Mama's Princess Is Daddy's Beloved

After seeing Ning Meiling's frustration and infuriation from before, Li Xue has been sure of one thing. What happened with her at Feng Internationals earlier has got some of its connection with her too. Since she was not a person to raise her fingers at someone out of mere suspicions, she did not go all the way out to make it obvious. But there was no harm in giving a gentle, polite warning too.

"Huh? Did I say anything to offend you, Chef Ning? Sorry but I am just asking you to relax. Your leg is still in bad condition; you should take some rest. Don't overexert yourself with such petty things" She said with a slight concerned laced voice as she turned to look at Mia on her side.

"Mia, I would need to ask your help. Please help Chef Ning out. Her foot must still be hurting", she asked and Mia on her orders went to help the woman at once. But before she could even reach to support her, her arms were roughly swatted away. "No need, I can manage myself!?"

Saying that she walked outside, leaving the young girl with twitched lips. "Li Xue, she is truly impossible. If I have not been under your care, then I would have definitely not restrained myself from cursing her out. She is so mean to people around, always pretending to be high, mighty and elegant, when she is nothing like that."

"I am sorry, Mia, it was my fault. And also thank you for thinking so much about me. I must be a lucky one to get such good and responsible team-mates", she said with a grateful smile, making the young girl blush. "Hehe … Li Xue, it's you whom we should appreciate. You have a perfect aura and qualities of becoming a good leader. Making every people around follow your words and orders willingly"

"Team-mates! Does that include me too? Xena, did you finally call me good and responsible" Chen Yujian, who was enjoying the drama, moments before was snapped back when heard the woman put some good praises in front.

Getting all honoured, he almost jumped with joy to only get sidelined once again, "Did I create some misconceptions here?" She asked Mia, pretending to be clueless about the things. Then coming back to the young man, she said, shaking her head in complete denial, "No, not at all! That I have only said for Mia. How can you be included?"

Like a puppy desperate for his master's appreciation, Chen Yujian did not hesitate any bit before whining, "Hey! How can you say that? Of course, I must be included. Apart from me and Mia, who else do you have here and also you have said teammates, clearly in the plural form so I must be included somehow. You have included me in your words. Just accept it now".

Li Xue suppressed a chuckle leaving her lips when heard the boy whining like a child. For the first time, it felt like he was living his age. Turning to face him, she simply said, "If you want to stay in misconception then stay there as long as you wish. It's your wish. But let me make it clear that you would be living in a lie. If you truly want the praises, then earn it. Nothing in this world comes without hard work. Make your hard work compatible with the attitude you carry, and I will be the first one to praise you. I promise!"

***

At the same time at some big lavish mansion, a woman was sitting maintaining her beauty and elegance. She was on the call with someone. The smile on her lips was very sophisticated. From time to time as the talks on the phone progressed, she would blush and then again add some of her words to keep going the same way.

"Ahh Madam Zhao, the necklace you are asking about is the same. It's something really close to my heart. Yu Hao got me that as a gift from that last year European exhibition". She said. It felt like they were talking about some piece of jewellery, from the last time they met.

The smile deepened over her lips as she heard the words from the other side. "You are just …" she was about to say her words when suddenly her eyes caught on someone entering from the front. Pausing her conversation on the call, she called out, "Yi Lan, wait there! I have something to talk to you"

Her words halted the movements of the young woman who entered the house. She stood still at her place but did not care to turn and greet the lady who had asked her to stop. Looking at her like this, no one can say that she has stopped her steps on the call of the lady. A weird air of unfamiliarity and strangeness took its space around. Pulling out her phone, Yi Lan got herself busy into it and the lady too went back to continue her call.

"Ms Zhao, sorry for the interruption, I was saying that you are just exaggerating it. I wasn't looking that beautiful at all. How can an old woman in her late 40s like me even think to match the charms of young maidens of our society? They look a lot prettier than us. Haha …" she said, giving musical laughter towards the end. She paused saying her words to hear what the other end had to say.

"Oh that young girl from that has accompanied Madam Chu. Ahh yes, yes! I have seen her. She is really beautiful. Any family will be fortunate to get a daughter-in-law like that". The words from the other side were not audible to Yi Lan but she could still hear the one side conversation. And that was a way more than enough to understand what typical thing was happening.

"Yes, yes I agree" The middle-aged lady paused in between suddenly as if trying to calculate something then said in a confident tone. "Of course, Shufen respects me very much. I will ask him about meeting this girl. But you know how kids are in this generation right? I don't want to force him. I know if I say, he will agree but …"

"Mama, are you sure that he will agree even if you beg him for it?", at this moment, Feng Yi Lan interjected with a mocking smile, earning a glare in return but that contemptuous smile did not retreat her lips. It stayed still challenging the middle-aged lady with a wide grin.

"Haha … Madam Zhao, it's nothing. I think I got some work to settle now. Yi Lan has returned home after so many months. You know how busy she gets with her work, just like her brother. She needs me for something. I will call you back later. And rest assured I will definitely make Shufen meet that girl. It would be really good if he can take some liking of that girl. I am sure I would love her company in future" She said and then quickly disconnected the call, giving all her attention back at her daughter, who never hesitates to let her down.

"Yi Lan, was that the way to talk to your mother? Do you want me to get embarrassed in front of my friends?" She half yelled.

"Embarrass you? I was just helping you clear your doubts. Brother doesn't respect you as a mother, rather he prefers to keep some politeness on the surface so that other people, out in the society, do not look down on you. If you have forgotten, let me remind you that you are not his mother, rather just a second wife to his father" Feng Yi Lan said, pulling a mirror of truth in front of her own mother. The lady, she despises the most in her life!