it took me awhile!
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CHAPTER 7: Li Feng
The closing of the car doors can be heard from the living room of the Li mansion. Yelan, Xi and the quadruplets are waiting inside for the announcement of the visitor. As if on cue, Wei, the butler, appeared from the entrance door. "Master, Mistress, and young mistresses, Madame Feng has arrived." Wei announced as an old lady walked in, with grace and elegance in her aura. Her hair is gray and tied in a bun; she wore a black pant suit with a white purse clutched in her hands. Her every appearance signifies how powerful she is.
"Fanren, it's not appropriate for women to bite their nails." She said sternly when she saw Fanren biting her fingers because of nervousness when she saw her grandmother.
The girls are quite edgy when they get to see their grandmother, she has this presence that you, yourself can't stand. She's such a perfectionist, she sticks to tradition, she wants respect from you, and she doesn't like anyone to mess things up.
"Mother," Xi said as he bowed down for respect. Feng just looked at her son and smiled briefly. "I don't see Xiao Lang and her wife, where are they?" She said when she noticed that they are missing.
"They are still in their honeymoon mother," Yelan said politely. Feng's brow rose for this is unacceptable for her. She prefers that people wait for her than she waits for them. "And when will they comeback?"
"Tomorrow," Xi said without any hesitation.
Feng only nodded and stood straighter. "Take me to my room now, and prepare me a tea." She commanded as Wei automatically led her upstairs to her designated room.
When Feng was finally out of sight, Xi sat down on the sofa and sighed. "Call Syaoran immediately, sooner or later mother will come down here and demand for them." He said as he held his temples.
Nodding her head, Sheifa stood up and ran to the nearest phone.
SYAORAN AND SAKURA
"I can't believe that Ayame's interrupting my vacation, to top it off, you caught a cold." Syaoran whined when they got out from the airport with their luggages. "Well I'm sorry Mr. Airhead, maybe because you labor me too much that's why I got this." Sakura bit back as she held onto Syaoran for support.
Syaoran fought the urge to argue as the driver from the company arrived and helped them load their luggages in the car. Syaoran assisted the very weak and pale Sakura inside the black SUV. He then loaded the remaining luggage at the back of the car.
Sitting back inside the car, he glanced at Sakura who's now currently sleeping with her hands on the other side of her face. "What a pig," Syaoran murmured when he finally settled in. "Taiji, take us home." He said to the driver as he touched Sakura's burning forehead.
"Hai, Mr. Li." Taiji replied as he started the car and drove away.
Syaoran sighed and tisked when he felt like Sakura's condition gotten worst. Fishing his phone from his pocket, he dialed Doctor Hayashi's number. He waited for the call to be picked up with his fingers tapping on his lap.
"Hello," A man answered on the other line. "Oh hi doc, this is Li Syaoran," Syaoran started. "Oh yes, yes, what can I do to you Mr. Li?" The man said. "Can you come over to our house let's say in an hour, my mai- I mean wife has a fever and.. and," Syaoran trailed off as if realizing that he's totally worrying about her. Why the hell is he worrying now? She's just his maid. Maybe because she's his responsibility? Yeh, maybe that was it.
"Oh, okay I'll be right there, have a nice day Mr. Li," The man said cheerfully at the other line snapping Syaoran from his senses.
Syaoran haven't even flipped his phone closed when his phone started to ring once more.
"Shen me? (What?)" Syaoran said in Chinese when she saw his sister's name. "Di di, (little brother)" came Sheifa's voice from the other line. "What is it Sheifa," Syaoran repeated as he grabbed a pillow and placed it behind Sakura's head.
"Grandma just flew in from Hong Kong and she wants to meet you and Sakura." She said making Syaoran frown.
"Wo bu ming bai, (I don't understand) why is she here?" He asked as he glared at Taiji who watched what he just did to Sakura.
