The Cage Of The Past

The banquet quickly ended after the Wood family left at Gu mansion. Gossip circulating over the internet after the engagement failed. The following days, Xiaoxi Chen's life was very quiet, Rouzhen Gu no longer disturbed her. Rouzhen and Zion disappeared in her life instantly. She felt calm and her normal life restored.

Chao had now been transferred to primary school, Xiaoxi Chen worried that he could not keep up with his lessons, but the little boy seemed to be very relaxed. When he entered school, a week followed, things become easier for him and he was able to adopt the new environment.

Weekend, it's the reunion day for Xiaoxi and Chao.

Chao never mentioned again the tragic event happened to them, although he knows the truth that Xiaoxi is not his real Mom still their relationship remains the same as if nothing had changed.

Xiaoxi felt sad for her son but the damage had already been done. She poured all the love and concern to Chao like her precious treasure and she's hoping that the wound in their heart would gradually heal.

"Mommy, why does brother Han never come to our house anymore? He had promised me that he will visit us, so we could play again, I miss him so much!" Chao asked in a sad voice when Xiaoxi busy preparing for their dinner.

Xiaoxi Chen's body stiffened, thinking that maybe her last words to Rouzhen had hurt him and restrain Han not to visit them. She also misses Han so much but she conceals her real emotions.

"I don't know Chao, maybe he is busy at school!"

"It's really strange!" Chao frowned. "I will return to my room to do my homework!" he muttered and his head drop.

"Okay! Once I'm done the cooking I'll call you!" Xiaoxi Chen looked at Chao who had just left and suddenly thinks about Rouzhen and Han who previously spent dinner with them. "He is mad at me and maybe won't bring Han here?"

After doing his homework Chao open his computer, sitting in front of it and begin typing his messages to Han. Last time they exchanged their number and agreed to chat online if they're both busy.

After a while, Han sent his reply: "Brother Chao, I'm here!"

Han struggling to write some Chinese characters and can only speak in phoneticize. He did not have a deeper literacy as Chao but he is trying his best to answer him.

"Is your Daddy at home?" Chao asked Han immediately because he had missed Han.

"He hadn't arrived yet, brother Chao!" Han replied.

"Let's do a video call instead of chat so that it will be easy for us to talk! I think you're having trouble answering me!" Chao sent his last message then made an abrupt video call invitation.

Quickly the other side accepts his call and Han's little face appeared on the screen. They smiled at each other and wave hands.

"Brother Han, can you hear me?" Chao asked.

"Yes, brother Chao!" Han answered but he is a bit shy, sitting in front of his computer wearing big headphones.

"Brother Chao, I miss you! It's been a long time since we visited your house!"

"Brother Chao, do you think my Daddy like your Mommy?" suddenly Han asks.

"Didn't you asked your Dad?"

"No! I feel shy to ask him!" Han shook his head, "Nowadays Daddy is not in a good mood, grandpa doesn't allow him to come home anymore. It's been a week that both of them don't talk, I think!"

"Why? Is there something wrong?"

"I don't know, grandpa didn't mention it. I'm scared to ask about it. I know he will get mad if I dare to ask him!" Han looks so sad.

"Then your grandpa is too bad! How could he not let his son come home? It is pure oppression!" said Chao.

"Yes! I am very scared of my grandpa too! I grow up with him and there are some strict rules at home that I need to follow and often Mama Betty is the one who took care of me. Grandpa said my Dad needs to take care of our family business," Han secretly look outside his room because the door is slightly open.

"Han, I think you don't like your grandpa!"

"Hush! Lower down your voice, I don't want him to hear it. He is downstairs and my bedroom door is slightly open. I don't want to make him angry because he will then again won't let Dad see me!" said Han.

"Really? Did Auntie miss me?" Han asked with excitement in his voice. He is a bit shy but obviously, the joyful voice can be heard from him. "Brother Chao, I miss Auntie too!"

"Then find ways to tell your Dad to bring you here, my Mom cook for dinner!" Chao continued to temp Han.

"Okay, I think he had arrived. I heard his voice downstairs now. Let's end our conversation so I could check if that was him. Talk to you later brother Chao! Bye!" Han quickly ends their conversation and ran down.

Chao smiled smugly and thought: "Well, I could see that Uncle Rouzhen liked Mommy so much since then but that arrogant beast offended us. Anyway, if he will become my stepfather it's not bad and Mom will never be alone anymore." Chao accepted Rouzhen silently after he caught them hugging each other in his Mom's room and that night wasn't so good for him after he heard the painful truth but Chao decided to let go of his pain because he thinks Xiaoxi and Rouzhen is a good match as a couple.

