Lu Mian booted up her system and ran a routine encryption check. For her, the last time she used this laptop was a lifetime ago. She really did not remember how secure it was or the finer details of the firewall she built (did it already have the zeton core? Or did she develop that later?)
Looking at the results, she frowned. What slipshod work. This Rebirth is so humbling. As a proficient systems engineer, she had coached countless students in her past life. If any of them had dared to give in such work, she would've booted them out of her class immediately.
"Lu Mian, you actually reduced yourself to this because of your obsession with Pei Yan. You absolutely deserved to die". Oh she knew even while coding it wasn't her best work. But 17 year old Lu Mian was silently helping the Pei family business, secretly composing music for her sister to succeed, keeping up with her schoolwork AND continuing her mother's research, all while being ruthlessly dominated by her "kind" family. The poor her really didn't have the time to write better code.
"You better make up for this girl!" she promised herself. As she moved to begin her work, she heard a sharp rap at the door. Looks like someone can't wait!
"I don't want to talk" she yelled brattily through the door, as she frantically searched for eye drops. Come on, it should be right by her bed stand.
"Mianmian, it's me Aunt Xu. I brought you some warm milk".
There it was! Lu Mian hurriedly added a couple of the drops to each eye. Instantly her eyes became teary and red.
"Oh" she said aloud and went to open the door.
Aunt Xu and Lu Xinya both squeezed into her room. Why does she get the better room. And how can she manage to look so pretty even while crying. Lu Mian why are you always better at me than everything? Lu Xinya hated it. She gritted her teeth and tried to not let her feelings show in her face.
Aunt Xu, pretending to be the concerned step mother asked "Things got a little heated downstairs. As a family we should stick together. Aunt wanted to apologise fo Lu Xinya's thoughtless words. Are you feeling better now?".
"I am better" sniffed Lu Mian - "because I know what to do. I will go talk to Uncle Pei tomorrow and withdraw our family prescriptions. I will also participate in the Nine Strings Festival with the music I wrote for you. We will see then who Pei Yan chooses".
Lu Xinya's heart clenched with fear. She knew Pei Yan really didn't care for her. He had admitted that he wanted to make Lu Mian jealous and that was why they were friends. If he knew the plan worked, he would immediately give her up. She gripped her dress tightly. No. He should never know!
Aunt Xu was a lot cleverer. "Yes dear. I think you should fight for your love too" she said quietly. "But true love is when he chooses you without anything. Can you guarantee that Pei Yan can love you and give you the life you want without knowing all this?"
Lu Mian froze and eyed her suspiciously. That wasn't bad advice actually. What was she getting at?
"I don't understand what Aunt Xu means".
"It's simple dear - why don't you test how much Pei Yan really loves you? You give the engagement to our Xinxin and let Pei Yan see her as a shining star. We will also tell the Pei family that she would bring the prescriptions. If, Pei Yan agrees, then it means he doesn't deserve you. You let Xinya and Pei Yan live happily. If not, then well, would you have lost anything?
Aunt Xu was insidiously clever. Not one of her sentences today could be taken as anything but concern for Lu Mian. No wonder the teenage her was not a match.
"I don't agree. The prescriptions are my mother's work. Why should I give them up? And you really think Pei Yan would choose you," she sneered at Xinya. "In your dreams!"
"Don't you dare Lu Mian you vixen. What do you have apart from that foxy face? I know your mother only altered the original recipes. I have learnt chinese medicine too and can do it! Do you want to bet with me that Yan ge would choose me? If I win, you kneel and kowtow to me".
This idiot really doesnt know how to fashion a winning hand, mused Lu Mian. Let me help her..
"Okay", agreed Lu Mian. "Who's scared of who. Let's make a bet. We specify that the engagement is for you and you bring the old prescriptions from the Lu family - the ones my mother didn't alter. If, in one month, Pei Yan doesn't choose me, I will leave the Lu family."
The mother and daughter gaped. They were not expecting that. "I agree." said Xinya quickly. "And you cant claim my song as yours at the Nine Springs Festival either"
Aren't you being too greedy sister! Deal! Said Lu Mian quickly. "Let's write it down."
"You will put nothing of that sort down on paper" barged in old Madam Lu from outside the door where she was eaves dropping. If someone happens to see it, the whole thing could be overturned. Xinxin would loose her engagement and worse, her Lu family would loose face.
"I don't trust you" maintained Lu Mian fiercely. "How about we write my severance agreement now? I will hold on to it. In a month, if I loose, I will give it to you and you can use it to drive me out".
There was once again an odd silence. The three women couldn't believe this was so easy. Aunt Xu frowned quietly. This girl wasn't this dumb…
"I have no fear of loosing" bragged Lu Mian. "I have grown up with Pei Yan and have secretly helped him with so many of his company's things. Uncle Pei knows my worth. There's no way I will loose to you" she smiled proudly.
In the next 10 minutes, Lu Mian held a water tight severance agreement in her hands. It wasn't fully legal, though. Not yet.
"To show my sincerity, I am willing to ask father for a signature. Grandma Lu, can I trouble you to take out the family seal?"
"I will do it for you", said Grandma Lu, hardly believing her luck. She quickly tucked the agreement between a few other papers and went to her son's study to chat with him. She was back shortly, with the agreement signed and stamped.
Lu Mian's hands trembled as she snatched it. She was free. She really was finally free.
Noticing her trembling hands, Lu Xinya crowed "It's too late to regret now! A bet is a bet."
"Who's backing down. Don't worry, tomorrow, when Pei Yan comes to pick me up for school, I won't ignore him like today" watching the color drain out of Lu Xinya's face.
"And Aunt Xu, I want to make sure I am there when the engagement is being modified. I am sure uncle Pei would stand up for me too." She grinned.
"Shameless. Matchmaking is not for young girls. I as your Grandma will handle it tomorrow." And the three of them beat a hasty retreat.
Lu Mian took a deep, happy breath. Whew. Now, they would make sure Pei Yan doesn't pester her. She took a longing look at her now closed laptop.
She gave a big yawn. She had wanted to go in and check if there were any messages for her. Tomorrow, she thought sleepily. I will celebrate what wins I have now.
And so, while the entire dark web buzzed about 2 exciting posts. Lu Mian went to bed missing out on it all.