Chen Hao rested his chin on the lady's shoulder,sniffing her sweet scent then purred in satisfaction. Sun Hui stroked her son's back, smiling at how clingy her son was being. Ren Siyuan still stood where Chen Hao had left him , watching the mother and son duo fondly. He knew his friend was a mama's boy and that was evident in what he was witnessing at that moment. After embracing each other for a while the mother and son finally pulled away from each other.
"You reek of sweat,"Sun Hui complained scrunching her nose , pretending to be disgusted.
"Didn't you say you love my natural scent?"Chen Hao retaliated.
"When did I say that?"
Their little argument were interrupted by low soft whines. Chen Hao then noticed the little girl peeking behind her mother tugging at her mother's dress.
"Xiaoyan what's wrong?" Sun Hui asked.
The six year old cute girl in a beautiful pink dress stepped forward , pouting her lips angrily,her doe eyes glaring at Chen Hao.
"Aiyo my little star forgive your foolish brother. Mom distracted me and made me not to notice my beautiful star,"Chen Hao said crouching down in front of the little girl. His hands caressed her soft cheeks and he tried acting cute in attempt to pacify her. He knew she was mad and disappointed that he didn't notice her first,he didn't hug or kiss her first. She loved having all his attention to herself.
"You brat how can you blame me for failing to notice your sister?"Sun Hui scolded her son.
"Xiaoyan is the most beautiful girl in the world,how can I not notice her?"Chen Hao questioned back. He showered his sister with compliments hoping to cheer her up and it worked. The little girl couldn't stay mad at him for long.
Sun Hui was only forty years old ,eighteen years older than her son. She was beautiful, elegant, kind and loving towards her two children - Chen Hao and Chen Xiaoyan and others.
"Siyuan how are you?"Sun Hui asked paying attention to the other boy in the room who had been watching them silently.
"I'm fine. Auntie Sun how are you? You look more beautiful than the last time,"Ren Siyuan said smiling sheepishly while walking towards Sun Hui. Sun Hui smiled shyly, blushing at his compliment.
"Hey don't flirt with my mother,"Chen Hao warned him.
"It's just a compliment,relax. Auntie Sun how's your health,are you fine at work?"
"Siyuan you're the best. You always care about me unlike someone else here," she whined.
"Mom, I usually call you everyday,how can you say I don't care about you?"
"Siyuan I brought you guys food. Do you want to have a taste ?"She proposed ignoring her son's complaints.
"Sure auntie your food is always the best,"he complimented following her towards the table where she unpacked food boxes.
"Where are the others?"She asked as she opened the food boxes.
"Auntie Sun we're here,"an excited male voice announced and three boys walked in- Wu Hong,Su Zhiying and Gao Cheng.
"Little Hong, you've become taller,"she said smiling at the youngest member.
"You've noticed... Auntie," he smiled shyly at her compliment.
"Auntie,how are you?"Su Zhiying bowed politely. He was the most quiet of all and since Sun Hui was familiar with all of them she didn't give him a hard time. She greeted him back and smile at him in acknowledgement. As for Gao Cheng,the greeting style was way different - she punched him playfully with her little fists enjoying how her fists felt against the hard well built chest.
"Muscle boy,if I was in my twenties I would have pursued you,"she joked.
"It's not too late still. Age is just a number,"he joked back.
Sun Hui was a frequent visitor at the company,she was close to the boys and apart from Shu Meihun,she was their other older sister.
"Sun Jie your food smells amazing,"Shu Meihun said joining them.
"Thank you,meimei. Can you help me to serve the food?
"Sure."
The food boxes contained;Kung Pao chicken ,steamed rice ,stir-fried vegetables, sweet and sour pork, egg fried rice and spring rolls.
"Auntie Sun, I missed your food,"Ren Siyuan said stuffing food in his mouth, moaning in satisfaction at the taste.
Sun Hui settled down watching the boys enjoying her food ,a satisfied smile adorning her beautiful face. She treated them as her sons and whenever she found a chance she would spoil them with her food.
A knock at the door interrupted their blissful moment,Sun Hui offered to check who the unexpected visitor was.
Opening the door wide,Li Yang stood at the door step, looking a bit surprised by the unfamiliar lady.
"Hi miss,"he bowed,not thinking much about her identity,"Is Chen Hao here? He forgot his phone at our gym,"he said handing the phone to Sun Hui.
"Oh I'll give it to him. You must be his friend. Why don't you come in?"she proposed flashing a soft smile at him.
"No need I'll come again another day,"he denied politely.
"I'm Sun Hui ,Chen Hao's mom. I like getting to know all his friends so as one of his friends I would like to know you ,"she said in the most persuasive tone and he found himself unable to refuse her so he hesitantly stepped inside, earning stunned gazes from the boys.
"Li Yang,why are you here?"Chen Hao asked in surprise.
