unveiled Countenance, let the world see your true self:

Wealthy families, when being on a tip of bankruptcy, or at least having troubles in business, tend to sacrifice their children... They might not mean it literally, but in a way, it seems that way.

Pushing their children, either boys or girls, to establish strong relationships in order to keep being rich... Regardless of whether these children want these relationships or not, it is believed to be one of the traditions of rich families...parents think that it is the best gift they can give their children... Maintaining their social status is the best thing they can do for them...

From another side, accepting this fact is a must for the new generation..why? because this is a recognition and acknowledgement of the efforts of their parents and families who spared no effort, and who gave their all to prepare this comfortable life to them.. this generation then must pay for this cozy life they're having now...

Li family is no different... although their business is stable, grandfather Jiao Hua Li, thinks that this tradition should be kept and valued. That's why he sees that three granddaughters and grandson should be married to strong families.

"Rilla is a kind, wise and beautiful... Her chances of getting into a very wealthy family are high, The same applies for Ha Nia although she is still young.. both Rilla and Ha Nia are well educated..the wealthy families' principles have been well planted in their heads, So Jiao Hua has good expectations for their future..

Jian Li is a man now... He is pursuing his PhD. Studies in business abroad, and coming back soon... Physically, he is one of the most handsome young man in the country. Before..., when he was in the country, many famous fashion magazines asked him to be on their covers. he was quite famous...! So there were no worries from this side.. ..his intellect is for sure known to anyone..as he is a known businessman along his father Han Li and his legendary grandfather Jiao Hua"

However, Grandfather Jiao Hua's worries are all focused on Xiao Mei... Although her extreme beauty might attract the wealthiest men, her character is not that attractive, nor are her manners..

It has only been six months since she came back to the Li family after an absence of seven years..When she was 16, she left home without anyone's consent or knowledge... She just left without any reason... Until six months ago, she came back without any reason .. saying she had nowhere to go!! She said she went abroad as she wanted to study literature.. she became a bookworm, living between the shelves of the mansion's library!!

Although her manners are lacking... She still obeys orders, or at least makes efforts to do that. Yet, she never tries to refine her relationship with the others... She keeps smiling to them with that kind smile...and that's all... When happy, she keeps reciting quotes from books!! When angry, sad, annoyed.. and all her moods are expressed by quotes.. we don't know whether she is complementing or insulting us... It is really hard to understand her. " Said Jiao Hua, who was sitting in his house office ... He looks at a shelve of the library in the office with sad eyes.. but quickly changes to a stern gaze...

SOMEWHERE ELSE:

In the large green fields, alongside a small river, Xiao Mei was riding her white, and tall horse.. fastening from time to time and slowering in other times to enjoy the beautiful landscapes she passes by... At the view of the highest mountains, she stops and descends from the horse... She fixes her eyes on the sky.. and smiles sarcastically: " Jia Jia" she said to the horse with a soft voice: "Look .. I smell a storm coming.. we should go back home." .. she keeps silent a bit then adds: "Jia Jia! If you are tired ..we can still wait a bit!! " ..the horse neighed as if telling her to hurry home... She has been scolded many times... Mei led the way back on her feet..as she thought Jia Jia might feel tired because of the long ride... When reaching half of the way, when the sun was close to set...And as the golden rays of sunlight brushed the green grass, creating a tapestry of light and shadow that signalled the approaching evening over the fields, the scene unveiled itself in a mesmerising landscape... It was then that Mei Mei rode Jia Jia again to arrive home before the sunset, as her grandpa asked her...

When Mei reached a small hill close to her family's farms, three extravergently elegant cars passed by her... Mei's heart sank with the knowledge that her tardiness would once again draw her family's ire, especially with the imminent arrival of distinguished guests... but she decided to go faster as Jia JIia had already taken her rest a while ago....

In one of the cars, there was a driver wearing a black suit with serious looks... behind, there was an elegant middle aged woman with very expensive clothes, a handbag, and expensive accessories. Just next to her, there was a very handsome young man, with tall legs, black hair, and honey-coloured eyes.. his suit is very expensive as it seems well tailored to fit his body... his watch only might cost the whole Li family's mansion.. his stern looks and stern composure may lead anyone seeing him to think that he's a villain... his gazes became hotter when watching the green fields... yet his eyelids did not blink once for them... at the sight of the small hill close to Li Family, the man fixed his eyes on that horse rider for a while... his eyelids blinked handsomely when his phone vibrated.

Before answering the phone, he took another glance at the mesmerising hill view, a very soft smile that anyone could barely recognise appeared on his lips... Yet, the lady beside him observed the changed angle of his lips..and had a gaze that bespeaks her wondering idea at that moment: "how come he smiled?"

At the gates of the Li family, all the members of the family were waiting for the guests impatiently... As the silhouette of the cars appeared, everyone in the home, from the servant to the highest member of the family, rushed to finish the required duties before their distinguished guests arrived. Tension was in the air, crackling and dense, as if the world's leader was about to walk through their door.

The grandfather, his daughter, and his son were already annoyed because Mei Mei did not arrive yet, and Sheila, who went to wait for her, did not come back either. This duo is well-suited to troublemaking. This made the atmosphere more tense... And more nerve wracking!!

Strangely, just two of the three cars of grace softly came to a stop when they arrived.The guests came out from within, "not with fanfare or fanciness but with the subdued dignity of the unexpected."

