Sheng Xia stared at the clouds across the window. She couldn't believe she went back to Country C again.
At first, she doesn't want to meet the Shens at all, but Elaine told her that this time it would be okay. Elaine said that meeting with the Shens was needed so that she wouldn't feel regret in the future.
Sheng Xia was unconvinced about that.
Even if she didn't want to admit it, she was hurt deeply.
That man was her biological father after all.
She didn't want to add any more wounds to her heart.
But her trust in Elaine defeated them all.
She would go, and she couldn't lie, there was a small peck of hope that grew in her heart.
Sheng Xia glanced at Zhao Jingfeng, who sat not far from her. He was on a video call again, and Li Chengyu was with him. The assistant looked very busy with his phone.
Sheng Xia finally had time to remember last night's event. She remembered Zhao Jingfeng's tomato noodle, which turned out to be quite good. She couldn't believe Zhao Jingfeng could cook while she couldn't.
Tsk. She lost again.
While she grew up, she had a friend who loved cooking, and when she was adopted by the Aldridges, Auntie Lan, her nanny, was a master of Country C's cuisine. She didn't have any reason to learn cooking.
Sheng Xia pulled out her phone and opened her private chat with Evelyn, her master chef friend.
Su's Star : I wanna learn cooking
Su's Star : Where should I start?
After sending her chats, Sheng Xia opened her browser, looking for ideas.
Not long after, Evelyn replied.
Elegant Herb : Stop right there!!!!!
Elegant Herb : Why does a princess like you need a cooking skill?
Elegant Herb : Auntie Lan will cry
Su's Star : But Leon can cook tomato noodle~
Elegant Herb : Damn Leon
Su's Star : Don't curse him!
Elegant Herb : Tsk
Elegant Herb : I advise you not to learn cooking
Su's Star : Why *cry
Elegant Herb : Can you even turn on the stove?
Elegant Herb : What about the knife?
Elegant Herb : The only food you can make is the instant ones
Elegant Herb : I remember Elaine told me you only eat instant food before she met you
Elegant Herb : Just do something else you are good at
Elegant Herb : I don't think Leon expects you to cook
Elegant Herb : I even guess Leon likes it when you eat his food
Elegant Herb : Okay, Princess?
Elegant Herb : NO COOKING ALLOWED
Elegant Herb : I am busy right now
Elegant Herb : Next time, I'll call you
Sheng Xia pouted when she read those chats.
Was she that bad at cooking?
Well, she had not learned it yet. She just loves eating more than cooking. It didn't mean she couldn't do it.
Suddenly, there was a new reply from Evelyn.
Elegant Herb : You'd better try not to poison Leon
Sheng Xia's mouth turned into an n shape.
Tsk. Fine!
The private jet finally landed, and Sheng Xia looked at the blue sky, clear of clouds.
She started to feel nervous.
This wasn't like her.
She really shouldn't contact the Chengs anymore. The change in her started to show. And she didn't like it at all.
"Do you want me to accompany you?" said Zhao Jingfeng, looking worried.
Sheng Xia shook her head. "No. I plan to show up in my disguise. It would be weird if you're with me."
"I will send people to tail you. If you want to leave, you can find them."
Sheng Xia giggled. "No need. Do you think I was really left behind by Sister Su? Do you see that marshaller? They are one of my hidden bodyguards."
Zhao Jingfeng looked at a man, wearing headphones and holding two red lamps, who stood not far from their private jet. "I see. Well then, if you need anything, you can contact me anytime."
"Aren't you busy?" asked Sheng Xia, her eyes glimmering with amusement.
Zhao Jingfeng smirked. "I'm just terrible at minding my own business where you're concerned."
Sheng Xia laughed. "That's... sound inconvenient"
"For me, yes. For you, very convenient."
Sheng Xia laughed even more. Zhao Jingfeng smiled, his eyes locked on her smile. Li Chengyu, who stood not far from them, turned to stare at the sky.
Ah, it's still early, but I've already been fed with dog food.
Zhao Jingfeng had already prepared an RV car for Sheng Xia. She was escorted to near the residential area where the Shen's mansion was.
