บท 2: Compensation

Ning Suyin was furious, to say the least, and the same could be said to Bai Han's father, Bai Zhen. His son was supposed to be engaged to a Xia and not a mere outsider to the Xia family.

Xia Zihao had told his father, Xia Gang about Yi Meixu's true identity, but the old man refused to accept her. It upset him that Xia Zihao had betrayed his family for years. He would not allow him to marry again after his divorce to Ning Suyin.

If anything, the Xias were righteous and honorable family and Xia Zihao had seemed to have forgotten his roots.

Hence, Yi Liling, Yi Meixu's mother, remained to be a mistress until now. This fact upset both the mother and daughter. They both swore to take everything that Ning Suyin had, including what Xia Yanmei had.

Back to the engagement party, Bai Han was explaining to his father that he only saw Xia Yanmei as a friend and he had longed loved Yi Meixu for a year. They had kept their relationship a secret.

"Please, father. Please understand, I cannot bear to hurt my Xuxu and make her cry again. I am in love with her," Bai Han said, pleading to his father.

"This is outrageous! Bai Zhen, I suggest you teach your son a lesson. As for this engagement, I myself do not allow it! -

Xia Gang's words were interrupted by none other than the biggest shareholder of the Royal Dragon Corporation, Xia Tao. His voice was loud and firm saying, "and I too do not allow it. No one from the Bai family is allowed to be associated to a Xia from now on!"

While the event turned out to be a disaster for Xia Zihao and the Bai family, Yi Meixu was rejoicing inside. She knew too well that she could not enter the Xia family. The least that she could do was to penetrate the Bai Family.

The plan was simple, get Bai Han to fall in love her. Ask her father's forgiveness and soon gain his trust. She would slowly ask forgiveness from grandfather Gang and only when she was wed to Bai Han will she and her mother attempt to be part of the Xia family once more.

When the guests started to leave, Yi Meixu came rushing towards Xia Yanmei, "Sister. I'm so sorry. I - I tried to stop Han from - from breaking off your engagement. Please forgive me."

Bai Han came up from behind her and said, "Xuxu, don't be sorry. It was not your fault." Looking up to Yanmei, he said, "Yanmei, please understand. We did not intend for us to fall in love. It just happened -"

"It just happened?" Looking down at Meixu's crying face, she pointed out, "I doubt it just happened."

The moment Bai Han told his father that their relationship started since last year, she instantly recalled how Meixu had come between them. At that time, she had not yet known that she was her half-sister and did not see any malice to her actions.

She had always passed messages between them and often saw them together. Most of the time, she would reason saying that she was helping Bai Han look for her. Xia Yanmei realized she had been misled all along.

Before leaving them in their pathetic state, Xia Yanmei said, "In any case, I am not one to break off TRUE LOVE. I am a proud woman after all, a true Xia. I wish you both luck."

As she left, she heard her half-sister cry to Bai Han, "What do we do? We've upset her. I - I told you we should just end this."

Yi Meixu also turned to her father, pleading for forgiveness, "Father, I swear. I did not mean for this to happen. I tried to convince Han - I swear!"

"Mr. Xia. This is all my fault. I was the one who fell in love with Xuxu. I insisted on our relationship. Please don't be upset with her," Bai Han tried his best to explain their side, hoping to make amends.

Xia Zihao was disappointed at Yi Meixu but he loved her as a daughter. She was a loving daughter to him while Yanmei had been defiant since his divorce with his ex-wife.

Yi Liling also joined in the conversation, trying to convince her lover to listen to her daughter's side. After speaking with Bai Han and his Yi Meixu, he eventually gave his reluctant acceptance.

Their cries and pleading towards her father faded out from Xia Yanmei's ears. Although she felt Bai Han betrayed her, the truth was she was never in love with him. After all, they were too young to consider a real relationship.

"Do you want to have a drink?" She heard her cousin's offer. It was Xia Ping waiting for her on the door.

She pursed her lips before answering, "Why not?"

That same day, she left her father's house and stayed with her cousins for an entire week. She only returned to ask for compensation from her father.

"Father I want to study further abroad - "

"No! You stay here. We have been cut-off from working for the Royal Dragon, merely earning from the very little shares that we have," reacted Xia Zhao.

"You can use part of Xuxu's trust funds," Yanmei suggested with a smirk on her face.

"How dare you?! That is my daughter's trust fund - "

"Compensation. That is what I am asking for. Compensate me for the shame that you have brought me by supporting me in my studies abroad. If not, Xuxu, I'd be happy to go to the Bai's and ask compensation from them instead," she cut off her father's mistress before giving a triumphant grin.

Yi Meixu was burning inside, angry about the proposition, but she needed to win Bai Han's family and thus she asked her father pitifully, "Father. Sister Yanmei is right, I did bring her shame. You can use my trust fund for her -"

"No, my child. It's not necessary. My income is enough," said Xia Zihao in a comforting tone. Turning to Yanmei, he said, "As you wish, Yanmei. I will send you off to take up higher education. I can only hope you can put it to good use one day and return me the favor."

She could not believe her ears. She thought, 'What kind of father do I have? Asking me to return the favor one day when he can easily give in to his other daughter's request.'

Nonetheless, she took the opportunity to leave her father's side permanently.