Sealed With Love

In S City, Z Country...

It was mid-June, and the tall mulberry tree was in bloom once more.

Fiona Ji looked up and down at the trees. With a sigh, she went on her way, thinking that she ought to be on her way to school.

The high school auditorium was jam packed with people. It was graduation day, and all the students and parents waited excitedly for the opening ceremony to begin. It was another year, and another set of fresh graduates. The students had just finished their college entrance examinations, and were about to set off to a new milestone in their lives.

Backstage, Fiona Ji was waiting behind the curtain to deliver her speech. Fiona was undoubtedly beautiful. Her smooth, black hair fell elegantly on her shoulders. It made her fair skin stand out even more, which had a faint, pinkish glow. Fiona's eyes were big and bright--with one glance, they appeared to have a million things to say. Her thick and long lashes often cast shadows over her eyes, making her look all the more lovely.

She straightened out the school uniform she was wearing and adjusted the bow knot tied at her collar. Mumbling to herself, she practiced her speech one last time as preparation.

"Fiona, you're up. Come here and get ready to get on the stage," one of her teachers whispered to her.

"Yes, Miss Zhou."

"Everyone, please welcome this graduating class' most outstanding student, Fiona Ji!"

Taking a deep breath in, Fiona strode out to the center of the stage and onto the podium. Applause filled the entire auditorium.

Some of the naughtier students whistled when they saw Fiona make her way to the center of the stage.

A lot of male high school students saw Fiona as a goddess. Beautiful and intelligent. What was more, she was rather cold towards other people, which made her all the more mysterious. Most of the students did not dare to get close to her because of this.

What they didn't know was that Fiona used to be such a happy little girl, always smiling and laughing. Obviously, those days were no more...

"It was three years ago when we started high school. We were innocent and naive. At that time, it was easy to imagine all the things that we could be. But, we have yet to decide what we really want to be, what we are passionate about, what kind of life we can achieve for ourselves. We will soon be able to grow and find out more about ourselves in the next chapter of our lives. Luckily, our elders will be there to guide us every step of the way. As we enter college, let us also not forget to make deep and meaningful relationships. There is no need to go through any hurdles alone.

High school may seem like the best time in our lives, but I say that the best is yet to come. When we leave this school, let us all do everything we can to achieve all our dreams. Congratulations to everyone! Thank you."

When Fiona finished her speech, some of the girls were already sobbing with sadness. There was also a tinge of sorrow rising from the bottom of Fiona's heart. She wanted to go back and see the mountainous tree at the school grounds.

When the ceremony ended, students said their tearful goodbyes to each other. Some were taking photos with their parents. Some were chatting away with their favorite teachers. Some were boasting loudly about what they would be doing next.

It seemed as if Fiona was the only one who came to the graduation alone. It has been almost ten years.

'Father, mother... How are you up in heaven? Have you seen how I've grown up? Are you proud?'

"Hi, Fiona!" As she was thinking quietly to herself, someone behind her suddenly called her name. Fiona turned around and found it was one of the class leaders.

"What's up?" Fiona asked politely.

"Oh.. Ah, nothing," he stuttered as he laughed nervously. The boy was so shy that he scratched his head and said, "I heard that you ranked second in the college entrance examinations in our city. That's so awesome! Which school did you register for?"

"D University."

"Wow. D University is a great school! That's in M City, right? It's pretty close so it'll be convenient for you to come home!"

"Yes," Fiona replied with a slight smile. M City was her mother and father's hometown, and was her hometown until she was about eight years old. For her, her home wasn't where she was right now--it was in M City, the place where most of her happiest moments happened.

"What major?" he asked, smiling widely.

"Jewelry Design, major in Art Department."

"That's so cool!" The boy said with admiration. "You are so talented. I'm sure you'll be able to design a lot of beautiful jewelry!"

"Thank you," Fiona replied in a grateful tone. "Well, then. If you'll excuse me," she said as she turned to walk away.

"Hey, wait!" the boy called after her hurriedly.

"What's wrong?" Fiona stopped in her tracks and looked back at him.

"I was wondering if I could ask you out tomorrow?"

"What for?" Fiona asked, her brows furrowing.

