Shadow In Your Mind [ARC 1- 5]

Chapter 41 - My mother treats charity as her hobby

XG 41 - My mother treats charity as her hobby
 
Wong Xue Guo nodded. “Yes. My mother is Suzie Yap.”
 
And she spoke no more. 
 
“I’ve truly admired your mother’s generous heart,” Lok Hui Man smiled, voicing her admiration. “Whenever there’s a charity event going on, your mother’s name is always there.”
 
No one in the politician circle had not heard of Suzie Yap’s name unless they lived under a rock. Politicians welcome rich people with the willingness to donate money to them the most. Even if it was a tiny bit unpleasant to hear, donations were actually their greatest support in getting things done.
 
Suzie Yap’s name was the most heard and praised in the charity circle. For more than ten years, she stayed in the top ten of the highest amount of funds donated in the entire world.
 
No one dared to claim that she, a ‘housewife’, was earning black money and it was all because of her husband, Charles Wong. As the owner and president of the top three pharmaceutical companies in the entire world, one would be shocked to hear the amount of his salary, bonus, remuneration, and dividends. 
 
He was a man that built a company with the goal to cure people’s ailments and manage to keep the company clean of any dirty reputation for fourteen years. The prices of the medicine were also reasonable and affordable to the public. He even married a wife that was generous in donating a large amount of her husband’s earnings to help those in need and even actively participating in charity events.
 
They were the couple that many looked up to in the nobility circle.
 
“My mother treats charity as her hobby.” Wong Xue Guo downplayed her mother’s holy mother act.
 
Why does the annoying feeling get worse?
 
“I have also heard of your father. He’s truly one of a kind. Your father must have adored you so much, to even name his company after you. I can’t blame him, especially after I’ve personally met you. You are a likable person, very charming.” Lok Hui Man was not selfish with her praise.
 
Behind the polite smile, Wong Xue Guo was very annoyed.
 
Everyone may think the same as Lok Hui Man, but not her. She knew clearly that her name symbolizes her parent’s love for each other and not for their daughter. The ‘Xue’ in her name represents winter, the season where her parents first met. The ‘Guo’ in her name represents fruit, the first item that allows them to have a fruitful encounter and start their wheel of romance.
 
Wong Xue Guo’s name was decided rather cheesily.
 
The female politician thinks that her words pleased the young girl when she laughed, but Lok Hui Man had actually poked her sore spot instead. “There are many others that said the same thing to me.”
 
Despite saying as if she was pleased with the flattery, her eyes contained anything but satisfaction.
 
Seeing that, Lok Hui Man understood that if she continued her sweet talk, the young girl before her would send her away. She secretly smiled, thinking that a nobility’s child was indeed different from others. They could either grow up to be a good seedling to inherit their parents' business or being a spoiled child from their parents' excessive and financial doting. 
 
In her eyes, Wong Xue Guo was taught to be a good seedling type. Fortunately, she had not grown up to be a money spender and useless rich second generation, or she would have ruined her parent’s excellent reputation.
 
Even if the cautious Wong Xue Guo would make it harder for Lok Hui Man to get the bargain, she was willing to speak to an intelligent person rather than a despot-like person. 
 
Lok Hui Man leaned forward, crossing her legs as she rested her entwined palm on her knee. “Xue Guo, I would like to work with your mother. We could make things better with both of us working together.”
 
Wong Xue Guo’s smile was rather aloof. “I’m sure you understand, that I’m just her daughter. I can’t make the decision for my mother.”
 
“Of course you can’t. I understand.” Lok Hui Man crooned. “But that does not mean you could not influence her decision. Your mother, who loves you lots, would surely listen to you. You are encouraging your mother to do good things, there is nothing she would mind.”
 
Wong Xue Guo really hated those who wildly believe that her mother loves her lots without seeing the truth by themselves. There have been too many proclaimed wise people lately. 
 