"Well duh," Sheifa stared as she rolled her eyes. "You are an heir of the Li clan, and she's an elder, do I make a connection?" she said making Syaoran realized everything.
"Oh fuck," Syaoran exclaimed and slapped his hand on his forehead. "I'm glad you finally realized it. Listen, dad said that you should come here in Japan today. He doesn't want Grandma to bother him later. You know how impatient she is." Sheifa said.
Syaoran rolled his eyes as he tried to sink everything he has to do for today. One, urgent meeting with Ayame and two, he has to meet with his grandma. "I'm in Japan right now, we just arrived a while ago." He said, resting his temples on his fingers.
"Oh, you arrived a day early. Why so?" Sheifa said, out of curiosity. "Ayame wants an urgent meeting and Sakura got a fever." Syaoran replied simply.
Sheifa smiled sheepishly on the other line. "Di Di got worried of Mei Mei (Little sister)?" she teased. "Shut up Sheifa," Syaoran snapped. Sheifa only giggled on the other line from his brother's defensiveness. She really knows how stubborn her brother is, and it will take the pigs fly before he will admit how obstinate he is.
"Fine, but proceed here immediately," Sheifa said making Syaoran's eyes roll seeing that he has no options right now. His grandmother's in town, and he knows, she will do anything so her business will be completed. And that is to meet and interrogate the new member of the Li family.
"Taiji, let's go to Tomoeda instead. And can you call the doctor, tell him to go there instead." Syaoran said, subconsciously holding Sakura's hand.
KINOMOTO HOUSEHOLD
The two men in the Kinomoto household are inside the living room having a deep conversation with each other. They were arguing whether to tell Sakura immediately or not about their current situation.
"Dad, we have three days, we have to tell her now. She is our only hope." Touya said with his hands clasp together. "We don't have to tell your sister, this is another burden for her." Fujitaka replied calmly, but his eyes don't hold the tranquility in it.
"Dad, there's an increase of the amount; we have to tell her, it's the least we can do." Touya said, trying to pound every word to his father's head. Fujitaka only sighed and kept silent. He was deep in thought about what he should do. He knows he has to tell Sakura about the situation, because she's also a family, but he thought that Sakura's having a normal and stress free life with her new life now and he doesn't want to be the reason on stressing her.
Touya watched his father lost in his thoughts. He then shook his head and released a deep long sigh. "Think about it dad." Touya said making Fujitaka nod as his reply.
"So what's the plan on Sakura's birthday? You know it's going to be on Friday." Touya said, trying to shrug off the current topic. Fujitaka only shook his head. "I have no idea. Your sister is not the type who likes surprises, let's wait for her to tell us." He said smiling as if his mood lightens when he's reminded about Sakura's birthday.
LI MANSION
The noises inside Sakura's head bothered her; it's as if like her dreams are screaming on her on something. Trying to erase that part of the dream, it's so useless for it's like it's real.
Stirring on the bed, she can barely lift her eyes to wake up. It's as if her eyes are glued on the lower eyelid and as she tries on making out every word she can hear.
"Seriously mother, you don't need to wake her up." Came Yelan's voice. "Nonsense Yelan, I'm a very busy woman and I need to talk to her now." An unfamiliar voice said. "Grandma, she's ill, and the doctor said she needs her rest." Came either one of the quadruplet's voice.
"What a shame, a young woman shouldn't catch any ailment! Why, when I was the same age as her, I can push the dragon statue on the entrance door." The woman's voice boast. "Well, obviously she's not like you mother." Yelan said as she tries to prevent Feng to wake Sakura up.
Feng was about to reach for Sakura's body when Sakura groaned and slowly opened her eyes.
"Oh look, she's waking up!" Fuutie exclaimed.
Sakura slowly opened her eyes, and was surprised when she saw the sight of wrinkles, squinty little eyes, and a straight lipped woman an inch away from her.
"AAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"Good Lord!" Feng exclaimed and jerked away from Sakura. "Who the hell are you?!" Sakura exclaimed as she pulled the covers to her and gripped it tightly. "Such manners!" Feng said disbelievingly. "Manners? You were merely an inch away from me!" Sakura retorted.
Feng's eyes only widened when such a woman with no class talked to her like that. "Oh! Oh! My heart, ah!" Feng exclaimed. "Mother!" Yelan said as she rushed to aid Feng. Sakura's eyes widened when she finally realized that they were not the only people inside the room.
She was surprised seeing the quadruplets and Yelan, who's fanning the faking-oh-my-heart Feng. "Mother?" Sakura echoed as she tried to stand up from the bed. "Oh don't worry Sakura, just lie back down, grandma's going to be alright." Sheifa said as she tried to stop Sakura from standing up so she can help Yelan.
"Alright? I'm not alright! You woman, have no manners!" Feng said when she received a glass of water from Fanren. "Mother, please. It's a natural reaction, it's not her fault." Yelan said. Feng only ignored Yelan and scrutinized Sakura who's now bowing her head for apology.
"Oh I'm sorry ma'am, I didn't know." Sakura said as she finally managed to stand up, ignoring her pounding head ache. Feng's brow only rose and stood up straight as if nothing happened to her awhile ago.
She walked toward Sakura and walked around her. "Is this," Feng began and finally stopped walking when she finally came face to face with the burning red Sakura. "Syaoran's wife?" She continued.
"Yes mother." Yelan replied.
Feng only grunted and studied more Sakura's figure and physical appearance. "Too slim," She said. Before Sakura can speak, she was interrupted by Feimiel , "Well she's a dancer grandma."
"A dancer? What kind of a dancer are you?" Feng asked directly to Sakura. "I-I'm a choreographer and I sometimes perform on events." Sakura answered. "That kind of work is low in income." Feng said frankly.
Before Sakura can talk again she's interrupted by more of Feng's interrogation. "Where did you studied?" She said. "I studied at Seijuu for elementary and High School and I studied at Tokyo University for college." She answered trying to manage her balance which is now starting to betray her.
"Why you didn't even execute the proper greeting for the elders child." Feng said ignoring her state. "Grandma—" Fanren began but was cut off by Feng with one finger raised to silence her.
Sakura only nodded and tried to bow down with his legs starting to wobble. She executed the bowing unsatisfactorily making a dismayed look from Feng. "Poor child, does your mother ever taught you how to bow down properly?" Feng said.
Sakura tried to focus her vision towards Feng when her head started to spin. "My mother is already dead ma'am." Sakura answered. Feng smirked. "More reasons on why you and Syaoran should live here from now." She said making Sakura's eye bulge.
"What? B-but—" Sakura started to protest but was cut off again by Feng. "As the wife of the future heir of the Li Clan you should be taught proper manners. I, as an elder of the clan, have the right to teach you everything to be done." Feng stated.
"Clan?" Sakura echoed as if like everything Feng said didn't register in her mind. She was oblivious about the clan or anything in Syaoran's life. She didn't expect that she would be involving herself to a family this big or having this type of custom.
"Yes, and Syaoran is the heir of the Clan. Hasn't he explained it to you?" Feng asked. Sakura shook her head for her answer. Feng only sighed. "That boy, but, oh well, like what I said, you two should be living here with us so I can teach you properly about the traditions and etiquette in this clan. For now, I see that you're not feeling well, please take your rest." Feng said, and went out from the room as if like everything is not a big deal about what she said but for Sakura.
Sakura was left inside the room with Yelan and the quadruplets who was silent the whole time, as if like everything happened very quickly that they didn't have the time to react.
'Live here? What?' Sakura's thoughts were bombarded with all the things she just heard from the lady. Everything made her head spin and without warning she dropped down to the floor unconsciously.
All she could ever feel that her body is light and everything went dark.
