Fyren pressed his hands against his splitting headache and patted Xena's back with the back of his hand. "Hey, hey, hey, hey, get up, get up. It's getting light out."
Xena's hair was disheveled as she rose sleepily. "Huh? It's dawn already?"
Fyren stood up and waddled out the door as if she had no bones, muttering, "Hurry up and get dressed. I'll ask Zaring to take you out the back door in a few minutes so we don't scare my dad and mom."
"Hey! So this is how you treat me, huh?"
"Didn't I just get you drunk and promise never to contact you again? Ugh, whatever."
Fyren walked out and went downstairs to see his parents eating in the dining room.
"Aigoo, everyone's eating already?" Fyren yawned, walked over and pulled out a chair to sit down. "Nanny, give me a bowl of porridge, not rice. It's too hard - I want something thin."
Fyren looked back at the nanny, who again didn't move, looking embarrassed as she pointed at HongZhang.
Fyren looked at HongZhang. "Dad, what's wrong now?"
Everyone stared at Fyren, who looked completely oblivious.
Fyren himself didn't even realize he had a girl's bra hanging around his neck until now.
HongZhang looked at Fyren: "Who did you bring back for drinks last night?"
"Huh? Oh, it was... Eason."
"Was it really?"
"Yes."
"Eason wears a small cup size, huh?"
"Ah? He's a man - does cup size matter?" Fyren laughed. "Eat, eat, eat."
At this moment Xena walked out, head bowed as if she'd committed some grave mistake, so shy she could barely function, her voice tiny as a mosquito's buzz: "Good morning, uncle, good morning auntie."
Fyren looked back and was utterly dismayed. "What are you doing, big sister! Didn't I tell you to sneak out the back door? How embarrassing is this for me?"
HongZhang looked at Fyren. "Kid, are you speaking human language right now?"
Fyren laughed nervously: "Dad, I drank too much. Just drinking, nothing else happened. It's different from last time - two completely different things."
Fyren, having a clear conscience, didn't take it seriously at all and walked over. "Hey! Speak for yourself, or they'll misunderstand again and I won't be able to eat without getting beaten."
Xena raised her head and looked at Fyren pitifully.
Her expression was heartbreaking - pitiful and mournful, tears welling in her eyes as she looked at Fyren with a mix of fear, shyness, nervousness and something inviting:
"It's... true what Fyren said. He didn't force me to drink. No, really. Please don't be angry, uncle and aunt. It's all my fault... it's me... I'm the bad one..."
HongZhang was about to die from anger: "Are you even human?"
Fyren was even quicker to explode with rage.
"Big sister! You were so high and mighty last night - is it fun for you to act now? What are you doing? Playing the victim? With your acting skills, you still want to perform in front of my family? Who are you pretending to be pitiful for?"
Fyren reached out and poked Xena's head with his finger. "My dad and mom are extremely smart - would they believe you? I really-"
Smack!
Fyren clutched his head. "Dad, why did you hit me?"
HongZhang gripped the broom and rolled up his sleeves. "Hit you? I'm going to beat you to death today!"
Fyren quickly took two steps back. "Dad, shouldn't you understand the situation before hitting someone?"
HongZhang was so furious he might explode: "Do I need to understand anything to beat you? I'll beat you every day and never be wrong!"
Fyren's mom also said angrily, "What's that around your neck?"
Only then did Fyren notice something else hanging there. She picked it up and froze.
"This isn't mine!"
HongZhang shouted angrily, "Nonsense! If it's yours, your mom and I should jump off a building!"
Fyren turned to glare at Xena through narrowed eyes. "It's you! You set me up!"
Xena was the picture of a terrified girl now.
Petite to begin with, she stood with her head bowed, wearing a frightened expression as she timidly looked at Fyren: "Fyren, you...you weren't like this last night. Obviously it was you who insisted...insisted on checking my body...I...I...was afraid you'd be unhappy, so I agreed..."
Fyren's eyes widened. "You little schemer, you're acting for both of us now, aren't you?"
Fyren rushed over and grabbed Xena's collar. "Last night after drinking you passed out on the bed! I clearly slept on the sofa! What's with this bra? Explain! Explain!"
Xena covered her head in terror, screaming and crying: "I'm sorry Fyren, it's my fault! Don't be angry! I'm scared..."
HongZhang completely lost it.
The broom came down hard on Fyren's head as he dragged his son over and started beating him.
Fyren protected his head, not daring to fight back, only crying out: "Dad! Dad! Don't believe her! She's acting! She's lying! You're so smart...Dad, it hurts! Mom, say something!"
Peeking through his arms, he saw his mother comforting the earnestly sobbing Xena.
Fyren's mom pointed at him. "Hong, beat him to death! Let's pretend we never had this son!"
Fyren and HongZhang tumbled into a full-on fight.
Fyren knew his father's health wasn't good, with the surgery's after-effects still present, so he didn't dare fight back and could only endure the one-sided beating.
Xena suddenly rushed over at this moment, grabbing HongZhang's hand with both of hers while shielding Fyren, her face wet with tears: "Uncle! If you want to hit someone, hit me instead!"
