"What?!", Ningtao stood up, stunned, "What did she say?"

"Zia."

"Huh? What does that even mean?", the woman frowned. She'd never heard such a term before, so where did baby Alix pick it up from, she wondered.

"It means Aunt in Italian.", Lu Wei answered proudly, "I was playing with Alix when Xinghe phoned me. So as Kiddo's face appeared across the screen, our daughter pointed at it excitedly and shouted 'Zia!'. Clearly, it wasn't merely a coincidence. I've shown her about ten to fifteen pictures of Xinghe from our album, and the girl is calling out to her Aunt with the same word."

"Oh... so that's why Xinghe would insist on speaking to Alix every day.", Ningtao laughed, "Zia is the easiest pronunciation for Aunt. Kids can learn it quite briskly. Ironic, isn't it? The girl hasn't even called us Mama or Dada yet, and that's her first word."

"Yeah. When are you coming home, Mrs. Lu?", the man asked then, "I miss you."

Listening to his innocently sincere words, Ningtao couldn't help but feel her heart flutter a bit. "Give me an hour, okay?"

"Drive safe.", he said before disconnecting the call. 

_____________

Xi Family Mansion; 

City A, Country X, 15:30; 

As Ningtao shared the anecdote about Lu Alix's first word with the ladies, Li Jungah and Luo Youyou walked out of the house and into the backyard. 

"What the hell was that?", Li Jungah turned to glare at the woman, her tone unexpectedly calm. 

"I-- I was just trying to..."

"Humiliate the Xis by implying how shallow-minded and pinchpenny we truly are?", the woman interrupted, "Seriously? That's the best you could come up with?"

"What do you mean? Yuan is like a son to me too, you know, Sister?", Luo Youyou said, pretending to have been wronged.

"But he has never considered you so much as even family, let alone a relationship as deep and meaningful as that.", Li Jungah remarked solemnly, "Why would he, anyway? You allowed the Luos to bi*ch about Xinghe in almost every business gathering. You called for a private meeting with the Xi Empire's shareholders right after the Soulagement Pharma's issue caught fire, trying to sway them in favor of Fang. And that's just off the top of my head. 

"So let's not fake it, okay? You want to win over Fang, right? You have my blessings. But if you use Yuan or Xinghe ever again in order to reach your goals, I'll make you pay for it ten folds. You have my word on that."

Shocked by the woman's cognizance of her each move, Luo Youyou was at a loss of words. Clenching her fists, her nails digging into the skin of her palms, she looked away; exhaling a short breath. 

"One more thing.", Li Jungah added, "Keep your distance from Yuan's wedding preparations. No tricks, no ranting, no ridiculous demands. Nothing. Because if you do anything stupid the way you just did, I won't abstain from tipping Yuan off about the 100 Million USD loss your husband caused to the Xi Corporations three days ago.

"Such a huge blunder might actually cost him his position as one of the shareholders, don't you think?"

Stepping back a few inches, the other woman stared at Li Jungah in horror. How did she...

"Y... yo--"

"Auntie.", Jiang Yue's voice resounded across the empty space as the girl approached them gracefully.

"Yes, Yue?", Li Jungah smiled at her, averting her gaze from the awfully still Luo Youyou. 

"I'll have to take my leave now.", the girl replied, smiling back at the woman, "I have to meet a friend.", she said, her voice barely audible.

"At Café Chronicles?", the woman chuckled, pinching the girl's nose playfully, "Sure. Just remind Fang to come home for dinner tonight. The child has gotten so thin over the past few weeks."

"Huh!?"

"Sorry, Sweetie. I really didn't intend to eavesdrop on your call earlier, but you were a tad loud. I just couldn't help it.", Jungah laughed. 

Jiang Yue let out a peal of nervous laughter as well, as she listened to the woman's carefree tone. She had to admit it. The Xi family ladies had extremely contrasting personalities. It didn't matter how sweetly Luo Youyou spoke to her, it always seemed as if she was putting on pretense. While on the other hand, Li Jungah felt like... a shed in the scorching July sun. It was comforting to talk to her.

"I'll tell him that.", the girl said, waving goodbye to the ladies. 

______________

Earlston, Scotland, 11:00;

Huang Ling had made a call to Rong Xinghe with an intention of apologizing to her on his sister's behalf. The girl found it unnecessary, though. Xi Yuan had already exacted his revenge in his own way, nonetheless. Besides, it wasn't like Huang Ling was accountable for Huang Biu's actions. Sitting over the porch swing, the girl sipped the sweet tea her darling had made her, as she chatted with the Hybrid, in blithe.

"It's alright, Ling.", she giggled, "You don't have to feel sorry about any of this."

"Fine.", the man smiled, "By the way, where is Mr. Xi? I owe an apology to him as well, I believe."

"He is discussing business stuff with Ying in the study.", the girl said. 

"Oh."

"So what's new? Any update on Ahmed Ali Fadhil?", Rong Xinghe asked in a whisper, looking around so as to ensure that no one else was hearing.

"You're not supposed to discuss work right now, Alpha.", the man pointed out.

"I won't repeat myself.", the woman shot back assertively.

"Well... not yet.", the Hybrid gave in, "Abram and Jackson are still waiting to hear from him. There has been a speck of progress on Maksoor khan's end, but. We've caught his right-hand man, Neil. However, he seems tough. It doesn't look like the Military torture will work on him anymore. I was thinking of interrogating him myself next week. 

"Other than that, everything else is regular. The Military drills, the border patrolling, and the ammunition testing. It's all going as usual."

"So are you guys loving the Military Chief duties?", Rong Xinghe questioned next. 

"Nope.", the man shook his head, exhausted, "It's all so diplomatic and political over here, Xinghe. Don't take this the wrong way... but I prefer the fieldwork more."

"I do, too, honestly.", the girl nodded, "Gosh! I miss the office."

"Well, don't keep Yuan hanging any longer, woman.", Ling laughed, "Have a peaceful wedding ceremony while you can with him. Work can wait for some time. The Hybrids will take care of it until then, okay?"

"Okay."