Madam Yan didn't want to let go of an opportunity like this. New Year's day was probably the only day she could force her way into the Li's household so with the plan set, she went to look for her children.

After the day her husband suggested for Suyin to go after Hoy instead, their children had refused to see them or talk to them. So she stopped at Suyin's room in the resort and knocked.

When Suyin opened the door, she looked displeased to see her mother which wasn't unusual.

"New year's blessings dear." Her mother said excitedly as she entered inside the room without closing the door behind her.

Suyin closed the door and crossed her hands across her chest while looking at her mother, waiting for her to tell her the reason she was here.

"Why are you still in your pajamas? You should hurry up and freshen up. It's New Year's day for goodness sake!"

"Are we... going to see the Zhus?" She asked hopefully.

"Of course not! Those people disrespected us. We just have to make them regret it."

Suyin didn't like the sound of that. "And how do you intend to do so?"

Her mother grinned. "We are going to meet the Lis. I heard they have been accepting guests. You know they have a lot of occasions today."

Suyin's face looked crestfallen. She would have preferred to spend the New Year with the Zhus instead.

"Come on, hurry up. We shouldn't miss an opportunity to get closer to that family. You know how proud and arrogant they can be so this is a once in a life time opportunity. We need to find our way over there quickly." She rapped as she began to head towards the door.

"I'll go ask your brother to get ready. You should look your best. It's either you are getting Li Hoy today or your brother gets Li Heya. But we aren't leaving there without a progress from either of you." Having said that, she hurried out of the room for Shen's room.

The displeasure in Shen's face was even worse than the one in Suyin's face when he saw his mother standing outside his door.

"What absurd thing do you have to say now?" He asked with a frown.

"Come on, do not be mean." She glared at him as she entered inside his room. She gave him a once over and nodded approvingly. "Good thing you've showered. Get dressed because we are going to see the Lis."

"Why?" He asked, frowning.

His mother realised he would be more difficult to convince so she said instead, "They are having a party. A grand one in the garden behind their house and everyone is invited including our family. We cannot just turn it down, right?"

"...." He said nothing. He really hoped she didn't have some kind of plan concocted in her head this time.

"I thought so too. So get dressed and let's leave as one small happy family."

He sighed as he watched her leave. Was it possible for one to dislike their parents? Because he sure didn't like them, and he thanked his late grandmother for insisting to raise her grandchildren instead of allowing them live with their parents. How would his life and Suyin's life had turn out if they had been raised by their parents?

They were two very selfish people who didn't care about anyone else but themselves.

Since his family was invited, he didn't have any choice but to go get dressed. It had been a while since he last saw Heya even though she was also staying in the resort where he had been staying. He would also like to say 'Hi' to her.

*******

"I heard your travel buddies are having a really grand party today. Shouldn't you be there?" A girl asked.

She was on the bed with a duvet covering her naked body as she asked the young man who just entangled himself from her body and was wearing his things.

"Of course, I'll be there." He said with a smile. Today was Luo Joreen's birthday after all and she must have been waiting for him.

"So... we are going together right?" The girl asked coquettishly and added, "No one would mind if I went with you."

Kyle turned to look at the girl. His face showed disapproval, "Get dressed. You don't want people to see you here." He said as he wore his shirt.

"I have a free shift so it doesn't matter what I do with my time." She said as she sat up on the bed and began to look around her for her underwear.

This time, the look he gave her was enough for her to understand she wasn't needed.

"I have a girlfriend. I already gave you what you wanted. So you should leave. If you are seen here, you are very likely to get fired for involving yourself with me."

This time, she frowned deeply. "'What I wanted?'" She quoted.

"What you wanted." He repeated.

"You have been flirting with me since the first day in the ship and I'm sure you've always wanted this. You got it now and we are done. So you should leave." He said matter of factly.

He was beginning to regret doing this because she looked like the type to get clingy. If only things had gone smoothly for him, he wouldn't have had to do this with this girl. There was either Reen or Joreen for him and not some cheap employee trying to find her way to wealth through him.

She had a really angry look on her face as she climbed down from the bed with the big duvet around her chest. She began to look around for her things and when she found all, she took them with her to the bathroom. It took her less than two minutes to return and she threw the duvet in front of him.

"You know you are a bastard right?" She asked angrily.

"And F-Y-I, it was you who kept checking me out since the beginning of this trip and I only agreed to this because I thought you were cool but you are just a pig."

"You may want to be careful with your words unless you want to really get into trouble." He warned.

She glared at him darkly before heading for the door.

Imnediately she opened the door, she realised what a bad idea this whole thing was because she was standing face to face with another employee who looked like he had come to clean up the room.

"Zi...chu!" She called in surprise.

Zichu looked at her in surprise. She didn't look well dressed and with the guilty look in her eyes, he could tell she had been here for something else.

"Close the damn door!" Kyle barked at her as he appeared behind her, ready to close the door but he saw Zichu standing there.

******

"Time to see all the bootlickers, hypocrites and annoying human beings who try to suck up to this family. Tch! Annoying!" Reen said as she looked down at the graden from the balcony.

"Yea. It's difficult being around them. Their smiles are so fake. It's not difficult to know how fake they are."

"They are soon going to be looking for the birthday girl. We should go down."

"I don't know if I should be glad my birthday falls on this day. I can't wait for evening so we'll have our little family get together."

"Do you know what I cannot wait for?" Reen asked with a grin.

"What?"

"To open your gifts!" Reen squealed. "Especially the ones your fans sent to the agency for you. I hope the cakes are properly refrigerated before we return. I cannot wait!"

Joreen laughed. "I really cannot wait to open them too."

"That reminds me, why haven't I seen uncle Hoy today?"

Joreen almost laughed when he was mentioned. She also hadn't seen him since that time in the kitchen. But she really hoped he would make do his promise and cook for her today.

"You know how much he hates the crowd. But I'm sure he'll be out later. His mother would force him out anyway." Joreen shrugged.

"I am looking forward to seeing his gift for you. If he can give you something that expensive for Christmas, I wonder what he's giving you today."

"I think we should wonder why the Zhus are here instead." Joreen said as she looked over the balcony so see Hoy's mother welcoming Zhu Liang's mother.

"I know it's normal for them to be invited over since you know, we can't just cut off ties with them, but that is going to be awkward." Reen added.

"We should hope the Yan family doesn't come over then. Because it is going to be even more awkward with all of them around at the same time."

"What the... isn't that...." Reen didn't complete her sentence before Joreen realised why she was reacting that way.

Another person had arrived.

She saw Hoy's mother hugging tLong Xi, probably welcoming her and thanking her for coming while the girl kept a smile on her face as she looked around. There was a woman standing beside Long Xi, she was most likely the girl's mother.

"She is here for him." Joreen said quietly, not letting her eyes leave her.

She was almost beginning to feel uncomfortable especially watching how Hoy's mother was smiling warmly at her and leading them to where her husband was standing, but she remembered Hoy had told her he didn't care about her. Neither did he care about Aishu.

So she was going to be a big girl about it and act confidently in front of everyone.

"Let's go down." Joreen said to her older sister.