SYAORAN
Far away from Tomoeda is where you will find Syaoran's agency in downtown Tokyo. As usual, Ayame and Syaoran are inside the conference room discussing his schedules for the month. And naturally, Ayame's reciting Syaoran's every schedule while Syaoran, bored with his chin resting on his palm with a dull expression on his face.
Syaoran was focusing his vision on Ayame but everything that he hears are all blah blah blahs and yadi-yadi-yadas. He only sighed thinking that he will be stuck there for awhile and it led his thoughts about what's the condition of Sakura by now. He's already planning on going straight back home to check up on her. He was thinking about her subconsciously lately, and he didn't even realize it just yet.
"Syaoran?" Ayame started to call his name when she realized that he wasn't listening to her anymore. Syaoran was only gazing at her without even responding. "Syaoran!" Ayame snapped making Syaoran jerk.
"Yes, yes, I will be on the party in the club this Friday." Syaoran answered not even knowing if the topic is still about the party being held on Friday night at Urban Club.
Ayame's brow only rose and giggled. "Where's your mind wandering?" she said. "N-nothing. What were you saying?" He said after snapping back to his senses. Ayame rolled her eyes and shook her head. "I said, you're going to model for Yamagata Kaori's design tomorrow morning." She said making Syaoran's eyes widen and making him remind of Kaori who rejected him.
Syaoran shifted his weight uncomfortably in his seat and shook his head. "I'm sorry I can't, find somebody else." He said as he stood up and headed to the door. "Whatever is the issue between you and Yamagata-san, set it aside and be professional." Ayame said before Syaoran will walk out from her again.
Syaoran stopped from his tracks as he listened to what was Ayame was telling her. "I know something's wrong Syaoran, you better fix it." She said before Syaoran slammed the door and headed out of the building.
When Syaoran heard the name of Kaori his mind started to stir up and flashes of her ran into his mind. He was reminded of her again. The one he tried to erase in his mind and tried to forget his feeling of her. But why is it that the mere mention of her name wanted him to go to her and see her? Is it because he still has feelings for her? Or is it for the sake of friendship they build together?
He knows he can't answer it right away, but he knows he has to see her. Maybe by now, he won't be feeling anything for her, would he?
KAORI
Busy making final fitting arrangements for her client, Kaori was instructing and deciding everything about the dress that the client was wearing. "Yes, yes, I would fit it more here at the waist and then I would like to extend more fabric at the back, what do you think?" She asked at the client.
"I would love that," the client answered. "Okay, please wait here for a while, I would get my measuring tape." Kaori said as she rushed towards her office where she left her materials.
She stopped from her steps when she passed at the shop window where she saw Syaoran's car parked from afar. She was surprised that seeing Syaoran around the area after what she did to him. Her smile widened when she thought that she hadn't lost one of her best friends. But her smile faded when Syaoran started his car and left the area.
Fishing her phone from her pocket she speed dialed Syaoran's number and waited excitedly that Syaoran will finally pick his phone after days of trying to reach him.
Syaoran's phone rang and telling him that Kaori's calling when he saw the caller id. He first hesitated to pick it up but his senses are telling him to do so, and so he did. "Moshi moshi?" he said calmly.
"Syaoran," Came Kaori's voice. "If you're not back here in five minutes our friendship for fifteen years are through!" She said and hanged up the phone with a jubilant smile all over her face.
Flipping his phone close, Syaoran only sighed and smirked. "That girl," he murmured, seeing that he can't hesitate Kaori and finally turned his back around and went back to Kaori's shop.
AT THE SHOP
Syaoran entered the shop feeling a bit uneasy. Partly because he was rejected by this woman, and because what happened between them didn't bother her and it made her still think of him as her friend. He walked towards Kaori who's with her client making final touches of the dress.
"There, all done Mrs. Wu, thank you very much." She said as Mrs. Wu shook her hands and went to the dressing room to change. When Mrs. Wu was finally gone, Kaori turned around to see Syaoran already standing behind her.
