodie she puts on her head...her face was like a piece of the moon which descended to the earth....Mei easily got down through the large balcony of her room.. and went directly to Rilla. she looked in her eyes, and whispered "You won sister...You won against me.. congrats!!".. she smiled at her softly, and then pat on her head...this time, her smile is genuine... soft and her face lightens when looking deep in her sisters' eyes... "I wish you happiness dear sister... don't come back crying after your marriage, Okay!!" she turns to leave ... then she adds with a serious face: "if anyone bullies you there.. you should tell me... I will not leave anyone off if they do!!" then she leaves with the big smile on her face...but when getting far from her, her face darkened and a serious look appeared on her: "I hope I'm wrong this time!!"
Rilla wondered whether Mei was teasing her.. or speaking these words out of her good intention.. in both cases, Rilla was not annoyed... she left to her room murmuring "don't come back here again Xiao Mei... you don't belong here!!"... her eyes faintly teared up... she quickly held them back "you moron!!! moron Mei Mei" she said while leading the way to her room..
Rilla wakes up, when her mother told her that she needs to meet Wang Lei or Wei Jun again... as soon as tomorrow...since Mei Mei is not here, she will surely be the Jun's choice.. Rilla got annoyed "I won!! why would I fear her return!! she said it herself!! why would I fear!!" she thought.
The mother explained that she will asked Jiao Hua to call the Jun's to schedule a date for her tomorrow with Wang Lei... "I think the Jun's like you more with Wang.... let's just tell them to schedule this date to know each other more"... Rilla immediately accepted.. she is eager to have another date with Wang Lei since long.. while leaving, she murmured some words: "I won this time sister Mei.. but you are not her to witness it!!".
In the Next day:
Rilla was very excited ... it is very hard to have a date with chairman Wang Lei Jun... and she thought he was busy since their last date together.. at least this is what his assistant told her each time she asks him out... so this is the first time they will meet after all this time.. she prepared herself very well...the dress, the shoes, the bag; the make up...everything was well and carefully selected.. she was stunning...
Her family was as proud as always... while everyone was waiting in the living room, as the Jun's said that their son will pick her up at 11 a.m., Ha Nia walked by the living room while leading the way to her university, once seeing her sister she said sarcastically "you're stunning sister...don't frighten the Jun's prince.. he will flee." she laughed ..then she adds " but you know your aura doesn't fit the oldest son of the Jun's!! you should change your taste my dear!" ... her mother scolded her for saying such words ..and that she should be respectful to her elder sister... Ha Nia smiled superficially to her mom, and apologized to her sister.. but she believes she is not wrong.. she knows her sister well.. and she observed Wang for the whole evening that day.. she made sure that he is not interested in her sister either.. however, she could not say that freely, as her mother scolds her each time she says what she thinks... and sometimes she punishes her for that...
Although Ha Nia is her father's apple of the eye, but Han cannot speak when his wife decides something.. so both Rilla and Ha Nia find it useless to fight back... The driver then came and told her that the car is ready and she left. "if only brother Jian was here, he would definitely stop mother" she thought while leaving.
At 11, the door belt rang and the maid opened the door. Surprisingly, the one who came was Wei Jun and not Wang Lei.. Rilla 's face turned darker... Wei Jun understood immediately that the one she waited for is his brother... surprising he was not annoyed as he already knew that.
Her mother Da Ri Na and Dei Li welcomed him and invited him at home, yet he said that he will take Rilla to the date first... Rilla was obliged to obey, because for the Li's both Wei and Wang are from the Jun's, there is no difference.. although Wang is the chairman and decision maker and holds a high status in the family, but Wei Jun won't be a bad choice either. All the members of Li knew that Wang is cold and hard to please, they prefer Wei... but for Rilla, the matter is different... So while leaving, Rilla thought again of Mei words "if they bully you call me.. I won't let them off" she signs "as if I have a way to call you back, you moron!" she murmured!!
On the way to their date, Wei Jun remembers on the last night when the Li's contacted them for the date.
