Chapter 154
The two BMW M6s stopped in the neighbourhood under the flats and all the neighbours came flocking with looks of awe .
“Aren’t you Master Liang’s little girl? Driving such a nice car - you must’ve struck it rich . ”
“What rich? She’s being kept . ”
“Rubbish . Master Liang’s strict . Her boyfriend must’ve bought it for her; her boyfriend has a company . There, right there! That tall and handsome guy . ”
“Such a matching couple… How envious . My daughter is with a worker-type and is even renting a place with that punk . Sigh, it’s so infuriating . ”
Plenty was said about her but Liang Si-Yao did not care how the neighbours looked at her or criticised her . She was in the best mood ever; everyone was great and she was friendly to all . This was probably what a newly-wed bride was feeling when she gave out wedding favours .
Liang Zheng-Chun held his Yixin clay teacup in one hand on the fifth floor balcony and watched Liang Si-Yao and Xia Lei park their luxury cars . There was a look of misgiving on his face as he said, “Why change cars? And they’re the same model too - what’s the meaning of this?” He suddenly grinned . “Is this a matching couple thing?”
Liang Si-Yao opened the door and walked in, followed by Xia Lei carrying a big bag of gifts .
“I bought you some tea leaves, Master . ” Xia Lei smiled .
Liang Zheng-Chun frowned . “Why buy me more tea leaves? I haven’t even finished the ones you bought the last time . What a waste . You should save up and use your money for marriage and kids . ”
Xia Lei smiled in embarrassment . He worried over being able to provide for a family in the past but he didn’t now . He couldn’t talk back when his Master was chiding him, however, so he listened quietly .
“Dad, Xia Lei is doing this to show filial piety . Don’t scold him . ”
“Okay, okay, I won’t . ” Liang Zheng-Chun remembered about the cars downstairs and said, “You two bought cars?”
Xia Lei nodded . “Yes, we did . We need it for work; it’s a necessary expense . ” Liang Si-Yao taught him to say that .
“That car’s really nice . How much does one cost?” asked Liang Zheng-Chun .
Xia Lei was about to answer when Liang Si-Yao intercepted and said, “150,000 each . ”
“So expensive?” Liang Zheng-Chun looked surprised .
Xia Lei gave Liang Si-Yao a look . Were there others like her who lied to their own fathers?
Liang Si-Yao smiled and said, “Xia Lei is the boss of a company and he needs a calling card when doing business . Other business owners drive cars which cost a million and up . This 100,000-something car isn’t that expensive . He’s already been quite thrifty . ”
“Thrifty’s good, thrifty’s good . ” Liang Zheng-Chun was approving .
“I’ll go to the kitchen and make dinner . You guys chat,” said Liang Si-Yao .
Liang Zheng-Chun gave his daughter an odd look . Liang Si-Yao would always opt to do just the eating when Xia Lei was here - why did she volunteer to cook today?
“Master, how about the martial arts conference?” Xia Lei remembered about the event .
“I’ve registered but the event is only happening after two months . We can prepare some materials during this time and promote the history and traditions of our Wing Chun at the event,” said Liang Zheng-Chun .
“Fellow Disciple Lu said he’d like to participate . Did he ask you?”
“He did . I’ll take him along since he wants to go . I want to take you too but you’re too busy,” said Liang Zheng-Chun .
“I’ll go with you, Master, and have a look around if there isn’t anything important for me to tend to,” said Xia Lei .
Liang Zheng-Chun smiled . “Yes, looking around is good too . ” He paused, seemed to think of something, and said, “A friend of mine told me that there’s a Chinese American movie star who’s claiming to be Bruce Lee’s third-generation descendant . He claims that his is the true Wing Chun . My friend says that this man is going to participate in this martial arts conference and wants to exchange pointers with martial artists, especially with us Wing Chun descendants . ”
“Didn’t Bruce Lee pass away in the 70s? What descendant? I’ve watched his movies but those were just movies,” said Xia Lei .
“I’m not too sure either . My friend didn’t give details . ”
“Maybe it’s just a gimmick . Movie stars these days can do anything to get famous . Master, I don’t think this is anything to be concerned about . It’s just a movie star . He’s no match for you even if he challenges you to a fight . ”
Liang Zheng-Chun sipped his tea . “I’m not worried at all . And, don’t rush to fight . The aim of learning martial arts is not fighting but cultivation of body and mind . ”
Xia Lei nodded and looked like he had received his instruction . “Yes, Master, you are right . ”
Liang Si-Yao’s voice came from the kitchen at that moment . “Lei, come help . ”
“Master, I’ll be going to help her . ” Xia Lei stood and walked towards the kitchen .
Liang Zheng-Chun was pleased and spoke to himself, “It’s nice that the home’s all lively . Now, if we had a little one as well…”
In the kitchen, apron-clad Liang Si-Yao was so busy that her head was all sweaty . She pointed to the sink . “Help me wash the peppers, then fry them with the pork to make sautéed shredded pork with green peppers and we can start the meal . ”
“Mm . ” Xia Lei gave a grunt and walked to the sink from behind Liang Si-Yao .
The kitchen was small and there was only a little space behind Liang Si-Yao, who was standing in front of the gas stove to cook . Xia Lei angled his body sideways and moved carefully through the gap . When his body was right behind hers, a drop of hot oil landed on the back of her hand and she jumped back, pushing him to the wall .
