8 New World Formation

Hearing the timid call, the stoic-looking, middle-aged man turned and swept his cold eyes over her. Seeing her bowed head, for a split second, an imperceptible frown appeared on his cold face that mirrored his eyes. Then wordlessly, he turned and proceeded to the dining hall.

"Come. It's dinner time." His voice was cold, devoid of all emotion.

Qing Yue wiped her sweaty palms on her skirt, her heart beating rapidly in her chest as she took a deep breath and braced herself for another meal in tense silence.

Then she gracefully descended the last steps and walked into the hall.

The dining hall of the Li Mansion was huge. Diamond chandeliers hung from tall ceilings that stretched as high as the second floor, and mosaics of the era before the New World Formation adorned the glass walls.

Bright, creamy moon rays streamed through the one-way grey glasses and illuminated the green vase with white-red lilies sitting on the only glass table in the center of the spacious hall.

Qing Yue walked to the table and a female servant immediately stepped up to pull out her chair.

"Thank you, sister Chu." Qing Yue smiled and proceeded to her seat.

"No need for thanks, Mistress. It's my job." Bowing slightly, the servant stepped back and stood to the side, her face impassive as she looked straight with her hands clasped.

The moment she claimed her seat, her muscles tensed and she nervously glanced at her Dad. The man sat with a cold face, a teacup in one hand and a digital pen in another, highlighting and marking on his BioCom.

Her Dad, Li Chen, was a cold man that barely exchanged with her more than three sentences a meal.

When she was young, Qing Yue felt baffled by his behavior. At times, she had even wondered if he sensed she was no longer his baby girl.

But on the celebration of his 45th birthday, Qing Yue came to know the real reason.

It was a December evening proceeded by a cold night, the air tinged with a hint of ice.

Ten-year-old Qing Yue in pink slippers and a pink dress, a butterfly hairpin in her hair, held a birthday gift in her hand as she fervently searched the mansion for her Dad.

Even though she recovered her previous memories, she accepted and considered the man whose blood flew in her veins as her Dad, the only relative she could trust and rely on in this strange new world.

And for her only relative, even if the man was cold and hard to communicate with, she wished for nothing but his happiness.

With a happy smile and bright eyes, she skipped through the hall and arrived before his study door.

Straightening her dress, she fixed her posture and straightened her hair, wanting to be in her best appearance when she wished him. Stretching her hand, she reached to turn the golden knob when a familiar voice entered her ears.

"Brother Li, I noticed you're a little distant from your daughter. Do you still blame her for Sister-in-law's death?"

Qing Yue's hand froze as if she had been electrocuted. She blinked and frowned in confusion. The voice sounded familiar, so it was probably someone she knew.

But the only person of the older generation she knew was...the close friend of her Dad, Long Hongwu...

"Uncle Long?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, her eyes widening in shock as she recalled his words.

"Brother Long, I don't mean to blame her. I know she's not at fault. Of course, I know this clearly. It's just...whenever I see her face, I remember Su'er. I can't help thinking if it weren't for her...if it weren't for her...then Su'er..."

As she heard her Dad sob loudly, the ten-year-old Qing Yue felt her heart turn cold.

It was her.

It was her that harmed her Mom.

It's because of her that her Dad never smiled.

It's all because of her.

Woodenly, the girl's hand dropped from the doorknob and shakily stepped back. Clutching the gift tightly to her chest, with quacking shoulders and red eyes, she turned and walked away.

Under the winter breeze that blew through the open windows, her tiny figure appeared frail and lonely as she walked through the wide halls.

The frosty air, tinged with the hint of ice, raised goosebumps on one's skin.

But at that moment, the ten-year-old Qing Yue did not feel the cold.

Because her heart was colder than the chilly air.

"Qing Qing, I made your favorite lotus porridge today. Have a taste and let me know if you like it."

Qing Yue blinked and raised her head as a line of servants, headed by Aunt Li, streamed into the dining hall, each rolling a cart littered with various dishes.

From delicacies, soups, sliced fruits, to vegetable dishes and seafood; everything was there, and more.

"Thank you, Aunt Li."

"No problem, dear. I just want you to eat well." Rubbing her head, Aunt Li proceeded to direct the servants in setting the food on the glass table and personally went to set down her Dad's dishes.

Qing Yue wasn't really fond of Lotus porridge. She just felt too nervous to eat anything else in her Dad's presence.

Whenever she picked up a tray a little far from her reach, her hands would tremble and she would create a mess.

Ever since that evening 8 years ago, Qing Yue couldn't look at her Dad without fidgeting.

Every time she saw his face, a deep sense of guilt would weigh down on her heart, making it difficult for her to meet his gaze.

This was the reason why she kept long hair.

With her long hair covering her face, her Dad wouldn't see her face and think of her Mom.

He wouldn't be forced to recall the pain of his loss.

And maybe with a little bit of time, his pain would lessen...and she would stop feeling so wretched.

Sighing despondently, she grabbed her spoon and ate her Lotus Porridge in peaceful silence.

Silence descended as the glass table of the Li Mansion's large, sprawling Dining Hall was occupied by only her and her Dad.

The magnificent Li Mansion that overlooked thousands of acres of land was also inhabited by only her, her Dad, and a few servants.

It wasn't that the entire Li family only comprised of the two of them.

On the contrary, it was the opposite.