"Fiona, it's just that... Can you go out on a date with me? I like you!" After saying his confession, the boy's face flushed red.

"I..." Surprised, Fiona blushed and shook her head. "Look... I'm awfully sorry, but I'm not interested in dating anyone for the time being."

"But we can start with friends!" the boy insisted.

"We're already friends. I'm sorry," Fiona declined with an apologetic smile.

"Okay..." The boy put his hands in his pockets, his head down low.

Fiona brushed past all the other people and got on a bus. With a sullen mood, she gazed out the window, looking at the trees that zoomed by.

Ten years ago, when she was only eight years old, her parents passed away. When they died, Fiona moved here to S City to live with her aunt. Soon, she was going to study at a university in M City, the place where she and her parents used to live. There was still a bit of reluctance in her heart to leave S City.

"We're now stopping at the XJ Garden. Again, stopping at XJ Garden."

Fiona grabbed her bag and got out of the bus.

When she got off, she saw a familiar car that seemed to be waiting for her.

'Isn't that Grandpa Wayne's?'

Thinking of this, Fiona quickened her pace. She got into the car and was soon on her way to her aunt's house.

As soon as she entered the house, Fiona saw Wayne Cheng's assistant, Victor Zhang.

The other people there--her aunt Jenny, her uncle Mike and her cousin Angela-- were all looking stiff and tense with Victor there standing at in the living room.

"Mr. Victor!" Fiona asked, wondering why Grandpa Wayne wasn't here.

"Miss Fiona!" Victor greeted. Upon her arrival, Victor quickly turned to her and bowed. "Has your graduation ceremony ended?"

"Yes, it's over. Why isn't Grandpa Wayne here?" she asked.

"Mr. Cheng," Victor said with a somber face, "Mr. Cheng is ill and he is in hospital. I came here to pick you up, Miss Fiona, so that I may bring you to see Mr. Cheng."

"Oh my god. He's sick?" Fiona exclaimed in shock. "What happened? Is it serious?"

"Yes, it is very serious. He is in the ICU," Victor said sadly. "Mr. Cheng cares about you dearly. Please, let us not waste time. Come with me."

There was hesitation on Fiona's face for a brief second. She bit her lips, thinking about how much she didn't want to go there, but...

"Alright," she said with a nod. "Let's go."

"Very well, Miss Fiona. Please go pack up your things and put them in the car. I heard that you have enrolled in D University. You have no need to come back here. Mr. Cheng has already arranged everything so that you may move to M City."

Just when Fiona was about to protest, she saw how her aunt's eyes lit up. Seeing this, Fiona sneered in her heart and decided to just go along with it. "Okay. I'll go pack now," she said flatly.

"Understood, Miss Fiona. I will go downstairs and make all the other necessary preparations to help you move."

"Thank you so much, Mr. Victor."

Fiona made her way to her bedroom, her aunt and the rest of her family following closely behind, pretending that they would help her tidy up.

"Oh, Fiona! I'm going to miss you so much!" Angela Lin, Fiona's younger cousin, exclaimed in a slightly sarcastic manner.

"Yeah, sure. Whatever," answered Fiona casually, picking up her suitcase and stuffing it with clothes.

"Hey. Since you're leaving and all, aren't you going to leave me something as a little souvenir?" Angela Lin said with a snort. As she spoke, her eyes wandered to a black piano in the corner of the room.

"My senior year's textbooks and notes are on my desk. Many of the junior students offered me a high price for them, but I didn't sell it to them. I'm giving them to you now for free. It's time for you to take the college entrance examination next year," Fiona said. Even without raising her head, Fiona knew that Angela wanted the piano. But there was no way Fiona was going to agree to such a thing. That piano was a gift from her parents, and so it had a lot of sentimental value. She didn't want to give it to anyone, much less to Angela.

"Fiona, you're moving out. Bringing a piano with you would be so cumbersome! Do you really want to trouble yourself and a lot of other people by moving it? You might as well give it to me!" Angela asked directly.

"That's right, Fiona," said Jenny. "Angela likes this piano very much. Why won't you just give it to her? Besides, Mr. Cheng has always been so kind to you. If you ask him for a piano, he will surely buy you a better one!"

