Games That People Play

Chapter 17: Siblings

After almost 4 months of non-stop herbal medication paired with physical therapy and regular meditation, Lu Jinian was up and about. He could feel the brute force of a bull surging through his body. He never felt better than today.

He thanked his doctors as his mother made instructions on settling the hospital bill. The patient will be discharged in a little while. Xinli was present, busy gathering and putting together in a briefcase all the documents in hard copy that were brought over for Lu Jinian to review.

"Are we ready?" Lu Jinian asked as his eyes swept over Xinli, then to the rest. His long legs swung from the chair and stood up, he headed to the door without a word. Huang Lin and Xinli followed him out.

Upon reaching the entrance, the big black BMW was already there waiting for them. A tall man with a lean built and deep brown eyes emerged from the driver's seat. He was undeniably good looking and immaculate in his office suit. Yue Xi Yin smiled and greeted them.

Hello Lu Jinian, it's been a while..."

A surprise look registered on Lu Jinian's strikingly handsome face.

"Xi Yin? When did you arrive?" He asked as he welcomed his older brother's bear hug. They were talking while boarding the vehicle. Xinli sat with Huang Lin at the back while Lu Jinian sat at the front with Xi Yin on the wheel.

"About two weeks ago, so sorry I didn't visit you at the hospital. Big Mother here wanted me to spend time with grandpa and made me work at your office for some days..." He looked at the two women in the rearview mirror and smiled. Lu Jinian noticed that his brother's eyes lingered a little bit on Xinli's averted face. She was looking at the tall buildings and seemed to be in deep thought.

"I see..." Lu Jinian replied without emotion. "So, big brother, have you already met everyone at The Excelsior...?" He asked.

"Almost everyone, Han Jin has been assisting me in checking works at different departments." Xi Yin answered as he maneuvered the vehicle at a crossroad with a bunch of traffic lights.

Huang Lin was listening to the two siblings talking. She felt pride at the way her sons turned out as mature and intelligent men. In her heart, she has come to love Xi Yin like her own and she thanked his biological mother Wei Mu, for helping her raise Xi Yin in a true Yue way. Xi Yin spent most of his growing years at a boarding school and Huang Lin made it a point to visit him once every month. Wei Mu could spend more time with Xi Yin since she lived and worked in the same city as him.

"Mom...?" Lu Jinian's deep voice brought Huang Lin back from her thoughts.

"Yes, come again son, you were saying..."

She straightened her body a little to look at her son.

"Brother said you suggested we should directly go to Excelsior..." Lu Jinian said.

"Yes, your father is there waiting for us" Huang Lin replied.

"The Excelsior then." Lu Jinian said without looking at his brother. He stole a glance at the woman beside his mother who was silent and seemed distant.

"Miss Bai, make all the documents pertinent to Zenith and Excelsior ready at my desk." His voice was cold and indifferent over his shoulders.

"They will be ready for review by tomorrow, Mr. President." Xinli answered in her usual soft and businesslike tone. Lu Jinian snorted and threw her an icy look.

"I need them tonight." He continued.

"Fine, Sir! I will put them at your table at 6:00 pm sharp." She successfully hid her irritation at his domineering words. Xinli glanced at Huang Lin who was thankfully busy with her phone.

"Lia, join us at the banquet hall for dinner tonight." Xi Yin looked at her through the rearview mirror. Lu Jinian's eyebrows seemed to knot at the way his brother addressed Xinli. Are they on the nickname basis? The look in his eyes could freeze the Red Sea!

"Thank you for inviting me, First Young Master but I can't. I have work to do later." She politely declined.

Lu Jinian threw her a cold look and said,

"You should join us, since my big brother invited you, I will be fine with Zenith papers tonight. You can do the Excelsior tomorrow."

Xinli's thick eyelashes hid her burning eyes. Lu Jinian was ordering her again! This man had a knack in ruffling her hair the wrong way. She was glad that soon, her agreement with Huang Lu Yue would be done. She couldn't wait to go back home to China.

"As you wish, Mr. President." she quietly agreed. She didn't want to argue with Lu Jinian, she was tired and she badly needed sleep.