When most of the guests had presented the gifts, Xiao Zhiren also stood up and took a few steps forward, Ji Rusheng's gaze fell on Xiao Zhiren's tall and lanky build making him smile with affection.
He bowed his head in respect saying, "Zhiren offers his blessings to grandfather." Xiao Zhiren spoke in almost a whisper. He didn't want to attract too much attention from the people around him. "I've prepared a gift for you as well."
On cue, Qin Qu passed an exquisite box to Xiao Zhiren who in turn offered it to the old master Ji Rusheng.
Xiao Zhiren didn't stay and walked back to his table. Behind him, Ji Rusheng slowly opened the packaging of the gift box with both of his hands. As the box opened, someone gasped at the sight.
"Oh my! Is that the hand-carved Burmese pattern chess set?" Someone gasps at the venue attracting everyone's attention.
"Isn't that Han Dynasty's chess set?" Another one pointed out.
"You mean the one hand-carved by the Emperor himself?" Someone asked with astonishment.
"Wasn't it in the museum of Romania from the past two centuries?" A man asked with curiosity.
Old master Ji Rusheng's eyes were wide opened. He couldn't believe his own eyes. His daze was broken when a hearty laugh rang out from beside him. "Who managed to bring this chess set for you?" The person beside Ji Rusheng was his old friend, Ren Hou who personally checked to ensure that it was the real set and he was more than shocked to see it.
Old master Ji Rusheng frowned and looked at his best friend saying, "Ren Hou, don't you dare try to think of taking my present!"
"Aye! Such stingy friend you really are!" Old man Ren Hou spoke a bit sadly. The old master, Ji Rusheng shook his head at his best friend before he heard his friend's voice again, "Who's present is this?"
Before Ji Rusheng could answer his friend, housekeeper Zhang spoke up, "Master Ren, this present is from Ji family's eldest young master." His tone held a bit of pride in it which wasn't concealed at all.
"Aye! Rusheng, your family's Ji Syaoran is very capable, ha. He even managed to bring such an amazing present for you even when he wasn't able to come himself." Old man Ren Hou remarked with admiration in his voice.
Old master Ji Rusheng frowned and cleared his friend's misunderstanding, "Ji Syaoran didn't bring this gift. It's from my eldest grandson, Xiao Zhiren."
Old man, Ren Hou was not the only one surprised at this revelation. The entire hall went into silence for a minute before a wave of whispering engulfed the hall.
But the person in question, Xiao Zhiren was the one who received a bigger blow by this news. He looked at his assistant. "I have no idea how this set came up in the gift box. This is definitely not what I prepared." At Qin Qu's explanation, Xiao Zhiren stayed quiet.
"Who's Xiao Zhiren?"
"Xiao Syaoran has an elder brother?"
"Where is this Xiao Zhiren?"
While the whispering got louder, Xiao Zhiren felt uncomfortable. He wasn't a big fan of staying in news or being the topic of others gossip over the tea time. Before his grandfather, Ji Rusheng decide to look for him, he decided to leave the venue and that's exactly what he did.
Qin Qu followed right behind him as he took long strides to leave as soon as possible.
True to his speculations, Old master Ji Rusheng asked housekeeper Zhang to bring Xiao Zhiren on the stage but he received the news that he left urgently. The old master didn't get angry that his grandson left without meeting him rather he was upset over this fact. He stared his son, Ji Yifeng but he avoided looking into his father's accusing gaze.
Even Ji Rusheng knew the reason why Xiao Zhiren left. But he couldn't deny the fact that he missed his grandson. And after so many years, he finally managed to see him but it was only for a moment.
Meanwhile...
"Find out the person who messed up the present," Xiao Zhiren ordered Qin Qu as he made his way towards the car parking.
"But Zhiren..." Before Qin Qu could say anything, Xiao Zhiren interrupted him.
"The porcelain piece that I originally brought for the old master and that Han Dynasty Chess set are both on a whole different level. I can't accept that gift. But since I can't ask the old master to give the present back, I can only look for a way to compensate that person accordingly. You just look for him." Qin Qu could only follow his boss' orders.
Qin Qu could only listen to what Xiao Zhiren said since he wasn't just an employee, he was also Zhiren's closest friend.
Xiao Zhiren took the elevator and came to his suite. The moment he walked in the doors, he knew that his younger brother Xiao Zhiyuan was not home. He sighed and rummaged out his phone to make a call. Even after several tries, he couldn't get through to Xiao Zhiyuan.
His younger brother was his whole world. Xiao Zhiren knew that Xiao Zhiyuan's rebellious nature only came out because he brought him back to China with himself. But he couldn't tell Xiao Zhiyuan the reason for leaving their life in America and coming to China all of a sudden. Because he knew that it was not the right time yet.
He threw his jacket on the nearby couch and walked out of the suite to look for Xiao Zhiyuan.
Xie Rong got frustrated in the huge suite all by herself. She was sitting on the cold floor in a full lotus position with her eyes closed. Even in meditation, she didn't feel at ease.
Therefore, she stood up and wore a cap on her head before pulling up the hoodie over it. Looking like a rebellious young teenager, she walked out of her suite.