Sheng Xia stepped out of the RV with her disguise. She said goodbye to Zhao Jingfeng. The man stared at her like she was going to war; it was funny.
Sheng Xia ordered a taxi and went to Shen's mansion. At the residential gate, a security guard asked her identity. She gave them her real ID. The security verified her ID through the computer, and his face changed.
"Miss Stella?" asked the security, looking confused.
"Yes. Don't bother with my appearance. I plan to prank my friend. Is that okay?" said Sheng Xia, while taking off her glasses.
The security laughed. "Okay, Miss. Good luck with your prank!"
"Thank you, Sir."
Sheng Xia was allowed to enter. After a few minutes, Sheng Xia arrived at the Shen's gate. She exhaled and prepared her mindset.
She was here to meet her biological mother's family. Whether the Shens accepted her or not, she should stay and believe in herself. She was loved by a lot of people. She was amazing. Many people told her that. So, she shouldn't be afraid.
Sheng Xia approached the security post of the Shens. One of the security guards saw her, and they started to act vigilante.
"Who are you?"
Sheng Xia smiled and said, "Hello. I am Sheng Xia. I want to meet with the Shen Patriarch and Madam."
"Do you have any appointments?"
Sheng Xia shook her head. "I don't. But, can you tell them that the real daughter of Shen Yayi wants to meet with them?"
The security guard's eyes widened. He stared at her for a few seconds in silence. Then he pointed toward a bench in the post. "Wait here for a minute. I will deliver your message right away."
Sheng Xia felt shocked. They believe her? Sheng Xia sat on the bench and said, "Thank you, Sir."
The security guard looked dazed. "N- No! I- I will be back!" The security guard ran inside the post and called the butler in the mansion.
Sheng Xia felt confused. Why was the security guard so kind toward her?
The thing is, Sheng Xia didn't know that even when she was in disguise, her every movement and the way she talked were so similar to Shen Yayi. The security guard, who was actually the chief security guard and had served for more than thirty years. He easily recognized Sheng Xia.
Sheng Xia waited for around ten minutes when the gate opened, and from the other side of the gate, a luxury car was seen. The car stopped near the security post, and an old man, around seventy years old, stepped out of the car, followed by an old woman whose face was much younger than the old man's.
Sheng Xia recognised them. The patriarch and the old madam of the Shens.
Sheng Xia stood up and bit her lips.
Before Sheng Xia spoke, the old man had already stood in front of her with tears in his eyes. "Hello, little girl."
"H- Hello, Mister Shen." Sheng Xia smiled with a little nervousness.
"Why are you so thin?" A shout was heard, and Sheng Xia didn't understand the reason for the question.
Old Madam Shen approached Sheng Xia and tried to hug her, but stopped. She looked worried but happy. "Little girl, I am the Old Madam. Follow me! Come! Come!"
Sheng Xia almost couldn't believe the way the elders welcomed her. They are so welcoming that it scared her.
With the car, in no time, they arrived at the mansion. Sheng Xia was led to the mansion by the Old Madam, and they sat close to each other on the sofa.
"What's your name, little girl?" asked the Patriarch, softly.
For the first time, Sheng Xia didn't want to disguise herself.
"It's Sheng Xia. But since nine years ago, I used Stella as my name."
"I see," the old man said, looking like he realized something. "Which one do you prefer for me to call you?"
"Sheng Xia is fine."
The old man smiled. "Little Xia then."
Sheng Xia's heart melted when she heard it.
"Little Xia, what a good name," said the Old Madam, while grabbing Sheng Xia's hand and holding it tight.
The Patriarch cleared his throat. "If you don't mind, can we ask you some questions?"
"Of course," answered Sheng Xia, still feeling like a dream.
She remembered how the first time she met with the people the Chengs had sent. They were so rude, so different from the Shens.
Maybe it's also because of the way they found her. The Chengs had already known her for over a month before they contacted her, and had already decided to only recognize her as an adopted daughter.
For the Chengs, she was unwanted.
But here, she could feel it.
Maybe she would spend her vacation here, in the Shen's mansion.