The Cage Of The Past

"Yes! Go today!" Weicheng gave her the address. "To make all the requirements of the customer's, we must ask their food preference, it is the service aim of our restaurant! So be there on time!"

"Yes! I will go now! Thank you for giving me another opportunity to have a job. I owe a lot to you and Chaoxing," seriously Xiaoxi expressed her gratitude to the siblings.

"You are a good person and a family friend. I trust you so much as I know Chaoxing and you were friends since high school," Weicheng said.

"Thank you so much, Weicheng!" she bowed her head, went to the address on the note after Weicheng nodded.

The car stopped in a group of villas. It was a very majestic old house. It looked like a very old French building, but it was quite solid and had beautiful gardens.

The servant brought her into the hall and she looked around for a while. There are several maids and suddenly an old man appeared. Xiaoxi Chen felt a little nervous seeing the old man's face, but politely introduced herself and the reason why she came.

It took how many minutes he looked at her, his face was very majestic, with thin lips squatting. Although the man looks like he is in his 60's, he still had an aura of powerful and handsome during his young age. Xiaoxi recognizes that this person looks familiar and she can't recall where she met him. She was sure she saw him or maybe someone looks like him.

"Miss Xiaoxi is it?" the old man asked.

"Yes, sir!" Xiaoxi nodded immediately and bowed her head.

"Your restaurant was introduced by my son. I hope that the dishes on Saturday will not only show the characteristics but also reflect the hospitality of our GU Family," the man uttered.

"Yes, sir! You can rest ȧssured that the visitors during your banquet will like the food we prepare for that time and we promised to give our best to meet any of your requests!"

Xiaoxi's heart beat faster for no reason, she heard it is GU Family, seems like it was Rouzhen's relative, somehow.

Lui Gu raised his eyebrows when looking at the young lady in front of him. A beautiful and simple woman, yet having a low profile. He suddenly thinks his son Rouzhen, who seldom coming in this old house. He had planned to find a woman for him to be a mistress of their family.

"I will rely on what you've said and I expect a better service during that time. I want the best during that time because it would be the moment my son will meet his soon to be bride,"

Xiaoxi nodded and wondering who is the son of this old gentleman.

Lui Gu's face still looking at the young lady who he knows very nervous when she saw him. He cleared his throat and said: "You talk to the housekeeper! And asked them the menu I wanted to be served on Saturday!"

"Yes, sir!" Xiaoxi stood up politely and watched him go upstairs. She also breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly a tall figure coming down the stairs and halfway meet Lui Gu. The old man saw his son Rouzhen, he didn't expect that Rouzhen had come back last night. He looks so sick.

"Why don't you go to work?" Lui Gu asked.

"I wasn't felt better!" Rouzhen replied in a low voice that made Xiaoxi lookup. She's so startled and nervous, seeing Rouzhen standing at the stairs. For a moment, Xiaoxi frozen and she realized the old man was Rouzhen's father and the chairman of GU Corp. "The said event on Saturday was for Rouzhen, and according to the old man, it is the day when Rouzhen meets his soon to be bride," Xiaoxi's thought in a moment.

"Call the doctor and ask him to come in the villa," Lui Gu said the old butler. Seeing his son got sick, he is quickly acting on it. The butler left and called the doctor.

Rouzhen eyes flew into the hall, a slight glimpse of the figure, he saw the person standing was Xiaoxi Chen. "How was she here? Did she meet my father? What does this old man tell her?" Rouzhen's thought after seeing Xiaoxi.

Xiaoxi slightly decapitated, ignored him and did not say anything. She began to discuss the details with the housekeeper. Rouzhen realized that she's representing Weicheng's Restaurant which he had recommended to his father. "Damn, she immediately finds a job after I fired her."

Looking at his father, Rouzhen said: "I am fine, I will go to the company now!" He was devastated seeing Xiaoxi inside his father's house. He still mad after hearing her revelation. He had asked someone to investigate Xiaoxi's life after giving birth to their son but he hasn't gotten any results. He wanted to know the truth and he was still mad at her.

