MY VERY BRAVE WIFE
Chapter 15
When Zhao Moyao came home, he was surprised to smell a familiar scent that brought back memories of the past. He followed the savory scent to the dining room where the dishes had already been laid out.
"Grandfather, you're home early." Zhao Lifei walked out of the kitchen with two more plates of food.
"Hm, what are you doing this time?" Zhao Moyao chuckled at the premium treatment he received.
His beautiful granddaughter was cooking her favorite dish that his wife used to cook before she died.
"You always assume the worst, grandfather." Zhao Lifei pondered his skeptical behavior.
In the past, she used to lick it by cooking her favorite dishes, but now, she does it to have family bonding time with the only relative she considers to be "family".
Zhao Lifei had many blood-related acquaintances, but there were a handful who were considered "relatives". He had a long line of titled aunts and uncles, but not many of them really cared about him.
Throughout Zhao Lifei's memories, he had always eaten alone.
My dear mother always looks busy with her fashion line, while my dear father is too busy in his office. But Zhao Lifei knew that because they could not eat around him, knowing he was the biggest mistake of their seemingly perfect marriage.
Sitting in a large dining room filled with a gripping silence, the waiter and butler as he wished, warm but tasteless food, a brightly lit black and white world, that was all Zhao Lifei remembered from her childhood.
Unlike his friends who enjoyed a meal with a table filled with joyous chatter, Zhao Lifei had dinner with his imaginary friends and family.
The room would be filled with the soft sounds of utensils slicing food, metal fighting porcelain, and minutes wondering if her parents would finally join her for dinner...
"I have to assume the worst to prepare myself for the best." Zhao Moyao said, sitting at the head of the long dining table.
"Don't worry Grandpa, I didn't do anything bad this time." He laughed, putting down the last plate before sitting on the chair right next to him.
"I made your favorite this time, the material is really fresh. I bought it from this very good grandmother." Zhao Lifei smiled as she placed the steamed fish, boiled chicken, and sauteed green beans into her rice bowl.
Had it been someone else, Zhao Moyao would have pushed the rice bowl away. He does not like if there are people who interfere with his food, especially by including various kinds of cuisine into it. But this was the precious Xiao Fei and he would never do such a thing to her.
Looking at her bright and hopeful eyes, Zhao Moyao happily ate. Their conversation was lively and filled with chatter.
The world before Zhao Lifei glittered with light, warmth, and color. It was not like the food he used to eat when he was a child.
The servants quietly watched from the corner of the room with their heads slightly bowed.
They did not believe their cold-hearted and reserved Master was able to smile and interact with one of his grandchildren. They rarely saw his granddaughter welcomed in the Zhao Main Mansion.
Zhao Moyao refuses to acknowledge the long lineage of his grandson and daughter whom he considers useless and spoiled.
He always said, 'So what if they share my blood? Do they share half of my competence, brain, and hard work? No. gabe. Everything was handed to them on a golden plate.'
He was the loudest critic of his granddaughter. No matter how hard they tried, not many of them were capable of licking it.
He knows the right cards to play, the right things to say, and the right moves to make. Throughout Zhao Lifei's memories, he had always followed his grandfather, ever since he was a child.
When he pushed her away, she still followed him. When he walked faster just to lose him, Zhao Lifei's fat feet would chase after him.
Zhao Moyao always gave tests to his granddaughter.
He would visit them when they were young and too gentle to face a grumpy and scary face. If they ran away or curled away from him, he would not care about them. Why should she take care of the children who are afraid of her, but then only love her after realizing the wealth she has?
Unlike many of his older cousins, Zhao Lifei was unperturbed at the sight of his gaze. Instead, he stared directly into it.
He was familiar with cold and judgmental features and expressions. Growing up with a relative who wore a fake smile and secretly avoided her behind her back, Zhao Lifei did not see the — faces she saw an evil shadow in their hearts.
Zhao Moyao was one of the rare people who shone brightly. His face was not hidden by a fake love mask. His face was not hidden by the evil shadow, instead, he saw his grumpy and ferocious expression as clear as day.
His face was always wrinkled permanently frowning, but his eyes were soft. She was one of the first people to view her as a real girl and not an unwanted mistake.
"Gwandpa!" It was the first thing he said when he saw it. Instead of hiding behind his mother's feet, he ran straight towards her with a smile.
Zhao Moyao was caught off guard by the angel's smile and immediately retraced his steps. He turned towards her and walked away.
But Zhao Lifei was stubborn and unwilling to lose the light. So, she chased after him with her crooked smile, cheerful laughter, and childish name. Her constant distractions and attempts to infiltrate her heart succeed, and soon, she finds a safe place within.
But an adorable and innocent smile was not enough to win the man's heart.
When she was just six years old, she took her to do an IQ test. With a higher score than his grandchildren, he saw the potential of the first seed.
A small glimmer bloomed into an incredible flower when she graduated from elementary school, high school, high school, and even college early! He was at the top of his class and all his teachers talked about his great potential.
Zhao Moyao was the first to witness what he could do.
At the young age of twenty-one, when most wealthy socialites his age came out to party and drink, Zhao Lifei was buried under a pile of documents.
He handled almost all of Zheng Corporation's contracts, investments, project proposals, and personal funds. He was able to perfectly calculate all the potential income from projects and investments, it made Zhao Moyao realize how much he was a hidden weapon.
In a society ruled by finance and business, Zhao Lifei's perfect abilities would take him very far.
But then his wings were cut off by a man.
He lost who he was and for two long years, Zhao Lifei was a shell of his former self.
Afraid of sitting behind the office desk, trembling at the idea of working on documents, she seemed traumatized by something and Zhao Moyao could not touch her.
He had no idea of the tragic accident that befell Zhao Lifei when he was overworked and stressed himself out. He had no idea what he was missing in the cold, dark office space filled with the sound of pen on paper ...