Inextricable

It only took 20 minutes to get there. The Huai Family Mansion was not far from Huai Jing’s house, but it was on a mountain, whereas Huai Jing’s house was near the sea. The Huai family residence complex claimed a vast boundary of land in the forest adjacent to the mountain. Directly across from the entrance gate, the five-story villa with Republic of China-inspired architecture could be seen. And next to this villa were two other well-designed buildings as well.

The car entered the main courtyard through the gate and made its way easily through the sculptures and the fountain before stopping in front of the main house.

Someone rushed to open the door as soon as the car came to a stop. “Let’s go, teacher,” Huai Wan exclaimed as she excitedly took Xu Xingxing’s hand and walked towards the main door.

Xu Xingxing was really dumbfounded by all this, she couldn’t believe that she had actually arrived at the doorstep of the Huai Family mansion. 

Huai Wan was very tenacious and never gave up until she reached her goal, and the confidence to exercise this tenacity came from the environment and people around her. Since everyone in her family usually pampered her, she had grown a bit arrogant. However, she didn’t usually use her family status to trample on others.

Entering through the door into the house, Xu Xingxing’s eyes widened slightly as she viewed the luxurious but modest interior decoration. The living room was very spacious, but looked a little deserted, as no one was there.

Huai Wan dragged Xu Xingxing along with her until they entered another living room—this one smaller than the previous one.

As soon as they entered, the woman who was seated on the sofa put down the white porcelain cup in her hand and looked over. She seemed to be about 60 years old, with short grey hair, and exuded a kind and gentle temperament. As soon as she saw them, her mouth broke into a gentle smile.

“Grandmother,” Huai Wan smiled obediently and called out.

‘So this is Huai Jing’s grandmother…the actual power behind the Huai Group…’ Xu Xingxing felt a bit uneasy on seeing Madam Huai.

“Hello Ma’am.” Xu Xingxing nodded respectfully towards the Old Madam.

It was only then that Mrs. Huai noticed Xu Xingxing’s presence. “This is…” she asked as she looked at Huai Wan.

“Well, this is an employee from my brother’s company. She had brought my brother some documents, and was captured by me to be my German teacher.” Huai Wan introduced Xu Xingxing to her grandmother. 

Mrs. Huai was shocked by her granddaughter’s words. Although the things she typically did were more outrageous than this, the current situation was different..

“Nonsense. Your brother should be angry with you for doing this,” Mrs. Huai remarked.

Having said so, Mrs. Huai turned to Xu Xingxing and asked politely, “Are you from IO?” 

“Yes Madam, from the translation department,” replied Xu Xingxing, bowing her head a little but being neither overpowering nor humble in her response. “I was there to deliver some materials to Mr. Huai.”

She remained silent after that.

After hearing what she said, Mrs. Huai sighed, looked at Huai Wan first, then at Xu Xingxing and said, “Be her German teacher for now, it won’t take too much time out of your schedule. And about payment, I’ll give you the hourly wage language teachers usually charge.”

Xu Xingxing: “…” 

She pursed her lips and didn’t say anything.

Mrs. Huai didn’t blame Huai Wan for messing around, instead helping her deal with it, long used to such behaviour from Huai Wan. “I forgot to ask if you are willing to do so,” Mrs. Huai apologised.

Looking up, Xu Xingxing smiled and said, “Yes, I am willing.”

Mrs. Huai nodded and smiled more kindly.

Since her grandmother had helped resolve the situation, Huai Wan felt more at peace. “Come on, let’s go to my study, I have a question I want to ask you,” she said as she dragged Xu Xingxing with her.

“Grandma, I’m going to the study room.” Huai Wan didn’t forget to tell her grandmother.

Huai Wan led Xu Xingxing towards the second-floor study room. As they were still walking up the stairs, Huai Wan’s mobile phone rang. After pulling out her phone, she answered the call, which was from ‘Brother’, the name making Xu Xingxing’s heart skip a beat.

She hadn’t been able to inform Huai Jing about this unexpected development of events because her phone had been left in the bedroom in Huai Jing’s house, and she couldn’t go there to fetch it in front of Huai Wan’s eyes at that time.

“I brought along a translator from your company, she had come to your house to deliver some documents to you. Anyway, since you will be coming back to the mansion at noon only, I asked her to teach me some German first. Huh? Give her the phone? Oh.”

Huai Wan turned back and whispered to Xu Xingxing, “My brother asked to talk to you,” before handing her the phone. Feeling her throat twitch, Xu Xingxing took the phone and answered in a gentle voice, “President Huai, hello.”

“Where are the documents?” the man on the other end of the line questioned in a flat voice.

Huai Wan shoved a document into Xu Xingxing’s hand before going ahead, so she pursed her lips and murmured, “It’s here with me.”

“En. You teach Wanwan in the mansion first, and I’ll come later to take the documents,” Huai Jing replied as he seemed to page through something.

Hearing that he would be arriving soon, Xu Xingxing felt relieved that she would be able to leave this place quickly as well. She nodded and said, “Okay.”

