"Third Young Lady Wu, we finally met. I'm your fiancè, Choi Kazuki."
His deep voice rang inside her head and she suddenly dropped to her knees. Her freshly dried eyes wet again.
"Y-Young Heir of Choi Empire, please spare my family! I beg of you!" Athena suddenly begged as she cried.
~~~~
2 days before the disaster.
After school, Athena was brought to one of the Wang's boutique with her mother of this novel world. After looking at the dresses, Li Lifen examined her daughter.
She sighed. Her wicked sister in law took advantage of her absence, she was temporarily transferred to a sister school of Elite High in another region of Jade Country.
"Our jewel, do you still prefer the Victorian dresses? This store doesn't seem to have one."
"No, Mom! Please don't buy those, anything but those! I no longer like wearing those itchy dark dresses. I don't have a good sense in fashion, so please help me choose, Mom~" Athena begged.
In her previous life, she used to wear scrubs all day. Either that or those comfy track suits and oversized hoodies. Though she was good at make-up. She didn't get the chance to flaunt her make-up skills because she was too lazy to go clubbing.
"Okay, I will do my best my precious daughter! I can finally dress you up again fufufu~" Her mother giggled, but it sounded evil to Athena.
And for that, Li Lifen forced Athena to try each other clothes she chose. She bought everything in the store in her daughter's size. Athena didn't forget to add those comfortable track suits and hoodies disregarding her mother's laser eyes.
The pair then went to one of the Wu Hotels and checked in to their world-class Spa for a full body massage.
"The usual, Madam Wu?" The manager asked.
"Yes, and Ultimate Beauty Massage for my daughter." Li Lifen grinned. Athena shivered at her mom's sinister smile. No wonder Hexie Wu is called Ice Queen, she got her looks from her scary mother.
"Yes, Madam! Third Young Lady, this way please." The manager guided Athena to a different room. Athena looked at her mom in fear, but Li Lifen only smiled at her and walked to the room beside hers.
"Moooom~ you traitor!!" Athena wailed while being dragged towards her own massage room.
The Ultimate Beauty Massage included almost all types of massage for the whole body. The highlight of the massage was the face part.
After the relaxing (was actually painful) full of loud cracks of bones Ultimate Beauty Massage session, she rested in the VIP detoxifying hot bath. Li Linfen was already there, reading a magazine.
"What a talented young fellow but if he's going to a tour then....aiya!" She heard her mom muttering some stuff.
"Last Song Syndrome LEGENDARY Comeback!! Read more at page 11"
LSS? The Male lead's disbanded band? That's weird. In the novel, he was mentioned to be from a disbanded pop/rock band called Last Song Syndrome a.k.a. LSS before becoming a solo idol.
"Fashion News: Wang Clothesline Set The New Trend For All Sizes"
"Lihua-er is Wang's youngest designer. I love how she included different size options for her new designs. Look at the different sizes girls walking at her runway." Athena's mom beamed proudly.
"She really is talented in designing. Her ideas are fresh." Athena approved.
Yes. This was how Lihua Andrea Wang was before becoming a love sick idiot. A budding fashion designer and model. It was like she could see the future, her sketches were similar to the clothes in her previous life.
She abandoned her career in designing for the Male Lead as she chased him in the idol and acting world.
"I heard she's going to study college in your dream school, the I-C-E University. You two will be studying again in the same school, how wonderful! I could finally be rest assured, someone's going to keep an eye on you!" Athena's mom informed her happily.
"I.C.E. UNIVERSITY?! International College for the Elites??" Athena gasped. She really has no escape from the female lead as it was where most of the plot of the novel was set.
"And hey! What do you mean by keeping an eye on me, Mom?"
"Yes. The pre-med courses there are top notch although the school is known for their Commerce department. The Medicine department is not inferior."
"Wait--Mom, you're not mad that I'm no longer going to take up Accountancy nor any Business related course?" Athena asked softly.
"What are you talking about? Of course not. I'm actually rooting for your medical journey as it was my dream. But I also love teaching, so here I am. A school directress at your previous junior high school, Elite High." Her mom pinched Athena's chubby cheeks.
"My! They made your skin much more softer and radiant. It seems the massage did the trick. We'll be visiting the spa every month to maintain your glowing and soft skin~" Li Lifen gushed.
She really wanted to pamper her daughter but since she's busy at school, she never had time. It was good that their daughter was sticking to them these past few weeks. Their precious jewel would occasionally hug and thank them.
"Mom, after this, can we go buy pots and pick up a few seeds? Dad said he wanted to plant winter plants. I also wanna buy new succulents~" Athena pleaded.
Her daughter and her husband has been doing gardening work ever since she got grounded. Isn't being grounded supposed to be their biggest punishment? Why is her daughter enjoying it? And since when did her daughter make her father do some gardening? That sloth is finally doing housework!
Li Lifen couldn't help but nod at her daughter's peculiar requests. One time she asked to be trained again in martial arts and gun firing, and buy her a camera and studio microphone. In return, she promised to stop herself from eating unhealthy foods and study well.
And another was when she handed them a stack of business proposals, and asked for the lot in Chen Mingzhu's former Cafè to be renovated.
She shrugged and thought that it's a good thing that they have finally bonded as a family except for their only son who was yet to come home from studying overseas.
"Don't make us sad again, my precious Hexie-er, okay? I don't know what I'll do if you run away again~" Now she's pinching both of her cheeks.
"Ouch! Mooom~ shtahp playing with my feysh! Okay I promish I won't run awaaaay~"
"Awwe~ it's been so long since I last done this to you. My baby is still a dumpling~"
It was as if Athena was going through another session of the Ultimate Beauty Massage.
Meanwhile, in the CE (Choi Empire) Entertainment's CEO's lounge, five young men celebrated merrily.