Chapter 43   - Gaining Sympathy (1)

Since Su Xiaofei was unconscious the first time they met, Master Ouyang, together with Yun Xiang, came back to the Su Residence to meet her properly. However, the moment their car entered the estate, they spotted a housekeeper sending away two women with an annoyed expression on their faces.

'What happened here?' Yun Xiang thought.

However, the moment he and Master Ouyang alighted from the car, they both saw Su Xiaofei leaning against the open front door, trying to wipe her tears dry as soon as she realized that they had arrived.

Yun Xiang frowned while the old man next to him remained unfazed.

The young woman in front of them strode towards them and welcomed them with a smile, as if those tears that she had wiped earlier weren't there in the first place.

"Master Ouyang, it's finally good to meet you personally. I apologize for causing trouble the other day. I hope you forgive me for this once and let it slide." Su Xiaofei smiled warmly.

"Ah, it's this old man's fault anyway. I should be paying attention to where I'm going and shouldn't have lowered my guard." He paused and gave her a good look.

Su Xiaofei looked better than the last time he had come to send her home. She obviously looked better now, but the hint of sadness in her eyes startled him for a moment.

"My mother isn't feeling well today, so I hope you wouldn't find fault in her for not being able to welcome the two of you." Su Xiaofei said, before leading them to her mother's private garden, the one that Yun Qingrong personally tended whenever she had free time from work.

Aunty Liu came and served the refreshments before standing at a safe distance to give Su Xiaofei and her guests some privacy.

"Child, did something happen? I could sense that something bad happened to make your mother suddenly ill. You and your caretaker don't look very good, to be honest." Master Ouyang asked.

Su Xiaofei chewed her lower lip and fisted her hands under the table.

"It's nothing serious, Master Ouyang. Just a family issue that we have yet to endure as a family." She laughed awkwardly.

"How could you say it's not serious if it's about your family?" Yun Xiang couldn't stop himself and confronted the distraught young woman in front of them.

"Why are you trying to suppress your tears? Cry if you want to cry. Master Ouyang and I aren't outsiders to your family anyway. As your maternal cousin, how can I pretend not to see that you and Aunt Qing are facing a problem." He blurted out, much to Su Xiaofei and Master Ouyang's surprise.

Su Xiaofei inwardly smirked, realizing that Yun Xiang was already too deeply invested in her and her mother. This would make it easier for Yun Xiang to ask the rest of the Yun family to reconsider accepting Yun Qingrong back into their family.

"Xiao Xiang, what's with you?!" Master Ouyang reprimanded the young man next to him. "Can't you see that your cousin is already in distress?"

Su Xiaofei covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes widening as she feigned ignorance about her relationship to Yun Xiang.

"Huh? How did Lieutenant Yun and I become cousins, Master Ouyang? I thought my Mama and Papa were the only children, so I don't have any cousins from either side." She asked, looking at the two men in front of her.

The old man and Yun Xiang looked at each other in understanding. Master Ouyang took a sip from his drink before sighing deeply.

"Is that what your mother told you?" He asked Su Xiaofei.

"No." The young woman shook her head and blinked her clear eyes, now showing confusion.

"So how did you end up with the conclusion that she doesn't have any relatives or siblings?" The old man continued to ask her.

Su Xiaofei avoided meeting his gaze and looked away, as if she was ashamed of what she was about to tell them.

"To tell you the truth, I know my Papa is an only child because I once saw the family picture he had with his parents when they were still alive. However, with Mama…." Her words trailed off, as if she was hesitating to reveal what she knew or afraid to be proven wrong.

"What about Aunty Qing?" Yun Xiang asked.

"Mama always becomes sad whenever I ask her questions related to her family." Su Xiaofei lowered her head and spoke with a low voice.

"I once asked her if she had siblings or if I have cousins near my age to play with, but she burst into tears and shook her head, saying 'not anymore' all over again. I don't know what happened, but as a child seeing her mother cry helplessly like that, I decided to stop asking her questions about her family because it only made her sad when I did."

Her guests didn't utter a word in response, both deep in their own thoughts. The more they looked bothered and concerned about her and her mother, the more Su Xiaofei was pleased as it affirmed that her plan was working well. She could only hope the Yun family would cooperate with her this time.

"So you really are my cousin, Lieutenant Yun?" She asked Yun Xiang with a slight smile.

"Lieutenant Yun is too formal. You can call me Brother Xiang and if it's alright with you, can I call you Xiao Fei?" The young man straightened his posture and mustered all the courage he had to ask her this question.

The corner of Su Xiaofei's lip curled, leaving a cute and adorable impression on Yun Xiang.

"If that's what Brother Xiang wants, Xiao Fei doesn't mind."

"So, Xiao Fei, about the family issues you were talking about…" Master Ouyang obviously was also curious, like Yun Xiang. Both of them were apprehensive to know if the two women leaving the estate earlier were the reason for Yun Qingrong and Su Xiaofei's dilemma.

"It's like this…"