Earlston, Scotland, 15:50;

"I believe I should thank you, Miss Huang.", Xi Yuan said, passing the plate of fruits to Rong Xinghe, "How would you like for me to repay your kindness?"

"I... um... There really is no need.", Huang Biu shook her head modestly, "Thank you so much."

"I insist, though.", the man smiled, "I don't like staying indebted to anyone. Take your time, if you need, and I shall fulfill your wish as long as it isn't beyond my limits."

"Alright.", the woman responded shyly, "I'll think of something."

Rong Xinghe listened to the two calmly as she finished off her fruit salad. Sigh... did the rich people talk so formally? How boring. She communicated with a roadside vegetable vendor better than that. And in addition to it, Xi Yuan and Huang Biu were schoolmates. How could they not have anything in common to chat about?

"Let me suggest you something, Miss Huang.", she joined in then, putting away the empty plate in her hands, "Go for 'Heritage in Blossom' diamond necklace. It's worth 200 Million USD, apparently.

"Or maybe one of the recently launched Sports Cars. Anything ridiculously expensive, actually.", she chuckled, mouthing 'He's rich!' to the woman, a mischievous smile plastered across her lips.

Xi Yuan rolled his eyes, shaking his head defeatedly. Why was she like that? Such a troublemaker.

"I heard you were attacked a few days back too, Miss Rong.", Huang Biu diverted the topic with a smile, "How did it happen? And is that why you're here?"

"Sit down.", the girl said, pointing her chin to one of the chairs next to the woman, "You seem to have brought along a lengthy list of questions." Heeding the girl's advice, Huang Biu grabbed a seat opposite the couple, "Nothing like that. Actually, the media has been in a state of turmoil since then. The incident has helped their TRPs to skyrocket to unimaginable degrees.

"The public wants to listen to nothing but that, you see. So I was just curious."

Rong Xinghe laughed helplessly, "The TRP greed, of course.", she mumbled, "Well, yeah, I was indeed attacked. It was Yuan's idea, actually, to come here and relax till I recover."

"Mr. Xi is so considerate.", the woman smiled her tone a little dull.

"You guys went to the same High School, right?", the girl questioned then, "How did you two meet?"

"We weren't--"

"Friends.", Xi Yuan cut in, pulling his phone out from his left pocket, "I talked to her for the first time in a charity event after I'd taken over the position of CEO in Xi Corporations.

"Sorry. I've got a few calls to attend.", he added then, standing up from the couch. As he left the living room, Huang Biu's expression darkened.

Rong Xinghe gasped at the man's revelation, and turned to the woman, shocked, "Sorry for his tone, Miss Huang. His mind must be elsewhere."

"I understand.", the woman smiled, bottling up her humiliation within.

But Xi Yuan didn't care. He wasn't going to let Huang Biu brew up stories of her own and nod along. She wasn't worth it. Had he not clarified everything then and there, he knew that the other woman would've definitely taken advantage of it.

He really had never been in contact with Huang Biu when he was in school. In fact, he didn't have a lot of friends as a kid. Partly, because of acute Autism. But mostly, due to the fact that they would befriend him for his family background and not the real him.

She was no different. In fact, she was the worst of them all. He had never uttered a single word to her all those years, and yet, she'd went on to spread rumors about their 'relationship'. He'd never defied her claims, for there was no one deserving enough of his clarification, but his distaste for her only grew over time. He hated liars. And he hated those who used his name to acquire fame or benefits. However, this woman had done both.

Those kids or their opinions didn't matter to him a bit then, but Rong Xinghe's did. There was no way that he would entertain her lies in his personal life anymore. Not for a second.

:::::::::::::::::::

22:00;

"Wow... he never talked to her!?", Songyan was surprised as she listened to Rong Xinghe's dramatic reporting, "I always thought that they must've had at least dated, you know?"

"Tell me about it, Sister-in-law!", Rong Xinghe sighed, "I mean I would've dated her, had I been her classmate. She looks mesmerizing. Such a shame..."

"Do you realize that it's your boyfriend you are talking about?", Zhi Xi questioned his Kiddo, agitated, "Shouldn't you be glad that he doesn't like her?"

"I wanted to know what he was like in school.", the girl pouted, "Besides, I am still having a hard time digesting that I am his first love. That he has never been in a relationship before me."

At this time, one of Rong Xinghe's security staff knocked on the bedroom door, "We've located the attacker's current address, Boss."

"Okay...", the girl nodded, reverting her attention to the phone in her hand, "Talk to you later, brother. Good night, Sister-in-law." Disconnecting the call then, she strode towards the man, "Where is he?"

"He is living in one of the deserted houses on the outskirts of Earlston currently, Ma'am.", the young man answered, "The guy is extremely vigilant and uptight.

"But we can handle him. The men are waiting for your orders though, Chief. One word from you and we'll rip him apart in pieces."

"You won't.", Rong Xinghe shook her head, clenching her fists, "He had the audacity to aim at Yuan. I'll do the honors this time. And don't you dare report this to Mr. Xi."

"But--"

"Officer Hong, come on.", the girl smirked, silencing the man at once, "I will be leaving at three tonight. Everyone should be sound asleep by then. Just keep the Military van fuelled up before that.

"It's finally time for the nation's Military Chief to sharpen her sword, don't you think?"