Chapter 4 Four

Xiao Xie blinked several times, as she did not seem to process what Billy had just said. The room fell silent, and they all stared at Billy.

"Am sorry for telling you all like this. I already planned that we will be going abroad for our education," Billy said, glancing at them to see their reaction.

Xiao Xie knew that Billy had already said they would be going abroad for their education after the engagement, but she did not know it would be that early. She thought it would take some time; she had already promised her mother she would still visit her from time to time. If they would be going abroad tomorrow, how would she be able to do that?

"I...I thought it would not be so early," Xiao Xie's mother said, her face falling.

"Mother-in-law, I know you want my wife to stay with you more. But I think, since we will be going for our honeymoon after registering our marriage, we should just leave too," Billy told Xiao Xie's mother.

"But, I still need to buy some things for her, since she will be staying for such a long time," Xiao Xie's mother said, still not thinking she would be able to just let go without a proper goodbye. She thought going abroad tomorrow was not enough for a proper goodbye.

"You can buy whatever you want to give her today. There is still time," Xiao Xie's father said, trying to stop his wife.

He knew that Xiao Xie's mother was just reluctant to let go of Xiao Xie because they would not get to see her for a long time. Xiao Xie's mother's eyes were starting to brim with tears. She blinked them away, not wanting to cry on a joyous occasion.

Xiao Xie got to marry into a very rich and prestigious family, and to a good person like Billy, her father thought that they should not be selfish.

Xiao Xie's mother looked at her husband, who tried to stop her. She could not talk anymore and just put her head down.

Billy could see that she was not against them going abroad early, but she was just reluctant to let go of Xiao Xie.

"Mother-in-law, whenever you miss Xiao Xie, you can come and see her," Billy told her.

"I thought you two would come to Korea to spend some time with me," Billy's grandfather said.

Billy looked at his grandfather, as he was not helping at all. Looking at Billy's face, his grandfather knew that he should say something to help out.

"Yes, our in-laws can visit them at any time," Billy's grandfather added.

Xiao Xie's mother forced a smile. Xiao Xie's mother was actually happy that Xiao Xie would be going abroad to study; it was a rare opportunity for her. She thought she should not be selfish, like her husband also thought. And since Billy said they could come visit them at any time, she wanted nothing more than knowing Xiao Xie was doing well.

"Alright, but I can go and buy things I want to give to her?" Xiao Xie's mother asked.

"Of course, mother-in-law," Billy replied, smiling.

Xiao Xie was just listening to them and did not say anything. They were talking about her, but they did not even ask her. She stopped eating, still staring in a daze. Billy looked at her and wondered why she was still in a daze.

"Don't you want to follow your husband? Or don't you want to go and study abroad?" Billy whispered into her ear for her alone to hear, so that it would bring her back from her daze.

Xiao Xie squeezed her face; she actually wanted to go with Billy to anywhere, even now that they were husband and wife. But she felt reluctant to leave China. She had been in China all her life. One of her dreams was to go abroad, but now that she got a chance to go abroad, she felt skeptical about it.

"Xiao Xie," Fin Bin said slowly. That was when the others turned to look at Xiao Xie's two friends.

When they heard what Billy said, their faces fell too. They were really happy for her, but the thought of separating from Xiao Xie was so saddening to them.

When she got engaged, they knew that she would probably leave the hostel to move into Billy's place, which made them a little sad. But they knew that she would still have to attend classes, and they would be able to see her. Also, they could meet at any time or even visit her at Billy's place. But now that she was traveling out of the country, they would not be able to see her for a long time.

Xiao Xie turned to look at them and could see how sad they were.

"Are you really leaving us?" Wu Chin asked with teary eye.

Xiao Xie, looking at both Wu Chin and Fu Bin, also had teary eyes. They both hugged her, and Xiao Xie hugged them too, and they cried.

"Mr. Tiau, we are taking Mrs. Tiau today with us, since you will be taking her away tomorrow," Fu Bin said to Billy.

Billy smiled. "You can take her," he replied, smiling.

After they ate, they all left the restaurant, since Xiao Xie's friends and her parents wanted to spend the day with her to say their goodbyes. Billy sent Xiao Xie with them; he did not mind leaving her with them for that day if he would be together with her all by himself later.

Billy could not wait to have Xiao Xie all to himself.

But as they got out of the restaurant to leave, Gu Min stopped them. Billy was surprised to see her; after her mother was sent to prison, he had not seen her nor heard from her.

"So you are all here smiling happily after sending mom to prison. You think you can send her away like that and have everything that belongs to grandfather?" Gu Min said to Billy angrily.

Xiao Xie and the others looked surprised to see Gu Min and what she said; they got afraid.

Gu Min faced Xiao Xie and forced a smile. "Oh! You are the bride. It was because of you that all of these happened. Mom was sent to prison because of you, and grandfather died because of you," Gu Min said, pointing to Xiao Xie angrily.

Xiao Xie looked afraid to hear what Gu Min said; her mother pulled Xiao Xie to herself, trying to hide her.

"Billy, I will make sure you regret everything you have done to mom and the Tiau's family. Mark my words," she said and stormed off.

"Young lady," Billy's grandfather was annoyed by Gu Min's threat to Billy, but Billy stopped him.

"Grandfather, you don't need to mind her; she is just bluffing," Billy told his grandfather and sighed.

"Alright," Billy's grandfather calmed down and left with his driver.

Billy also sent Xiao Xie with her parents and friends to spend the day together.

After they left, and it remained Billy and Ray, Ray moved closer to him.

"Young master, I don't think Gu Min is bluffing at all. What do we do about her?" Ray asked.

"I know she is not bluffing too. I could see it in her eyes that she is serious about everything she said. But there is nothing she could do, even if she tries to do anything," Billy replied confidently.

"But we have to be on guard in case she wants to do anything," Billy added.

"What of her threat to the young mistress?" Ray thought that they should also mind what Gu Min said to Xiao Xie.

"Since we will be leaving for abroad tomorrow, I don't think it will be an issue. I will look out for Xiao Xie myself," Billy told Ray.

"Alright, young master," Ray nodded, and they left the restaurant to prepare for the traveling the next day.

Billy had taken care of everything that needed to be done. He had already handed over the management of the company to Ray, since Ray knew everything about the company and also studied business. He believed Ray would be able to manage the company well.

As for Xiao Xie, he had already helped her apply to a university where he would also study. Billy wanted himself and Xiao Xie to study at the same university.

Though Xiao Xie would be his senior, since he would just start from the first level, while Xiao Xie was transferring to her previous course, which she studied in China.

Xiao Xie's parents and her friends went for shopping and went to have fun together. Xiao Xie's mother wanted to buy almost everything she thought Xiao Xie would need for her as they shopped.

"Mom, I am married. I am no longer a child; you don't have to worry about anything. I will take care of myself," she said to her mother.

Her mother looked at her and smiled. "Married woman, even if you are married and have your kids, I am still your mother, and you are just a child to me," her mother replied and smiled.

Xiao Xie could not but smile at what her mother said.

Then her mother pulled her aside, as if she remembered something.

"That girl who met us at the front of the restaurant, who is she? And what did he mean by Billy's grandfather died because of you?" Xiao Xie's mother asked, looking serious.

Xiao Xie sighed and did not know how to answer her mother. She also did not understand why Gu Min would say something like that to her.

But she believed Billy would take care of it.

"Is it something to be worried about?" Her mother adds.

"You don't have to worry mom, Billy will take care of it" she replies, but actually worried.