Fan Fiction |
by Ling
Ximen looked at the doorway from the desk and saw Xiao You walking towards him. Smiling, he kissed her on her lips. “Did I wake you up?” He asked in concern.
Xiao You shook her head. “No. I just woke up suddenly and found that you weren’t beside me.” She explained. “You’re up working?”
“Yeah. There’s a lot of work I need to settle. Just go back to bed. I’ll join you later.”
“I guess not. I doubt I can get back to sleep. Look for me in my study room if you need me alright. I’ll be up working.” She said, walking out of the door at the same time.
Ximen stared at the closed door, his smile slowly disappearing from his face. It’s only been almost two months since their marriage and there might be a possibility that he would have to leave the country for 2 weeks. He looked down at the report and sighed. Alex had just informed him in the afternoon that there were some problems with the overseas branches of their company. He had lots of work to handle and his secretary would be on a long leave next week in preparation for his wedding. He didn’t know how he was going to manage, and he had been thinking on whether he should enlist Xiao You’s help when she had entered the room.
He knew that she would be even more competent than Alex if he had her help. He didn’t know what to do. After all, she’s not from his company. He didn’t know if it was appropriate to approach her, and the problems he had on hand were strictly confidential. But the main problem was not that he didn’t trust her with his company’s secrets. It was rather, he was more concerned that he would be adding on to her workload if he did approach her for help. He didn’t want her to carry any unconditional stress.
Ximen frowned at his thoughts. What was the matter with him? He wasn’t usually this indecisive. He was actually at a lost. Before he could think any further, he heard Xiao You calling him.
Intrigued at her appearance again so close after her first, he raised his eyebrows.
“I was wondering if you need help with anything,” she asked hesitantly. “That is, of course, if you would want me to help.” She added on hastily. “You look troubled earlier.” She explained after a while when she saw the questioning glances that he had sent her.
Smiling, he shook his head. “Aren’t you supposed to be working?”
“Yes. But I’m more or less alright with my workload. But you don’t seem to be. Is everything alright?” She asked in concern.
“Oh well. Since she asked, I might as well ask for her opinion.” He thought, sighing to himself at the same time. He could only hope that her health would not be affected by helping him.
“No, everything is not really alright.” He answered truthfully. “Alex will be on a long leave from next week onwards and just this afternoon, he reported to me that some of our overseas branches are having problems. The workload is tremendous and I don’t think I’ll be able to manage them without damaging my health.”
“You know that health is more important!” She chided lightly.
“I know. That’s why I was thinking of asking for your help. Are you having a lot of work on hand now?”
Xiao You widened her eyes in surprise. Being in the corporate world herself, she knew how strictly confidential the documents are. Ximen actually had the intention to ask her for help with these documents?
“Aren’t these documents strictly confidential?” She asked curiously.
Ximen nodded his head. “They are.”
“So how am I going to help you if they’re confidential?” She asked in confusion.
“I trust you well enough.” He stated without hesitation.
Xiao You felt the familiar warm feeling spread across her body at what he had said. He’d trusted her well enough for her to handle his company matters! She refocused on him when she heard him speaking.
“I just need you to go through some reports and give me some suggestions on how we might be able to correct the problems. I’ll handle the implementation part so you don’t have to worry for me about that.” He explained.
“Alright. When do you want me to finish it?”
“It’ll be better if we are able to finish as soon as possible. I need to correct it as fast as I can. The problems can’t be delayed any longer.”
“Right. I’ll settle it for you. Don’t be surprised if you’ll get it by tomorrow morning.” She said, stretching her hands out for the reports.
“Tomorrow morning?” He asked in surprise. “There are quite a few problems you know?”
“Don’t worry Ximen. Come on. Just give them to me and I’ll try to get it done.”
Ximen shook his head and grinned inwardly. It seemed as though his position in the business world can be greatly threatened by Rainie Yang. Thank goodness she’s a Ximen now!
“Xiao You.”
“Yes?” She asked, smiling at the same time.
“Why don’t we start our own business?” He asked in a spur of moment.
“Our own business?” She asked incredulously. “I don’t really think it’s a good idea.”
“Why?” He asked in confusion.
“Because, Mr. Ximen, both of us are already necked up with work. We need more personal time for the future if there is going to be kids. With us working round the clock, how do you expect us to have a healthy family life?”
Ximen widened his eyes in surprise. Why had his wife mentioned kids in their conversation?
“Xiao You, are you trying to tell me you’re pregnant?”
Xiao You flushed at Ximen’s question. “No!”
Actually, she wasn’t sure. Since the day they had gotten married, her monthly flows had not arrived. She’d meant to check it with a doctor first before she announces the news.
“Then why did you mention kids in our conversation?” He asked in confusion.
She looked at Ximen and explained. “I was just thinking about the future. There’ll be kids someday. You wouldn’t want to be a bad parent do you?”
