"What kind of request ?", Rong Xinghe furrowed her brows.

"He said that if we wished to make it up to him for his dreadful childhood, he could give us a chance.

"He requested us to treat his Xinghe with all the parental love, that he deserved. That young man wanted to trade his parents for you. For a single smile of yours. He said that he was used to living like that. Without parents.

"But it was impossible for him to see you like that. Falling apart. Breaking down. He wished that maybe, just maybe, his Mom and Dad could fill up the void, the emptiness in your life.

"That was when I realized how important you were to him. He is in love with you, Xinghe. Like no one ever could be. You are the reason he is living for. You are the reason he is breathing for. Wounds might be yours, but the pain is felt by him too. 

"You both are inseparable, girl. Xinguan are inseparable. We can only give our blessings to you two. And don't worry, you have all our supports." 

As she listened to Li Jungah's words, a lump formed in Rong Xinghe's throat and tears clouded her gaze gradually. How could someone love a person this much? How could he love her so much?

"Don't cry, Xinghe.", Li Jungah smiled, pulling the girl in her embrace, "Look. I know that I can't replace your Mom. I wouldn't even try to replace her. But I would love to occupy the position next to her. In your life. 

"Don't misunderstand me, okay? This is not sympathy. And I am not pitying you. Having a daughter like you is an honor. Whenever I look at you, I regret not having given birth to a girl. I love Yuan more than my life. I do.

"But... I always wanted a girl. A mini-me. And whenever I look at you, I feel that my daughter would've been just like this. I would've brought her up just like this. Like you. Bold. Fierce. Empowered. Gorgeous, inside out. 

"I see my daughter in you. So I know its a lot to ask... but, can I-"

"M..Mom.", the girl cut in as she stammered to pronounce the word, "Can I call you... Mom?"

Li Jungah was so surprised that her grip around the girl's shoulders tightened subconsciously as the corners of her eyes started to sting, tears threatening to flow down, "Of course, dear. A son such as Yuan and a daughter-in-law like you. I must be the luckiest woman in this world to have this."

________________

Shortly after, Xi Wei and Xi Ying were showing the girl around. Their brother had informed them to keep his woman entertained throughout the entire time she would be there. Only if they knew that she would come across Huang Biu during the process, they wouldn't have toured her towards the pool arena.

"Do you really think you can win over Xi Yuan?", Rong Xinghe stopped in her tracks the moment these words fell upon her ears. So did the two Xi siblings following behind her. What the hell was going on?

Rong Xinghe raised her brows and tilted her head just slightly to take a look at her supposed 'love rival'. And indeed, she saw a woman sitting on a Black lounge chair, her back facing Rong Xinghe. She was speaking to someone over the phone, apparently, and cleaning her nails, which justified why the phone was on speaker.

The girl then turned to pat Xi Wei's right arm, a smirk across her lips, "Get me some juice and a chair, little Panda. This should be an interesting show to watch."

"Sister-in-law, we should just--", Xi Ying tried to haul the girl away, desperately. She could tell that the woman on the lounge chair was Huang Biu. A person who had been crushing upon her Brother Yuan for more than ten years now. This wasn't good. Rong Xinghe and Huang Biu. The two of them against each other. Not good.

"Hush. It's okay. I won't kill her.", Rong Xinghe cut-off the girl. In the end, Xi Wei ended up following his Sister-in-law's orders. 

"I mean, just think it through, Biu.", the person on the other end of the phone said, "You've known him for years, and yet, he hasn't exchanged 'real' words with you. Your conversations have mostly been 'Hellos', 'Byes', and et Cetra. Do you really believe you have a chance with him ?"

"Come on. He likes me. I know it.", Huang Biu mumbled.

For some unknown reason, Rong Xinghe found the woman's words so hilarious, she almost choked on her drink. She really wanted to know the reasoning behind those words now. After being emotionally exhausted for so long, this was really refreshing. Very relaxing, actually.

"I remember how he had smiled at me once, during the Conference in Shanghai. And how he had passed me his glass of wine during Mr. Charles's engagement ceremony. And there have been more. I just don't like to flaunt. 

"He has fancied me all these years, Bik. We've been friends since the High School days, after all. It's completely natural. He is just too shy to confess by himself. And I don't really mind that, you know? I love him, whatsoever.", Huang Biu giggled, still cleaning her nails. 

Shy? Him? When? Was she really talking about the same man who had confessed to her in front of the Statue of Liberty? Damn! That was grand. That was everything, but shy. Sometimes, she regretted having rejected him then, just because of all those preparations and efforts he had put in. Into that confession. 

But speaking of the smile in Shanghai and the 'handing over the wine glasses' and the 'mores', President Xi was going to have quite a conversation tonight, the girl grinned. Her mind was giving birth to thousands of ideas right now. Ideas to torture him.

Of course she trusted him. However, couldn't a girl pull off some pranks and have a little fun, every now and then? It was healthy for relationships too, her Sister-in-laws had told her once.

"What if he finds a woman in Mexico ?", the voice came from the other side of the phone.

"What if he finds a woman in Mexico ?", Rong Xinghe repeated, whispered doubtfully, turning to stare at Xi Ying.

The girl gulped and shook her head fearfully, "He wouldn't. He has you, Sister-in-law."

"He better not.", the girl nodded, "Just a quick question, though. This woman is Huang Biu, isn't it? The heiress to the Noble Huangs? My darling's admirer."