Chapter 21 Perhaps, maybe I can Marry You?

“You’re sure you are not tired, Sweetheart? Then we can continue to do something more?” With an evil but charming smile, Ling Tianyi said to Xia Xiaoluo, who was then speechless.

In fact, Ling Tianyi only scared her because he knew that this little girl was already exhausted. But when he found her frightened out of her wits, he stopped teasing her.

Biting her lips and hanging her head in dismay, Xia Xiaoluo knew that she could not win over her. She then decided to give up.

She humbled herself before Ling Tianyi and said in tears, “I apologize. It was my fault. I should not swear at you. Neither should I mess up your apartment. But, as you have punished me for so many times, would you please be kind to let me go?”

“For all that I have destroyed in your apartment, just offer me the price. I will definitely try all my best to compensate you for your loss. I am really in need of this job, so I cannot be late. Would you please set me free, ok?” implored Xia Xiaoluo though she was totally unaware of her destructive power.

Ling Tianyi felt a little heart-rending by Xia Xiaoluo’s compromising words and her innocent face, but, he soon showed her an indifferent look and said in an ironic tone, “Pay me back? You? Then do you know how much money will all those things you have destroyed cost? They are even more expensive than you!”

“Then inform me the price. Though I cannot afford to pay for that now, I can pay you back by instalment. Anyway, I will definitely pay you back all.” said Xia Xiaoluo in a determined tone, being unaware of her words irritating the man in front of her.

His eyes blazing with anger, Ling Tianyi had never thought about her payment. However, since the little girl insisted on settling accounts with him, he then would not take it carelessly. “The sofas were privately hand-made, and they were transported from Europe by air. With taking accounts of the freight, the sofas cost at least around CNY70 million. In addition to that, the dirty carpet may cost about CNY10 million, then there was a TV, a PC…”

On hearing the prices that Ling Tianyi offered, Xia Xiaoluo was really unwilling to pay him back. How could she have expected that it would cost so much money for what she had destroyed? Unwilling to listen to him anymore, she interrupted Ling Tianyi directly and said, “You don’t bother to inform these prices one by one. Tell me how much money I should pay you back totally.”

“Fine, I make a round sum and make a discount for you. It’s 300 million in total. Calm down! It’s not US dollars. Paying me back in CNY is okay.” Finishing saying that, Ling Tianyi was waiting to watch her reaction to this exorbitant price.

Counting on her fingers for calculating her wages, Xiao Xiaoluo whispered to herself in a low voice, It’s CNY1,800 a month, then CNY20,000 a year, CNY200,000 ten years. No. It will be a little more than that after I become a regular waitress. Then, the wages will be…”

“Don’t bother to do that. As a waitress in a hotel, you can never afford it for a lifetime.” Ling Tianyi interrupted her and took her in his arms, speaking to her gently, “What about being together with me as my mistress when I am interested in you? It’s CNY100,000 a day. Making a round sum for you, then all you have to do is just to be together with me for 8 years. After that, you are done with all that money. Besides, if you’re clever and cute, I will dote on you. You can never expect how much pocket money I’ll give to you. How about it? A good deal, isn’t it?”

Pushing Ling Tianyi away, Xia Xiaoluo said, “No matter how poor I am, I will never sell myself. At present, I am paid very low wages, but I will definitely get a pay rise from the hotel if I work hard. What’s more, getting a lot of experience, I am then able to open a store to be the boss myself. So, do not underestimate me!”

Upon seeing the little girl serious expression on her face, Ling Tianyi unaccountably could not help but laughing.

“Hey, what are you laughing at?”

Shaking his head, Ling Tianyi stepped out of the bathtub. Xia Xiaoluo immediately turned away, for she did not want to see the horrid guy! Ling Tianyi seemingly also mind that. Standing in front of Xia Xiaoluo, he said, “You’re so cute! How can you come to that idea that opening a store is that so easy? CNY 300 million! Even if there were 100 Xia Xiaoluo together to work hard, they could never achieve so much money for a lifetime.”

“Then, fine! I will risk my reputation to sue you if you won’t let me go! Then you will be arrested.” Her eyes blazing with anger, Xia Xiaoluo seemed to make a firm decision.

“Sue me? I am afraid that I have managed to deal with you before you walked out of the room. By the way, you can never imagine who are my sworn friends.” Ling Tianyi was not only one of the luminaries who had powerful influences on the business circle, but he’s also in private making a bunch of sworn friends with those who are gangland members as well. His underground gang friends would help him to handle some tricky things, which was difficult for Ling Tianyi to deal with openly.

“You joined a gang?” Xia Xiaoluo’s eyes were popped. She always supposed that such a thing could only happen in TV dramas.

“Not really. I just have some acquaintances. I help them gain profits, and in turn, they are willing to do something for me.” Raising his eyebrows and with a pondering expression, Ling Tianyi fixed his eyes on Xia Xiaoluo’s astonishing look.

Biting her lip, Xia Xiaoluo stared back at Ling Tianyi, saying, “Then what do you want me to do? Whatever you say, absolutely, I will not be your mistress.”

“Don’t wanna be my mistress? Sure, then be my little pet. Frankly speaking, you’re quite to my taste. You will definitely profit if you are together with me.” While saying to Xia Xiaoluo, Ling Tianyi took the little girl in arms again.

