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Chapter 8 Part 3: Alliances, Rivalries, and Intrigue
Damn… I came at the worst time, probably interrupting key info gathering.
"You dare ignore me?" Yamaken, seeing my disregard, flew into a rage and raised his fist.
But cool Aunt Ouyang easily pressed him back into the couch with a delicate hand, her mature aura enveloping the room.
"Ouyang Lijun, you're a soldier you should keep your word!" Yamaken, intimidated by her strength and seduced by the mature allure, answered with forced harshness.
"I said I wouldn't stop you pursuing our Mi'er, but I never agreed that you'd be her boyfriend!" Aunt Ouyang folded her arms, her full bosom prominent.
"Well, then, I'm taking Mi-mi out for dinner now you won't interfere, right?" Yamaken stood again.
"Of course not! Mi'er, you take my car, bring A'tian and when she arrives Ling'er out for dinner as well!" Aunt Ouyang smiled coldly. "Afterward, don't forget to drop off Young Master Yamaken at home!"
"I know, mom…" Lin Mi glanced at the sulky Yamaken, then grinned as if catching her mother's hidden message.
"My Mi-mi, your smile is beautiful!" Yamaken was captivated by it.
"Alright, let's go!" Oddly, Lin Mi didn't seem to dislike him. Maybe being handsome helps. No wonder she rescued him maybe there was already some good feeling!
"I'm driving a Porsche, nothing outruns it let's take my car!"
Lin Mi was tempted; sitting with a handsome guy in a sports car, who wouldn't feel like a star?
Aunt Ouyang said, "Good, Mi'er, be sure to chat more with Young Master Yamaken!" Clearly she wanted Lin Mi to probe for more info.
But that meant…she was basically matchmaking them!
A Porsche only seats two where would Ling'er and I go? They obviously weren't bringing us!
Yamaken gallantly opened the door for Lin Mi. Embarrassed, I turned to Aunt Ouyang.
"A'tian! Auntie only promised Leng Niang to let you and Mi'er date never said she'd marry you! A man should always keep a sense of crisis. Only that way can you grow strong!" That's a true military type! I couldn't argue.
Lin Mi packed her bag. With a handsome guy at a sports car she was on cloud nine her 17-year-old heart was swaying for sure.
"Thank you…"
"My pleasure serving a beautiful lady is an honor." Weren't Japanese guys supposed to be male-chauvinist jerks? How come he was such a gentleman? If he wasn't the enemy, my Mi'er would probably be smitten already. What girl hasn't dreamed of a white knight's love?
"Hehe… Oh, A'tian wait for Ling'er. I'll send you a message!" The Porsche started up and disappeared from view.
"Ding-dong!"
A message already? So fast?
I was happy.
"A'tian, sorry, my sister is coming with brother-in-law Kaklik, I won't go with you and Lin Mi to play gooseberry. Next time I'll take more photos for you! Mwah!"
From Ling'er. And damn that black devil Kaklik again.
Sigh…
My official girlfriend and her sister are with the black devil, my beloved loli got mounted in a tree by a Vietnamese monkey, and now even my would-be leggy queen is bewitched by a Japanese pretty boy. I must have been born for green hat life!
"A'tian? You still here?" Aunt Ouyang stepped out.
"Oh, Ling'er isn't coming, and I don't know where Yamaken is taking Mi'er…" I said dejectedly.
"Hehe… Don't be so glum. Think long term, don't be fooled by appearances the road ahead is long!"
Odd seemed meaningful, but I didn't get it.
"Come with me, I'm heading downtown anyway. Once Mi'er messaged you, you can catch up."
I followed Aunt Ouyang, ogling her round, tight yoga-pant-clad butt. If not for knowing she was military, I'd think she was some wild playgirl.
In the car, as we pulled from the neighborhood, she said, "Oh, in a few days, there's a night gala commemorating anti-Japanese heroes. Mi'er's performing a ballet solo make sure your mom gets you a ticket!"
"Mi'er's solo? Of course I'll go. What event is this? Does it really need a ticket?" I was a famous rich kid what upper-class event haven't I attended?
"Sigh… not a real ticket…" She explained, a bit sad.
In S City, many anti-Japanese heroes' former homes remain, especially from the old Nationalist Army. In the early anti-Japanese days, S City was protected by them. The leader of the great city defense was a General Chang under his command, the city beat back wave after wave, and three days after the Japanese withdrew, he died of wounds.
Even after the PRC was founded, the Chang family was always honored but due to political winds, the family kept a low profile, only holding a small memorial every five years. High status guests would attend privately, and over time this became a "night banquet" in the high society scene.
Naturally, as military herself, Aunt Ouyang attended, and let her daughter shine with a ballet solo.
Five years ago, before mom consolidated the Qi-Gu Group, few recognized her. Only now that she was accepted did she get an invitation.
"General Chang?" I mused. "The current star actress Chang Shuixian…"
"Yes, she's Chang's great-granddaughter stunning, acclaimed, active in patriotic causes, and played anti-Japanese heroines on screen, winning awards." I was surprised Aunt Ouyang knew entertainment so well.
"Hehe, don't stare at me like I'm an oddity…" she laughed. "Her parents and I were comrades we go way back."
So that was it!
Her background was like mine a general's descendant, traceable to the Ming Dynasty; ours was just nouveau riche in comparison.
"Why do you want me to attend too?" I was curious.
"Everyone there's a heavyweight meet more, let people know your face. When you inherit the family business, it'll help a lot. You don't want my Mi'er to end up stuck with a useless heir, do you?" Her look was more disappointed than angry, and I shrank inward, stifling the retort about sending my sister.
With that, she sped up, dropping me near a city building.
"You get out here, I have things to do." Her tone was slightly icy.
Looking around, I saw it was some kinda "Patriotic Association" or similar. I blurted, "Aunt Ouyang, what are you here for?" Regretted it immediately.
"…" She was silent, then sighed. "Uncle Lin recently went missing. He was on leave, got a call his comrade's corpse was found here. He visited, then vanished too… A friend here says they found a clue that's why I'm here."
"Don't worry, Auntie Uncle Lin's amazing, he'll be fine." I comforted her.
"Mm… Go find Mi'er, don't let that Jap steal her…" She closed the door and drove off.
Not far from downtown, I ducked into a café to wait for Lin Mi's message.
But after a while, still nothing from her. Instead, Ling'er sent a photo.
In the photo, Ling'er smiled angelically, her eyes perfect crescent moons, but her cherry lips were pressed against a hideously black face.
Damn! The black devil again!
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