Hearing this, Fiona quickly turned and glared at them. "Yes, Mr. Cheng treats me well. But that doesn't mean I can ask him for anything! I'm taking my piano with me and that's final!"

"Why... why are you so angry?" Jenny, stammered as her face went pale.

"Miss Fiona, is there something wrong?"

At this moment, Victor rushed into the room with several people. When they heard Fiona's enraged voice, they quickly rushed to her room. Jenny was so scared that she stepped back.

"Is anyone bullying Miss Fiona?" Victor's face turned stern, and Jenny's family fell into silence.

"No. Everything's fine," Fiona said calmly. "Mr. Victor, can I bring this piano with me?" she asked as she pointed at it.

"Certainly, Miss Fiona. If you wanted to bring this entire house with you, it would be no problem at all, let alone a piano," Victor said with a nod.

"Thank you, Mr. Victor. Take it outside now, please."

With a snap of his fingers, Victor pointed to a couple of the men behind him. "Come on, you two, move the piano downstairs. Be careful!"

"Yes, sir!"

After half an hour later, the room was almost completely empty. All the stuff there were made by Fiona's own purchases. Although her aunt's family was a bit mean, they weren't that bad. In fact, Fiona even still had the heart to compile all her study materials and pass it down to her younger cousins.

Bending down, Fiona carried the last bag left. "I'm leaving now," she said, turning to Jenny. "Thanks to you and your family for taking care of me for so many years. I will leave my study notes for the college entrance exam, and I hope that Angela would get into the university she wants to get in. I will come back to visit you if I have chance."

"Let's go, Miss Fiona." Victor followed behind Fiona and gestured her outside.

As Fiona stepped out of the house and closed the door, there was nothing in her heart but relief. For ten years, she had lived here. There was no reluctance. 'Moving on with the next chapter of my life...' she thought to herself, remembering what she said at the graduation ceremony with a smile.

"Ugh! She's the absolute worst!!" Angela grunted as soon as the door closed behind Fiona. In an angry fit, Angela threw the notes Fiona had given her on the ground, some getting torn apart. "Who the hell would want her rubbish!" she shouted.

"Angela! Stop it!" Angela's father, Mike Lin, picked up the papers again. Then, he looked sternly at Angela. "Look at your cousin's scores! Then, look at yours! She is the second best in the city. Your cousin has given you a great advantage by giving you her notes! Just stop it! You can't throw it away!" he explained.

"Your father's right. You need to study harder," Jenny said, helping her husband pick up the papers.

They did not know, however, that Fiona was still standing by the door and had heard everything. A cold and smug smile crept up her lips.

"Mr. Victor, shall we go?"

"Right after you, Miss Fiona."

The Cheng family was perhaps the most powerful and influential family in M City. The eldest member, Wayne Cheng, was a man of great power. Although he had retired long before, many people of high social status still respectfully called him Mr. Wayne Cheng.

The current head of the Cheng family, Ethan Cheng, had also inherited his father's glory and high status, and his son Spencer Cheng also held the same amount of potential.

The Cheng family and the Ji family had a very close relationship with each other that had lasted for a long time. After Fiona's parents died, Fiona had never gone back to see any of the Chengs. Only Wayne came to see her from time to time.

As Fiona sat in the backseat of the car, she shook her head and decided that the best thing she could do was to let the past go. 'As soon as I get to M City, I'll visit Grandpa Wayne first. Then, I'll go look for a place to live. After that, I'll have nothing to worry about other than going to school when the semester finally starts. That's it, ' she thought to herself with determination.

A few minutes later, her lids began to grow heavy. With a yawn, she leaned against the window and took a nap. What she didn't know, however, was that this trip to M City was going to change everything...

After a three-hour drive, she had woken up. They finally arrived at M City.

The sight of M City caused a lot of fragmented memories to flash through Fiona's head. The memories were distant as she glanced up at the warm, orange sky.

Laughter of children playing in the courtyard, refreshing morning exercises, her mom's voice calling her home for dinner, the way her dad chuckled...

"We have arrived, Miss Fiona," Victor's voice came from the passenger seat.

