"You called me in a hurry. What is the real thing about your calling me?" he questions, taking a seat on the sofa.

"Your brother is back" she answers. His jaw flexes and suddenly he doesn't want to be here at all. He doesn't want to be anywhere near his brother.

"You called me here to bond with him?" he snaps, gritting his teeth. His eyebrows furrow as he looks away from her innocent face.

"Zichen! Son, it's been years…..why don't you let it go?" she utters as she tries to reach him with her hand.

He scoffs and rises from the couch. "Let it go? How more chances should I give him, mother?"

"Son I-"

"Zichen" a voice calls him and he tilts his head to find the source of the sound. His father comes down minding each step as he takes. Even after he is over fifty, he doesn't seem to age at all. He looks fit and healthy and young as if he is a bachelor. Zichen got his good looks from his father. The sharp jaw, the straight nose, and straight eyebrows are all same as his father. His dark brown eyes are similar to his mother's.

"It's been a while," he says approaching his son.

----

Zichen and his father walk side by side to the study room. After the confrontation before, Zichen calmed himself and let go of his anger. He hasn't seen his brother around so maybe he is out at the moment. Zichen doesn't want to see his face and the least get along with him.

His father enters the room, leaving the door open for his son. Stepping inside the study room Zichen locks the door from behind. It's been years since he last stepped inside. The rustic wooden smell roams around the room with the darkness looming in. usually there is only one light in here and when no one stays inside, there is darkness. Zichen's father pulls the chain that leads to the glowing yellow light. This room is full of antiques, even the stamp is from his great grandfather's generation.

"Have a seat" his father order, taking his seat as well behind the dark desk. A creaking sound appears when Zichen plants his ass on the leather chair. sure enough, no one has entered in here for a while. "How's the company doing?"

"Reaching high and expanding" he answers looking straight at him. His father nods as he looks down at the desk, thinking something. "Where were you doing businesses?" he asks trying to past the silence.

"Abroad. Beijing, Southern district, Wuxia" he says, "It was tiring." He sighs and gives him a faint smile. Now looking closely, his eyes appear tired and cheeks slumped as if he hasn't been sleeping or eating.

"Was it more important than your health?" Zichen questions, his eyebrows furrow.

"Yes"

"I understand your devotion to work but have you seen your face? You appear to age rapidly" he points to the wrinkles and lines on his face that aren't very prominent but visible.

"I'll handle myself" his father waves his hand understanding his son's concern. "Why did you join and with Mo Corp?" he asks before his son drops another nag about his health.

"They needed help and I wanted to expand our business" he answers flatly. The main reason for his doing was Shi Lain. If Shi Lian wasn't the one working there he wouldn't think of collaborating with them. not that they are inferior but the situation isn't suitable for them and Zichen is not the kind angel.

"But you have declined them over the years, why now?"

"I told you, business. And I am the biggest shareholder as well so in a way I have the control of the company."

Scratching his stubble chin, his father nod slowly understanding his son's way of thinking. Finally, he sighs and asserts, "You are the Chairman now."

They talk about other businesses mostly about the company. His father did not reveal much about what business he was doing out but then, respects his privacy and didn't push him further.

It was almost time for him to head back to the o company. "I'll be going back now," he tells his father rising from the seat as another creaking sound came. They leave the room and head downstairs.

"See you soon mother" Zichen hugs her.

"Come often!" she scolds softly and hugs him back. He steps out of the house and walking to the front opens his car door and usher in. starting the engine, the car moves swiftly making its way out of the gates.

**

"Hare is this possibles?" Shi Lian bellows when JJ tells her about the great financial loss.

"A large amount of resource has been drained out yesterday. The company already is struggling with this and now….who is it?" JJ frowns, looking at the decline rate.

Shi Lian is sure of one thing that this work is done by someone from inside because the company's people have access and more importantly no outsider can get inside or even break through the security. Her mind is drifting again and again to one person and it might be true but she isn't sure. She bites the nail as frustration on builds up. The next week they are launching the new collection and if all the resources were drained, it will be a huge problem., No, she cannot let this happen. Shad had to confront it too.

She got up from her seat and strides the door, her heels clanking on the floor. She heads to the elevator and steps inside. Punching the floor number she waits to fit its reach. The elevator door opens and steps inside. Going straight to the office, she barges inside without even caring about the etiquettes. "It's you, isn't it?" she barks.

"Her uncle stands up abruptly trying to soak in what is happening. "What?" he questions.

"Don't act like you don't know anything. It was you who is sucking up all the resources!"

He scoffs, sitting back on the chair, "And how come you get to this conclusion?"

"In this company, you are the only one who has eyes on my position, the greedy fox who loves money more than anything. You don't care about the company at all, all you care about is power and money!" she yells, slamming her palm on the desk.

"Is that so, Shi Lian?" he taunts, "Do you have any proof that it's me?"

Shi Lain grits her teeth as anger boils into her. how she wants to punch him right now, but she can't. "So you admit that it's you?" she fires back.

"When did I ever said that? Don't conclude so soon" he sneers. True, she does not have any evidence and she does not even know how she will come with one. She is sure that this is hos uncle's doing but how should she prove it?

"You see you are always reckless. Barging in here and blaming me for the thing I didn't do. You should mind your image. After all, you are the chairman" he mocks. He never leaves any chance to humiliate her.

Shi Lian curls her finger into a fist. "I know it's you. And I also know you won't accept your wrongdoings. And I swear I won't let you off the hook when getting the evidence" she fires back. "Wait until I kick you out of the company."

"Oh, Shi Lain" he laughs, "You are being reckless again." His expression hardens and he becomes serious all of sudden, "Kicking me out of the company? Wake up from your sweet little dream" he hisses. Plopping down he inhales he lights the cigarette, letting the smoke from his mouth surrounds the room. "You cannot do anything. "

"I will. " Without saying anything more, she turns around and leaves the room. People pass by, whispering among themselves as they look at Shi Lian. Shi Lian is way too angry to mind them. getting inside her office, she closes the door and lets out an angry growl. 'Will I have any peaceful day?' she contemplates and she is too tired all of a sudden.

Sometimes she wishes to leave all this and escape for a while. She is too tired of reality.

Escaping isn't a way of running and leaving behind, it's an opportunity to calm down and just keep your mind off from the tension for a while. We don't escape because we are afraid. We don't escape to escape from ourselves. Always finding an escape doesn't really let you escape.

Take me somewhere

Where we all can get lost

Somewhere no one can find us

A place to live, a place to hide

Maybe just to escape for a while.