The residential area in the morning was quiet, with only cars driving on the road. Sheng Xia dragged her travel bag on the side road. She looked at her phone. The private chat with Sister Su was read, but it had been five minutes, and Sister Su hadn't replied.
Sheng Xia smiled deprecatingly. She was so shocked when she heard that it wasn't an accident back then. But thanks to her experience in the business world, she quickly gathered her scattered mind and left the Cheng's mansion in stride.
"I was truly abandoned, huh."
Sheng Xia felt so foolish.
She still remembered her expectation when she first came to Country C. She even planned her schedule for the future because she thought, at that time, she needed to juggle between Country A and Country C.
But look at her now!
Walked away with bruises and pain.
Sheng Xia's train of thought stopped when someone patted her shoulder.
"Stella! Why don't you wait for me at the mansion?" Teddy furrowed his brows. He started to get worried when he saw his friend's state.
"I am sorry," said Sheng Xia softly. There was no vigor like her usual self.
"What's going on? What happened? Are you okay?" Teddy's questions came out one after another, overwhelming Sheng Xia.
"Can we get into the car first?"
"Sure!" Teddy took over Sheng Xia's travel bag. "Let me!"
Teddy opened the passenger's door, then, after making sure Sheng Xia was already seated, he put the travel bag in the trunk.
Not long after, Teddy's luxury car left the residential.
While on the road, Sheng Xia finally got a response from Sister Su; it was a video call.
Sheng Xia's finger hovered for a few seconds on top of the accept button. When she realized she was afraid, making Sister Su sad, Sheng Xia accepted the video call.
"Stella," the woman on the screen called Sheng Xia softly. Her face showed concern. "Where are you now?"
Sheng choked, trying hard to suppress her tears. "Sister Su..."
"Oh, My Stella... I am so sorry," said the woman on the screen. The woman, named Elaine Su, looked worried.
Seeing that Sheng Xia couldn't answer, Teddy replied, "She is with me, Elaine."
"Teddy! Thank you, dear."
Teddy smiled. "You're welcome, Angel."
Elaine sighed. "I am sorry, Stella. At first, I planned to check the paternity between Cheng An and both of the Cheng's Elders. But, I retreat the plan. After all, this is your family's affair. I need to get your approval first. But this kind of thinking means that I belittle your family's credibility. So, it has been delayed until now."
Sheng Xia stayed silent. Her mind had been in chaos mode.
"Stella, my dear...," whispered Elaine, "even if your family didn't choose you, do you remember eleven years ago, the moment I saw you, I chose to make you my sister?"
Sheng Xia finally raised her head.
"Stella," said Elaine while smiling softly, "do you remember that nine years ago, The Aldridge chose you, too? They chose you to be their beloved daughter."
The tears fell and slid down Sheng Xia's cheek.
"Stella, my precious Stella," Elaine knocked he phone's screen, "you are not alone. Don't worry, okay?"
Sheng Xia nodded. "I know. I miss you, Sister Su."
Elained smiled. "I miss you too, dear."
After ending the video call, Sheng Xia and Teddy discussed her accommodation. In the end, they chose the most high-end hotel in the capital.
Teddy accompanied Sheng Xia through the check-in. After putting Sheng Xia's luggage away, Teddy brought Sheng Xia out for breakfast.
At first, Sheng Xia didn't want to leave her room, but Teddy insisted. Sheng Xia, feeling the worries emanating from Teddy, finally agreed.
After removing her disguise, Sheng Xia realized that she didn't have any of her usual clothes. Thankfully, Teddy called his designer acquaintance and ordered a row of clothes for her.
The time has already reached nine o'clock. The breakfast felt more like a brunch for her. They chose a restaurant in the same building as the hotel to reduce travel time. Sheng Xia was truly hungry and needed food, fast.
Sheng Xia focused on her tomato noodle.
Teddy's gaze fell on Sheng Xia, "As always, your comfort food is tomato noodle."
Sheng Xia munched her noodles slowly. "This one has too much pepper on it."
"Really?" Teddy put out his phone and contacted his assistant to research the best place for tomato noodles.
"Have you had breakfast?" asked Sheng Xia when she found only a cup of latte in front of Teddy.
"Yeah. I ate salad this morning."
Sheng Xia remembered that Teddy had a body that was easy to get fat, so he was very disciplined about his food intake.
Sheng Xia was eating her food with relish, but she almost choked on her noodles when she saw a silhouette walk by not far from her table.
"What are you doing?" Teddy laughed. "Can you even eat noodles properly?"
Sheng Xia swallowed her noodles and then drank her water. "I just saw Leon."
Teddy's brows lifted. "Really?"
On the other side, Zhao Jing Feng also seemed to feel their gaze. He found Sheng Xia sitting not far from where he stood.
The man talked to his colleague, then walked toward where they sat.
"Hi."
Sheng Xia pouted. "Hi."
Teddy laughed. "Yo Leon! It's lucky to meet you here! Work?"
Zhao Jing Feng sat at the seat between Sheng Xia and Teddy. Fortunately, the table has four seats, so he could join them. "Yeah. No case?" asked Zhao Jing Feng to Teddy, who has a job as a lawyer.
"Still no. I want to focus on Sheng Xia for a while."
Zhao Jing Feng glanced at Sheng Xia. "What happened?"
Sheng Xia continued eating. The silence was quite heavy. After a minute, Sheng Xia breathed a sigh of resignation. "Nothing. Just decide to cut ties with the Chengs."
"I see."
"Mn."
Teddy snickered. "I am truly amazed at how cheap that family is."
"They are not the only ones," said Zhao Jing Feng while calling a waiter. "One roasted milk tea."
The waiter nodded. "Wonderful, I'll put that in right away."
Zhao Jing Feng glanced back to glance at Sheng Xia again.
"What?"
"Nothing. Just wondering what your plan is for the next days."
Sheng Xia pouted. "Probably fly to Country J. I want to learn Yabusame."
Zhao Jing Feng knocked the table. "Can I borrow your time?"
Sheng Xia almost choked for the second time. Her eyes bulged with shock.
"Sure! Where are we going?" asked Sheng Xia, who couldn't hide her excitement.
Zhao Jing Feng looked at Teddy, who watched with amusement.
Teddy grumbled. "Fine! This light bulb will send itself away."
Sheng Xia grinned wickedly. "Thanks for the mood lighting, bulb! Don't burn out on your way home~"
Teddy rolled his eyes and left while chatting in Elaine's Follower group chat, sharing his grievance as a light bulb. Sadly, no one comforted him; instead, they teased him a lot.
Zhao Jing Feng finally got his drink. While he drank his milk tea, Sheng Xia wiped her noodle out.
Zhao Jing Feng stood up from his seat. "Let's go."
"Okay."
Sheng Xia followed Zhao Jing Feng, and without her realizing it, a smile had bloomed.