"His stature, his demeanor and his aura were so similar to the time when I danced with him that I couldn't be mistaken," Jiang Lanying said.

Lihua grinned. "And you fell in love with him." ​​

She blushed. "I-I was really grateful to him for that evening. If he hadn't offered me dance, I would have still been a joke in front of everyone. I really wanted to thank him."

"Had you agreed to that marriage proposal?"

"When Dad said that the man I was going to meet belonged to the Jiang family, I thought that he was talking about Li. I wondered if he came to know about our dance together at the banquet and he approached the Jiang family for this proposal. But then he said that it was actually Jiang Wei."

"Ah…"

Jiang Lanying coughed. "Wei...how should I say...he scared me a little."

Lihua blinked her eyes and looked at her, dumbstruck. "Huh? How is my adorable Wei scary?"

She was in utter disbelief. "He is the cutest man in this whole universe!"

She chuckled. "He is adorable only for you, Lixue. For others, he is absolutely unapproachable. His emotionless gaze is alone enough to make people run away. You are his wife who he loves and dotes on so much. Your treatment is, of course, different."

Lihua coughed and sheepishly grinned.

Jiang Lanying said, "Like I said, it was Wei, not Li. I was a little disappointed. I was worried too if I would have to say yes if Wei agreed to this proposal. But, he didn't and I felt glad."

Lihua laughed. "Hahaha! I think you might be the first woman to feel happy about his rejection. Because wherever I go with Wei, it seems like women are ready to jump on him at any moment. They would die for the chance that you got."

She burst into laughter with her.

"So how did Jiang Li step in?"

She sighed. "It was difficult because Wei rejected. Old Madam was furious and argued with him, but he remained firm that he didn't want to marry me. She was persistent about this marriage and then he said that Li could marry me."

"Ah? Wei said that?"

She nodded.

Lihua's mouth twitched.

So he really played passing the parcel and passed his baton to Jiang Li?

"And Old Madam agreed?"

"She didn't outright reject the idea because even if I married Li, I would still become Jiang family's daughter-in-law. Li is her grandson too, so there was really no problem with it. But she wanted me to be the eldest daughter-in-law by marrying Wei."

Lihua rolled her eyes. "Does it matter?"

Jiang Lanying smiled. "You know Old Madam. The highest power should come to the eldest son of the family, which Wei is. Wei was final in his decision, so Old Madam agreed. For our families, the purpose is always to strengthen business relations. My Dad is the CEO. It's the same with Mom and Dad too. Old Madam chose Mom for Dad Jiang Weiyuan not only because she came from a wealthy family, but her family's political background was and is still impeccable."

Lihua frowned. "These rich families are such a mess. You should marry the one you love. I mean there is nothing wrong with arranged marriages but money and status shouldn't be the only criteria to choose someone."

"Indeed."

"So, wait! What did Jiang Li have to say about this? I mean Wei just suddenly dumped- *ahem* I mean brought him in between his marriage proposal…"

Jiang Lanying lowered her gaze as a hint of sadness enveloped her eyes. "I don't know, Lixue. But I feel that he wasn't happy with it. Wei suddenly said his name and since Old Madam was already furious, he didn't have a chance to reject her."

Lihua held her hand and said, "Don't say that. Jiang Li danced with you out of so many women in the banquet. That means that he must have liked you too even if just a little bit! I think he definitely treats you differently."

She sadly smiled. "If it had been like that then our marriage...at first I thought the same as you, Lixue. Maybe, even if just a tiny bit, he might like me a little and our feelings will grow as time passes. But it never did. Our marriage started to go downhill just a few months later."

Lihua frowned. "Did Jiang Li say nothing? I mean anything."

"No. Now…we just live like strangers, Lixue," her eyes teared up. "It's getting more and more difficult for Li. I want to ask him. I am willing to change for him if he wants. But he doesn't like me and that's why he doesn't want to talk to me."

She clenched her fists. "And now this child that the Old Madam wants us to have…Jiang Li doesn't want one."

Lihua widened her eyes. "Did he say that himself?"

She trembled and nodded. A self-deprecating laugh erupted on her lips. "He said that he is not interested in a child and not to pester him for one too. He only wants to focus on the Jiang family business and his career."

Lihua gritted her teeth.

Jiang Li! How could you say such harsh words to your wife?

"Jiang Lanying…"

"You know, Lixue. Right now. I am just a bother to him," a tear slipped down her cheek.

"No, you are not! How can a beautiful and kind woman like you be a bother to anybody? If Jiang Li has said that, then I will tell Lihua to scratch her paws on his face!"

She chuckled.

Lihua said, "This cannot go on, Jiang Lanying. Your marriage cannot stay like this without any communication. I don't know what Jiang Li's feelings are, but you have to know them to move forward! he cannot ignore you like this. You are his wife! You can not fall back just because he said that he doesn't want to talk. If he doesn't want to, then block his way and drag him back until he answers all your questions!"