As one of the leading forces in the business industry, before the New World Formation, the Li Family Patriarch had amorous affairs with various celebrities and heiresses, and from each affair, he sired a daughter or a son.

Qing Yue's Dad, Li Chen was only one of the many sons the Li Patriarch had sired out of wedlock.

As the third in a line of seven sons, Qing Yue's Dad neither got the attention the eldest heir received nor the love the youngest enjoyed.

To top it off, he was the son of a waitress the Li Patriarch took a fancy to.

A one-night stand scenario occurred and he was conceived.

And just as it happened with all sons of low-born women, he was scorned and despised by his brothers and siblings, bullied and tortured by his stepmother, and scoffed and disdained by the rich young masters.

At least, that's what she heard from her Aunt Li.

Qing Yue did try to research her Dad's history, going through the WebComs and TeleSearch...

A rather awkward and sad way to learn about the man who gave her life.

But with their awkward and static relationship, she saw no other way.

...And what she found stunned her.

Her Dad's stepmother, the legal wife of Patriarch Li, schemed and plotted his mother's death with a group of thugs.

Low-born and raised in dark alleys, the thugs had zero principles and no morals. As individuals with no bottom line, seeing a beautiful and graceful woman, awakened other thoughts in their vile minds.

The thugs performed unmentionable deeds before fulfilling their mission and killing Li Chen's mother.

In a twist of fate, the young Li Chen that was still grieving, overheard his stepmother gossiping with a group of friends on how she took care of his mother.

Hearing the woman of his so-called father had a hand in his mother's death, Li Chen lost his fuse and raised a storm.

Before the nation's media and under public view, he severed all ties with the Li Family and left the Li Ancestral Mansion with only the clothes on his back.

Following that, the Great War descended.

Using all his savings and the little connection he made during his stay with the Li Family, Li Chen invested in a new venture and started an industrial company that financed the government.

He went laundering money to party leaders and financing Industrial Groups. As the economy collapsed and chaos descended, Li Chen took even greater risks and began investing in the import and export of foreign products.

At a time when the entire world was armed and local buildings set aflame by missiles and bombs, interaction with foreign countries was akin to becoming an enemy of the public.

Therefore, he was targeted many times by patriots that wanted to rid the country of a traitor.

And yet, like any merchant, the young Li Chen didn't step back nor did he back down. He fearlessly continued running his business and exported domestic products and imported foreign brands.

Thanks to his bravery, the country that was on the brink of losing the war from lack of resources, received a boost in the form of military provisions provided by his company, contracted to the government.

It was during this time that he met his best friend, the New World Formation's Great Commander and nominal Ruling Political Leader, Long Hongwu.

And from there, the history of the LiLong Country began.

Li Chen financed Long Hongwu's every military and political venture, provided provisions, provided the funds for the recruitment of officers and new inventions, and supported Long Hongwu's campaign in running for office.

By the time the Great War ended and peace was restored, the eastern nations had two unspoken leaders, Li Chen and Long Hongwu, taking the reign.

During the World Peace Treaty Convention, the western countries were renamed as the Old World Formation while the eastern countries were renamed New World Formation.

And within each formation, there were three countries with their own political systems and regulations.

The LiLong Country, named after Li Chen and Long Hongwu, became the unofficial leader of the three countries in the New World Formation.

"Your uncles and cousins will be coming over this weekend for dinner. Do you have any plans?"

"Huh?"

Qing Yue jolted back, her mind returning to the present.

Her Dad was talking to her?

Seeing her dumbfounded expression, Li Chen frowned. He placed his cutlery down and looked at her.

"Do you have anything planned this weekend?"

"Ah! No...I...I am free." Under his intense gaze, Qing Yue was practically sweating.

"Speak clearly. Why are you stammering? As the heiress of the Li Industries, you can't even complete a sentence. How will you manage your properties in the future?"

"Yes, Father..." Qing Yue lowered her head even further, just wanting to hide her presence, or disappear from his sight.

Why was this dinner taking so long to conclude?

In her opinion, as long as she wasn't around, her Dad would be in a better mood.

Li Chen looked at the bowed head of his daughter, his eyes darkening with disapproval and an unknown emotion.

"Uncle Li, we're having guests from the Li Family visiting this weekend? I will also be home. Can I attend?"

Right at this moment, Yei Yi's voice sounded from the other side of the hall.

Huddled on a couch with a blanket spread out on her knees, the girl held a book in her hands as she looked towards the dining hall.

A complex emotion flickered in the depths of her eyes as her gaze fell on the two people sitting on either side of the glass table.

With the diamond chandeliers shining above their heads and moon rays streaming through the glass walls, the two individuals' countenance glistened, radiating an irreplicable noble aura that she could never possess.

Li Chen coldly glanced at Yei Yi and retracted his gaze. Picking up his cutlery, he resumed his meal.

"They'll be coming over to see Qing Yue. Why would you be present?"

"Oh...I...okay..." Yei Yi's face stiffened and she awkwardly lowered her head, her hands clenching into a fist.

She was also a descendent of the Li Family. So why couldn't she attend the dinner gathering?

Qing Yue was focused on keeping her head lowered, her eyes wandering over the spread of food when she heard Yei Yi's deflated voice.

Lifting her head, her sight fell on her dejected figure huddled on the couch.

Her heart softened and for the first time since the start of their meal, she spoke to her Dad without stuttering.

"Dad, since Yei Yi will be home, why don't you let her join us?"