FENG LANG
I could hear my father's heavy breathing on the other line, which told me he was just coming out of his morning workout. "What time is your meeting with Mr Xu?" He asked, without so much as a greeting and I rolled my eyes yet again.
"Let's cut the pretense, father. The sun's barely up." He gave a surprised pause for about a second or two, then I heard a sharp intake of breath, then he spoke.
"Wear the suit I prepared."
"Now we're talking." I started, " And to reply your statement… I'll decide when I see it." I answered defiantly.
"Lang, this is not a small project we're taking on. We're talking billions. We already have our investors on board, what's left now is the permits and paperwork. We need chairman Xu on our side." I remained quiet as he droned on.
"And selling out your only son is your idea of good collateral?"
"It's the only way. His daughter has always wanted to marry a Z-Gen Alpha. This way, not only do we get what we want, we get to unite two very powerful families. It doesn't hurt to have more powerful people on our side."
I breathed out "Let me say that your logic is very insulting to my capabilities, father."
"Our family has a lot of influence in the country, but Chairman Xu has the connections we need. And this is not just for work. You're almost twenty-eight, it's time for you to settle down and carry on the Feng family name. Look at your cop friend, Ruiqing."
'Feng family name', he said. I barked a laugh. Like I didn't already have enough on my plate.
"Your daughter is also an Alpha, and older than me. Why not go bother her with this family name bullshit?"
"Ah… Who knows what your sister is up to these days?" He asked dismissively. "We haven't spoken since she chose her acting career over the family." I sucked my teeth. Bloody curse of a sister! She ran away from home, leaving me to do her duties.
"And what happens when he finds out you set his daughter up with a lunatic?"
"Well, it'd be all too late for them wouldn't it?" He laughed on the other line, and I chuckled in response. This man…
"Father, that's quite diabolical. Even for you." He scoffed at my statement.
"Think whatever you want,Lang. But one way or another, you're going to marry Xu Meilin." He stated with finality in his tone. Like anyone could tell me what to do. Watch me get his blood boiling in a matter of seconds…
My lips pulled into a humorless smirk. "Oh, we both know that's not gonna happen, Mr Feng. Though, I'm going to play along with your games. Goodness knows I need some form of entertainment."
"Feng Lang! You—" There it is!
"Feng Zhenhai!" I called him by his full name. I knew it riled him up when I did that. I was banking on it.
I heard a huff on the other line, and I smirked. Somehow, that brightened my day a little. "I haven't had my revenge on you for what you did eight years ago." I heard him grunt. "what makes you think you can come barking orders at me when you have no leverage on me?" He was quiet now. Good!
"You gave me a year to kickstart the project, while you sit comfortably in your overly large seat"
"Feng Lang—" He tried to cut me off but I didn't let him.
"And since Feng Lanxue, has chosen a life of fame, void of company duties, I've decided —for the sake of the company— to play the good son. So instead of testing me while I'm still being nice, I suggest you just sit tight and watch the show. He was silent for a while, then he sighed.
"I wish your dad was still alive." My features immediately hardened. "He was the only one who could get through to you." His voice broke.
I got a quick flashback.
The bullet tearing through my dad's back. The gunshot echoing through the quiet evening… My chest tightened and my eyes shut instinctively.
"Father" I choked out, taking a second to clear my blocked throat. Once I was okay to speak, I let out a breath, opening my eyes. "It's about time you stopped bringing dad up whenever you're losing an argument."
"What? Y-y-you think—" He stuttered, taken aback by my statement. I could hear the hurt in his voice as he struggled to form words, so I cut him off before he finish his sentence. Slightly out of annoyance, but mostly out of pity.
I knew emotional blackmail wasn't his reason for bringing up my late dad. He just missed him, we all did.
But he made me relive that horrible night, and I didn't gain my reputation by letting actions go unpunished. If guilting him was the only way, then so be it.
"Whatever I think doesn't matter father." I doubled down, hardening my voice. "Apparently, your word is final. Bye." Final missile launched.
"Feng Lang—" I hung the call up before he could say another word, with a satisfied smirk on my face.
Shaking my head to clear my thoughts. I swung my leg over the bike, lowering the kickstand as I got myself settled on it. My watch continued to vibrate for a while, but I didn't bother to check the caller.
I didn't need to. I pushed on my helmet, turning on the engine and with that, I drove straight to my room, to prepare for a not so delightful meeting.