She didn't think Mo Qingchen would plant a garden of wildflowers.

  As she walked up the steps to the front door, all she could think about was the embarrassment she would go through. She rang the doorbell after pushing away the intrusive thoughts.

  She tapped her foot impatiently until the door opened. But it wasn't Mo Qingchen that stood behind it. It was an older woman dressed in jeans and an oversized t-shirt. Her hair was in a bun and she was holding a bottle of cleaner.

  She decided it was pretty safe to assume this woman worked for Mo Qingchen and wasn't someone he called when he had an itch to fulfill.

  She didn't know what she thought of that possibility.

  "Can I help you?" the woman asked, making Qian Meng realize that she hadn't spoken yet.

  "Yes, is Mo Qingchen around? I'm a business partner," she said softly, not knowing how to introduce herself.

  "I see… yes, yes… come in." The woman smiled, moving aside.

  Qian Meng walked into the house.

  "Mr. Mo is in his office. I'll show you the way," the woman said with another smile.

  Qian Meng nodded and followed down the hallway. The rooms were a mixture of wooden tones, dark and earthy greens, and black. The track lighting and textured walls gave the interior dimension and Qian Meng had to stare in awe.

  This style of decoration suited Mo Qingchen well.

  Behind one particular wooden door sat Mo Qingchen. He was behind the desk in a small room as he read over a sheet of paper.

  He was wearing a casual t-shirt with the sleeves rolled up, showing his forearms. He was also wearing reading glasses, which Qian Meng had to admit looked sexy.

  'Sexy?' Did she just call Mo Qingchen that?

  She couldn't deny he was a good-looking man, that was for sure.

  He looked up when the woman opened the door and then did a double-take when he saw her.

  "Yun Qian Meng," he said, sounding rightfully surprised to see her.

  "Uh… I happened to be in the neighborhood. Thought I would stop by to say hi." She stammered and fumbled to come up with an excuse he would believe.

  He stared at her for a long moment and then looked over at the other woman and gave her a weak smile. "Thank you, Xiong Hua."

  Xiong Hua smiled back at him and then gave him a little nod before leaving the room. Mo Qingchen stood up and walked over to Qian Meng. He closed the door behind her and then took off his glasses. He gestured for her to the big leather chair with wheels behind his desk.

  "Have a seat," he said to her.

  She hesitated a moment and then went and sat down in the desk chair. He followed her and perched himself on the edge of the desk, right next to her.

  "You just happened to be in the neighborhood?" he asked, raising his eyebrows as he smirked at her. "Who do you know that lives in this neighborhood?" he challenged her narrative.

  "I'm sure I know quite a few of them. Or they know me," she replied tartly as she took in the view of his office.

  His desk was made out of beautiful walnut wood, the simple and sturdy style standing out. He had a huge flat screen computer on the desk as well as papers and his laptop. To her left was a large bookcase filled with programming and other techie books she didn't care for. To her right, there was a fancy minibar.

  "Fair enough," he responded to her statement. "What brought you specifically to my house, then?"

  "Funny story!" she began, her eyes still wandering around the room. "My car broke down right in front of your house."

  Mo Qingchen nodded. "Your car just happened to break down right in front of my house." He sounded amused.

  She sighed and turned her head to look at him.

  She couldn't dig out of this embarrassing hole even if she tried to. "I parked outside your house. And when I went to start my car, it didn't start."

  He looked at her with those piercing eyes of his. "What were you doing parked outside my house?"

  "I don't know…" she mumbled with a shrug. "I wanted to see where you lived."

  "I see." He nodded slowly.

  "The reporters… they are everywhere and I just… I just wanted to eat in peace." She was quiet. "And I need to return to the hotel somehow. Do you have the number of a mechanic who is within range and can function in this community?"

  "I do." He picked up the cordless phone from his desk and handed it to her. She got up and went to pace around the room absentmindedly as the phone rang.

  Mo Qingchen went back and sat down in his desk chair, picked up the piece of paper he had been reading, and putting back his glasses.

  Qian Meng looked at him for a moment before cutting the call.

  It was a sign. Her car broke down in front of his house and she couldn't call for help. Fate had wanted her there in Mo Qingchen's office at that moment.

  This was the sign that she had to let go and take the leap of faith.

  She wanted to live without worry.

  She wanted to know what it would be like to not look over her shoulder and wonder if everything she talks to was plotting against her.

  She wanted to live in a house she could call her own.

  She wanted to be the master of her universe.

  She knew at that moment. If she let the opportunity go, she would regret it. Maybe in a week, or a month… or even a decade. But one day, she would definitely regret it.

  "I'm in," she blurted out.

  "Excuse me?" Mo Qingchen asked, looking up in bewilderment.

  "I'm in. I want to marry you."