In a lavish palace-designed mansion there sat people forming their own groups and circles, whispering and discussing their words and thoughts among themselves. Though it was already getting darker and darker outside, none cared for the time. Like to them, at the moment, more than their sleep, something that mattered was looking at the issue that has come to them.
At the front, aloof to everyone, there was Feng Yu Hao, sitting with his usual firm and serious expression. Though he was sitting amid everyone, still, none dared to go to him to talk. Maybe that was the power the patriarch of the family held, without any firm and confident evidence any complaint could simply not get presented to him.
"Where is Shufen? Why is he still not there?" Feng Yu Hao asked, tilting his head slightly to his ȧssistant. His ears, almost getting tired hearing the continuous speculations from around.
The ȧssistant coughed lightly, clearing his throat before bending to reply, "Mr. Feng, as you have asked, earlier I have informed the Young Master's secretary about the meeting here. But he said that he would be late, given that he has much more important work to attend to than to entertain these 'ahem' …" He coughed, not daring to complete the words.
"Useless relatives, right?"But being the father, Feng Yu Hao need not hear what would have been the words of his son. "He really knows how to make the situation worse. He is intentionally late to piss them off." He said, moving his eyes to look at everyone at the front, before reaching to look at a menial maid standing at a distance.
Though not officially the things were presented to him, yet he has also gotten the air of the things happening in the family.
"Father, you know Shufen. He always takes his measures well. There is no way he would put you or any one of us in a tough spot. Don't worry, these people will not be able to win in the end." At this moment, a soft hand reached the old man with an intention to calm him down.
Feng Yu Hao turned to look at the girl, sighed at her words but then nodded. "Yi Ran, do you always have to support him like that. It has been you who has made him like this, all rebellious in his attitude. Your support at his young age has turned him to what he is now".
Feng Yi Ran laughed lightly. Being the First daughter of the family, she has also got the invitation to attend the meeting. It was already rare for her to visit and meet her family. In no way she would have chosen to miss it. "You say that always, Father. And I also reply the same. I never regret what I have done. Being his elder sister, supporting him like that was my job".
"Mr. Feng, is there any order?" The ȧssistant asked, not knowing what else to say.
The old man's lips pulled into a straight line as he waved his hands before ordering. "You can't do anything. He will do whatever he deems right. For now, just get everyone some strong coffee. They would need it because Shufen would not be coming anytime soon." He said and the ȧssistant at once nodded, before going to fulfill it.
As expected, an hour and a half passed by. People waited but there were no hints of Feng Shufen appearing at the mansion. Though at first, those relatives were ready to give up their sleep and wait for the man, as the time was passing they were growing impatient for the things.
Seeing Feng Shufen purposely ignoring them like this, they could not help but feel him to be in the wrong. Or else why would he deliberately be like this?
Furthermore, they have also heard Wu Jiaqi mention before how he has always been gentle at home, playing and enjoying time with the two toys he got at his place. Hearing all that, they have already believed that the man who they once feared and took as the living Devil in the world has lost all his powers hopelessly in love.
And today, they have planned to reveal the same in front of the patriarch of the family so that later they could challenge his position, both in the company as well as in the family.
"He is really doing too much. We have already been here for so many hours now, still he has yet not arrived. If not disrespect, what else is this?"
"I have heard that he has changed his attitude of dealing with things. He is now no longer as ruthless as his position requires him to be. The maid at his place has earlier reported him to be all doting and caring towards an unknown woman and her daughter".
"Tsk, tsk, how disappointing! If he is like that, I no longer feel that he would be suitable to take the position of the head of the family later. We would need to search for someone else to see who is deemed to be fit."
No longer able to hold themselves back the relative's voice got louder than whispers deliberately, just to give hints of their disagreement to the old man that was sitting aloofly at a distance.
But even at their provocations, Feng Yu Hao kept his calm. He has long learned to ignore them. All these relatives were his own blood brothers and distant brothers with whom he has grown used in his life. At first, they were following the way to push him out of the path to get on the family's powerful position, and now they were making the path for their children. Things have not changed too much. Their ways were still all the same.
But who has said that in the crowd everyone has to be wise to know their limits? There will always be someone to overlook their boundaries.
Right at that moment, when everyone held back, an old man from behind took his stand to voice out for all. His tone stated the arrogance he held in his attitude.
"It's been more than two hours now, yet Shufen is not here. Elder Brother, is he purposely doing this? We accept that he has work to attend, but we also have company to look after yet we have made it here on time. And he is just pretending to be all high and mighty, intentionally coming this late. Believe me, if it had been my Baozhang doing that same, I would not have supported him. Yet it seems like you, the patriarch favors his son too much to allow him to forsake all his attitude towards us, the elders".
He said but right when his words ended, the door of the room was pushed open, making a cold wind gush inside bringing a shiver down everyone's spine while making the air go scaring-ly silent at once.
Feng Yi Ran smiled. Her head down looking at her nails while her lips curled up in a smirk. She doesn't need to look up to see who has arrived, the silence was enough to let her know her dear brother was already here.