Chapter 73 - Scrutiny
Jai held his breath as he walked into the huge hall. The sounds of the TV news were loudly echoing in the large space. His father and grandfather were sitting with deep frowns. Jai paused. Why are they so serious?
The news was talking about a political clash between their country and Country D. It didn’t sound that bad—it was the usual political banter. But weirdly, his father’s reaction made it seem much worse than it was. Clearing his throat, he walked in. Both of their gazes fell on him heavily.
Jai froze, feeling the weight of his father and grandfather’s powerful gazes bearing down on him. Subtly, he stepped back, hiding behind Shao.
Suddenly, Shao, who had been invited as a guest, found himself upgraded to a shield against the intensity of their scrutiny.
Gritting his teeth, he forced a smile. "Sir, I’m Shao, Jai’s friend," he said, trying to maintain his composure despite the uncomfortable situation.
Jai’s father frowned deeply, his gaze appraising Shao. "You look old."
Inside, Shao cringed at the remark. Ahhh, I’m not old, he thought, but outwardly, he maintained his usual expression. "Haha, it’s just that I look mature for my age. In fact, I’m just a few years older than Jai. I... I just came to drop him off. I’ll take my leave then."
Shao couldn’t bear the weight of their powerful gazes any longer. He felt the urge to run, to escape from the uncomfortable atmosphere that hung in the air like a thick fog. With a quick nod, he turned on his heels and made a hasty exit, leaving behind the imposing presence of Jai’s father and grandfather.
Jai quickly grabbed hold of Shao’s arm and pulled him close. "How can you send my friend off without giving him tea? Look how tired he is... Hahaha..." He awkwardly pulled Shao over to the sofa and forced him to sit down.