Miss Tang Xin
The rest of the dinner proceeded without anything notable, aside from the fact that Li Dun had spent most of the dinner trying to start a conversation with Tang Xin. However, most of their conversations ended with Tang Xin giving one-word replies. Needless to say, this made her clan members unhappy.
But Li Dun seemed unaffected by the lack of affection as he frequently stared at her with an affectionate glow in his eyes.
Meanwhile the star of this appreciation dinner Yang Chen was mostly left to his own vices as he chowed down on the dishes in front of him, occasionally having short conversations with the mother-daughter pair Tang Wan and Tang Tang.
When it was time for the banquet dinner to come to a close, Tang Xin was about to go over to attend to Tang Zhechen before Li Dun abruptly proclaimed, âMiss Tang Xin, do you mind following me to a quiet place? There are things that I want to say to you.â
Li Dun unsurprisingly was as frank as usual when he publicly announced his request for Tang Xin.
Tang Xin might be uninterested by the man next to her, but she could guess his intentions from a mile away. She was slightly embarrassed by his sudden announcement.
She had already made up her mind to bluntly reject his request, but subsequently noticed the uncompromising faces of her family members. Even Tang Zhechen and Tang Wan had their expressions brimming with expectations.
With the mounting pressure from all directions she knew she wasnât given a choice to turn him down on the spot. So she convinced herself that she was just going to hear him out and get this over with. She nodded and replied, âLetâs go to the garden.â
âHah, anywhere is fine. Lead the way Miss Tang.â Li Dun was thrilled as he trailed behind her.
The rest of the Tang clan were keen to know what he had to say, but they were aware that as one of Beijingâs best combatants, Li Dun would instantly discover if any of them decided to eavesdrop. This might ruin whatever budding relationship they were about to start. So in response, all the maids were ordered to avoid the garden during that time for the two of them to have the entire space for themselves.
Yang Chen rubbed his belly and burped before making his way to Tang Zhechen. âMaster Tang, I think itâs time for me to make my move. Thank you for the dinner.â
Yang Chen took an entire dinner to realise he had not decided on his accommodation in Beijing. He still had matters to attend to before he was free to go back to Zhonghai. Not to mention when Cai Yan finally returns to the Cai residence, they would still need to deal with Cai Ningâs situation. Furthermore, his encounter with Yang Lie and Mei Feng prompted him to stay by Hui Linâs side, at least until her album release and her concert was completed.
Even though he was still worried about Mo Qianni back in Zhonghai, he couldnât just up and leave when his matters here were not yet settled with. All he could hope for now was for Ma Guifang to be a little more open-minded.
For now, he would need to find a place to stay. He considered calling Zhuang Feng from the branch office to arrange a hotel for him to stay in.
Tang Zhechen left Yang Chen hanging while he persuaded Tang Wan. âWanâer, since you just recently recovered I suggest you stay in Beijing for the time being. After all, youâre not in a rush to leave for Zhonghai just yet.â
The brilliant Tang Wan immediately understood the deeper meaning in his words, and with a tinge of redness on the cheeks, she gently agreed.
Tang Zhechen eventually turned back to Yang Chen with his reply. âYang Chen, my guess is you havenât got yourself a place to stay just yet. Why donât you take this time to tour the city together with Wanâer? Itâd be extremely boring for her to only have me as company for the duration of her stay.â
Tang Tang was eavesdropping on the sidelines as she giggled. âGreat Grandpa you really are excellent at arranging things. Iâm sure Mom would love to take Uncle along to have fun.â
Tang Zhechen gently pinched Tang Tang on the nose and laughed uncontrollably from her cheeky remarks.
Everyone present naturally was the faction that sided with Tang Wan, and was more than pleased that Tang Zhechen treasured her presence. As for her relationship with Yang Chen, they were undoubtedly behind it.
If Yang Chen was just any other married man, it went without saying that every family member would oppose their relationship, owing to the fact that Tang Wan was among the direct candidates of succession.
But Yang Chenâs background was not like most. As a son of the Yang clan, as long as the relationship was genuine and truthful, the Tang clan would be willing to sacrifice Tang Wanâs reputation in exchange for a bond between two of the biggest clans in Beijing.
