4. Reunion

'I am crying'

"Little Zhi?" I saw everyone standing up and mom striding towards me.

Xiang Zhi didn't realize until her mother's hug jolts her out from her dilemma.

Before entering I was beyond happy and excited to meet them again after so long but I don't know what happened.

It was like a trigger going off in my heart and all the emotions came crashing on me.

"Little Zhi, you are scaring me. What's going on? tell me, please" Mom exclaimed panicking.

I couldn't hear anything. I was trying to figure it myself. What happened? I was feeling a myriad of emotions. Sad, happy, excited, longing, content, anger, regret. All the pain I experienced in my past life was now, all at once.

I was crying my eyes out at this moment, I hugged her and cried until no tears were left. I don't know how much time went by.

I wiled my tears away. My snout was all over my mum's shoulder.

"where are the tissues?" taking the tissues from the servant my mum pass them to me.

"thank you, mom" wiping, I looked at the three most precious people in front of me.

'ah, they are worried because of me, again. way to go Zhi' I drank a glass of water to replenish my water tanks.

"Little Zhi, I am sorry it's Dad's fault. I am sorry to ruin your birthday. please forgive this father of yours. I promise I will gift you the jewelry set you always wanted." Dad said gently, like coaxing a little kid, making me surprised a little.

"Daddy..." I couldn't help but run to him and hug him, this time, before crying again.

I felt him go rigid, but then he gently patted my back, and occasionally stroked my head, hugging me.

After another whole lot of time, I don't know how long, I stopped.

Father Xiang and all the members in the room present were shocked to see Xiang Zhi suddenly crying at the entrance. They were originally prepared for the little tantrum of their Little Miss, but to their surprise, it never came to pass.

Xiang Huo who was silent and startled at first couldn't help but get worried now.

When Xiang Zhi stopped her second round of sobbing sessions, Huo went to her and made her sit on the chair and wiped her tears off her face kneeling in front of her.

"Zhi Zhi, please don't cry. We are sorry. Did something happen? you are making us worried. Look at Mom and Dad. Did anyone say something bad to you? you can tell your elder sister, I will make sure to teach them a good lesson, okay? ." Huo said with a face full of mixed emotions, which was a rare sight, and I didn't miss the cold light that flashed through her eyes at the end of the sentence.

"No, no it's just... I missed you guys, that's all." I managed to say smiling at her and then my parents.

Thankfully they relaxed, a little.

I looked at my dead elder sister and hugged her, this time I didn't cry. It was a happy hug.

"I am happy to have you as my elder sister, Huo. Thank you for putting up with me even though I am so dumb and childish" I said sincerely before smiling, flashing my full teeth at the display.

Huo looked at me for a while and then pinched my cheeks, smiling.

"Of course, I am your elder smart sister. I have to take care of you or who else? What is it with you, anyway? You are acting weird today. Don't cry like that though kiddo, my heart feels hurt for some reason" She said confused.

"You are normal, Sister. It feels like that when we see something painful to watch or your loved ones in pain, not that I am in pain but I cried, so, technically." Giggling, I tried to explain to her but miserably failed.

" well, I am glad-" Huo was saying more when Mom Interrupted our sister's moments.

"Honey, what is going on you suddenly started crying and then again crying and now you are saying it was nothing? you missed us? Sweety, Are you sure? If there is anything you want to share, tell us right now. you don't need to be hesitant, we can share things. we are family, we all love you" Mom said with love evident in her words.

'DON'T CRY YOU DUMB BITCH, not now at least' I tried to say it in my head again and again. but, still, a single tear leaked through my eye, and my eye wiped it instantly.

"Mom, it's nothing. I just missed you guys so much and I then saw a bad dream too. So, I got emotional. I am fine, now." I said happily.

"Zhi we are here for you if you need anything, okay?" Daddy said seriously but I could feel warmth and sincerity in those words. I smiled and nodded.

"We should eat breakfast now. Chang, bring light food and fruits for Little Zhi." Father ordered the head butler uncle Chang before sitting.

we all settled down on the table. Dad on the head chair, on his right, was mom and then me. and sister was on Dad's left side.

' We are together again. ah, I am getting emotional again. Calm down Zhi, you are happy. It's good they aren't asking many questions about your little outburst earlier. they are so considerate. what was doing back then, ignoring them for a month around this time."

"oh wait" I muttered.

I look up to see them looking back at me. I kinda felt embarrassed, but I have to focus, this is about my future husband!!.

" Daddy, I was thinking about the thing you said earlier" He looked at me sitting his head and then nodded.

"yes, I will buy you the Emerald jewelry set you were asking me-"

"No! Daddy, not that. The engagement. I was-"

"Yes, little Zhi. I will tell them today to not talk about this any further. If my dear daughter doesn't want then I won't force-"

"No!! Dad listen to me first." I cut him off before he speaks any further.

Mom and sis including all the servants stare at me.

I blushed, quit staring at me...

"I was going to say that I want to meet the boy first!" I said and I heard a clang.

I looked up to see my Mum and Sis's forks were fell on their plate. They were now staring at me like I had grown a second head or something.

'ah! What's with their reaction? well, come to think about it the old me wouldn't do something like this either.'

"What? meet the boy? but why?" Dad asked with a dumbfounded look on his face and the other two beside him nodded.