Yifeng quickly removed his phone from his trouser's pocket before Yang Zi could.

"What? How could he be so unprofessional?" Yifeng shouted, throwing his phone angrily on the table. This single action of his made Yang Zi stop what she was doing and concentrated her attention on him.

​​

"Hey, what is wrong?" Yang Zi asked worriedly. She quickly changed her seat. She sat down beside him.

"It's Yuan Quan, I just received his text message. He said he had something urgent to do in the office so he has gone back to the office," Yifeng said irritatedly. "He should have informed us earlier instead of keeping us waiting for this long."

"What could be so urgent that he had to miss his lunch? It's lunchtime already, so he should've eaten first before he went back to the office to do what he wanted to do," Yang Zi said worriedly. She knew how much Yuan Quan loves free meals, so she could not understand why he suddenly went back without informing any of them about it..

"There is no need to beat ourselves over his own stupid mistake. Let's eat. Time is ticking and soon time for lunch will be over," Yifeng said, picking the menu.

"You are right, let's forget about him and eat. I am famished since I didn't have my breakfast," Yang Zi said, picking the menu too. The waiter, a tall handsome guy with curly hair, took their orders. He came back a few minutes later with everything they ordered.

....

"Damn you, Li Yifeng. How could you make me excited only to shorten it," Yuan Quan shouted, startling the taxi driver. "If you wanted to have lunch with Miss Yang, then why did you bring me along with you only to abandon me at the entrance of the restaurant?" Yuan Quan continued. "I hate you." Yuan Quan said as the driver halted in front of the Company. He stumped inside the building, looking furious. Nobody dared approach him, seeing how furious he looked. Even when Su Jin called him, he did not hear him.

....

"Did you like my gift?" Yifeng asked, dropping the spoon on the table. His major purpose of inviting Yang Zi out for lunch was not to eat but to spend quality time with her.

"I was thinking about returning the jewelleries, shoes, clothes, car including the things you sent to Mi Er and mum to you but unfortunately I forgot to bring them with me to work," Yang Zi explained nonchalantly as she continued eating.

"You will return the gifts to me? Wasn't it up to your taste? I really did a lot of research before I bought the gifts for you, Mi Er and mother-in-law," Yifeng said softly. He wasn't pleased that Yang Zi wanted to return the Christmas gifts he bought for the three of them.

"Mother-in-law? Who is your mother-in-law? I don't get you," Yang Zi said instantly, dropping her spoon down. Her gaze was not a pleasant one.

"I am referring to your mum or did I say something wrong?" Yifeng asked, pretending as if he did not know why Yang Zi reacted that way to what he said.

"I don't remember agreeing to be your girlfriend or fiancee so why is my mum your mother-in-law?" Yang Zi asked, staring at him.

"Then why don't you agree to it now? It's not as if you don't know how I feel about you. I like you and I have so many things in stock for the both of us but there is a limit to what I can do except you agree to be my woman. So please Yang Zi for the tenth time I can recall, be my girlfriend hmm," Yifeng said holding her hands, but Yang Zi quickly wriggled her hands out of his grip. It was as if his touch electrocuted her.

"Don't touch me whenever you talk, I hate it. Although I don't know the number of times, I have rejected you but sorry I will still have to say it again. I don't like.....," Yifeng instantly covered her mouth, afraid to hear the same words he has heard repeatedly.

"You don't have to say it. I understand the message you are trying to convey. I will continue to pray and wait for the day you will finally say yes to my proposal," Yifeng said reluctantly, removing his hand from her mouth.

"Let's continue eating," Yifeng urged, trying to look fine, but Yang Zi could see through his eyes and reaction that he wasn't Ok. Yang Zi continued eating as if nothing was wrong. She stopped eating when she realised that Yifeng was sitting down, staring at her with a sullen look without eating.

"Are you ok? You don't look well," Yang Zi asked, putting her hands on his forehead to check his temperature.

"If you were going to act so caring then why did you reject me? You should have just said yes," Yifeng said mumbled, but Yang Zi heard him loud and clear.

"I am glad to see that you are Ok?" Yang Zi said, removing her hand from his forehead. She acted as though she did not hear what he said.

"I can see you are not eating anymore, so let's go. I bet Yuan Quan is waiting for us," Yang Zi said, standing up. Yifeng reluctantly stood up and followed her. When they got downstairs, the driver was nowhere to be found.

"Where the heck did he go to?" Yang Zi asked, scrutinising the area with her eyes to see whether she will sight the driver.

"You don't have to look so agitated. I know you don't enjoy being alone in the same space with me, but be trust me, I won't do anything to you. I might be unyielding and overly straightforward, but I am not a rapist," Yifeng said before he entered the car. He waited for some minutes for her to decide.

"I never said you were a rapist," Yang Zi said, putting on her seatbelt. Few minutes into their journey, Yifeng spoke up.

"It's all over the news that CEO Zhou and Chairman Zhou's hearing is today so why didn't you continue with the act like you have done so far? Are you tired of all the pretense?" Yifeng asked, his attention on the busy road.

"I don't know what you are talking about or is visiting my sick boyfriend in the hospital considered an act of pretense to you?" Yang Zi asked, turning to stare at him.

"Yang Zi others might buy your acts but not me so stop putting on an act whenever you are with me. You can swear at him or do whatever you like, I don't give a damn about that swine," Yifeng said, stealing secret glances at her.

"Swine? What did my love do to you to deserve that kind of inhumane insult from you? He doesn't deserve to be called a swine no matter what he might have done, so please mind your words," Yang Zi corrected sternly. In her mind, she was smiling. "I guess there is someone who hates him as much as I do," Yang Zi thought, beaming within.

"Are you sure you like him because I saw you smiling earlier?" Yifeng said smiling. "Just admit you can't pretend whenever you are with me. It shows all over you."

"You are so full of yourself," Yang Zi said, smiling. They continued talking, but not about Zhou Yixian or his company. The moment Yifeng parked his car, Yang Zi's phone rang. Yang Zi picked up the call when she saw who it was.

"Hello, how are you? The hearing must have been over by now, so what was the court's verdict?" Yang Zi asked, sounding anxious.

"Zi Er... Zi Er....," Jingxian sobbed over the phone, unable to talk. Yang Zi became alarmed when she heard Jingxian crying. She could not pinpoint what could be the problem. She quickly concluded that maybe the verdict was not what she expected.

"Jingxian, although I don't know what the court verdict is, you don't have to weep in this manner. We can still do something about this so please don't cry Ok? My heart is bleeding hearing you sob," Yang Zi coaxed unbuttoning her seatbelt.

"It's not about the hearing. Brother Yixian....," Jingxian sobs. Her tears were starting to irritate Yang Zi. Yifeng just watched her, conversed without disturbing her.

"What is wrong with Yixian? Stop sobbing and speak because I can't hear you," Yang Zi hissed.

"Zi Er, my brother is dying. He is dying," Jingxian sobbed. In the background, her mum's weeping was attempting to overpower hers. Yang Zi became alarmed.

"What happened? Where are you right now?" Yang Zi said. From their tears, she knew that whatever might have happened to him was very serious.

"We are in D&M hospital right now. Brother Feng is dying.....," Jingxian's sobs became louder. She paced about in front of the operating room.

"Ok, I have heard you but please calm down? You might fall ill at this rate if you don't pull yourself together. I am sure he will be alright," Yang Zi consoled, rushing out of the car.

"Yang Zi, what happened? Did something happen to Zhou Yixian?" Yifeng asked, stepping out of the car. He walked to where she was standing. Yang Zi became scared because she did not know what the problem was. "What could be the problem?" Yang Zi thought.