Lui Gu went upstairs but asked him first. "You sure you're okay?"

"Yes!" quickly he answered. Rouzhen went downstairs and did not even look at Xiaoxi. He just passed by and walked outside the villa.

"Young master! You should drink some hot drinks first, you still have a high fever!" Mama Betty chased him out and pulled his clothes sleeves. "Young master stop! You weren't felt better! Rest at home!"

Xiaoxi heard Rouzhen had a fever. Her gaze couldn't help but throw it at the door where Rouzhen standing. It turns out this cunning person got sick and catch a cold. He still tried to pretend he is strong and okay but he looks so pale.

Rouzhen had no choice but to come back and walked towards the table next to the hall and still ignoring Xiaoxi's presence. "Mama Betty, I have no appetite!" he said.

"That won't work either, you drink some soup, you look so pale and I could sense you catch cold last night. You come back late at night. Where have you been?" Mama Betty asking him while heating the soup.

"I went to the bar with Zion last night!" he answered quickly.

Mama Betty looks at him seriously. She took care of Rouzhen since childhood, when she came to GU Family the madame was so sick and the old master GU was busy taking care of his business. When the old madame passed away she became a mother image of Rouzhen, until one day he brought Han home and let Mama Betty take care of the little master. Rouzhen can't go against Mama Betty's words.

"You better stay at home! Drink the soup and rest!"

After drinking two cups, Rouzhen stopped and rubbed his eyebrows.

Xiaoxi heard the conversation between Rouzhen and his Nanny but she continues discussing the details of the menu for this coming Saturday. She saw that Rouzhen ignored him. She secretly glanced at him, she's bothered looking at him in such a situation. She heard Rouzhen had a fever.

"Well, everything had been settled, we are waiting for your team on Saturday, Miss Chen," said the housekeeper.

"Thank you for coming today, Miss Chen!"

"My pŀėȧsurė too!" Xiaoxi nodded politely and walked outside.

At this time, Rouzhen also stood up and walked outside.

"Young master! You haven't finished eating yet!" Mama Betty called him again.

However, Rouzhen had finally gone and drove his car.

Xiaoxi walked outside the Villa of GU Family. The place halfway up the mountain and it's exclusive for a rich family as she saw other different designed villas too. She knew only a few taxis could pass by in that area, she continues to go down hoping to get a taxi soon, so she could return earlier at work.

The blue Bugatti slowly passed and Xiaoxi took a deep breath and walked calmly trying to ignore Rouzhen's presence.

Looking at her reaction, Rouzhen stepped on the gas pedal and went away.

Xiaoxi watched the Bugatti disappear in front of her, sighed and breathed hard. She just keeps silent and let go of what he had done to her. She took back her gaze and whispered: "I didn't expect it was his home!"

After walking about 500 meters away, Xiaoxi still couldn't see any taxi coming. Rouzhen couldn't help to leave her, he began to reverse his car. She saw the Bugatti approaching her way, she was so scared and leaned back.

Rouzhen's car stopped abruptly in front of her, the door opened and his handsome and pale face came out. "Hop in!" his cold voice remain unsettled.

"No--- no need!" Xiaoxi shook his head.

"There will be no car passing by in this area. I said hop in!" Rouzhen's face was pale and he said two words and began coughing up hardly. Obviously, he is sick.

"Get inside the car!" Rouzhen hurriedly gasped, and his cold becomes worse. He still waiting for her patiently.

'No, thank you!" Xiaoxi pouted her lips. She was no longer his employee and no longer belongs to him. She should not follow his order, so there was no need to be afraid of him. She heard his overbearing tone but she was not afraid anymore.

She suddenly closed the door and walked down the alley, ignoring Rouzhen.

The car slipped out 30 meters and stopped again. This time Rouzhen quickly got out of his car and walked towards her and grabbed Xiaoxi's wrist, pulled her closer and kissed her lips immediately.

She tried to push him away but Rouzhen didn't allow her to escape, he held her tightly and still kissing her.

"Wild cat, I've been trying to be nice but you're making me like a crazy mad person," he roared after letting her go but still holding her wrist.

