7 Weird Smile

Xavier stood there as he leaned his upper body forward and his arms freely waving down as he held the ball. His eyes looked relaxed but serious.

This was a different aura he was emitting, Charles thought. Perhaps his son had become more serious in the game?

Before he could even notice it, his son had already left him standing there as he dribbled toward the rim. Xavier shot the ball with a layup. His son had suddenly changed. The most terrifying thing about it was that he saw the changes with his own eyes. It was just a few shots yet he had already changed to cope up with his father's ability.

Charles was not an expert or a professional in basketball. However, he was a grown adult that was taller and much stronger than his son. Also, he had never seen his son play basketball when he was young.

There was only one word to describe Xavier's behavior. Prodigy. He could be considered a basketball prodigy for immediately finding out what he was lacking and quickly improving on it.

It wasn't a fluke, right? Charles had this question in mind before he took the ball and gave it to Xavier. 'I will guard him better now.'

However, Xavier's stance improved once again and his aura became more serious than when he did the layup. Charles could only look at him but his body seemed to be intimidated by his son. What a joke this is, he thought.

Charles followed his son and defended as he could but Xavier's ball handling improved by leaps and bounds as if it specifically changed to defeat his father. He was thrown off balance because of his son's movements. Was this what they call an ankle breaker?

However, Charles was able to recover immediately but his son had already made the shot with a floater.

His son was a basketball prodigy! He immediately approached Xavier and messed his hair with intense patting.

"Stop it, Dad!" Xavier giggled as he could remember when his father would do this act whenever he achieved something. He understood that Charles was proud of him as such he only smiled.

Charles only heaved a sigh as he was previously worried about his son's weak and frail body. However, when he heard that Xavier played basketball yesterday, he could not help but feel proud as he knew his son is doing his best to improve his health.

He saw with his own eyes that his son's stamina and body improved. Not only that, he discovered one crucial thing. His son possessed a talent beyond others.

Charles felt blessed by the heavens since he has a gifted son. A valedictorian and now, a basketball prodigy. Given a few years, he could potentially become a professional basketball player.

Thus, he invited his son to sit down on the court. "Xavier, your school is in two weeks. Do you plan on trying out for the basketball team?"

Xavier nodded and felt afraid of what his father would feel. After all, he was the sole heir to the Zero Group. His father was already fifty years old and he would need someone he could trust the corporation with.

Charles noticed the sudden change in his son's face. "You know you can pursue whatever you want. No matter what, I will support you."

Xavier felt a warm and comfortable energy flowing to him when his father said that.

His father stood up and offered his hand so that Xavier could stand up, too.

Charles patted Xavier's back. "So this is your complete defeat, right?"

"No way! The game didn't even finish." Xavier took the ball and passed it to Charles.

It was still a bit early before breakfast so they completed their game. Xavier would do crossover moves and even backward steps to leave behind his father. His shots differed depending on what's needed.

The final score was 21-7 in favor of Xavier.

Charles could only laugh on the way back to the mansion. Would his wife believe that their son has defeated him in a game?

He observed Xavier's movements closely and it was real that he could improve as the game passed. However, the improvement had become slower. His assumptions were that he would improve depending on the basketball ability of his opponent.

Charles' lips formed into a smile that had creeped Xavier out. What is it now that his father was planning?

They went back to the mansion and took a quick shower before going down for breakfast. It looked like his mother and little sister had been waiting for them.

The father and son were really tired and hungry when they arrived. The food was immediately served. It was egg benedict with pan-fried potatoes.

It was so appetizing that Xavier and Charles were in a race for the first one to finish their food. However, Emma's eyes twitched while looking at them. Noticing this, the two behaved themselves. People outside thought highly of Charles as the Chairman and CEO of the Zero Group but what they didn't know was his mother was above his dad.

After they finished their food, his mother and father entered the luxury car while Xavier and little sister waved their hands to them. Although their parents were busy a lot of times, they would still take care and spend time with their children whenever they could.

In fact, his mother spent her morning with his little sister. Emma would braid her daughter's hair after she finished showering and they would play tea if there was still some time.

"Amanda, is there anything you want to do today?" Xavier placed his hand on her head.

"Hmmm..." His little sister placed her index finger on her chin and her eyes looked up a bit. It was as if she was deep in thought. Very cute!

Xavier felt a little bad that he was still twelve years old. He could not bring his little sister outside the mansion. However, there were still many things to do here and fun places they could go.

"How about we play hide and seek?" Xavier suggested as he felt that Amanda would never finish with her thoughts.

"Okay, brother!" Amanda smiled, making her dimples show.

Xavier and Amanda spent the whole morning playing hide and seek. When lunch time came, they ate together in the dining room. The cook prepared a heavy but healthy lunch for them.

During the afternoon, he entrusted his little sister to the maid as he got back to his room. It had been a long day, he thought. He opened his computer to check on an online broker. There were a couple of companies that he remembered will be worth ten times two weeks from now.

Xavier looked around for a trusted broker before applying the company's name to the trading site. When he found the trusted one from his memory, he registered and inputted the card details of the company.

Ding.

[I am excited for the money you can earn!]

After a long day, it was great to know that the system was still alive. He thanked the system for irritating him today, too.

Written on his computer was the graph for the stocks of River Inc., Xavier vividly remembered that this was a company of Cayetana's family that will go under in 2023. He placed it on his notebook to help her when the time comes. However, this was not the company he was looking for.

'It's here.' Xavier happily said in his mind as he clicked the buy options. If his memory served him right, the ten million dollars he invested would be around one hundred million dollars in two weeks.

He expected and waited for the system's notification but it didn't happen. Are you only interested in money with nine zeros in it?!

Ding.

[Affirmative.]

Xavier slammed the table with both his hands before he calmed down. He internalized to himself that the system saved him and gave him the talent and constitution as well as the company.

"I like your honesty." Xavier gave off a fake smile.

Ding.

[Thank you.]

Xavier grinned as he closed his desktop. He looked outside and it was already night time. The butler once again called him for dinner and joined his family for dinner.

Emma only asked questions to her children about how their day went. They all quietly finished their meals.

However, his father was eerily quiet and wore a weird smile that made him think if something had happened. He speculated that his mother and father had an argument. He dismissed it and went to bed.

When he woke up, he was invited again for breakfast. Xavier didn't play basketball with his father as he didn't ask for it. During breakfast, the way his father looked at him was still that similar smile.

He finally remembered this smile. On that day of the accident, this was his smile when he set me up on a blind date! This would probably be related to something I didn't want but this supportive dad wanted to help.

Xavier's thoughts were right. After their breakfast...

His father introduced him to a whole team of basketball trainers and coaches.