Zhou Xue Li walked to her grandfathers office, everybody she passed along the way could not help but stop and stare at her, she was as beautiful as her name described with a temperament to fit. Her parents died early and she was raised by her grandfather who was a former soldier, he left the army when his only son and his wife died to take care of his granddaughter who was the only family he had left. This is why he brought her up to be cultured and even though he was in business now, he never forgot his roots.

  I knocked when I got to his office and opened the door to enter as he was already expecting me, 'Good evening grandfather.' I walked to him behind his desk and gave him a hug and a kiss on his aged cheek. ''Good evening dear, how are you.''

  'I am fine although I am wandering why you called me to your office this evening when we will see each other at home later, you know I am preparing for my resumption to school, I have a lot of thing to buy and get ready.' I said while walking to seat on the sofa in his office. 'I know but I want you to meet the grandson of a friend of mine, I have arranged for both of you to be engaged and get married before you finish school.'

  At first I was silent as I could not understand what he meant but then it hit me and I stood up from my seat in shock, this was the last thing I would ever expect my grandfather to tell me. 'Are you joking or are you actually serious, because I know you don't pull pranks but this is seriously feeling like a prank because where is this coming from.' I replied. 'I am not joking, you know I would never joke about something this serious, I have been thinking about it for a while now and started making plans.'

  From the look on his face I could tell that he was serious and I know he will never joke about something like this but he has never mentioned about having such a plan, why would he not discuss it with me like we always do. How can he make an important decision for me like that. I spoke out trying to understand him, 'I don't understand what you are saying, you know I have a boyfriend and we are considering marriage. Why would you make that kind of decision without telling me. Do things like this still happen in this modern age?' 'I know you are upset but I am doing what I think is best for you, he is a nice man and would look after you well when I am gone.'

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  'Lu Hanbing is also a nice man who loves me very much and I don't need somebody to look after me, you did not bring me up to be weak, I can take care of myself.' as she talked she started pacing around the office and her grandfather got up and held her hands trying to calm her down. 'I know you don't need looking after but I am already old and can feel death calling, I just want to ensure that when I am no more, you have someone to lean on. you don't have to be weak but even the strongest person needs a partner in life. Moreover you are so young, what do you even know about love, that's just puppy love you are experiencing.'

  'Stop talking like that, you will live for many more years, and I can get what you are worried about but I have that, a partner. I am not going to betray his trust, I love him and he loves me too. We will look after each other. And how do you know its puppy love, I am an adult now and know what I want and need, you cant make that decision for me.' I said to him as I looked into his eyes begging him to understand. 'I don't care, you have to meet him, he his on his way here already and my decision is final.' he said while turning his back to me and walking towards his chair with his hands crossed behind his back.

  'I have always followed your decisions and respected your wishes because I believed you had my best interest at heart but on this I will not yield, I am the only one who can choose who I will marry as I am the one who needs to spend the rest of my life with him. Not you.' as I said that I turned and walked away in a fit of anger and did not see or consider how lonely his aged back looked or just how old and tired he looked because to me, he was always bigger than life. I did not see the burdens he carried and did not share with me until it was too late.

  Rushing to the elevator I did not take note of the man stepping out of the elevator with an entourage behind him as I was in a haste to get home, and was filled with thoughts on how to fight the perceived doom my young mind saw falling on me. But unbeknownst to me, what you fight may be your destiny and what you seek may be your doom. Only time will tell.