HongZhang froze, looking at this pitiful girl. His heart ached as he turned to glare at Fyren, looking like he wanted to skin him alive.
Fyren looked at Xena and gave a thumbs up: "Big sister, wow, you're truly a talented actress!"
HongZhang roared angrily: "You bastard! Kneel! Kneel down right now!"
Fyren felt wronged to death: "Fine, the whole family will play along with you. But dad, you're not well - don't get too angry. When you learn the truth, you'll owe me an apology."
"Did I tell you to talk? I told you to kneel!"
As HongZhang moved to strike again, Xena immediately knelt before him, crying: "Dad! Please don't hit Fyren, I beg you!"
Fyren knelt on the ground: "Daddy!?"
HongZhang mumbled: "Dad...Dad?"
Fyren's mom covered her mouth: "That was...a change of address?"
Xena cried with pear-like tears, appearing utterly pitiful: "It's my fault...it's me...Fyren isn't to blame. I'm the shameless one who seduced Fyren...it has nothing to do with him...I'm sorry for upsetting you...it's all my fault...I...I should leave!"
Xena pretended to leave - how could HongZhang and Fyren's mom let her go?
Both parents stopped Xena and comforted her with kind words:
"Child, don't say that. It's this beast's sin, not your fault. Don't worry, your uncle and aunt will stand up for you."
"Yes, our Fyren just doesn't know any better - he's always been unruly in this regard. Don't worry, Auntie will discipline him properly and make sure he takes responsibility."
"Then...you won't hit him anymore, right? I...still like Fyren. I'd rather you hit me than see Fyren suffer."
HongZhang sighed and shook his head at Fyren: "Look at this, Fyren! Just look! You've brought this on yourself! You'll be the death of me and your mother!"
Fyren watched as Xena secretly flashed him an "OK" sign from beneath her sleeve. He was furious enough to have a heart attack.
This woman was truly the devil incarnate.
The family began eating together.
Fyren's mom and dad kept serving dishes to Xena.
Xena acted so well-behaved and cute, so shy and touching.
"Xena, when did you two start dating?"
Xena lowered her head, "A very...long time. Fyren was still pursuing Eliza when..."
HongZhang looked at Fyren and nodded slowly, "You're something else. Chasing Eliza on one side while..."
Fyren fell to his knees shaking his head.
[Jesus Christ! Otto hasn't done anything yet, and now I have to die by Xena's hands first? She's supposed to be the villain, right?
[Act! Just keep acting! I don't believe you can maintain this performance forever!
Fyren's mom sighed: "Good girl, if you knew he was like this, why...you're such a nice girl, why would you follow him?"
Xena said, "Actually, Fyren is very kind. He's loyal to friends and filial to you both. You might not see it, but he talks about you all the time when we're together."
"Huh? This kid?"
"Mm-hmm." Xena continued, "He always says how hard Uncle Hong worked building the business from nothing, how you exhausted your health running around for every small deal in the early years. He even asked me to develop special supplements for you, hoping you'll recover soon."
"Hmph." HongZhang said, "If he's not making me angry, that's medicine enough!"
Xena added, "Fyren says he wants to revitalize Dasheng Group, make more money, and become Uncle Hong and Auntie Zhang's pride. But Uncle Hong is too successful - he feels he can never measure up, and it makes him feel useless sometimes."
HongZhang looked slightly uncomfortable, glancing at Fyren while pretending to be displeased: "What's the rush? Business isn't everything. Your mom and I just want you to be a decent person."
Xena said, "Also...Fyren told me his pursuit of Eliza was just a gamble. He promised he would marry me."
As she spoke, Xena smiled while tears fell, her voice trembling slightly.
"Actually, I knew he was lying. He thought I was a fool. But what girl in love isn't foolish? So even knowing he's lying...I still believe him. I just wish..."
Xena struggled to control her emotions, "...I wish he could keep lying a little longer, not shatter this illusion of love too soon."
Fyren's mom covered her mouth and rushed to the kitchen in tears.
Fyren was speechless.
Completely speechless.
This woman was the devil incarnate!
And with this performance!
HongZhang let out a long sigh, "Family disgrace, absolute disgrace. Fyren, when will you grow up? Hmm?"
"Dad... I have nothing left to say."
"Of course you don't have anything to say! Xena, don't worry. Yesterday the Leng family already communicated with me - their engagement is canceled. I, HongZhang, guarantee you that I have the final say in your marriage! Unless you don't agree, or your parents don't agree. As long as you both consent, I'll just bundle up this bastard and make him marry you!"
Fyren stood up in agitation, "Dad, shouldn't we reconsider this matter?"
"What's there to reconsider! I've decided, Fyren! You're not getting any younger. You should let your mom and dad rest easy. Xena is such a good girl, completely devoted to you and loving you this much - what more could you possibly want?"
Xena immediately knelt down and kowtowed, "Thank you, daddy! Daddy is so good to Xena!"
HongZhang was utterly delighted by being called 'daddy': "Aigoooo, good girl, good girl, get up, get up! No need for such formalities among family!"
Fyren looked despairingly at the distant sky as two streams of hot tears flowed down.
[I'm afraid I won't even survive until Otto comes to kill me.]