âIâll take you to our mansion on the other side. Itâs big enough that we have rooms to spare.â Tang Wan was not a shy and innocent girl anymore, as she quickly adjusted her emotions and playfully pointed out.
Yang Chen got chills from her flirty expressions and couldnât wait to escape from being the centre of attention. Which led to his prompt reply to Tang Wan, âAlright, lead the way.â
Meanwhile, at the backyard garden, the pavements gleamed of soft white lights from the lamp posts of dazzling gold. It resembled the likes of European bohemian artistry.
Pebbles encrusted the entire pavement. The flowers bloomed under the night sky, adding a sense of mystery surrounding it.
Tang Xin, in a daffodil yellow one piece pouted throughout her entire journey to the centre of a wooden pavilion. But as she walked through the beautiful garden, her face was filled with frustration and agony, contrasting the gardens beautiful state.
As they reached their venue, she abruptly turned around and looked at Li Dun who had been tailing her thus far, trying to comprehend the man famously known as part of the âBeijing King Duoâ, and the eldest grandson of the Li clan.
He was wearing a simple combination of a short-sleeved shirt and a pair of jeans. His build was muscular but in the eyes of Tang Xin, he looked more like a construction worker than a bodybuilder!
Topped up with that idiotic smile and thick eyebags clouding the rim of his eyes, he looked just like what she akin to a retarded bear!
A person like this to be her lover? She would rather die!
âSay it,â Tang Xin coldly said as she shifted her gaze away from Li Dun to the bushes.
Li Dun might be awkward, but he was never shy.
âMiss Tang Xin, I like you.â
Without any sweet talk, Li Dun confessed his feelings just like that!
Tang Xin turned her head back and glared at him.?
I know that he likes me, but isnât that just too straightforward?!
âYou think this is some sort of game? Is that what this is to you?â Tang Xin raged at him.
Li Dun gulped as he shook his head in dismay. âMiss Tang Xin, since the first time I met you at the hospital today, Iâve been thinking about you all day. The reason I came over for dinner tonight was because I wanted to make sure you were clear about my feelings for you.â
But I canât wait to murder you right here right now!
?Thoughts of hatred flashed through Tang Xinâs mind before she sneered. âYou like me? So youâre saying it was a love at first sight? You honestly believe that I am some three year old who still believes in that sort of thing?â
Li Dun earnestly replied, âMiss Tang Xin, what if it were true? What if I say, that it was really a love at first sight for me?â
âI donât have time for these stupid jokes of yours, you dumb pig!â Tang Xin furiously lashed out at him.
Li Dun however was hardly concerned as he continued with a smile, âMiss Tang Xin, Iâm sure you know about me. Iâm Li Dun, the direct descendant of the Li clan. In other words, the future of Chinaâs security bureau and a large portion of Chinaâs elite forces are under these hands of mine.â
âOh really? Well good for you Young Master Li. Iâm just another insignificant girl that nobody cares about, so can you please stop with this nonsense?â Tang Xin sarcastically replied.
Li Dun kept his cool as he explained, âYou see, you too are clear about the difference between our social positions. But thatâs exactly why I like you.â
âWhat?â Tang Xin was confused.
âMiss Tang Xin, every girl that has knowledge of my background and status would experiment on every possible way to make me fall for them. They want to be the future coheir to the Li clan. But our family with our specific role in this country has only allowed one coheir, which means Iâm only allowed to marry one woman. Anything more may pose unimaginable danger.â
As the coheir of the security bureau, whoever Li Dun married would undoubtedly be exposed to high-ranking private and confidential intelligence, so his explanation was naturally not hard to comprehend.
Li Dun abruptly switched his topic as he continued, âBut Miss Tang Xin, youâre special. I swear I have never met anyone in my life that knew about my family background and somehow still despised and detested me. The point is, I know you hate me to your guts, you wish you could kill me here and now. But still, I have to make sure that I came tonight to make myself clear. â
Tang Xin was caught off-guard. Never would she imagine that Li Dun knew what was in her mind all along!