Hidden Agendas

Upon concluding a call from Eliza, a sly smirk played on Gao Rouyun's lips as she hung up and thought, ' I knew my daughter would do a good job.' Contemplating her success, she gazed at herself in the vanity mirror, the same smug expression reflected back. However, her satisfaction waned swiftly as the door to her room creaked open. She swiveled around to identify the intruder, discovering Gao Bailong making his way to the bathroom. As he neared the bathroom door, their eyes met, but Gao Bailong quickly averted his gaze, retreating into the bathroom.

Gao Rouyun, inwardly scoffing, resumed applying lotion to her face, contemplating, 'He is always like that, always avoiding me like I'm some kind of plague.' Completing her skincare routine, she transitioned to styling her hair, achieving an usually elegant look, complemented by meticulous makeup. Satisfied with her appearance, she took a final glance in the vanity mirror before rising and leaving the room.

With a determined mindset, she mused, 'Time to go see mother,' strolling down the corridor towards Madam Gao's study. A gentle knock preceded her entrance. The door swung open, revealing Madam Gao engrossed in the TV on a plush couch. Gao Rouyun, standing across from her, greeted in a chirpy tone, "Mother, how was work today?" The older lady's attention shifted from the television screen to Gao Rouyun.

"It was entertaining," Madam Gao replied nonchalantly.

Forcing a smile, Gao Rouyun made a conscious effort to appear amicable, yet she refrained from verbalizing her thoughts. Instead, she merely nodded and absentmindedly positioned herself in front of Madam Gao, inadvertently obstructing her view of the television. Detecting her daughter-in-law's peculiar demeanor, Madam Gao frowned slightly, prompting her to question, "What's wrong with you?"

Gao Rouyun shook her head and spoke, "Will you listen to me first, Mother?"

"Okay, I'm listening. What is it that you want this time? I hope it isn't to borrow cash from me again... you know I will not give you a dime," Madam Gao retorted, her irritation evident due to both her lack of interest and the sudden appearance of her daughter-in-law.

In response, Gao Rouyun tilted her head, her brows straightening as she glanced sideways, asserting, "It's not like you've ever lent me a dime before."

Unfazed, Madam Gao smiled and remarked, "Precisely because that is your husband's job, not mine. Now, shoo!" She waved her hand dismissively, attempting to refocus on the TV screen.

Internally, Gao Rouyun suppressed her frustration, muttering to herself, 'This old hag!' Pursed lips betrayed her efforts to maintain composure in the face of her mother-in-law's dismissive attitude.

Breaking the silence, Gao Rouyun asserted, "Mother, that's not why I'm here, actually. I came to share some good news." She delivered the revelation with a smile, "Hailey agreed to attend the wedding."

Madam Gao, visibly surprised, inquired in a low voice, "Are you sure about that?"

Gao Rouyun, brimming with enthusiasm, nodded vigorously, "Yes, Mother. Eliza just informed me about it, and I couldn't wait to share the news with you."

Madam Gao maintained a composed expression and remarked, "That's all you wanted to say, right?"

Gao Rouyun, her brow furrowed in confusion, repeated her previous statement, "I just told you that Hailey has agreed..." However, before she could finish her sentence, Madam Gao interrupted, stating, "Yes, of course, I heard you... and I asked if that's all you have to say."

Perplexed by her mother-in-law's response, Gao Rouyun sought clarification, "Um, Mother, aren't you going to attend the wedding as well? Eliza is your granddaughter too." The question lingered in the air, the complexity of family ties adding an undercurrent of tension.

Madam Gao chuckled darkly in response to Gao Rouyun's inquiry, delivering her words mockingly, "Of course, I shouldn't miss my grandchild's marriage." The tone, laced with sarcasm, hinted at an underlying complexity in Madam Gao's sentiments towards the upcoming event.

Gao Rouyun regarded Madam Gao with a raised eyebrow, contemplating, 'What is this? What is this old hag playing at?' Her fist clenched at her side, a silent testament to the frustration building within her.

The revelation of Hailey's agreement to attend the wedding, which initially carried a sense of accomplishment, now seemed entangled in an unexpected web of complexity.

