The reporters started shouting at his arrogance. Thankfully his car had come by then. The security men surrounded him and ensured that he sits in the car properly by blocking the reporters.

On his way to the office, he called his mother. His mom picked up on the first ring.

"Do you realize how many times I have called you?" she shouted even before he could say 'hello'.

"I am sorry mother. I couldn't find time."

"Do you honestly believe that you are giving me a good excuse?"

"No, but that is what has really happened."

Yang Xinyu felt like a teenager who was being chided by his mother.

"How many times do I have to call you for you to talk to me? Will you ignore your mother to this level? Have you no shame left?" She was boiling with anger.

"You are right. I am sorry," he replied passively.

"Has that girl done witchcraft on you? Is she a witch? Are you so much under her spell that you decide to cut off the ties with your parents?"

"Really mom. You want to go down that road. Because I am ready to fight for her!"

"Aiyoo! This brazen boy! How dare you talk to your mother like that? And that too for a vamp like her? I am telling you Yang Xinyu, she is going to attract only misfortune!"

"Mother!" he shouted back at her. The driver of the car shrank in fear. "I will not hear a word about her."

"Then be prepared. We will kick you out of our family register. You will not inherit a penny! And I will take legal action against her for breaching the contract. Then you will figure out how to follow what your parents ask."

"Actually, if you kick me out, will your rant even matter? And you can go ahead and take a legal action. Don't forget that I am standing by her!"

'Xinyu, you…"

Yang Xinyu disconnected the call. He was in no mood to talk to his mother any further. He didn't care whether she liked Wu Lina or not.

She was never there to make choices for him ever since he remembered. As a small child the maids of the house looked after him and they made him wear or eat whatever they liked. When he grew up he would often go and ask his mother to clear his dilemmas, but she wasn't interested in them. On the other hand his father helped him whenever he approached him, though he could count the number of occasions on his fingers he had asked for his help.

Remembering how she had neglected him throughout his formative years and in adolescence, he felt bitter. His anxieties returned. He dialed Wu Lina's number but realized that she must be sleeping, so he cut the phone.

A few moments later a lovely face was showing on the screen. She was video calling. He picked her phone immediately caressing her image, a smile beginning to form on his lips. She looked so adorable with sleepy eyes that his anxieties dissipated instantly. She felt like home…

"Did you forget something at home?" she asked.

"No, I miss you already," he replied affectionately.

"Hmmm… should I come to the office?" she teased him.

"You are not allowed," he said with a smile.

"Then how will you spend your day without me?"

"I'll come home as soon as I find time. And please don't get out of the building today. There are hundreds of reporters ready to pounce on you the minute you show up," he commanded.

"Yes sir!" she replied lazily with a salute.

"Now go back to sleep," he said with a smile and disconnected.

He felt better, ready for the world.

Back in the office his schedule was filled with meetings after meetings. He forgot about the morning conversation with his mother. Finally he became free in the afternoon. Zhou Zhili informed him that he had to take a group of managers of the Yang Corporation who were posted in other countries for lunch. He wanted to avoid it but decided against it. He called Wu Lina to inform her that he wouldn't join her for lunch. He wanted to see her face so he video called her.

Wu Lina picked the call immediately. She looked a flustered.

"What happened Wu Lina? Is everything fine?" he asked worry etched on his face.

"Yes," she nodded. "Your mother is here…" she added with a nervous smile.

"What?" he jumped from his seat.

But Wu Lina's phone got disconnected.

Yang Xinyu sensed something would go wrong. He called his head of the security at the apartment and asked him to take care of Wu Lina even if that meant that he entered the penthouse and stood next to her. The head of security Lu Shiming was confused about this sudden development but he didn't question his boss.