Fu Renshu cleared his throat. "I understand, Old Madam. Apologies, but Boss was feeling a little under the weather for the whole day. He left early as well from the office. Please don't misunderstand Boss."

He quickly lied because he knew how stubborn she could get.

"I don't expect a King to fall so vulnerable to petty sickness. He isn't raised that way," The Old Madam's voice was laced with coldness and rigidity that refused to yield.

He took a sharp breath. A long stretch of silence ensued on the other end while he prayed for her to leave the topic.

"I want him to visit the main residence tomorrow."

It wasn't a question. It was an order.

"Yes, Old Madam," Fu Renshu felt relieved.

"Even if he has to drag his sick body, he must come tomorrow."

Fu Renshu's lips straightened into a thin line. "Yes Old Madam," he silently clenched his fist. Not even an ounce of concern could he detect from her voice.

"Also."

Fu Renshu stiffened.

"Tell him that in no way should he look weak and pitiful tomorrow. It's an important discussion with the Shi family regarding his engagement. I demand his best behavior."

His eyes widened, and he was utterly thankful that at this moment, he wasn't standing in front of her, else he would have completely given his reaction away.

Engagement?

As he quickly recalled how Shi Ruomei had come to visit today, he couldn't help but wonder.

Is that why this engagement thing popped up today? Miss Shi strangely seemed too happy.

"Yes, Old Madam."

She hung up the call, not saying a word more. Fu Renshu finally breathed out as if a mountain was taken off his shoulders.

The main residence and the engagement…

He stared at the empty wall ahead and knitted his brows as he gravely thought about the matter. He wasn't unaware of the growing closeness between his Boss and Lihua. He was suspicious the moment Wei decided to live at Lihua's apartment complex and become her neighbor.

It was the first time that Wei was so determined to do something for himself. He didn't realize it himself, but he was already interested in Lihua when they met for the first time.

"Or maybe before that... when he saw her picture in Song Jia's phone," he muttered to himself.

That was when Wei first declared that he wanted to meet Lihua which was shocking in itself. Wei never expressed feelings like desire and wants. He never felt the need to invest his attention in something or someone else because from a young age, he was trained not to think about his feelings. His duties were above his own interests. His life revolved only around the work as a CEO and the Mafia King of the Underworld.

But then Lihua's influence in his life was growing larger and larger that Fu Renshu didn't wish for.

Because he knew that it was pointless. Not only because Shi Ruomei was chosen for Wei. Wei's family at the main residence would never accept Lihua for him. She was an average girl who lived a poor life, but the more complicated issue was that she belonged to the Song family. He understood how harsh life could get for Lihua.

That's why the moment he realized Lihua's infatuation for Wei, he acted harshly and rudely to her. He condemned and admonished her at any chance he got to end her stubbornness. He didn't want her attraction for Wei to grow and shape into love.

It was easy to fall for Wei but hell difficult to deal with the problems that came along with loving him.

So in his own way, Fu Renshu cared about Lihua. He felt conflicted. On one side, he was grateful to her that Wei was slowly beginning to change thanks to her. He was starting to think about what he wanted and not just act like a robot all the time. But on the other hand, he also wanted her to stop affecting him before things went out of hand.

And it almost did when Lihua was kidnapped. Wei declared in the entire Underworld that Lihua was his woman. Nobody would dare to touch her.

When Fu Renshu came to know about his proclamation, he felt as if the whole earth shook beneath his feet. At that time he thought,

"If this news reaches the main residence, it's all over!"

Everything would be exposed. Even the fact that Wei shifted from Sunshine Meadows to the meager apartment complex was kept hidden by him. Otherwise, they would have already targeted Lihua and dealt with her.

But with Wei's bold statement that day, it was easy to reach the Old Madam's ears. When a Mafia King declared something, it wasn't a small issue. His words represented the Jiang family and the Underworld. So it was obvious that the main residence wouldn't let him do anything that went against their wishes.

To prevent Wei's order from leaking into the Jiang family, he had to take inside help. It was impossible for him as an assistant to hide such a big fact. To hide it from the Jiang family, he asked someone from the Jiang family itself.

So, Fu Renshu contacted Jiang Weizhe, Wei's father.

He was the only one who could have helped him because he was once in a similar situation as Wei. Truth be told, he didn't have any expectations that Jiang Weizhe would agree to help him. The father-son relationship was complicated in itself.

But surprisingly, he did.

Two days back.

Jiang Weizhe propped his arm back and quietly stared at Fu Renshu. His black orbs that looked exactly like Wei were devoid of any emotions.

"I see," he whispered.

Fu Renshu was desperate. The urgency in his voice was unmistakable. "Master Jiang. Please help me. Without your influence, it would be impossible to hide this. If the Old Madam knows this, Boss and Song Lihua would be in great trouble."

Silence.

"Okay."

Fu Renshu looked at him, stunned. He brightly smiled and bowed as gratitude filled his heart. "Th-thank you, Master Jiang!"

"But."

He stiffened. "Yes?"

"My help depends on Song Lihua."

Fu Renshu raised his head and blinked his eyes in confusion. "Song Lihua? I don't understand."

Jiang Weizhe calmly said, "I will meet her. If I find her acceptable, then I will help you. You won't tell her about my identity or my intention to meet her."

"..."

He coughed and nodded. "Yes, Master!"

Song Lihua! You better not screw this up or I will kill you before the Jiang family does!

Present.

Thankfully, Lihua didn't screw up. Jiang Weizhe was extremely satisfied, so he agreed to help. Only if Fu Renshu knew that his criteria for judging her were that Lihua handed him the cookie packet and talked about Jiang Yubi, he would faint on the spot.

Fu Renshu sighed.

It's as if the problems were unending. He just somehow managed to hide this when now suddenly, Wei's engagement came into the picture.

"What should I do now?"

---

"Done!"

Lihua watched the entire apartment that she and Wei painstakingly decorated. The walls welcomed the small and artistic pictures while tiny and adorable pots of colorful flowers growing in them were placed equidistant on the shelves and tables. A beautiful wind-chan hung at the balcony with its sweet melody echoing in the room. They brought new sets of curtains and pillows to give a vibrant look to his house that matched the color of the walls.

Lihua hopped in front of Wei. The gleam shining in her eyes matched how brightly her smile was lit on her lips. "Boss, do you like it? Isn't this so much better than before!"

Wei thought as if he could see imaginary dog ears that were furiously flailing in excitement. He softly chuckled and tapped her nose. "En. I like it."

More than his house itself, he simply liked the time he spent with Lihua. This was something he had never experienced before. This was the first time he felt that it could be so peaceful by doing such simple things as decorating a house.

Lihua beamed. "I knew it. Haha. After all, I have a very good choice!" Her nose grew longer in pride. Now to celebrate, let's play some music!"

As the soft tune hummed inside the room, Wei watched Lihua in a stupor. He gently held her wrist and tugged her to his side. Lihua looked at him, surprised. "Boss?"

Lost in the depths of her beautiful irises, Wei wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. Their chests bumped against each other with the sudden pull. His fingers securely clutched her waist and with his right hand, he tightly intertwined his fingers with hers. Lihua automatically placed her right hand on his shoulder.

"We should dance if there is music, right?" Wei said in a hushed tone as a soft smile etched on his lips.

*****

A/N - One one hand, there is Wei's engagement and in the other hand, Wei and Lihua are getting closer than ever. What difficulties lay ahead?

Amidst this storm, will Lihua also read the anonymous letter? o.o

Stay tuned!