"You! What right you have to keep bullying me even though I'm not your employee anymore!" she's screaming at him.

"Get inside the car! I am sick today but here you are making me act like a bad person!"

"Let me go!" she was a little nervous looking at him. She feels he's still having a high fever because the moment he kissed her, his lips is so hot and eyes were too red.

"I said get inside the car! It's not safe to walk alone!"

"No need! You better go back home and rest!" she replied and trying to dodge.

He blinked and glared at her. She snorted too, although he was not her boss, she still worried about him.

He saw her stubbornness, he immediately picked her up and stuffed her into his car, he coughed around but managed to drive away.

"Sir, no need to trouble you!" she said.

"Since we're here together, let me ask you a question. Why you've decided to stop the game development?" He just stares at her, took a few pieces of tissue paper in front of him and rubbed his nose. He didn't expect that he could catch a cold after walking the whole night somewhere else to ease his pain. He went like crazy, thinking about this woman and she's now questioning him. It seems that he had done a big mistake in life hearing her nagging.

It was a bit irritating to discuss it this time because he wasn't felt better.

"Oh! Still can't give me a valid reason, huh? I think the answer is because it's not necessary!" Xiaoxi said faintly.

"Who is the father of that child? tell me I wanna know,"

"I don't know!" Xiaoxi Chen said again. Chao had come into her life the moment she lost her son. Someone had left Chao, in the river near her house five years ago. She doesn't know who is Chao's parents, yet the little boy eases her agony during that time. She took him in and treated Chao as her son.

"You mean, you got rȧpėd?" Rouzhen asked.

Xiaoxi doesn't know how to tell him the truth because a sudden image of Mr. Fox who had violated her several times, appeared. To make Rouzhen calm she nodded and said bitterly: "I was rȧpėd by someone!" it's a sad reality she told him because she has been tortured by a man who took her child away.

He looked stiff and suddenly stopped talking. Cough and cough hard and he even looked pale!

"Sir, go to the hospital, you have a bad cold!" Xaioxi said out of concern, although he is very overbearing, it is very unreasonable to ignore his situation.

He stopped the car suddenly, looking at her in pity. He realized how he treated this woman badly too, and she revealed all of a sudden that she's being rȧpėd by someone. He heard what she said and he knew this woman still care about him.

"Is she rȧpėd?" this question lingered in Rouzhen's mind.

Rouzhen was shocked, hearing what she said. She began to tell him that she never had any romantic kind of relationship to any man, however, it still happened.

Rouzhen felt so restless, after what she said. How can he ignored this woman, she's the mother of his son and she encountered so much pain in life. How can he pretend not to care?

"Sir CEO!" Xiaoxi saw that he did not say any words, looking blankly in front of her. She ġrȯȧnėd and shouted to call his attention.

Rouzhen returns to reality after he heard her voice. His face was gloomy and drive the car a few miles away. He said: "You can come back at work again. I'm sorry if I judge you wrongly,"

Xiaoxi was stunned while hearing his words. "No, I don't want to return to your company. If you still remember, last time I've asked you that I wanted to resign but you said after three months. I am now okay with my new job after you fired me. I never hold any grudge against you and I feel better after leaving GU Corp. Recently I live in peace and no more gossip about me!" she said faintly.

"You found a job faster than I expected!" Rouzhen was sullen and his eyes focused on the road.

"To survive!" her voice is still very light. She's now thinking to return to the restaurant to discuss the dishes that Rouzhen's father wanted to be served on the banquet.

He stopped saying more. He thought it would be better to just let her do what she wants. "Where I am going to send you?"

"Sir, no need to send me back to work. You must go to the hospital, you can drop me by the nearest bus stop in this area. You need to pay attention to your health, as I said go to the hospital to get some medicine or perhaps had an IV drip. Your cough is getting worse," she quickly said after the car went down the mountain.

He suddenly found this woman very caring, he fired her, but she still cares about him. Her gesture makes Rouzhen's heart moved.

When the car passed the hospital, Xiaoxi immediately said: "Sir stop the car, you need to see a doctor!" She heard him coughed hard frequently and even looked so sick.