She frowned playfully when she finally get to face him. "Finally decided to answer my calls?" She said sarcastically at him. Syaoran only grinned as his reply to her. "You made me worried!" Kaori said as she slapped Syaoran shoulder playfully.
"What did I do to you?" Syaoran asked rhetorically as he caressed his shoulder after she slapped him. Kaori only pouted and placed both his hands at her hips. "Tell me Xiao Lang, are you mad at me?" She said straight to the point. Syaoran's brow furrowed as if she's asking him a silly question.
"What? I can't be mad at you." He said.
"Then why didn't you answer my calls? You didn't even tell me that you're going out of town. You made me worried. I thought you are mad at me and it will end our friendship." Kaori said, feeling a bit upset towards her best friend.
Syaoran only made a cocky grin at her and shook his head. "I can never be angry of you. We are friends." He said making Kaori smile widely. "Really?" She said childishly. "Yes." Syaoran replied making her chuckle.
"Well, if that's the case, I'll buy you a drink to celebrate!" Kaori said cheerfully. Syaoran only nodded without dubiously because his original plan was to go back to Tomoeda and check up on Sakura; but this was gone unnoticed by Kaori who's very ecstatic at the moment.
AT THE BAR:
"Syaoran," Kaori said after a while of drinking her brandy. "Tell me, who do you like most… me or Sakura?" She asked frankly as she smiled softly with a drunk expression across her face. Syaoran was a bit taken aback from the question. "You." He said directly without any hesitations of answering.
Kaori giggled from his reply. "Silly, you should like more Sakura, because she is your wife." She added with a set of giggles after. Syaoran only raised one brow as a sign of his confusion from what she just asked him for and what she just told him.
"But," Kaori interjected. "Even though you like her more than me, it doesn't mean that you will never be beside me." She said softly as she stared forward. Syaoran's mouth dropped open and he tried to tell her something, when his phone rang.
Pulling his phone out from his pocket he answered it immediately without looking at the caller id. "Syaoran here," He said. "Syaoran, what time will you be going home? We seriously have a problem here." Sakura said from the other line. Syaoran's brow creased.
"Is it really important?" He said.
"Yes, like super important." Sakura assured.
"Look, I— uh," Syaoran hesitated on what he was going to tell. He doesn't want to leave Kaori behind drunk and he's really sure that from the tone of Sakura's voice, the situation is pretty serious.
"You better go." Kaori said when she realized that Syaoran's needed.
Syaoran just looked at her, a bit uncertain about her state of drunkenness. "Okay, I'll be there in half an hour." He said on the phone and he hanged up and faced Kaori. "So, I'll take you home first." He said.
Kaori only shook her head from disapproval. "You should go home. You can't go home by yourself like that unaccompanied." Syaoran said. Kaori only snorted. "Yeah right." She said. "Don't be such a stubborn grown woman. C'mon, I'm not leaving unless you go home." He said. Kaori only frowned in disagreement.
"I'm perfectly fine Syaoran," She groaned. "No." Syaoran sad sternly making Kaori finally agree.
Syaoran arrived at his parents' house after he finally made sure that Kaori was safe home. When he arrived he saw Sakura waiting for him at the living room with hands clasp together on her lap and head bowed down.
Syaoran's brow rose seeing how uneasy her aura is to him when he saw her. Curious, he walked slowly to Sakura. "Okay, what's the seriously important thing you were trying to say to me?" He said, making Sakura look up to him with pale face.
"What happened to you?" He said.
"Well, your grandmother saw me this afternoon, and she talked to me." Sakura began, pausing for a moment. "And?" Syaoran urged her to continue. "And…" She continued twitching uncomfortably. "She said I lack proper etiquette—" before she can continue the rest Syaoran burst out laughing.
