The mayor had to be tactful. Yang Xinyu was viewing him attentively to hear how he would deal with the situation.

When the call connected, Yang Xinyu could hear the chirpy voice of his wife. He became jealous.

"Father, I had been thinking of you. I have read the historical fiction you gave me and I would also like to discuss the project with you. I am in the final stages of the project," said Wu Lina even before the mayor could speak a word.

The mayor was highly impressed by his daughter-in-law. He smiled and said, "Good job Wu Lina. I am very happy that you are working so hard. I would also like to hear your ideas about it."

While talking to her, his gaze fell on Yang Xinyu, who had an annoying expression on his face. He had asked his father to stop her from working and he was encouraging her!

Looking at his son's angered face, the mayor immediately changed his tone and continued, "Wu Lina, why are you working so hard?"

Wu Lina became silent for a moment. She was confused at this sudden change of topic. "But father you said you are also happy and would like to discuss it further with me…"

"I mean, you should rest for a while," he replied immediately.

"Yes father…"

"The New Year festival is coming near. I would like all my children to gather in the Yang Mansion for the next two days. I would like both you and Yang Xinyu to come over and stay in the Yang Mansion during that time," he continued.

Wu Lina wondered which New Year was this. The next one was two weeks away. "But father, the New Year is two weeks away…"

"We will celebrate then also. You just come over to the Yang Mansion. We will discuss the project over there," said the mayor now trying to wriggle out of the conversation. He looked at Yang Xinyu, who was smiling from ear to ear. The mayor shook his head. 'God knows what keeps on going in this child's head!'

Yang Xinyu left his father's office and went to the Yang Corporation. Ever since his father had become the mayor of the city, Yang Xinyu had to look after his father's duties too. All the senior management reported to him. He was always surrounded with one or the other of the six secretaries that were now employed for him.

Zhao Hai xiang had fully recovered and was at the helm of the affairs. He was too brilliant to be a secretary. And so he was also managing some of Yang Xinyu's main tasks also. All the secretaries were under him except Bo Xilai. With Zhao Hai xiang around, Yang Xinyu was rest assured that all the job in the office was done timely.

He kept checking his phone every now and then to see whether Wu Lina had called him or not. She didn't call him by the afternoon and he became cantankerous. Everyone who came near him was in his line of fire. The secretaries outside his office didn't dare to go near him. Instead they went to Zhao Hai xiang to give the files to him so that he would pass them onto the boss. But with Yang Xinyu's temper that day, even Zhao Hai xiang was reluctant to go near him.

Yang Xinyu thought about calling Wu Lina, as he could no longer bear the anxiety. He picked his cellphone from the pocket, looked at its wallpaper and smiled. Unlocking the phone, he was about to dial the number, when his ego returned. He threw the phone of the floor and it landed somewhere beneath the sofa. Few seconds later it started ringing.

Yang Xinyu heard its feeble ringtone and sprang up from his chair. The call could be from Wu Lina. He cursed himself for being so impulsive. The phone had stopped its journey after the fall somewhere at the far end where it was safely tucked away from any approach. Yang Xinyu crawled near the sofa and reached out his hand to search for it. After feeling for it for sometime, he couldn't find it there. It stopped ringing. Yang Xinyu banged his fists on the carpeted floor in frustration. He ran his fingers through his head when the phone started ringing again. This time, he just got up, lifted the sofa and removed it in a way that it hit the table in front, which resulted in the flower vase to fall down on the carpet.

Yang Xinyu saw Wu Lina's number flashing on the screen and quickly he picked the call. "He… hello!"

"Xini, are you busy?" asked Wu Lina softly.

Xini was beyond happy to hear that endearment. But he had to maintain his cold aura. "No… I mean, yes… yes… I am very busy."

"Oh! Should I call you later? Or we can talk in the evening also," she said, worried that he was in the midst of something very important.

"No!" he shouted. "You can tell me what you want right now!" He wanted to hear her badly.

Wu Lina was surprised at his reaction. He was behaving strangely. She became quiet for a moment.

"Hello? Hello? Wu Lina?" Yang Xinyu panicked that she had disconnected the call.

"Yes, I am here…"

Yang Xinyu sighed away from the phone.

"Well, father called in the morning. He wants us to spend two days at the Yang Mansion because he wants to celebrate the New Year. But Xini, New Year is two weeks away. Since you are not comfortable over there, I am thinking of declining his offer. What do you say?" asked Wu Lina politely.

"Wu Lina, if father has invited, then we should go. Its just two days and I won't feel that uncomfortable. Father would like to spend it with all his children. It is our tradition," he replied. He had made up that 'tradition' thing. They had hardly celebrated the New Year in the Yang Mansion.

"Oh! I didn't know it was a tradition in your family! I will call father now and accept his invite. Please let me know if I have to take any gifts," she asked.

Yang Xinyu breathed a sigh of relief looking at the heaven above and said, "No gifts, just prepare to spend two days there." He disconnected the phone and smiled.

Wu Lina wondered, how did he know about the children…