The same evening as Wei stepped into his room, a certain grumpy wife was pouting at him. Wei beamed upon seeing Lihua and immediately hugged her.

"I missed you a lot." ​​

It melted her heart, but then she realized that she had an important question to ask him. She pushed him away, making him purse his lips.

"I want to hug you more," he softly whined.

She smiled. "I will hug you even more than you want to hug me but after answering my question!"

"What question?"

"Why did you bring Jiang Li in between to marry Jiang Lanying two years back? The marriage proposal was for you. I understand that you rejected it, but why did you force him into this?"

He tilted his head.

Lihua said, "I talked to Jiang Lanying today and she told me about her first meeting with him."

She smiled. "I found it really cute and learned that Jiang Lanying actually wished this proposal to her was with Jiang Li, not you. She liked him but Old Madam suggested she become your wife."

Wei nodded. "Yes. I declined."

She put her hands on her waist. "But why did you force Jiang Li? What if he didn't like her? If he married her because he was forced to then isn't it sad for Jiang Lanying? She loves and she wished to marry him out of mutual feelings for each other. But then because of Old Madam, he might have felt pressured. You already declined the proposal."

Lihua sighed. "Is that why their marriage is going through stressful times? Maybe Jiang Li really didn't like her. That's why he is so distant from her. And this is making her sad."

Wei rapidly blinked his eyes. There was confusion on his face as he stared at her.

"Li wasn't forced into this marriage. He married Lanying out of his will."

Lihua widened her eyes. "Ah? What are you saying? Didn't he marry her because you passed your baton to him?"

"I said his name because he wanted me to."

Her lips parted in speechlessness. Sensing that there was something more to the story, Lihua quickly dragged him to sit on the bed beside her and focused on him with intense concentration.

"Tell me from the beginning."

Wei nodded. "When Lanying's proposal came for me, I had declined without a second thought."

She curiously asked, "Why? I mean she is beautiful, delicate and kind."

"I had no interest in her. Until I met you, I had no interest in anything or anyone."

Lihua couldn't help but blush with his flirting that felt as smooth as butter.

"Wei you…"

Wei pulled her and smiled. "En. Ever since I met you, I have felt so many different emotions. I have interest in things I never had before. You brought colors to my life that I never thought I would see," he leaned and kissed her lips.

Lihua flushed and coughed. "B-back to the topic…"

"I also declined because I wished that I could find someone like how Dad found Mom. Whenever I see him, I feel that he is so happy with Mom. But I couldn't understand why. I also wanted to find someone like that and understand that feeling and now I do because of you. Now, I understand why Dad was adamant in marrying Mom even though Old Madam was against it. He didn't care even about anybody or his relations to anyone. He only cared about Mom."

Lihua knew about Jiang Weizhe and his sour relationship to Old Madam but to hear it from Wei how he wished to be like him made her feel proud.

"En. I am glad that you didn't agree under any pressure."

He smiled. "Of course. I had decided to wait until I found that woman. I didn't know if I would like Dad, but I wanted to give a chance."

Lihua jumped into his arms and hugged him tightly. "My hubby is the best!"

He lovingly kissed her forehead.

She looked up at him. "Then what happened when you declined?"

"Old Madam was still insisting that I agree. That's when Li came to me. He said that instead of declining her again and making her furious, he asked me if I could call out his name for that marriage proposal instead of me."

Lihua was dumbfounded.

So it was Jiang Li who played passing the parcel?

"R-really? Jiang Li did?"

"En. He told me he wants to marry Lanying and he was sure that she wanted to marry him too."

Her mouth twitched.

Nice confidence…

"I told him to tell that to Old Madam himself. But he said that she might disagree if he directly came out with it because the proposal was meant for me."

Just like Jiang Lanying who didn't want to show her love for Shen Yang...These people really know how to twist things without letting their real intentions out, she thought.

"If I offered Li's hand in marriage, it would hold more weight."

"Why?"

"Because I am the CEO and Mafia King. My words are orders that others have to follow. People cannot offend me by disagreeing with me is what Li said."

She coughed hard.

"Lanying's family would be hesitant to decline my suggestion and Old Madam will agree in the end too because for her, what matters the most is what the King says. Even if she might disagree, she won't fight me for long is what Li said."

Lihua had a realization.

Just like how she couldn't really fight much when Wei brought me into this house. She opposed our marriage, but she couldn't force him into submission.

"But if she wants everyone to do what she wants, she can just remove you from your position and make Jiang Li the CEO and Mafia King."

"She won't because she always wants the eldest son of the family to take charge of the family and Underworld."

"That is…"

"That's why even though Old Madam hated Dad for marrying Mom, shs never pulled him out of his position simply because the eldest son should hold all the responsibility, not the younger one."

"..."

So old-fashioned!

"So I said what Li wanted me to and then got married."

"But if Jiang Li secretly did so much, then doesn't that mean he liked Jiang Lanying too? Otherwise, why would he go through all the trouble?"

He nodded.

Lihua didn't understand. "So if he is happy with this marriage too, then why is he acting like this with her? He should be so lovey-dovey with her, not make her sad!"

---

Jiang Li was working on his laptop in his room as his fingers rapidly typed on the keyboard. Jiang Lanying peeked at him and fiddled with her fingers nervously.

She brought a plate of fruit for him and slowly said, "For you…"

Jiang Li paused and looked up at her. He nodded. "Keep it on the table. I will eat it later."

She did so and silently remained on her spot, thinking of what to say next. Lihua had encouraged her not to stay silent anymore and have communication with him.

But now that she thought about it, she suddenly felt anxious. A million thoughts were running in her mind.

Will I bother him?

Will I make him angry?

He seems busy.

Jiang Li frowned and lifted his gaze to look at her again. "Anything else?"

"I…"

He raised his brow.

She pressed her hands together and said, "A-about today morning…"

Jiang Li stiffened.

"Old Madam said that-"

"You don't have to worry about it," he cut her off. "I will handle it. I will see to it that she doesn't pester you anymore."

Jiang Lanying bit her lip. She wondered how to put it out to him. Gathering every bit of her courage she finally asked, "Li, do you...do you not want a child?"

He froze.

Silence.

Jiang Li said nothing for a long time. He looked at her and she looked at him hopefully that he would answer her.

"Go to sleep. It's late."

She stiffened. Her lips parted a few times. She clenched her dress and as her heart thudded, she asked, "C-can we not talk about it?"

He said nothing.

"It's not just about the c-child but…" she took a deep breath in nervousness, "about us too. You... don't seem happy ever since we got married. I-If there is anything that I could do to change then I will gladly do it. I... really want to see you happy, Li. I know the circumstances that we got married in were difficult. But I really hope that we can be happy. If I did something wrong unknowingly that ever hurt you then p-please tell me!"

Jiang Li shut his laptop and kept it aside. There seemed to be a hint of desolation in his gaze.

Jiang Lanying felt extremely anxious about his reaction.

"...I am tired, Lanying."

She trembled and breathed hard. "I see... It's okay. You have worked hard today. Please rest."

She quickly climbed on the bed, covering herself with the duvet. Jiang Li stared at her until he lowered his gaze and looked away.