Chapter 2 CHAPTER 1 HIS FATE

SEVEN YEARS AGO...

KAI

"Can't I have a say with this matter? It is my life you are discussing here, after all."

I glared at my parents, my hands upon my waist as I tried not to combust with the anger I am feeling.

We are currently visiting NaiNai at the family house. It was ancient but well kept; screen paintings decorated the walls, along with our portraits, the roof tiles were intact and shined, the floors polished. Even the lotus pond that sits in the middle of the backyard was weeded out and cleaned.

This weekend dinner arranged by Jia was supposed to be a celebration for the promotion she had. She loves parties after all and family drama was her favorite, especially when the highlight includes me. I was tricked; I didn't know that I'll be trapped in this mess.

"The Wang family was the smallest, yet powerful family in all of China. I cannot have you putting an end to that." Grandma stated as she relaxed on her divan, her eyes focused upon me. My father made a move but did not speak, and my mother still had her head slanted, acting indifferent.

I clenched my fist and straightened from where I was standing. "So, you want me to provide an heir?" I adjusted the sleeves of my shirt and folded it up to my elbows, "Okay. Let me find some woman to do it with and I will give you the heir you so wanted in nine months. I shall go now and find a suitable one." I bowed, ignoring the three set of glares coming from my elders.

Yes , I have to respect them but they are too much. And it's 21st Century, filial piety shall have limitations.

Grandma's eyes grew undeniably wide while my father's face paled, along with my mother who held him back, trying to stop him from attacking me. Jia peered from the window of the room, her eyes alit with curiousity.

She is having fun, alright. As long as it has something to do with my pain and suffering, my sister will delight of it, however small it is.

"You stop there, you rascal!" Grandma rouse from her divan, squinting her eyes as she glared at me, "You insolent, spoiled child!"

She takes her walking stick and used it to hit my legs but I did not flinch. The maids from the entrance to Grandma's bedroom winced at the sight but I stood tall, enduring the pain.

Grandma continue to hit me until my father speaks, "Ma, enough."

"Hu! I have raised you well but you should've done better with him as I have provided you with examples. Why make him like this? "

My father's face redden with my Grandma's words. I bowed my head in shame, "Papa raised me well, NaiNai but I refuse to follow this time. I cannot have you dictating my life. I cannot marry a girl you have randomly selected!"

Grandma hit her walking stick upon the floor and glared at me, holding my chin and pulling me down so I can look at her eyes. I gulped. "She is not random, Kai. I have specifically selected her to be your wife because I want to repay a debt." Grandma sighs, taking a step back and leaning on her walking stick. "I have arranged this with my best friend, Xiu Feng, after she saved me from drowning. I owe my life to her, without her, the Wang Family will be cut from it's base, with no chance to flourish."

"The both of us have decided that the third generation shall marry to seal the friendship between us," Grandma stared at me but I averted my eyes, to angry to maintain an eye contact with her. "The Wang Family are known to maintain connections with people they have done business with. We repay our debts, we stay true to our promises; we are proud but we are merciful." She takes my hand on hers and held my cheek. "I do not want to burden you, Kai, but I am thinking about the next generations to come."

I gritted my teeth, not believing every word my Grandma is saying. Why would I marry a girl I do not know? Yes, that Feng-lady saved my grandma but why do I need to marry their granddaughter to repay that debt? Can't I just pay them instead?

"I know what is going inside your brain, Kai, but a life debt shall be paid equally. It cannot be paid by money. The Xiu family is a good family, and I do not regret my decision of marrying you to their granddaughter."

"But why I should I pay it, why me? Why not my father? Or my uncle? Why wish it upon me?" Her eyes hardened at my question yet she did not answer me. "Can't we just skip this arrangement and pass it to the next generation to come? I will make sure that my child will have no objections."

Grandma shakes her head at me, a small smile on her lips, "You are asking me about why this fate shall be your burden. I have stated that the third generation shall be the ones to marry, not your father or your uncle, but you. It is not a matter of who, but the agreement shall be the one to take effect. Wang does not go back to his words, we do not break our promises."

I am shaking in anger, feeling betrayed. So they called me to this weekend family dinner to be cornered and made to follow their orders? Have I no freedom? Are we only made to follow what our elders want us to do?

I bowed my head in defeat but said in a hushed voice, "I am not going to do it. I will find a way."

"KAI!" My parents chorused but my grandma held out her hand. "You will marry her, Kai. I will make sure that you won't find a way around this. I'd rather have you marry that girl than see you parading girls around Beijing! You cannot put a shame to our family name, I won't allow it as long as I am still alive."

"Watch me do it," I whispered as I take a deep bow, not giving them a chance to stop me as I went out of the door, my legs trembling from beneath me.

Jia was sitting at the bottom steps of the shrine, her face alit with excitement, as she see "Well?"

I huffed, "I'll go back to the city and take Zen with me."

"Why, Zen? Take me instead, this old house is boring, I cannot really focus here." I turned back at her, taking her shoulders and forcing her to stare at me, "Gege, that hurts."

"Then why come here, Jia? Why did you even arrange this dinner? You really loved to embarrass me, right? You are the same as them." I removed my hold upon her and passed the lotus pond, glaring at the maids who scurried away from me.

My irritation is bubbling and I couldn't help but wish to punch someone. I can hear the quiet creak of the doors as Grandma and my parents emerged, looking defeated. I caught their gaze before heading for the kitchen, searching for Zen.

Zen was eating leftover cakes from this afternoon's party when he rises from his seat, "What happened?" I did not speak, instead , I dragged him by his collar. "Hey! What is the matter? Why are you pulling at my collar. I am not a dog."

I glared at him, pinching his ear, "I need a drink."

"But we have plenty of drinks here, and it is free! NaiNai makes the best wine."

"I need drinks and women, Zen. I need women."