But Xia Xiaoluo frowned on hearing his words. Turning her eyes, she deliberately said, “I will not be your mistress. Neither will be your little pet. But if you are really into me, marry me. If not, then let me go right now! From then on, you do your things and I’ll do mine. Even if we could come across with each other, we should act as if we did not see each other. It’s an either-or choice. Then make a decision!”

Xia Xiaoluo believed that this rich and powerful man would never possibly marry her. That’s why she dared to say so. She was a nobody with no money or power, not to mention talent or high academic background. These dandies from rich or honorable families, like Ling Tianyi, were usually womanizers. But, considering their marriage, they would undoubtedly choose a marriage that would bring commercial benefits. Ultimately, they would all choose daughters from families of similar backgrounds as their wives.

Annoyed by the pressure of getting married from his family, Ling Tianyi was irritated about Xia Xiaoluo’s words. He then spoke to her recklessly, “Good! Since you’re so desperate to be my wife, I have no other choices, but maybe I could then marry you.”

“Ugh! Tell me another! Yuck!” Xia Xiaoluo turned away as she was scornful about his words.

“Trust me or not! Let’s go!” without saying more words, Ling Tianyi grasped her and took her into the bedroom as if she were as light as a chicken. Throwing her a set of prepared women’s clothes, he hurried her, “Hurry up! Put on the clothes!”

After both of them finishing dressing up, Ling Tianyi took Xia Xiaoluo hand in hand downstairs to the underground parking by taking his VIP lift. Ling Tianyi pushed Xia Xiaoluo into the co-driver seat and said, “Babe, take your seat!”

“Wait, where are you going to take me?” Xia Xiaoluo felt somewhat terrified for fear that she would be kidnapped by this old goat.

“Go to get married, of course!” Ling Tianyi started his luxury roadster but he drove in a quiet slow speed due to the morning rush on the road.

“Are you kidding me? You come from a rich and honorable family. How can you make a decision on your marriage all by yourself? You parents will definitely not agree.” Xia Xiaoluo somewhat worried, for she was not willing to marry this devil guy.

“Shut up!” Annoyed by the traffic jam, Ling Tianyi did not want to listen to Xia’s prattle at all right now.

“Hey, I am totally unwilling to marry you…” Xia Xiaoluo had not even finished yet while Ling Tianyi braked sharply. Sadly, he met another red light again.

“Ouch! It hurts!” Xia Xiaoluo knocked her head on the windscreen again. “Hey, you devil! Can you drive? So bad driving! You brought your driver’s license, did you?”

Ling Tianyi flew into a rage all of a sudden, for no one ever dared to doubt his driving skills. He had never lost in any street race that he attained. “Don’t you know to fasten your seat belt while taking a car?”

“What? Isn’t it only the driver who fastens the seat belt? I am not the driver but a passenger only!” With her head in her hands, Xia Xiaoluo looked confused.

But her words made Ling Tianyi so depressed. As the president of Hua Sheng Group, he could have never expected to be her driver! Besides, how could she be so stupid without any knowledge of such common sense to fasten the seat belt! While red light was on, Ling Tianyi helped her to fasten her seat belt and said, “Keep it in mind that a passenger should also have her seat belt fastened. It’s common sense.”

Feeling a little bit embarrassed, Xia Xiaoluo explained, “Actually, I’ve never taken a private car. I always take the bus or subway, which don’t need to fasten a seat belt.”

“Marry me, then you can often take a private car. But if you forget to fasten the seat belt once again, you will be seriously punished by me,” said Ling Tianyi. Noticing the traffic light turned green, he took a deep step on the gas and continuously overtook other vehicles on the traffic jam.

“Ling Tianyi, I will not marry you!”

“It is you who let me to make a choice. I already chose to marry you.”

“I’ve not agreed yet!”

“But I agreed. It’ done.”

“No, definitely not!”

“You don’t have the right to refuse and actually you cannot succeed in refusing me. You little monkey! You could not free yourself of my control.”

“You are the monkey! It’s you, you, you!”

…

Finally, the Lamborghini Herman-edition roadster stopped at the front gate of the Bureau of Civil Affairs, the place for registering and legitimizing one’s marriage. “Get off. You don’t wait for me to open the car door for you, do you? Do you think you are worth it?”

“I do not know how to unfasten the seat belt!” said Xia Xiaoluo with an innocent expression on her face.

“You won!” Ling Tianyi helped her with the belt, saying, “Got it?”

“Yes!” nodded Xia Xiaoluo obsequiously.

“Try it again.” Ling Tianyi then fastened the belt again.

“Can’t unfasten it again!” Xia Xiaoluo was totally confused.

“You stupid! Press here and it will automatically be unlocked.” Out of patience, Ling Tianyi wondered why he would have such an ignorant wife.

“Huh, truly it opened!” Xia Xiaoluo found it so wonderful and tried over and over again. Watching the little girl playing with the belt, Ling Tianyi suddenly felt speechless as if a row of crows flying over his head.

“Enough, humph?” Ling Tianyi finally could not control himself anymore and he shouted, “If enough, then get off the car!”

“But… but I can’t open the door, either. Really, I don’t lie to you.” Touching here and there on the car door, Xia Xiaoluo did not manage to open the door.

“You’ll drive me crazy!” Leaving his driver’s seat and walking around to the co-driver’s side, Ling Tianyi opened the door and pulled Xia Xiaoluo out of his car. After that, he slammed the door as if the action would take all his rages away.