“I haven’t thought about them at all. But I won’t be surprised if you are pregnant, considering how both of us always seemed to enjoy our nightly activity.” He admitted truthfully, teasing her at the same time.
“I can’t be bothered with you! I’ll just get going. Look for me in the study room if you need anything.” She said, walking out of the door at the same time.
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“Ximen’s not back from work?” Felicity asked her daughter-in-law.
Xiao You shook her head. “He told me he’ll be back soon. Don’t worry.” She said smilingly, patting Felicity’s hands at the same time.
Xiao You smiled when as she thought about the day almost a week ago. The day where she had found out that he had trusted her with the company’s secrets. She grinned inwardly as she reminisced about his reaction when she had finished suggesting on the corrective actions. It was obvious that he didn’t believe her when she had told him she would be able to finish it by that morning itself – and when she did, she had grabbed the chance and gloated about it. Apparently, her errant husband did not have much confidence in her working ability, and she felt really good that she was able to prove him wrong.
She was pleased that the relationship between the both of them had improved by leaps and bound. She hadn’t expected him to be this easy to deal with. But, as she had realised in the office earlier, she was not satisfied with what she had given and done for him so far. She had yet to find out about the hurt that he had been trying to hide from everyone – including her.
“Mum?” She called out, with the intention to check if she’d known anything about that incident.
“Yes Xiao You?”
“Has Ximen ever told you and Dad that he’s been hurt before?”
“No. I’m not really sure about that. You got to ask Dave.”
“Ask me about what, Fe?” David asked, taking a seat in the opposite couch.
“Xiao You was asking if I’d known about Ximen being hurt before.” Felicity explained.
“Hurt? What made you think of that?” He asked, surprised.
“It’s just that before the marriage, I had already suspected that something was keeping him from the people around him. I just want to find out more so that I can help him.” She explained.
“He doesn’t tell you anything?” David asked, inwardly confirming what he’d been suspecting for the past few weeks.
“No.” She answered softly, mentally cursing herself for saying that out.
Xiao You didn’t know whether Ximen had told his dad about their marriage terms. She doubted Ximen did tell his dad about it. And from what she’d learnt about David, she was quite sure that he would end up being quite angry with his son.
David watched intently at the myriads of expressions playing in Xiao You’s eyes. After analysing Ximen and her behaviour for the past few weeks, he had come to realise that there was something not quite right about their marriage. He had come to love Xiao You, and didn’t want her to be hurt. He knew how obstinate his son could be, and he had seen how understanding she could be. She belonged to the perfect group in the category of females. When he had first met her, he was already overwhelmed by her beauty. And over the past two months, he’d come to know of her intelligence and personality.
If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed that such a woman had actually existed. After all, all the mistresses he used to have in the past had always been near him because of his name. Seeing Xiao You had been something fresh. He mentally wondered if he had made a wrong decision in meddling with his son’s life. He looked up when he heard Ximen walking into the living room.
“You’re home!” Xiao You said, giving him a peck on his lips at the same time.
“Yeah. Been held up in the office. I’m sorry” He said, looking sheepishly at his parents at the same time.
“It’s no matter. I’ll go and heat up the food.” Felicity said, walking in the directions of the kitchens.
“I’ll help you mum!” Xiao You said lovingly.
Hand in hand, the two ladies walked towards the kitchen.
David looked at his son and wondered if he should have his usual chats with him. It’s been a long time since they had last sat down to talk about things.
“Come on Dad. Let’s head to the dining table.” Ximen suggested.
David inwardly sighed. From the looks of it, he would have to push their usual chat to a later date. Nodding his head, they headed towards the dining table together.
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“Bye mum!” Xiao You said happily.
“Bye Xiao You,” Felicity said, turning her head towards David and Ximen. Waggling her fingers at them, she continued. “Both of you better take care of her. Don’t let her overwork. I don’t want my daughter to end up like my son.”
David laughed. “You’re telling your son to take care of her when he can’t even take care of himself?”
Xiao You laughed at the exchange between her parents-in-law. She turned and grinned even wider when she saw the indignation look on her husband’s face. Entwining her fingers with his, she smiled and showed him a sympathetic face. Ximen’s only reaction was to scowl at her.
Xiao You raised her eyebrows in pure challenge. Ximen grinned at her, signalling to her that it was time they should head up to their bedroom. All she did was to roll her eyes at him, her shoulders lowering in mock defeat. Both of them got startled when they heard David walking back.
“Dad, we’ll be heading for our room.” Ximen informed enthusiastically.
“Ximen?” David asked.
“Yes Dad?” He asked, curiosity lacing in his voice.
“Can I talk to Xiao You? I want to start having the usual chats I have with you with her.” David asked, noting that the enthusiastic expression on Ximen’s face disappearing at his request. He raised his eyebrows and continued. “If it’s alright with you?”
Ximen laughed at his dad’s reaction. “Of course. I’ll just head for my bathe.” He said, walking up the stairs at the same time.
Xiao You turned to David with curiosity. “You want to talk to me?”
