Shen Yang was aghast. "I-I don't think of young mistress that way."

Suddenly, Wei's gaze darkened as it finally registered in his brain. A deadly storm brewed in his eyes. He quietly asked, his voice laced in alarm and danger, "Are you insulting my wife?"

Huh?

The three of them looked at him in shock.

How did Lihua come in here?

Shen Yang widened his eyes. "No, Boss. Why would I ever insult Madam?"

Wei pursed his lips. "Because Lixue was also very poor when we got married."

!!!

Lihua choked hard. He just suddenly brought her poor status out of nowhere. That was supposed to be an insult but she couldn't even get angry at him.

At that point, Jiang Ruiling realized a fact.

Wei's whole world solely revolved around Lihua. Everything was about her. Everything was for her.

He ignored his cousin making out with a bodyguard because he didn't want to make his wife tired of waiting. He wasn't interested in having this conversation either because they were ruining his shopping date with her.

Ever since she stepped into the Jiang villa, Wei has been nothing but a doting husband.

She glanced at Shen Yang. "You could learn a thing or two from my cousin."

His eyelids slightly trembled, but his expression didn't change.

Wei coldly said, "Do you mean that we aren't right for each other because she was really poor?"

Lihua wanted to shed tears of blood.

Wei. You don't have to repeat the 'really poor' part, she sobbed.

Shen Yang stood up in attention. "My sincerest apologies, Boss. I had no such intention."

Lihua chose to ignore the harsh reality that her husband pointed out and looked up at Shen Yang.

"Okay. Just for one moment forget that you are a bodyguard and Jiang Ruiling is a rich young mistress. Just face me as an ordinary man and tell me the truth. Do you like her?"

Silence.

Jiang Ruiling slowly lifted her gaze and she stared at him. Her countenance didn't change, but there was a hint of desperation in his eyes.

Shen Yang's grim expression didn't budge. He felt a dull pain clench his heart. "No, Madam. I respect her as the young mistress and will die to protect her. That is my duty. But I don't have any thoughts about her."

"I asked you to think of yourself as an ordinary man. Yet you answered like a bodyguard."

He stiffened. "...No."

Jiang Ruiling kept staring at him unblinkingly until her eyes ached. She hoped that he would at least admit it now, but he didn't.

Lihua saw the disappointment on her face which she didn't hide. And she also saw Shen Yang's tightened fist as he denied it.

It wasn't that he didn't love her. He was just too stubborn to admit it.

"Oof! If you are worrying that the family would oppose your relationship, then don't! You are a good man and I have seen you work with dedication and loyalty. Every family wants a good man for their daughter and you are one. So, you don't have to step back."

Shen Yang took a deep breath. "Madam, I mean it. I don't like young mistress that way."

The atmosphere grew increasingly suffocating.

Wei nodded. The Mafia King broke the silence with his words. "That settles it. It won't be a problem then."

Lihua asked, "For what?"

"For Ruiling's date. I heard Old Madam has chosen a suitable man for her."

Jiang Ruiling froze. Shen Yang widened his eyes for a moment before he quickly retracted his expression. The panic was just there for just a moment before it vanished.

"They are in no relationship. So it's fine for Ruiling to go ahead with the arrangement."

Jiang Ruiling kept quiet.

Lihua stared at her husband and wondered what he was thinking.

Is he lying to make Shen Yang jealous?

She inwardly beamed.

Oh, that's great! What greater method to make him confess his love if he isn't jealous? Hoho! Wei is so smart!

She nodded too. "I see! I guess then it really settles it then. Even if Jiang Ruiling might not like the guy now, she would slowly come to terms with it."

She smiled at him. "Isn't that what you want, Shen Yang?"

His gaze remained stoic as he smiled with great difficulty. "Yes, Madam. Whatever is the best for Madam."

Jiang Ruiling suddenly got up. "I guess this conversation is over then. I am heading back home."

Shen Yang nodded. "Yes young-"

She narrowed her eyes. "You won't follow me."

He was taken aback. "Young mistress, how can I leave you alone?"

She smiled. "Well, you already left me alone just right now, didn't you?"

He froze.

"I am sure I can manage going home by myself."

"Young mistress-"

"No."

She left the restaurant without looking back. Shen Yang gazed at her back in silence.

He broke out of his stupor and asked, "Boss, any order?"

"Leave me and my wife alone," he squinted his eyes.

"..."

He coughed and quickly left too.

Lihua sighed. "Gosh, he is so stubborn. It's so obvious that he loves her so much. Why is he being so... unbending? If he stays like that, he would really lose her and then keep crying."

She eagerly shook him. "By the way, that thing about that date was a lie, right?"

"No. It is the truth."

"What!? Isn't that a big problem then?" She gasped.

Wei tilted his head. "It won't be if they admit their relationship."

"You are saying as if...Old Madam will happily accept them even if they do."

"She won't. Does it matter? I didn't care even though she doesn't like you."

She coughed hard.

He got a point…

"If they like each other, then nobody else has any say in it."

She widened her eyes. Somehow, she was surprised to hear such words from him.

"I understand it because I am with you. I don't care if anybody likes you or not. You are my woman. And I am your man. Nobody else matters."

She felt fuzzy in her chest by his warm words.

Wei got a call and he got up. "Wait, I will be back."

"En."

Alone at the table, Lihua was in her own thoughts about Jiang Ruiling and Shen Yang when she suddenly heard a shaky voice.

"L-Lihua!"