On the other hand, Han saw Rouzhen downstairs and quickly went to him. "Daddy! When can we visit Chao's house? I miss them so much!" Han asked immediately to Rouzhen.

Rouzhen had just arrived and silently smoking when he heard his little boy asking a question he doesn't want to hear. He frowned and quickly pick him up and said: "Han, Daddy had been very tired lately. I have a lot of work to be done. Can we visit them later on once I clear all my schedule?"

Han's sad face can't be hidden, "Then when is it? Daddy, I miss Auntie and Chao so much!"

"When Daddy is not busy!" Rouzhen felt bad recently because his father oppressed him to come home. It's been a week since the banquet happened and he wanted to see Xiaoxi but he had to give her space. The pain that buried in his heart again suddenly reopen after he heard his little boy pleading.

"Alright, but Daddy I miss them. Don't you miss Auntie Xiaoxi?" Han asked.

"Who's auntie is it ?" suddenly a cold voice came in.

Rouzhen did not look at his father while Han shivered for a second and said timidly: "Grandpa!"

"I heard you said about Auntie? Who is it?" Lui Gu heard their conversation once he went down and he hints something about it. Did his son have a woman he liked that's why he refused Amy to be his wife? And he thinks Rouzhen boldly introduces it to his grandson!

Han lowered his head down, don't know why but he felt a little afraid of his grandfather. Han thought that his grandpa never liked him because he often not smile and oppressed his Dad to visit him.

"Han, tell grandpa about Auntie!" said Rouzhen and put down his little boy

"Grandpa, it's a beautiful auntie…"

"Baby, go back to your room! Daddy will talk to grandpa!" Rouzhen Gu patted on his son's shoulder.

"Oh! Bye, daddy!" Han went upstairs obediently and glance his grandfather before he left.

"Is she the woman you like and the reason behind why you turned down Amy Wood? Or her identity is---? Lui Gu shouted at him and his face was so angry. "I knew it, she's Han's surrogate mother, if you choose her, wait after I die before she can be your wife and be a mistress of Gu Family!"

"You're such a rebellious son!" Lui Gu was so furious at him.

"Dad, I have my own life. I will choose my wife alone and she's not what you think of. She'll never want our money. She's pure and innocent. I will fight for her even if you will not let me inherit your wealth! She's my everything Dad!" Rouzhen said and turned to walk away but he heard his father said.

"She will leave you later on for another man like Jiangfei did to you!" Lui said.

"You scared Jiangfei before and bribe her with your money because of her family's reputation! You've caused too much damaged Dad! This time around I will not let you do that again. Not with Han's mother!" he clenched his fist and said loudly.

"Rouzhen! Come back here!" Lui Gu called him in anger.

Rouzhen walked out the door without looking back.

"Young master! Young master! Why are you leaving soon? You just had come back!" Mama Betty ran after him when she saw Rouzhen stormed out.

"Mama Betty, please take care of my son!" he said.

"Where are you going? It's been a week that you haven't stayed here. You even lost weight, have you forgotten to eat on time?" Mama Betty asked with concern.

"It's late, you better stay here tonight!" Mama Betty was worried and don't want him to leave. "Stay here, I will cook for you!"

"Mama Betty. I am really fine!" Rouzhen smiled at her. "I'll go now! Please take care of my son!"

Mama Betty felt so sad when he left.

Han quickly called back Chao once he returns to his room.

"Brother Chao, Daddy said he is very busy recently!" Han told Chao about what had happened downstairs. "Grandpa is angry too!"

Chao is a little disappointed to hear it, "Alright then, maybe some other time you can visit here. Mommy asks me to eat dinner. Let's talk next time! Bye, brother!"

The conversation ended and Chao felt sad about it.

Rouzhen Gu was driving back home. He felt mad at his father, suddenly his phone rang. He switched on the Bluetooth speaker.

"Hello?"

"Rou Rou!" A woman's voice was heard from the other side. "How are you?"

It's Xui Huang's voice, Rouzhen Gu frowned. "I told you not to contact me anymore, right?"

"But I really can't forget about you!" she said.

"Too bad I already have forgotten you!" Rouzhen Gu hung up his phone after saying a harsh word to her.

He changed the route of his destination and his car went to Johnson road where Xiaoxi's house is located. The luxurious Bugatti stopped at the alley. He got out of his car and lit a cigarette. An empty road makes him feel lonely, the lamp on the street pulled his shadow. He wanted to visit her but he doesn't know how to face her.