'That's surprisingly unexpected!" He said sarcastically as he sat down beside her with his arms lounged on the back rest. Sakura frowned and hit his arms. "You didn't let me finish!" she snapped. "Okay, okay, fine." He said after trying so much on suppressing his laughter. "And she said that I should be properly taught about etiquette and—"
She didn't finish her sentence again because Syaoran laughed once more. "The one who's going to teach you will be having a hard time going through your thick head to understand what she's saying." He said, followed by fits of chuckle and laughter.
"Oh yeah? Really? Well I hope your GRANDMOTHER will be too patient to teach me because we will be living here." Sakura said making Syaoran's laughter stop and his eyes bulged out. "What??" He exclaimed. Sakura laughed from his reaction. "Look who's laughing now." She said.
"Wait! WHY?" Syaoran said, ignoring Sakura's remarks. "I already told you—"
"I already get that!" Syaoran snapped. Sakura rolled her eyes from Syaoran's sudden outburst. "You really don't let me finish what I want to tell you." She said.
"Where is she?!" Syaoran exclaimed as he stood up and stormed up on the stairs toward his grandmother's room. "Wait Syaoran, it's already late! It's rude waking up people, especially old people!" Sakura hissed as she ran after Syaoran to restrain him from what he's trying to do. But she was already too late because Syaoran was too fast for her and he was already slamming the door open towards Feng's room.
Sakura cringed from the loud bang the door made.
Surprisingly, when she was at the door way of Feng's room, Feng was still awake reading a Chinese book.
"Listen old lady, what the hell were you thinking us living here??" Syaoran almost shouted. Feng looked at Syaoran with serenity on her face, with no signs of being bothered from Syaoran's belligerence.
"Ah Syaoran, aggressiveness is never a solution to any conversations you want to carry out." Feng said softly and clearly as he closed her book and laid it aside. Syaoran took a deep breath. "Pardon me grandmother, but I am greatly disturbed by your decision about us living here." He said behind gritted teeth.
"Ah," Feng began as she stood from her four-poster queen-sized bed. "I am an elder Xiao Lang, and as an elder I have the right to do what is best for the welfare of the soon-to-be heir of the Clan. We cannot have a mistress with lack of proper etiquette in this family. She has lots of things to learn. Whether you like it or not, the two of you will stay here so that I could be near her and lessons will be convenient with her close by me." She said.
"But you know I can't live in the same house with dad, you know that." Syaoran whimpered like a child. Feng was about to argue back when she was interrupted.
"They can live down the street where we have one of our houses. They can live there and it's closer than Syaoran's house. And it's big, suitable when they will have a family. We can immediately send someone over there to arrange everything there tomorrow and they can live there before the week ends." Yelan interjected from the doorway which was gone unnoticed by Syaoran, Sakura and Feng that she was there. She was probably there after Syaoran's voice boomed out.
Sakura blushed from the word family. She never really realized that when there's a couple there's a kid, and when there's a kid there's a family. And this made her a bit nauseous imagining it.
"Great!" Syaoran said lively. "There, is that okay with you now old lady?" He said, going back from his contempt behavior.
Feng paused for a moment, reconsidering the given situation and nodded her head. "Okay, I will allow that." She said. Syaoran's once grim face turned into a grin. "This moot discussion is over, now we can go." He said as he turned his back from Feng.
He was almost at the door when Feng called him back. "Xiao Lang." She said. Her tone was like you're-forgetting-something tone. Syaoran rolled his eyes and faced her back and bowed slightly before turning swiftly back towards the door.
"Ah, Xiao Lang." Feng called out again. Syaoran's jaws tightened, a bit confused on what he has forgotten to do. "Yes Grandma?" He said behind gritted teeth. "I will hold a ball in honor of the new mistress of the Clan tomorrow. I am sure that Sakura will learn quite a little bit tomorrow from me before the dinner. The ball will be at the Plantation Bay Hotel, you better pick a nice attire to wear. And you too, Sakura." She said as she turned her back and climbed on her bed.
Syaoran nodded once and left without anymore word left behind with Sakura behind him after bowing towards the elder.