Uncle John was a little concerned about whether this Young Missus before him could live in a family like the Li’s who were so involved in triad activities. Yet he was comforted by the fact that Young Master had picked a wife so similar to his mother.

The servant served some tea.

Li Lei received it first before handing it over to Xia Ling.

Xia Ling took a sip, but her focus was not on the tea. Instead, she was curious. “What was your mum like?” She hardly heard him mention his mother, the only time he did was back at the headquarters when he briefly talked about how his mother had passed on early and his dad had remarried.

She had heard that his mother came from a mafia family, but was it true?

Li Lei waved the rest away until only he and Xia Ling were left. “She was a beautiful woman. Her grandpa was a former mafia leader before he passed on, and now the title is held by her uncle, which is my Granduncle. She was a girl and did not have to take over the family business involving all the killing, so she had been protected from it since she was young, and was always kind and innocent. She met my father at the Aegean Sea when she was 18, and it was love at first sight.”

The last part of his story was all too generic — the Missy of a mafia family falling in love with the heir of the powerful Li family, and after being together for a while, finding out that the other party was married and with a child. Regardless of the man’s plea for her to stay, and his promises to leave his wife, she decided to walk away.

“My mum was a rich missy, after all.” Li Lei said. “She could not stand being the unwelcome mistress. She told dad that all the promises he had made were nothing more than words — he could either live on with his wife and forget her, or look for her only after he had settled the divorce. No matter how my dad begged, she would not waver.”

Father Li had gone to tell Old Master Li that he wanted to divorce his current wife and to marry the Missy of a mafia family. He had thought that Old Master Li would agree to it right away since his wife was a prostitute, and he had only married her because she was pregnant with his child. Old Master had made him marry her because he was unwilling to let his oldest grandchild live on the streets after he was born.

How about Jennifer? She was a well-brought-up lady from a family of equivalent status to the Li’s. If the Li family were linked by marriage to a mafia family, both parties could benefit immensely from it.

But Old Master Li rejected it outright.

“No way are you kicking her out!” He lectured Father Li harshly. “You are not to despise Ah Xiang for her family background! She bore us a grandson, that is her status in this family! That is her background now! Li Zheng, I will never allow you to divorce and remarry someone else, and don’t you dare mention it again! Instead of having such ideas, why don’t you spend that time on the business, or on raising your child well!”

“What is Ah Xiang worth!” Father Li was angered. “I was young and foolish at that time and slept with a prostitute, but it meant nothing! Dad, it’s Jennifer and me who are truly in love!”

“Rubbish!” As Old Master Li did not accede to his request, he walked away.

He opened the door, and the both of them were immediately stunned — greeting them on the other side of the door was five-year-old Li Feng, who looked hurt and yet with a burning hatred for his father.

Hence, Ah Xiang quickly got news of what had happened.

Back in the days, she had been abducted by a syndicate and sent abroad to be a prostitute in a brothel. She was uneducated and had no idea how to deal with the situation, except to cry and kick a fuss to vent her frustrations and grievances. Father Li did not know how to appease her, and despite swearing that he had already broken up with Jennifer, she was still insecure about it and would not stop bothering him.

Eventually, Father Li had reached the boundary of his tolerance and forcefully pushed Ah Xiang during one of their exchanges.

Seeing his mother hurt, little Li Feng charged at his father and began attacking him in ways he knew, including biting into Father Li’s arm.

“Beast! You’re not my son!” Father Li, who was finally pulled away by a few men, pointed towards Li Feng and screamed. “Your mother is a prostitute! You are the bastard child of a prostitute! What right do you have to be my son? You’re worse off than a dog!” Hurtful words that he had kept in his heart for years were blurted out after Li Feng had sunk his teeth into his flesh. He had blamed himself for years over that moment of folly. If only this were not his son, then he would not have to marry a prostitute and be mocked by so many people.

Li Feng was the oldest son of the first wife, he was the one to be admired and respected by everyone — until he married a prostitute who bore him a son. He became a laughingstock.

Old Master Li had got his DNA tested very early on and verified that Li Feng was indeed Father Li’s biological son. But many others did not know that fact, and rumors often spread during social events. “Look, that’s Li Zheng. I heard that he married a prostitute and now has a son. Apparently, his wife made him a cuckold, and they don’t know who the father is.”

He overheard it once and went straight for his biological son, kicking him violently. “Bastard child! Why don’t you go kill yourself with your mother?!”

Li Feng was just five and landed on the floor in a whimper. He had broken two bones in his ribs.

Some time passed.

Father Li was about to go to the Golden Triangle to make a transaction.

Ah Xiang thought that he wanted to meet his secret lover and kicked a fuss, insisting on going along.

It was a pity that they left together, but did not make it back together.

Nobody knew what exactly happened at the Golden Triangle, but Father Li had come back well and fine, along with the body of Ah Xiang.

Li Feng cried his heart out and wanted to fight it out with his father.

Old Master Li called Father Li to the study room, and they stayed inside through the night. Nobody knew what was discussed between the father and son, but when they emerged, Old Master Li had announced that it all happened because Ah Xiang had taken a bullet for Father Li. He also said that they would have a grand funeral in her honor.

Li Feng, who was still a young boy then, kept his head low and did not say a word. Nobody knew what he was thinking.

From that day on. Li Feng’s character changed drastically.

***

This story of their past was dark and chilling, and Xia Ling had grabbed on to Li Lei’s hand unknowingly as she listened. “Then…” Her voice was unsteady. “Did Ah Xiang really took a bullet for your dad?”

Li Lei shook his head. “I’m not too sure about that. It’s said that Ah Xiang really did love my dad, so that might have been what happened. Of course, it could also be that my dad had killed Ah Xiang, and Grandpa had to come up with such a lie so as to protect Li Feng as well as the status of the family.”

He gave a cold smile.

It was the first time Xia Ling had seen such a smile; it looked so cold and sly, almost like a lone wolf’s. She was hurt seeing him like this, and leaned closer towards him, giving him a hug. “You don’t like your dad?” She asked softly. “It’s fine, you still have me.”

Li Lei was surprised by what she said, but looked down at this gentle girl and held her tight.

The two of them stayed like that for a while before Xia Ling tugged at him. “You haven’t told me about your mother.”