“Aren’t you stupid?” The seriousness in the man’s voice disappeared, and there seemed to be a small smile in his voice as he lowered it and said, “Just allowing yourself to be taken away…”

Xu Xingxing: “…”

Blushing, she clenched the phone tightly and looked up at Huai Wan carefully. Huai Wan was still walking up the stairs and didn’t seem to care what the two of them were talking about on the phone.

Just as Xu Xingxing was about to lower her voice to argue with Huai Jing, the call was cut quite neatly.

She allowed herself to be taken away by his younger sister, for which he then labelled her foolish. In the end, both of them were guilty of bullying her. Xu Xingxing gave the phone to Huai Wan while blaming this brother-sister pair.

Huai Wan took the phone, looked at Xu Xingxing, whose face was now a bit pale, and asked, “Did my brother scold you?”

Xu Xingxing raised her eyes and replied, “No,” and followed Huai Wan into the study.

Huai Wan opened the study room’s door and the two entered.

The size of Huai Wan’s study room was similar to that of her current flat. There was a desk directly in front of the door, with a sizable window on the right side of the desk. The sofa next to the window looked much warmer as bright winter light streamed into the room. Some bookcases were placed against the wall next to the sofa, and a pale-coloured carpet covered the floor underneath them. Although the study room’s decor was quiet and simple, there were also a few charming, feminine touches to it.

Xu Xingxing took a quick look at the scattered books on the sofa, most of which were German-related. Huai Wan should genuinely desire to learn German because of how serious she looked about it.

Xu Xingxing had learned German because of her preference for learning languages. Her attitude unconsciously became friendlier when she realised that Huai Wan enjoyed the language too. 

Huai Wan crossed her long legs as she sat down on the edge of the sofa. She took a book, grinned at Xu Xingxing, and uttered the following, “Sit next to me! After reading a few chapters today, I still haven’t been able to grasp two points. Teach me, okay?”

Huai Wan’s smile was pure and fresh, like a lotus flower that had just bloomed after a rainstorm.

""

“Okay. Where are you getting stuck?” Xu Xingxing asked in a low voice as she approached Huai Wan and sat down next to her, while pulling her hair behind her ear to reveal her soft and beautiful face.

Xu Xingxing was covered lightly by the golden rays of the sun at this moment, making her temperament appear more gentle, so much so that she looked like a teacher.

Seeing her seriousness, Huai Wan started to like Xu Xingxing even more in her heart.

Xu Xingxing helped Huai Wan solve her few problems, which made Huai Wan very happy. After writing the answers down with a pen, she said, “Thank you teacher.”

When Xu Xingxing heard the term “teacher,” she blushed a little. “Don’t call me a teacher,” she pleaded, embarrassed.

Huai Wan, who didn’t appear to be paying attention to her, grinned and stated, “Unlike my brother, you are a real teacher. My brother always forces me to think for myself when I ask him a question. You explained the solution to me properly, so I think I like you more. Let’s have lunch together after finishing this.”

It was obviously impossible for Xu Xingxing to stay here for lunch, for she and Huai Jing were only friends with benefits and they couldn’t engage in any kind of deeper contact, especially with the other’s family.

“Did you learn German from your brother?” Xu Xingxing shifted the topic of conversation.

Huai Wan, now successfully led away from the previous topic, nodded and said, “That’s right, my brother speaks German very well. He lived in Germany for a while and speaks it fluently.”

After twenty minutes, steady footsteps could be heard approaching the study, and soon, the door was slowly opened.

There was a woman and a girl sitting on the sofa near the window, cross-legged. The woman’s beautiful, jet-black hair, which scarcely reached her shoulders, had softened under the light and gently enhanced her beautiful skin. She was speaking to the girl in a serious manner while the sun highlighted her facial features, her eyelashes quivering slightly, and her lips alternately opening and closing. The young girl listening intently then stretched her arms and her body while grinning broadly.

Two people, one soft and the other bright, just sat and talked quietly, like a scene from a painting, creating a heartwarming scene.

Xu Xingxing was the first to turn around after hearing the sound of the door opening. Huai Jing, who stood there, gave them a casual glance.

Seeing him, Xu Xingxing hurriedly straightened her knees, set the book she was holding aside, stood up, turned to face him, and called out subtly, “President Huai…”

“En. I have already hired a German teacher for you, and she will come this afternoon,” Huai Jing remarked, looking over at Huai Wan with a frown.

Upon spotting Huai Jing, Huai Wan got up from the couch as well. She scowled and murmured, “I like her,” before turning to face Xu Xingxing.

The originally deep eyebrows softened slightly as Huai Jing glanced at Xu Xingxing, and asked Huai Wan, “You like her?”

Huai Wan nodded and said seriously, “Yes.”

“She is not a teacher,” the man remarked, turning to face the two of them with a smirk on his lips.

Huai Jing looked at Xu Xingxing and said quietly, “I’m sorry to bother you, let’s walk downstairs.”

Huai Wan was aware of her brother’s personality, and knew when to stretch and bend. Even though she was somewhat upset after hearing Huai Jing’s comments, she nonetheless gave Xu Xingxing a reluctant look and replied, “Thank you.”