Jiao Hua rushed to them, followed by his son Li Han, his wife, and sister.. while Rilla and Ha Nia waited behind, waiting for the elders to allow them to greet the guests ... Rilla seemed anxious and was checking her watch many times as if she was waiting for something...or someone!

Jiao Hua started the long speech..words of appraisal, likeness, and friendship between the two families..the talk that everyone listened to excitedly, yet no one wanted to hear more!

The guests are Jun's family... The wealthiest, the most reputable, and the and the strongest: both in terms of relationships and businesses; for the Li's, making acquaintance with this family would bring them good fortune, ... Yet, Juns and Li s encounter this time is not their first time meeting.. Li Jiao Hua and Jun Sao Yao have been friends since their youth... Their encounters lessened with time, as everyone was busy with his business or family...as the two families met again, the two old men handshaked happily to each other. The frowning Jiao Hua that everyone in Li's mansion used to see disappeared, and all the people there were astonished to see him with this big and large smile on his face.. not just that..they wondered how he could laugh with that high pitched laugh... Likewise, Jun Sao Yao reciprocated the same feeling, the same smile..and even the laugh pitch... Everyone was showed their happiness, yet none understood what's going on.. just going with the flow.. smile when they smile, laugh when they laugh .. and shut up when they speak!!

On Mei's balcony, Sheila looked down where everyone was and said "these fake laughs make me want to puke." Then she entered Mei's room.

Jiao Hua then started introducing his family: his son, his daughter, and his daughter-in-law.

Similarly, Sao Yao started introducing his family: his only son, Di Ray Jun, and his wife Sally Jin.. surprisingly this woman was the one in the car with the handsome young man, but this latter was not among the guests.

Jiao calls for Rilla and Ha Nia, and the two elegantly approach. This scene seemed like one of the Victorian age scenes ..but in modern era..

Jiao introduces the two granddaughters. Sally, with grace and gentle art, bestowed her praise from the heart. The two young maidens, in a kind act, returned her words with greater tact.

This made Li family proud of their educated girls..

Similarly, Yao called for his grandson: " Wei Jun" ..he was in Rilla's age..as his name suggests Wei Jun seems like a prince with kind looks and gentlemanly manners. Additionally, Jun's family had a younger daughter, "Yue Jun." She is pretty, yet clumsy.. she is the apple of June's eye ..

After the introduction, Aunty Dei Li asked the guests to get into the home as the weather gets colder in the evening, Sao Yao before going in, told Li family about his absent grandson "Wang Lei" who came until he arrived at the gates of their household, but he received an urgent call from the Jun group, so he was obliged to go back.. Sao Yao apologised sincerely for the behaviour of his grandson; likewise, Jiao Hua started apologising for his third granddaughter "Xiao Mei" who is also late to meet and greet them.. both Oldmen laughed as they have similar grandchildren's fate. Dei Li was annoyed as her father talked about Mei in this important encounter.. yet, she has nothing to say, because her father's words should not be interrupted.

When the two families moved into the home, when the servants opened the door, Mei was there waiting for them with the servants who would serve them...

Unexpectedly, Mei arrived earlier than the guests, because when Wang Lei's car stopped and the Jun's lady moved to another car...this gave time to Mei Mei to arrive before them.. so Lei's departure was in favour of Mei... or at least their fate was... that's why she thought that she owed him one. Without even knowing him... Or who this guy is.. She was far away and couldn't see their faces ...

The surprise to Li's Family did not stop here, but rather unexpectedly, Mei has helped in finishing the needed work with the servants.. her orders and strategy made the preparations go smoothly and wonderfully,

Her dress, surprisingly, is fitting for the evening. Previously, Mei did not care much, neither about her appearance..nor about what her family taught her about wealthy families etiquettes.. Without forgetting, she welcomed them with her usual kind and pretty smile that her aunt Dei Li hates so much...this time, she made her grandfather proud... For this reason, the grandfather rushed to her and introduced her to the Juns.." this is my granddaughter, 'Xiao Mei", the Jun's praised her extreme beauty, her tactful behaviour, and responsibility.. They said to Han Li that his daughter is very pretty and well educated ... Then Jiao Hua said hesitantly that she is not Han's daughter..but his late son's daughter, "Li Feng." Sao looked at him..and patted his shoulder to show his support, as he knew his son died young... He went to Mei and held her hands, saying that she has grown into a good and pretty girl..this would make her father proud..

Mei's expressions altered in an odd way from one moment to the next. She still had that kind smile, but the sweet and educated girl was no longer visible in her eyes. Instead, a fire was blazing in her eyes..these were unintelligible expressions as not even Grandpa Yao or anyone else observed that shift.

It appears that Mei put in a lot of practice hiding her actual emotions from others. Her trademark grin, which has earned her the nickname "Smiling Mei," is actually a mask that she wears to conceal a terrible secret she buried seven years ago.

Swiftly, Mei courteously thanked the grandpa Yao and the others for their kind words and asked them to get in as the dinner is already ready.

When Rilla passed by Mei, she smiled proudly to her... Mei reciprocated the smile followed by a beautiful blink with her eyes...but her smile was different.. instead of showing her kind soul, Mei's smile indicates a secret between the two girls... A plan the two had prepared? What will the two do in this evening?

Mei's mask is unveiled, unobserved...: until when? Follow the next chapters to learn!

<<<<<<<<<<<<to be Continued<<<<<<<<