32 Tension (1)

For the next couple of weeks, Shi Yen didn't see Yuan Shun much.

In the morning, she'd leave before him, and during the evening, he'd arrive late, both immersed in their different lifestyles. She didn't mind, though, but Shi Yen started to realize that she had been paying too much attention to his schedule.

One morning, on the weekend, Shi Yen woke up late, stretching her arms, stirring out of bed. She washed up and changed, calling Shizi over to take her on a walk. She stepped down the first half of her staircase and paused, glancing over at the long and vast arched window.

She looked below, at Yuan Shun, topless, cleaning the pool. He left the sprinklers on to water the plants and grass. Without him, she'd be having a dead yard than the beautiful one down below.

Her stare fixated on him until he looked up at her, and she walked away before their brief glances met. She stepped down the stairs, and Shizi had twirled in circles, anticipating her release.

Shi Yen slipped on her shoes, stepping out of the house with Shizi.

Her dog was trained to walk by her side without a leash and without straying far from Shi Yen. Shizi had her distractions, but they were momentary.

She walked around the neighbourhood, observing the other houses; each estate appeared to be homely, filled with children and pets.

Shi Yen stumbled at what seemed to be the start of a gathering. She walked passed a woman who was removing groceries from the car. She then started to walk up to Shi Yen suddenly. "Are you our new neighbour?" she questioned.

"Hm, the last one down the street," Shi Yen replied.

The woman's mouth gaped. "With Mr. Yuan?"

Shit. The woman seemed to be a gossip case, and the last thing Shi Yen needed was people knowing that she sort-of lived with Yuan Shun.

Shi Yen nodded.

"What's your name?" the woman questioned.

"Yen." She left out the surname, not wanting people to associate her with Yuan Shun.

"Well, we do a lot of community gatherings. You can bring Mr. Yuan, too, one day if you wish."

"Thank you," replied Shi Yen, faking a smile.

She then continued to walk back around with Shizi. No, thank you, she thought. She was a workaholic as well as a homebody, and she didn't associate herself with many people if it wasn't necessary.

They trailed back, arriving back home. Shi Yen wanted to go to the main office with Shizi, so she picked her up and placed her in the car.

Shi Ailin was already at the office when she stepped in.

"Ah, good, you're here," Shi Ailin said.

"That's my line," replied Shi Yen. "But, I'm glad your work ethic is improving."

Shi Ailin flashed a smile. "Too busy with Mr. Yuan?"

Shi Yen groaned distastefully, ending that topic.

"I've come up with campaigns for our perfume collection," Shi Ailin continued, sliding a visual storyboard towards Shi Yen's direction to see. There were drawings for photoshoots and commercials to sell the products.

"Why is there a picture of me in this?"

"Because you will be the face of the campaign," Shi Ailin said.

"What?"

"You're the owner of this brand. Use your own face to sell it," Shi Ailin suggested.

Shi Yen's mouth opened and shut tightly. "I—I've never—"

"I know," her sister replied. "But I've contacted Song Entertainment, and they've agreed to do the shoot. You just need to show up and model for it. Oh, and we'll need a male actor too."

Shi Yen sighed deeply. She supposed it was a good idea. She had never shown her face much when marketing what she was selling, and it may provide a connection with her consumers. But damn, she wasn't going to be good at this.

"All right. I'll do it," said Shi Yen, despite her reluctance.

…

Yuan Shun had been feeling tense.

He knew he couldn't avoid his grandfather forever, but he would try to avoid meeting with him as much as he could.

Still, he was obligated to see him, since family-ties are so thick, and his grandfather was a powerful man. In fact, he was the only person—other than the late Shi Yan—that invoked fear in him.

He went to attend a family dinner with his mother and sister.

He could see how Yuan Xinyi's posture was too straight and stiff, not hiding the heaviness she felt.

They greeted his grandfather and joined him at the dinner table. Grandfather Yuan's white hair peppered with black strands; it used to be pitch-dark, like his, like most of the Yuan's. His russet eyes were darker, like earth roots.

It was silent, except for the occasional comment Yuan Xinyi made to break the tension. She asked Grandfather Yuan about his morning, his health, and his work. He gave her one-word responses.

"Are you still working as a manager at one of the branches?" he questioned her.

Yuan Xinyi stiffened. "Yes," she replied shakingly.

"Pathetic," he said.

Yuan Xinyi pressed her lips into a thin line, on the verge of tears, but she held back.

Yuan Shun snarled.

"Do you have something to say to me?" his grandfather said, snapping his face towards Yuan Shun. "I thought I heard something. Speak up, boy."

Yuan Shun's throat suddenly tightened. He felt frozen, unable to speak. It had always been like that, never delving the courage to speak against him. It was difficult.

"I thought so," his grandfather said.

Yuan Shun's hand tightened around the handle of his fork.

His mother kept quiet since she wasn't a Yuan; she kept her mouth shut, as always. When he was younger, Yuan Shun didn't understand why his mother never defended him. But he later learned that she was just as terrified of him as he was.

Grandfather Yuan had used to compare him to his older brother. But now it was Luo Wanting, since his brother, Yuan Ning, died.

Yuan Ning was the pride of the family. He was intelligent, obedient yet vocal and defiant. He did what he was told; he was as cruel and ruthless as their grandfather. Yuan Shun didn't have the best relationship with Yuan Ning since they were always at odds.

Yuan Shun was more kind and compassionate, and Yuan Ning thought of him as weak.

Yuan Ning would sneer at him for wanting to empathize with people who struggled financially when they were supposed to be debt collectors. But Yuan Shun never felt that way, not until Yuan Ning passed, making him the heir.

Yuan Shun still grieved for him; despite their differences, but there were also good moments. Yuan Ning protected and defended him against others that weren't family. He wanted to make Yuan Shun better, and it worked.

Yuan Shun changed his views. Everyone thought he wouldn't be able to run Yuan Bank, but he did it. They thought of him as weak, so he became hard-hearted and harsh. He became what Yuan Ning wanted.

And the dinner was awkward.