Rouzhen ignored her, she continued: "Stop your car! I said go to the hospital!"

He never stops driving, she reached out and pulled the handbrake.

"Damn! What's wrong with you?" Rouzhen snorted and stopped. "Do you know that it's dangerous? You want us to get crashed?"

"You're being stubborn, didn't listen to me. If I didn't do it would you stop driving?" she smirked.

"Okay, you win, let's go together!"

He drove back and they went inside the hospital. The doctor came in and examined Rouzhen.

"I just catch a cold! Why making this more complicated!" he complained. Xiaoxi ignored his whining. The doctor gives a prescription to him.

"This is only a common cold. Your fever had slowly gone down. Buy the medicine I prescribe for you to recover soon. Mrs. your husband can be cured at home, you just need to take care of him and have him rest for a few days. His fever is only a result of the cold he had nothing to worry about it. You can now pay the bill at the admission area and head back home!" the doctor quickly explained.

When Xiaoxi heard the doctor's words, she immediately wanted to explain, "He is not my hus---"

"Next!" The doctor cut her. "Madame you should go and bring back your husband at home,"

Xiaoxi's face blushed. She subconsciously glanced at Rouzhen. His face was calm, his thin lips were tight and there was no expression but deep inside he's happy hearing the doctor's said.

"You heard the doctor said, you need to bring your husband back home! Come here, faster! You pay for our bill. Here's the money!" he is teasing her.

She quickly bowed her head to the doctor. She still blushing and squinted at Rouzhen and suddenly snorted.

"Stop acting like a child, doesn't fit you!" she said and walked faster heading to the admission area.

After a few minutes, they're inside his car. Xiaoxi said: "You should stay in the hospital and let those nurses take care of you. Here's your medicine, head back into your home and have some rest!"

Rouzhen leaning his head into the driver's seat, looking at her. "Where are you going? The doctor said you need to take care of me! Your husband needs you!"

"Stop it! You disturbed me. I am going to return to work,"

"No! Please take care of me!" He ordered like a child, eyes looking puffy.

"Rouzhen Gu, there are a lot of servants in your house. You go back home and rest. I need to go back to work because it's my first day today!" She can't take time off on her first day because Weicheng had asked her to do her job.

"I will ask your boss to give you a leave of absence at work!" He quickly gets his phone and dialed Weicheng's number. " Weicheng, this is Rouzhen, I borrowed your employee, Xiaoxi today. Please allow her to take a leave,"

She didn't know what Weicheng had said. She glared at him. When did this man change his manner? Acting so weird and annoying. Helplessly watching him call, and talking to her boss, Xiaoxi, wondering when did these two men become friends?

"Yeah, Weicheng, I want to discuss the details of the ingredients needed for the dishes this coming Saturday. Today, just let her not to come back at your restaurant," she heard Rouzhen dialogue and then he hung up.

Xiaoxi frowned, speechless. "I didn't say I have to take time off!"

"Where are you going then? I caught a cold last night because of you!" Rouzhen stared at her giving a warning look.

Xiaoxi immediately keeps silent. He thought that he hasn't had any breakfast yet. He was trying to avoid her today but he can't let her walked down the mountain alone.

She didn't want to look after him today but she's also concerned about him seeing he is sick. She decided to help him since he called Weicheng and asked leave for her.

"Park the nearby restaurant, I will buy porridge for you!" she said.

He silently parked the car at the restaurant, waiting for her to come back. Xiaoxi bought a takeaway porridge and when she returned she saw leaning at the seat and eyes were closed. He looks so tired and lonely. Something she feels inside that she can't explain.

Xiaoxi gets in the car, Rouzhen finally raised his head and looked at her sadly. There was no extra expression on his cold face. It was as cold as the first time they met at GU Corp. office. The two of them keep silent and no one wants to talk.

"The sick person should eat!" Xiaoxi put the disposable bowl on his hand and handed him the small plastic spoon. "Drink some porridge so you will recover faster!"

"Are you worried if I get sick?" he asked