As soon as the car pulled over, somebody opened the car door for Fiona. Taking a deep breath in, she grabbed her bag beside her and got off the car. She looked around and saw that they had stopped in a community named Four Seasons Scenery.

"Victor, are we in the wrong place?" Fiona was confused. From her understanding, they should have been either at the hospital or at the family villa.

"No. We are where we're supposed to be. It was Mr. Cheng's order. He told me to bring you here before going to the hospital. This is where you will be staying--your new home, if I may say. You are situated on the tenth floor. Everything has been taken care of, and your name is already on the property ownership certificate."

"What?" Fiona was taken aback. "No, Victor, this is too much! Tell Grandpa Wayne I can't take it!"

"Miss Fiona, it's only half an hour's ride to D University. It's a very convenient place for you to live. Mr. Cheng knew that you wouldn't want to live in the family villa. And so, he bought it for you," Victor explained.

"But I can't accept such an extravagant gift," she murmured, biting her lips.

"Mr. Cheng said that if Miss Fiona doesn't take it, he would tie you up with a rope! If Miss Fiona chooses not to live here, we will go to the school and wait for you there every day, making sure that you come home here!" Victor exclaimed.

Fiona was speechless for a while. What a stubborn man!

"Miss Fiona, please!"

"...... All right. " Fiona sighed heavily and followed him upstairs.

The tenth floor apartment was already decorated. It was simple yet had a touch of elegance and modernity, which suited Fiona's taste quite well.

All of Fiona's luggage were placed neatly in the living room. "Miss Fiona, where should we place the piano?" Victor asked.

Just then, Fiona remembered that her mother used to play the piano near the window. Every time she played, warm light would hit her lovely face. Fiona looked around and saw that there was a balcony. "Put it over there at the edge of the balcony, leaning against the wall."

"Right away!"

Fiona put down the bag she was carrying on the floor. It was already getting dark outside. "Where is Grandpa Wayne? I want to see him now, Mr. Victor," she said.

"Of course. Let's go, Miss Fiona," Victor nodded and left with Fiona.

Outside the ICU of M Hospital, all of the members of the Cheng family were looking over Wayne anxiously.

Soon, Victor arrived with Fiona.

"Mr. Ethan, Miss Fiona is here!"

Ethan turned to look at Fiona, and a smile of relief appeared on his face. As Fiona approached, he greeted her warmly, "Ah, Fiona! You're all grown up! You look as beautiful as your mother."

"Hello, Uncle Ethan!" Fiona greeted back, vaguely remembering what Ethan looked like.

"How have you been doing all these years?"

"Good, I would say," Fiona replied with a slight smile.

"Oh my goodness! Is this Fiona? You are so beautiful!" An elegant lady in her fifties stepped forward and took her hand. "Did you have any troubles getting here, my dear?" she asked.

Fiona shook her head with a smile.

"This is your Aunt Anna," said Ethan.

"Pleasure to meet you, Aunt Anna!" Fiona said. She knew the woman was the second wife of Ethan. Wayne had told her about it once.

"What a polite girl!" Anna exclaimed cheerfully.

"Is Grandpa Wayne awake?" asked Fiona, looking into the ICU ward with concern.

"Not yet. But the doctor said that he would be fine after his medication."

At the moment, a man came from the other end of the corridor. It looked like he had just arrived at the hospital, and there was a tired look on his face.

"Mr. Spencer!" Victor called out, bowing slightly.

"Mr. Spencer," some others said simultaneously.

Fiona turned around and saw a man in his early twenties approaching.

The man, Spencer, was wearing a sharp looking uniform and a pair of black, leather boots. He walked towards them with big strides. Spencer was tall and had a well-toned body. His skin had a light tan to it. But what was so remarkable about his appearance was his face. His face was angular, his lips were thin, and his cold eyes were framed perfectly with his thick eyebrows.

Fiona had never seen such a handsome man in all her life!

"Ah, good. Spencer's here," Anna called out.

'I see. So this is Spencer...'

Fiona frowned imperceptibly. Spencer was only walking up to her and she already thought that his personality was too strong for her liking. Although she had heard a lot about Spencer from Wayne, she had never met him until now. He was a little older than Fiona was. When she was born, Spencer was already starting school.