Sao Yao called the family, and informed them about the Li's proposal.
Wang Lei understood that the Li's want to make sure that the Jun's will not break their promise this time and the engagement will take place...
Yao Sao asked Wang if he fancied one of the Li's girls to decide of their final choice... Wang said nothing, but his bored face and eyes say it all... none of the two had caught his eyes... "the youngest one could be good to our family... but she is still young... if we wait until she grows up, she will be of no use.." Wang said coldly ... this man is so different ... his sharp eyes does not only look for the present, but also for the future... his sentences were like a decree for a business strategy not for a marriage... his calculating mind makes him scary even to his family... his serious face and his lineaments demonstrate how strong this man is... in his presence, his aura overwhelms the place... none can ignore his presence... and that's why Ha Nia said that he is a life-threatening man... none knows what he has gone through all the past years of his life ... he is not that ordinary!
Wei Jun exclaimed "but brother, you know that the marriage should take place this year, right!! otherwise..!"
Yao Sao sighed "it was all my fault, if I was careful back then, you wouldn't be facing this now!!"
Wei Jun "I think the Li's have set on the eldest daughter, her name is Rilla right?...I am going out with her tomorrow!!! although I know she aimed at brother Wang, but she is the type to not confront her family because of her desire !!" Wei explained.. he might not seem as dangerous as his brother.. but at least he is a good observer with a sharp eye... he has been well taught by Wang Lei..
"don't pressure yourself Wei Jun... I can handle this!!" Wang said with a calm demeanor and a calm voice .. a voice that makes his family feel safe and protected...
Wei looked to Wang's eyes and thought that the Jun's family was all managed by Wang, he is surely under a lot of pressure...and as a Jun's member, Wei wants to be as responsible as his brother... no!! actually, what Wei Jun wants most is to be at his brother's expectation... and to be as reliable as his brother is "I want to do this brother!! we can gain some time during this dating period, to think about another solution!!"... after a short pause " think about it brother! all we need is to be seen by the media... it is not important who is on the photos as far as it is a Jun's family member, right!!"
Wang looked with a serious face to his brother, "don't push yourself too much... as I said I can handle this!!" he said...then he looked at his grandpa: "you should not put them in danger!! although her brother Jian Li can protect them, but he is not around yet"...he pauses for a short time then he addressed his speech to his younger brother "in any case, as a gentleman, you should not let her hurt!!! if you decide to go, you are telling the world that the Jun's daughter in law is going to be from the Li's!! what if one of the two daughters of Luo's family come back!? are you going to break your promise again then? do you remember that you promised Luo Jan to protect his daughters?
Wei Jun was affected by Wang words, a sad face faintly appeared on his face... as Lua Jan was his preferred teacher, but he insisted on going at last "but you know they disappeared one year ago after their father's accident!! and none knows their whereabouts!! we can't wait anymore, right brother?!!".. after a short pause Wei added "by the way brother Wang, did you fancy anyone of the two Luo girls?!! well the question is have you met any of them? although I promised him to protect them, but I have never seen them at all!!" He added.
Wang did not answer but his face features where not the same as when he talked about the Li's girls!! he had that calm face... and those serene eyes "I did not meet anyone... but I heard about the cases the elder daughter took over, she is quite reputable in the field" he said .... then after a short pause: "Ah!! what about the third girl of the Li's?" he exclaimed...
everyone asked how come the great Wang is inquiring after a woman... "this is unusual" everyone thought...
Previously Wang asked to check her background, but his investigation did not show anything important... Li Feng and Jia Ni's daughter, the parents passed away mysteriously, and then she lived until the age of 16 with the Li family. she disappeared since her 16th birthday.. and she reappeared six months ago... no more information is found.. the Li family spread the news that she was in the hospital because of some health issues, but Wang's assistant did not find her name in any hospital... "this mysterious girls is somehow interesting" he murmured...