“You think too much.” With a soft chuckle, Wong Xue Guo adjusted her posture to make herself more comfortable. “If you want my help, what can you offer me? That… is the one I’m interested in.”
 
Her smile was one given carelessly, but her gaze was not an ounce similar to an arrogant teenager. It was the eyes that knew her own rights.
 
Impressed, Lok Hui Man laughed at the young girl’s playful smile with a gaze full of ambition. “Who would have thought that Xue Guo is the same as I? No wonder we get along well.”
 
Wong Xue Guo: What the fuck? ლ(¯ロ¯"ლ)
 
She could not resist glancing at Chen Yibo, who happened to feel her incredulous gaze and returned his own bewildered look. Looks like there was one person that agreed with her that they were not the same at all. 
 
And what does she mean by 'getting along'? She was just being polite!
 
“Someone like Madam Lok, how do I, a mere high school graduate, dare to claim to be similar with,” Wong Xue Guo said lightly, trying not to sound as if she was hurrying in denying any connection between them. 
 
You are here to beg for my help while I’m here to evaluate how valuable your offer is.
 
She was not crazy enough to speak her true thoughts, even if she was very tempted to. She must still be experiencing traumatic exhaustion from yesterday’s event that her temper fuse was much shorter than before. 
 
Lok Hui Man stared at Wong Xue Guo as if she was seriously divulging her true thoughts, which was rather ironic. “Xue Guo, I want to keep every resident on this island safe. But we do not have enough funds to purchase enough supplies to last us long enough while we remain in lockdown. Most of the residents, very understanding of them, had pooled money to help out with the funding. Thanks to their help, we have no issues with farming to increase our food supplies. But we are still lacking when it comes to medicine and other supplies. Xue Guo, you are also one of the residents now. If your parents help out with the funding, your new home will be safe and you need not worry about anything. We will keep a separate reserve quota just for your family and no one will dare to complain about it.”
 
“Which country are you intending to purchase from? Most of the countries already have signs of infection and they would prioritize their own people first,” Aurora finally spoke up for the first time.
 
Aurora was the qualified adult where one should direct the business talk to, but Lok Hui Man knew Wong Xue Guo held more power to persuade Suzie Yap than her assistant.  
 
Lok Hui Man did not hide it. “Japan is the most ideal one among the countries with no news of infection yet. I have already started negotiating with them, and they showed goodwill.” 
 
Malaysian’s ringgit has low currency power and that was why she needed a lot of money to buy goods from resourceful countries with higher currency. Lok Hui Man had no choice, as China had moved quickly and cut off any exportation movement after seeing the infection cases increase. 
 
Aurora’s expression has no changes, but Wong Xue Guo, who had known Aurora quite well, knows that she does not agree with Lok Hui Man’s decision. 
 
Wong Xue Guo does not know much about politics or currency and decided to end the talk.
 
“If you want my mother’s help, then you have to allow her and those she brings with her, into Penang Island without trouble once she arrives. If you agree to that, then I can help you persuade my mother to work with you. But the final decision lies in her.”
 
Lok Hui Man’s smile widened, even her eyes curved. “I could not ask for more. If your mother did arrive here safely, naturally I would make sure she has no problem entering here.”
 
“Great. My father loves my mother the most, you see. Even more than me.” It sounded like a complaint, but it was actually a warning. 
 
Wong Xue Guo’s smile became wider when Lok Hui Man’s expression subtly changed after understanding her words. Although her words were rather heavy, she was also very honest. Without her mother, her father would never even consider charity. Even if she tried to speak to her father about it, it would be useless. 

With how dangerous Wong Xue Guo’s words sounded, Aurora had to do something to ease the potential partnership. Even if they will be leaving the country now, it was still better to leave with a backdoor open in case they needed a safe place. Lok Hui Man should also have been notified they will be leaving the country soon, as Aurora had told the soldier about it.
 
“As Madam Lok took the time to visit us, would you mind telling us more about Penang Island’s separation from the government? Madam Lok is rather prepared as if you had known way beforehand about the infection.”