Xia Lei couldn’t move; he was stuck between a wall and Liang Si-Yao .
Xia Lei moved towards the doorway but Liang Si-Yao seemed to have the same idea and moved at the same time . They moved at the same time and in the same direction and both were still stuck . Their faces turned red .
They hesitated, then Xia Lei tried to squeeze his way forward and Liang Si-Yao did the same…
After more of the same result, Xia Lei gritted his teeth and said in a strained voice, “Don’t move . ”
There wasn’t a spot that wasn’t red on Liang Si-Yao’s face . Her voice trembled as she said, “I won’t move . You, you hurry up and move away . ”
Xia Lei squeezed inside and finally got through .
Liang Si-Yao quietly let out a breath of relief . She was very embarrassed but she still snuck a look at the place between Xia Lei’s legs out of the corner of her eye . Her jaw dropped .
The contents of the wok suddenly caught fire and the smell of something burning burst out of the kitchen .
Liang Zheng-Chun, who was drinking tea in the living room, hurried over to see the kitchen filled with smoke and his daughter and disciple working to put out the fire . He froze for half a beat before asking suspiciously, “What were you doing? Two of you in the kitchen and you’re still burning food?”
Liang Si-Yao and Xia Lei looked at each other and avoided Liang Zheng-Chun’s eyes .
Liang Si-Yao laughed after her father walked off . “My dad nearly saw us . You think he’ll hit us if he’d seen us just now?”
Xia Lei imagined the scenario and stuck his tongue out . “I don’t know . ”
The two of them were suddenly silent . He looked at her and she looked at him; the air in the kitchen seemed to have stilled . An invisible force seemed to be pushing their heads towards each other, slowly, slowly moving closer .
Liang Si-Yao closed her eyes, thinking excitedly to herself, ‘He’s going to kiss me! He’s going to kiss me…!’
At that moment, Xia Lei reached a hand out to Liang Si-Yao and picked a small piece of celery leaf from the corner of her mouth . He laughed as he said, “You’re such a dirty little cat! Haha!”
Liang Si-Yao paused, then suddenly used the cooking spatula to smack Xia Lei on the butt…
After dinner, Xia Lei received a call from Qin Xiang .
“Lei, that guy stole what you’d left in the workshop . I’m following him now . Looks like he’s waiting for the person who hired him to contact him . Come over and take a look; we’ll reel in the big fish . ”
“Okay, I’ll be right there . Send me the address if you have it,” said Xia Lei . He hung up and said to Liang Si-Yao and Liang Zheng-Chun, “Master, Senior Disciple, I have to go out to attend to some matters . Don’t wait up for me . ”
“What matters?” Liang Si-Yao’s eyes were full of disappointment and sadness . She was looking forward to something romantic and blissful happening that night but Qin Xiang had called and ruined it .
Xia Lei told her about the spy in the company and said, “I’m going to see who hired him . ”
“Want me to go with you?” said Liang Si-Yao .
“No need . I have Qin Xiang to help me and he’s experienced in these things . ”
“Then you be careful,” nagged Liang Si-Yao .
Xia Lei nodded . “I’m going off, Master . ”
“Don’t be reckless or do anything against the law even if you find the guy,” said Liang Zheng-Chun .
“Nn, I’ll remember that . ” Xia Lei left the Liang household .
After he left, Liang Zheng-Chun looked at Liang Si-Yao staring blankly into space and laughed as he said, “You silly girl, he’s already left . What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking of… company matters . ” Liang Si-Yao blushed .
“Liar . ” Liang Zheng-Chun chuckled . “You’re like your mother; your face turns red when you lie . You like him, I can tell . ”
“Dad!” Liang Si-Yao’s face turned even redder .
“Just tell him you like him . You’re usually so straightforward - why have you become such a coward when it’s your own matter now?”
“Dad, I’m a girl . Girls don’t say these things first; it should be him saying it first . ”
“Xia Lei is a shy man . Will the two of you keep going on like this if he doesn’t say anything?”
“Stop bothering with this, Dad . What, are you afraid that I won’t be able to get married?”
Liang Zheng-Chun waved his hand . “All right, all right, I won’t say any more . Xia Lei is handsome, capable and kind . There must be quite a few women who like him, eh? If someone else snatches him up first, oh dear, someone will regret it won’t she?”
“I’m ignoring you!” Liang Si-Yao ran huffily into her bedroom . She sprawled on her bed and recalled what had happened in the kitchen and her face became redder and redder the more she thought about it…
A BMW M6 with no license plate galloped under the shroud of night . The scene in the kitchen was also replaying itself in Xia Lei’s head . It was the closest contact he’d had with a woman in all his years . Liang Si-Yao’s beautiful legs and Liang Si-Yao’s round buttocks in those positions… wasn’t it like those sort of positions if they didn’t have any clothes between them? He almost…
The mobile phone message alert tone suddenly beeped .
Qin Xiang had sent him a message: I’m outside a Night in Paris coffee shop . That guy went in alone and I haven’t seen him meet anyone yet .
Xia Lei stepped on the accelerator and the BMW M6 charged forward like a wild steed .
Night in Paris coffee shop - he knew that place and he would never forget it . It was where he had seen the man who looked exactly like his father, Xia Chang-He .
‘Night in Paris coffee shop again? Could it be her?’ Xia Lei suddenly thought of a person - Chi Jing-Qiu .
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