Unfazed by Gao Rouyun's inner turmoil, Madam Gao coolly added, "It seems you have nothing else to say. So, can you please not obstruct my view? I'm trying to watch TV." The words, delivered with a cold undertone, hung in the air, intensifying the strained atmosphere between the two women.

Snapping out of her thoughts, Gao Rouyun moved away from the television, complying with Madam Gao's request. "Yes, yes, alright, Mother. I will be out now," she replied, the tension palpable in her voice. As she turned to exit the room, she cast a narrowed glance at Madam Gao, her face contorting into a frown, a silent exchange of unspoken emotions transpiring. With that, Gao Rouyun left Madam Gao's study.

As Gao Rouyun exited Madam Gao's study, a palpable tension evaporated from her body, releasing a breath she had unconsciously held. She briefly glanced at the closed door, then averted her gaze, proceeding down the corridor until she reached her room, where she closed the door behind her.

Inside, Gao Rouyun discovered Gao Bailong in the midst of putting on his shirt. With a sweet smile, she approached him, delivering the good news, "Honey, good news – Hailey agreed to attend our daughter's wedding. Now, mother will surely attend." Gao Bailong glanced at her and responded, "Hailey...is our daughter as well, of course, she's bound to come. " A momentary pause lingered as he looked at her before concluding his words, " After all, she is family."

Gao Rouyun's smile brightened further as she proceeded towards the bedside cabinet. She opened the top drawer, revealing a small plastic bottle filled with medicine pills. Placing the bottle beside a glass jug and a glass cup on the bedside table, she poured water into the cup and then emptied two pills into her palm.

"Here, honey, take your medication." Gao Rouyun held the medicine pills delicately between her index and middle finger, her eyes filled with anticipation.

With a small smile, Gao Bailong sat down on the edge of the bed, accepting the medicine pills and the glass cup of water. Leaning forward, he swiftly downed both pills and drank half the glass of water before reclining back on the bed.

"Did you take your medications yesterday?" Gao Rouyun inquired with a happy smile, caressing his cheek and planting a gentle kiss on his forehead.

"No, I completely forgot," Gao Bailong admitted while lying on his back. Gao Rouyun looked at him and chuckled silently. In a fleeting moment, her smile inverted, and her expression darkened.

"My dearest Gao Bailong, Hailey is an illegitimate child... that woman brought her, claiming she is your child. But Hailey isn't your child. Did you forget?" Her words dripped with venom, the revelation casting a shadow over the room.

Gao Bailong maintained a stoic silence, his gaze fixed blankly on the ceiling, as he slowly processed the weighty revelation that had just escaped his wife's lips. The room held a pregnant pause before Gao Rouyun, unable to contain the turmoil within her, spoke again, emphatically stating, "She is not family."

A charged atmosphere enveloped the room as Gao Rouyun fixed a glare on her husband. Gao Bailong, in response, closed his eyes slowly, absorbing the unsettling truth that now hung in the air. In an almost inaudible mutter, Gao Rouyun expressed her internal dilemma, "I guess I'll have to take matters into my own hands."

Swiftly, she shifted her attention to her phone, picking it up, and exited the room, closing the door behind her. The hum of uncertainty echoed in the corridor as she turned on her phone, dialed a number, and brought it close to her ear. She waited patiently, until the person on the other line finally picked up the call.

"Lucian..." Gao Rouyun commenced, her tone holding a sense of urgency. Continuing with a serious demeanor, she posed a question, "I need to ask you something." Lucian, attentive to his mother's words, responded, "Alright, shoot; I don't have all day, Mother."

Softly, Gao Rouyun bit her lip nervously and asked, "Can you please come back home and attend your younger sister's wedding?" The request lingered in the air, charged with a hint of vulnerability.

A brief pause ensued before Lucian replied, "I'll consider it, if you agree to give me anything I wish to have in the future."

Gao Rouyun, feeling a surge of relief, responded, "Yes, I will, as long as you come back, stay and fight for the chairman's position."

A moment of silence enveloped the conversation before Lucian finally broke it, saying, "Sure," and then abruptly hanging up.