Shin Tingming stared at the women smiling finally and could help his lips from curling as well. "Fine, then I will ask Mr. Cao to make the arrangements accordingly." He said as he walked to a corner to make a call.
Li Xue looked in his direction longingly but didn't say anything. Her eyes held an admiration for the man that any girl would have for her father. Chen Rui patted her shoulders and quirked her brows when found her turning to look at her. "What happened? Why are you looking at him like that?"
Li Xue shook her head in nothingness. "Nothing, I am just thinking that suddenly so many things happened. Finally, I have a family where I have parents that would truly stand for me." She said and Chen Rui's lips curled in a smile.
Reaching to caress her hair, she said, "Sorry, dear, it's our fault. We found you late and made you suffer so much before. But from now on, we would make sure to make up for all those times we have lost." Li Xue nodded, believing each and every word of assurance that the lady has promised to her.
"By the way dear, I only noticed this now. Although both me and your father have been standing here, you have made the talks just with me. Don't you want to talk to him? Are you still upset with him for ignoring your existence all these years?" Chen Rui said, narrowing her eyes at the girl. She really didn't notice this all the while. But before they had really hardly started any conversation.
Li Xue paused for a moment. But then shook her head, "There is nothing to be upset about. I can understand the reasons behind the decision he has taken in the past, I don't blame him. But I also know that it won't be easy for me to accept him all of a sudden. I would need some time." She said and her thoughts were totally understandable. After all, she was just a human, not an AI robot whose emotions and level of comfort could be controlled by commands.
Chen Rui understood her part of the story and didn't force her. "Fine, dear. Take your time. One step at a time won't cause a harm." She said and Li Xue just smiled at her. Soon both ladies went to take their seats when Li Xue remembered something from the other day.
She stared at the lady with doubt only to get noticed by her immediately. Before Chen Rui could say anything, Li Xue was swift to turn away her gaze from her as if she was denying to accept that she was looking at her like that in the first place.
"Xiao Xue, there is no use of denying now. I have already noticed that. Tell me what is there on your mind? I am sure that you were about to ask me about something." Chen Rui asked, raising her brows with some knowledge of the girl.
Li Xue bit her lower lip, before looking back at her mother to say, "Ma, there is nothing serious. I was just curious of something and was dwelling if I should ask you about it or not."
"What's there to dwell about? If there is something you should ask straightaway. If I would have the answer then I would answer you, if not, then I will look around for an answer for you." She said, giving a small smile.
Li Xue reciprocated it with the same but then scratching the corner of her brows, she pondered more before finally asking, "Ma, a few days back, I met with Princess Shen and from her, I came to know some of the detail of manners people follow in the palace. So, I just wanted to ask if not following those, did I ever cross the line?"
She asked and on her askance like that, Chen Rui frowned, "What manners, dear?"
"Manner to seek appointments before coming to meet parents or speak one's mind to them. I remember although at the beginning I used to follow it but slowly and gradually as I got comfortable, I started omitting it with you. So I wanted to if I ever …"
Before Li Xue could say more, Chen Rui left a burst of soft laughter. "Haha … Xiao Xue, you never offended us. Who said that you need to make appointments to visit one's own parents? There is nothing that sort of. We never made You Jun ever do that. Did you not see him before? Do you think he would be like he is if we were so strict with him? You two are our children, why would you need to make appointments to speak your mind or have a talk with us? There is no sort of rule like that."
She said and Li Xue's lips got into a small pout. The royal environment was new to her and she doesn't want to do weird actions here. "I didn't know. It was just what I heard from Princess Shen."
She said and Chen Rui just shook her head in denial. "There is no such sort of rule, dear. Don't worry. If there would be any, I would let you know beforehand so that you don't have to know it from others, okay?"
Li Xue smiled and was about to show her gratitude when a voice from a distance interjected. "Ma, don't you think that you are ignoring an important point in the middle of her sweet words?"
Chen Rui and Li Xue turned together to look at the boy, who came in fuming with some aggression in his attitude.
"Ma, in the midst of her sweet words, did you not hear whom she actually went to meet? Your precious girl is looking for an opportunity to get assassinated. That's why she went to meet Shen Bingling all alone." Shin You Jun said as he stared down at Li Xue furiously.
Li Xue pressed her lips as looking at the boy, she slowly stood up to ask, "See, I am all alive and haven't got assassinated yet. So, there is no need to worry about me so much. And did you forget that I asked you to keep an eye on others and not me?" She said and on her saying like that, the boy's further patience was tested.
"You … Who am I? I am your brother … younger brother. And looking after my elder sister is my job. Come on, tell me now, why did you go to meet that arrogant princess, otherwise … otherwise … I will not do your single job." He said and Li Xue was all speechless at his threat.
When Shin You Jun didn't see Li Xue reciprocating to him, he turned helplessly to his mother to say, "Ma, won't you say anything? Did you forget that girl had almost slashed her throat last time? What if this time as well she had been up to something? Who would have rushed to save your precious girl then? "
Although Chen Rui knew that the girl might have her reasons to visit Shen Bingling, she also couldn't disagree with the threat You Jun was worrying about.. So, turning to the girl, she asked, "Li Xue, why did you visit Shen Bingling the other day? You shouldn't have; given how dangerous she was with you last time."
Updat𝓮d from freew𝒆bnovel(.)com