No matter how arrogant and indulgent she was, she was still polite.

“You’re welcome,” Xu Xingxing grinned and leaned over to get her coat.

The three of them went down together, and Huai Wan knew that she couldn’t change the fact that Xu Xingxing couldn’t teach her, so she simply focused on the new German teacher.

“Is the new teacher as gentle as her?” Huai Wan asked her brother while pointing at Xu Xingxing.

When Huai Jing heard his sister’s question, the corner of his lips raised a bit up, and he murmured, “Not as good as her.”

“What?” Huai Wan didn’t hear it.

Huai Jing did not repeat his words, and was followed downstairs by a flushing Xu Xingxing and a perplexed Huai Wan.

As soon as they went downstairs, they heard conversations in the living room.

Mrs. Huai and another middle-aged male were talking in the living room, and looked up when they heard voices coming from above.

The middle-aged man had a soft smile on his face, was tall and straight, slightly overweight, and appeared to be very friendly.

Huai Wan called out first after spotting him, “Second uncle.”

Huai Jing followed with a light greeting after Huai Wan.

Xu Xingxing bowed before greeting, “Chairman Huai.”

This person should be Huai Changchao, the current chairman of the Huai Group, since both Huai Wan and Huai Jing had referred to him as Second Uncle.

When Xu Xingxing appeared, Huai Changchao responded with a smile and inquired, “This is…”

“Wanwan has hired a translator from Hua Jing’s company to teach her German,” Mrs. Huai smiled and stated.

“Haha.” Huai Changchao chuckled a few times and stated approvingly, “That’s right, Wanwan knows how to use available resources,” as though he understood Huai Wan’s method of operation.

Huai Wan grinned awkwardly, and Huai Jing, who was standing next to her, took a look and muttered, “It’s meaningless. She has to learn with the German tutor I hired for her.”

Mrs. Huai encouraged Huai Wan because she could tell that she liked Xu Xingxing. “Let her do it, Wanwan is happy. Also, we’ll pay her the tuition fees separately.”

“En.” Huai Changchao nodded likewise.

Huai Jing spoke in a forceful voice as he turned to face the two elderly people, “I’ve seen this employee’s performance review. Her performance is mediocre, and her skill level is about average. So let’s forget it.”

Xu Xingxing: “…” 

Mrs. Huai and Huai Changchao agreed with Huai Jing’s strategy after this justification.

Huai Jing turned around and apologised to Xu Xingxing for wasting her time by saying, “Sorry for wasting your time, I’ll take you out to catch a cab now.”

“Thank you, President Huai,” Xu Xingxing remarked with a nod, and said goodbye to the others.

When Mrs. Huai saw the two of them leaving one after the other, she said to Huai Jing, “You may come lunch at the mansion at noon since Wanwan is back.”

Huai Jing turned his head to look at Huai Wan after hearing this, nodded, and said, “Alright.”

Mrs. Huai laughed after sighing a breath of relief at Huai Jing’s response and said, “I’ll ask Mother He to prepare more food.”

Xu Xingxing was a little uneasy when she got into Huai Jing’s car.

This morning, she was “kidnapped by the sister and framed by the brother” without any reason. And though she didn’t want to, in the end, was also dismissed from being a teacher due to her poor performance and a claim that she lacked the necessary skills.

When she pondered this, Xu Xingxing became a little annoyed. “The reason my performance is mediocre is because someone plotted against me,” she said when she was seated in the passenger seat.

The woman spoke in a hushed tone. Despite her complaining tone, it seemed more like she was speaking to herself.

Huai Jing looked at her from the side after hearing this. Xu Xingxing glanced at her fingers with her head slightly down. Her unhappy disposition caused a small amount of redness on her fair skin, and her countenance appeared slightly depressed.

Huai Jing raised the corners of his lips as he cocked his head to gaze at her and spoke softly, “What exactly did you say just now?

When she noticed the smile in his eyes, Xu Xingxing’s ears loosened and she turned to face him.

Xu Xingxing bowed her head and muttered, “It’s nothing,” feeling strangely guilty.

The man’s eyes were soft, and he lightly licked his bottom lip as his smile broadened.

………………………..

Xu Xingxing had the weekend off while Huai Jing remained at home with Huai Wan. So, she and Mimi stayed at home. During her free time, she took two professional German translation books to review her performance because she wanted a good result in the mid-year performance appraisal.

When Xu Xingxing arrived at work on Monday and punched her card, she noticed a crowd assembled in front of the notice board. Following the crowd inside, Xu Xingxing noticed something like a performance report on the bulletin board.

She had already seen her results from Chen Wanwan, Xu Xingxing didn’t plan to continue watching, anyway, the result would be the same. When she was about to turn around and leave, she was stopped by Chen Wanwan, who came from behind.

With sparkling big eyes sparkling, Chen Wanwan exclaimed, “Wow! Xu Xingxing, you did a fantastic job!”

A little puzzled, Xu Xingxing looked up and recognised her name among the many others. When she saw the grade, her eyes gradually became wider.

It was A+!