" You forgot your phone at the gym and I brought it...and..." he trailed off.
"And I invited him in,"Sun Hui completed his words.
"Oh,"Chen Hao acknowledged in realization.
Sun Hui served him some of the food and presented it to the RDS leader. Li Yang wanted to refuse at first but considering her excellence in persuasion,he finally gave in.
"Thank you,"Li Yang muttered taking the plate of food from her.
"When I saw Chen Hao's teammates I thought they were very handsome but then I've seen Little Yang here I think my opinion changed,"Sun Hui commented earning glares from the Ocean Emblems. They felt betrayed and they didn't keep it to themselves,they accused her of betrayal. As Li Yang ate Sun Hui kept shooting questions at him- most of them personal but not too personal. It was clear she was interested in the RDS leader. Li Yang didn't feel offended like he usually felt whenever strangers asked personal questions. He was getting a motherly vibe from her and he found himself leaning towards her affection.
In fact all the Ocean Emblems seemed comfortable and close to her. He didn't imagine someone's mom could treat other people's sons as her own.
------
The RDS leader and manager,the Ocean Emblems' leader and manager,the CEO of Beihai Games- Xiao Lang,Gong Jun the trainer as well as other board members of the company gathered in the meeting room on a Monday morning for their usual meeting. The other members were exempted from attending the meeting - only the team leaders were required to attend and from there they would communicate whatever was discussed to their members. This was where the two team leaders usually met before and in all the meetings before,they only acknowledged each other through a polite nod,they rarely interacted directly but today it was a bit different. Chen Hao greeted him with a smile.
"Yang- ge,morning,"the younger leader greeted enthusiastically.
"Morning,"he greeted back smiling back.
.
The meeting was close to getting adjourned when Li Yang's phone rang for the fifth time. He had ignored all the eothers before and even muted his phone but every time the screen lit up displaying the incoming call he felt uneasy. Unable to ignore it anymore,he excused him from the room and walked outside and received the call.
"Hello?"
"Why weren't you picking up my call?"his mother's voice came from the other end of the line.
"I was occupied."
"How occupied were you that you had to ignore your mother's calls?"
"I was in a serious meeting,"he almost groaned in frustration.
"Okay,"she replied lowering her voice,"It's been three months since you visited why don't you come this Friday for dinner?"
"I have a match on Friday maybe Saturday."
"Fine then,"there was silence for a while before she spoke up again,"Your father wants to speak with you,"she informed.
Li Yang sucked in a sharp breath bracing himself for whatever the old man was going to tell him.
"Don't you think it's time you stop playing those childish games and come back to get a real job?"his father questioned mockingly.
Li Yang felt a sharp pain in his chest,a pain that he usually felt whenever his father spoke to him like that.
"I told you it's not a childish game. I'm a professional gamer,"he stated firmly.
"Fancy way to call your childish career. I think it's time you act mature and take over the company as soon as possible."
"I'm not interested in the company dad. Yun can take care of the company."
"Yun has a reputable career why should I disrupt his work? The law firm he works at is the best in our country."
"My team is also the best in the country," Li Yang bragged.
"Aren't you ashamed of boasting about such a thing?"
"Father look..." Li Yang took a deep breath summoning all energy to help him to talk to his strict and controlling father.
"There's nothing you can say that can change my mind so make sure you resign from that company before you come for dinner this Saturday," the old man stated sternly.
"I signed a contract I can't just resign,"Li Yang argued trying to reason with his dad.
"I don't care. Just terminate the contract and I'll pay whatever the company demands."
"I'm not quitting dad. This is my dream and I can't throw it away,"he unawarely raised his voice.
"Such a stupid dream!"the old man spat angrily .Li Yang could imagine how the old man's face was twisting in disgust while spitting the words.
"Goodbye father,"he said coldly and hung up.
Li Yang threw his head back, shut his eyes and took a few deep breaths. Talking to his father always drained his energy. The old man wanted him to quit being a professional gamer and take over his their company as CEO. He was never interested in business let alone inheriting the company but his father was determined to force him to inherit the CEO position.
"Are you alright?"
Li Yang turned around only to find Chen Hao looking at him with concern.
"Yeah I'm fine ," he lied.
"Okay,"Chen Hao could tell the older was not fine at all but he didn't press further because they weren't that close enough to pry into each other's business.
Li Yang didn't like sharing his burdens with others especially about family issues with Chen Hao. He was aware of the contrasts in care in relation to their parents so he assumed Chen Hao wouldn't understand him at all. While Chen Hao had a sweet and caring mother, he in contrary had strict and authoritative parents not willing to compromise anything for their son's happiness.
"See you around,"Li Yang said dismissively and turned on his heel but Chen Hao's next words made him stop in his tracks.
"You said you wouldn't go easy on me the next time we compete. How about you play against me today?"Chen Hao challenged.