Ye Jie came with his parents to the Star Night Hotel for the date fixing meeting. After Lu Yuhan left, Ye Jie’s desire to have a perfect wedding with a perfect girl was also destroyed. He didn’t want to fall in love again, not that deeply. In the end, he felt it was a better choice to marry someone his parents chose for him.

  They were seated on a corner table when he saw the Xu family patriarch, Xu Chaun walking inside the restaurant with his cane in hand. His son, Xu Cheng was lagging behind, hand in hand with his wife Fu Lan. The last person to enter was a girl in wide-legged pants and an over-sized shirt. Her long black straight hair that reached her waist was left untied making a mess in front of her face.

  There were huge glasses perked up on her small nose but Ye Jie was busy in contemplating, ’Where have I seen her?’


  When the Xu family arrived, Ye Jie greeted them warmly knowing how much Xu’s mattered to his own grandfather when he was alive. Grandfather Xu patted Ye Jie’s shoulder happily in acknowledgment.

  "This is my granddaughter, Xu Mey," Grandfather Xu placed his hand on her back as he introduced her to everyone. Ye Jie saw the way she only nodded in greeting and kept her head lowered like an obedient little girl. Even her hands were clasped in front of her.

  They all took seats on the table as Xu Mey sat opposite to Ye Jie. His eyes didn’t leave Xu Mey for a second. With her lowered head, he couldn’t even see her face properly which enraged him.

  "Xu Mey doesn’t talk much. She spent most of the years in hostels, so it gets difficult for her to adjust with new environments." Father Xu explained with a doting smile on his face as he caressed his daughter’s head.

  His actions infuriated Xu Mey who kept repeating, ’hypocrite’ inwardly. She lost her affection or whatever feelings she had for her father a long time ago. Now, he was just a father in name. For her, his presence was close to non-existing.

  "Xu Mey, I heard you’ve gotten your arts degree from The Nation Arts School," Mother Ye took the initiative to involve her in the conversation. But Xu Mey replied with ’Ummn’ while nodding. But that didn’t discourage Mother Ye as she continued, "Are you planning on working after the marriage?"

  "Yes, I would like to try," Xu Mey replied in a soft timid voice making Mother Ye’s heart soften. Inwardly, Xu Mey wanted to slap herself for using such a sweet tone that could make even her feel nauseous.

  But she still didn’t raise her head. She always avoided raising her head in the presence of her family because she knew her efforts in hiding her contempt and disdain for them will go in vain.

  When Ye Jiu heard her voice, suddenly a cherry lips beauty came into his peripheral vision. ’No, it can’t be her.’ He shook his head ignoring his own thoughts. ’But what if it’s really her?’ That thought made his heart feel stuffed up. ’Would I like her to be here?’ He asked himself again and in reply, his heartbeat quickened. He calmed himself with a glass of water.

  "Ye Jie, Congratulations for acquiring the business deal with Ning group." Father Xu said with a proud smile on his face. He was satisfied with having Ye Jun as his son-in-law but when compared to Ye Jie, Ye Jun was merely an accomplished person while Ye Jie was an extraordinary leader. As a father, he was really happy.

  When Xu Liqing ran away from home because she didn’t like Ye Jun, he was distressed. When his father suggested to let Xu Mey take her place, he wasn’t happy about it. But he decided to ask for her opinion. He wanted Xu Mey to reject but like usual she agreed without even arguing with him. Xu Cheng could count on his fingers the number of times he had a conversation with his eldest daughter since she went to boarding school.

  He loved both his daughters but Xu Mey was the last reminder of the women he fell head over heels in love with at first sight. But his own daughter didn’t even like looking at him, talking seemed far-fetched. When Ye’s suggested tying Ye Jie with Xu Mey in marriage, he felt an extreme sense of happiness. He thought he could be relaxed about her future little did he know, his own flesh and blood were looking for a way to dig his grave.

  After contemplating for an hour, Ye Jie decided to see the face of the girl sitting before him. He was getting tired of his own thoughts and conjectures. He nudged her feet lightly under the table with his own foot but received no response in return.

  After trying nicely for two times, he kicked her feet with a little forced this time to get her attention. More importantly, to make her look at him. And it worked, Xu Mey raised her head to glare at him but her eyes widened when his handsome face came in her sight. Ye Jie was no better at that moment. He didn’t know whether to cry or to laugh.

  He was fearing for an hour that it’ll be Ms. Cherry and eventually, his fear came true. But contrary to his expectations, Xu Mey composed herself quickly as if the shock never appeared on her face and lowered her head again.

  Ye Jie saw all the elders talking with each other and no one was paying attention towards them. So, he placed his hand at the side of his lips to hide his movements from everyone as he said in a low murmur, "Are you ignoring my presence? Or are you ignoring the fact that we met before?"

  Xu Mey mimicked his actions and replied, "You should know, ’Ignorance is bliss.’"

  Ye Jie nodded his head in slow motion and added, "Ms. Cherry, you were not like this when we met 6-"

  Xu Mey cut his words short as she said, "’Disaster comes from careless talk’ so think before you talk, Mr. Rain." Her voice seemed strained.

  Ye Jie stared at her for a while before he turned to his parents, "Mom, Dad, I would like to talk to Ms. Xu alone. After all, we’re going to spend our whole life together. I should get to know her a little better." Xu Mey cursed inwardly but maintained her calm and timid expression.

  Seeing his sincere expression and hearing his true word, everyone agreed without any issue. Eventually, a devilish smile appeared on his cold handsome face.