Wei Jun then added "if you want to know more, I would ask Rilla tomorrow!!
everyone was curious about Mei Mei, but no information exists on her... the risk of choosing her makes the Jun's hesitate: "she will not give you any information about her!! didn't you see how they treated her that day". Wang's sister -Yue Jun- intervened. "that Xian Mei is one of a kind" she murmurs... at this moment, Wang's mother enters the room with a cup of tea... upon hearing the name "Xian Mei", she drops the cup of tea, and it shattered into many pieces...
At the surprise of the crash of the glass on the ground, Sally Jin hurried to collect them... which led to injuring her fingers... her children hurried at her and hold her.. and asked 'are you okay Mom?" Sally remembers the pieces of the glass shattered in the air.. with each piece, Sally sees some fragments of her past... something seems off about her.. she sees a younger version of her... with a blurred face of another women hitting her and slapping her.. each piece of glass bears one of the hurting memories the Jun's lady had forgotten ... her frightened face made her children scared.. Wang then holds her tightly and took to the nearest sofa...
Since the dinner day, Wang's Mom -Sally Jin-, avoided to speak about the Li's ... for some reasons, her family did not push hard to know what happened... today, it was the first time she hears them talking about the Li's again... upon seeing this, Di ray asked "Dear! have you remembered something?"
Sally comes to her senses, but she shakes her head denying her remembrance of anything "just as usual... fragments from here and there!! I can't know what is it, or who is that woman in my dreams.. it...just scares me a lot!!!"
Upon hearing this, Wang's fist tightens "whomever has done this, they will pay for it threshold!! just wait and see Mom" he thought angrily!!
Sao Yao then took the chance to ask more about that day "So my dear, that day in the dinner, when you went to Miss Mei's room; did anything happen?
Sally took some time to remember .. when she went with Sheila and the doctor to see Mei, Sheila stopped them and said that her lady is very sensitive ..so she asked them to speak less and leave as soon as they finish their work... "that maid is not usual, she is so daring...and has no sense of hierarchy!!" she said!!
Wei Jun: yes! I knew it... I already told you that she acts like a lady with all the Li's members except for that Xiao Mei..." "then what about that Xian Mei mom?!! what do you think about her?" he fired off the question.
Sally smiled gently: "I like her... when I first saw her.... I felt something weird...hummm.. a gentle feeling when watching her face ... her smile is so soft to me... that's why I wanted to have a one-to-one talk with her... but she seemed different in her room!!!"
Wang then asked "did you change your mind about her?
Sally then slowly shacked her head from left to right indicating that she still likes her... "a poor girl.. her parents died when she was a baby... her family doesn't like... but still she has grown up to be as beautiful, as polite as now... she is quite tough.. I still like her despite her cold face...c..col...d." before finishing the word... she started trembling again... she recalled some fragments of that women's face... cold face... sharp eyes "run Sally Jin.. run" She sweated, her eyes widened... and her heart pounded rapidly... she wrapped her ears ... and repeatedly said "run...run... Mei"...Wang immediately called for their family doctor... and they took her to her room..
The doctor gave her some medicines to calm down.. outside her room, the doctor asked what triggered her memories... and when Di Ray told him... the doctor said that although this method might be hard and difficult and somehow hurting to the Jun's lady, but the exposition to this kind of factors may be helpful in regaining her memory again and getting better in the future.
the Jun family then decided to go with what Wei Jun suggested, and Yao Sao then decided to send the younger brother to meet Rilla, and have an open date with her... both of them have an open personality, and can open up to each other... who knows, may be their souls could meet, and fate might take place between the two for real..
Wei Jun wakes up when Rilla shook him to bring him to the present... Wei Jun apologized and asked her where does she want to go...
Rilla told him that she did not prepare any plan, so, it is up to him to decide where to go..
The Li's and the Jun's are now tied for real.... the promise between the two elders of both families turned into real fate... things might get complicated if Jian Li returns to the country... because for him, his family's safety comes first.
The date scheduled by the Li's between Rilla Li and Wang Lei Jun had been reversed... little they knew that the another fateful date will shortly take place...
>>>>>>> To be continued <<<<<<<<< < em>