David smiled. “You won’t mind, will you? You’re my daughter now. We should have usual chats too.”
“Yes Dad.” She said, saluting him at the same time.
With her arms in his, they walked towards David’s study room.
“What do you want to talk about dad?” Xiao You asked as she closed the room door.
“You and Ximen.” David answered without hesitation.
Xiao You stared at her father-in-law in surprise. She had thought he wanted to chat casually. Recovering from her surprise, she tried to mask her reaction, not wanting David to worry about both of them.
“What do you want to know, dad?” Xiao You asked slowly.
“Everything.”
“But there’s nothing wrong between us.” She answered innocently.
David sighed. He knew that Xiao You would be hesitant in approaching him. After all, who wouldn’t? No matter how much she knew he dote on her, he was still Ximen’s father first and foremost.
“Xiao You.” David called softly. He didn’t want Ximen to overhear the conversation between the both of them.
“Yes?”
“I’ve come to know you for the past two months. And I know Ximen well enough. After all, he’s my son. I’ve been trying to figure out something for the past few weeks, but I just can’t place my mind on it. I don’t understand what is going on between you and Ximen. I need to know what’s going on first before I can help.” He continued softly.
Xiao You felt slightly defeated by the tone in David’s voice. She knew that he was worried for the both of them. But she just couldn’t bear to let him know anything. She didn’t dare to risk the relationship between her and Ximen. Their relationship was still not yet strong enough to withstand any misunderstandings.
“You can trust me Xiao You. If anything, I’ll tell you the truth.” David voice interjected softly into her thoughts.
“Truth?”
David took a deep breath before explaining. “When I first saw you in the hospital, I knew instinctively that you were the one for Ximen. Then, on the morning after his operation, I saw the look on his face when he just roused up from his sleep. He was staring at you longingly. The tender expression on his face was something that I’ve never expected him to show any other women except for his mother.” He refocused on Xiao You and saw that she was stunned.
“Shocking, isn’t it?” He asked with a smile.
Xiao You nodded.
He continued. “No one knows that I’ve planned all these. Not even his mum. It was then that I decided that you should be the one for him. The reason why I increased the number of matchmaking sessions after Ah Si and Lei’s wedding was because I wanted to push him in your direction. I wanted him to realise his feelings, and before I knew it, he informed us that you guys were to be married.”
Xiao You stared at David, her mind still reeling from all the information that he’d just told her.
“So, I wanted to talk to you because I’m worried that I made a wrong decision. Even though I know it is not directly my fault, it was still my probing had made him proposed within the short time span that you guys met. I need to know if there’s anything wrong. There’s something different between the both of you when I compare your relationship with F3 and their spouses. I don’t know how to place it. But it’s just not the same.” He explained, sighing at the same time.
Xiao You inwardly grimaced at the worried expression on his face. She knew that it doesn’t really matter if she’d told him. After all, he’d told her something that Ximen didn’t even know - she hadn’t expected him to have actually plotted all the matchmaking sessions.
“After hearing all these, are you ready to tell me what’s going on?” David asked.
She knew that she would tell him the truth, but she didn’t want to let him know too much. She didn’t want him to be constantly worried for them. Nodding her head, she took a deep breath.
“You don’t have to be worried that we don’t know each other long enough, dad.” She said softly.
“Why?”
“Because we’ve already known each other since 4 years ago.”
“4 years ago?” He asked, surprise evident in his voice.
Xiao You nodded her head. “What I can tell you is that we didn’t get married in the usual manner.” She explained softly.
“Usual?” He asked, a frown marring his forehead.
Xiao You only nodded her head. “Our marriage isn’t based on love. Before we agreed to the marriage, we had an understanding formed between the both of us.”
“Understanding?” David asked in surprise. “What are they?”
“Dad, I don’t want to worry you by telling you what they are. But I assure you that things are progressing as I’d expected it to go. Don’t worry about us alright?”
“Why won’t you tell me? Perhaps I can help. I feel guilty for what you have to go through.”
“Don’t worry. I came into this marriage with two eyes open. I know what I’m doing. I’ve thought long and hard before agreeing to this marriage, so there’s nothing you should be worrying about. I’m happy. He’s happy. That’s all that matters, isn’t it?”
“If you say so.” He replied grouchily.
“Don’t worry about anything. If you want to help me, don’t make me worried by worrying for you alright?” She said, pulling him closer to hug him at the same time.
David laid his palms on her cheeks and hugged her tightly, silently thanking fate for planting Xiao You in his son’s life. He knew that he hadn’t made a wrong decision. All he can hope now is that everything would turn out to be just fine.
“Has anyone ever told you how magnificent and fine you are?” He asked gruffly.
Xiao You only managed to roll her eyes upwards and grin cheekily and at him. “All the time, dad, all the time.”
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Alright peeps.. here's another chapter. Hope you'll like it. I apologise again, for all the inconvenience caused in reading chapter 28 & 29. Thanks for reading and keep the comments coming in!