TangShi was nestled between YuZhi’s legs on the couch, with her back against his chest as they cuddled up together to work. Him with a document in hand leaning up on the back of the rest so he could read it, while she had a sketch pad on her lap to work on her class assignment for the coming week. Soft music playing on the surround sound, the digital fire on, and warm and cozy while it rained outside and added to the feeling of a blissful home. Her head nestled against his throat while his chin lightly sat on top of her head. Lost in a world of happy contentment as they relaxed together.
This morning he had woken her up and made love to her for a longer session, showing her how good sex could be, all over again. No longer worried he would regret it and solidified the fact this was real, and they were now properly together. YuZhi had fully immersed himself into this new dynamic and was
TangShi was feeling sick with nerves, clinging to Linlin’s hand as they stood backstage and awaited the official walk out onto the runway for the engagement announcement. Uptight and strung out like a tightly wound coil. She had never understood this tradition of treating engagement like a show, strutting out on a stage and being presented to rich men and women who didn’t care at all who was being married off. Even her own family sat out there had little to no emotion on this announcement, given they already got what they wanted, and she was secretly married to their business promoter. It was all about money and status after all.“Breathe. Relax. It’s no big deal. Think of it as a pageant and you only have to walk out, smile, get your ring, and then go enjoy yourself with YuZhi after a small speech. You don’t even have to say anything. Just look pretty.” Linlin was trying to soothe her panic, fluffing out her bridal style dress and making s
“To never taking these off again. Don’t cry, Tang.” YuZhi leaned in and said it only to her, giving her a small hug and brushing his thumb over her cheek to catch a stray single tears that managed to escape. Giving her a moment to compose herself by lifting her hand with his and placing a kiss right under her engagement ring and grinning at her with glee.He stepped back to turn them both and display their hands to awaiting photographers by holding them up while clasped together firmly. They were cheered on by everyone present, an eruption of applause and whoops, and then he dipped in and delivered a kiss on her lips. A chaste respectable show of affection for the event. Cupping her chin with his hand and pressing their mouths together but she could feel his sincerity and love. His warmth and care for her as he protected her in the moment.“When will the wedding be set?”“Can you turn this way, Mr Leng, over here?”
TangShi focused on her food and tried to avoid Aunt’s glare, mid-way through Sunday roast and yet she was uptight and wishing it was over. It had been a tense half hour already and despite YuZhi shielding her, she was aware of the darts being visually aimed her way from across the table.“Grandad, we’re staying for coffee afterwards in the study. TangShi wants to know more about her mom. Give you time to spend some quality time with your granddaughter in law and build some bonds.” YuZhi reminded him, smiling with content, reaching out to pick up some meat and put it on TangShi’s plate. Ignoring his aunt’s scathing mood today and relaxed with the casual late lunch even if his Aunt had been a frosty and silent member who kept tutting because he rejected a specialized diet for Tang. He had sent it back to the kitchen and asked for her to eat the same as everyone else.“Yes, yes. That’ll be nice. We can have some cake.”
“Xiaosu take my food to my room, I’m tired and no longer in the mood for company.” Grandfather picked up his walking aid and moved deliberately out of the way before turning and walking towards the door. “YuZhi, bring TangShi to see me after work one evening, not too late, and we can have a chat. I have old pictures somewhere in this house I need to find.” He nodded their way, avoided Rhea completely as if she wasn’t here at all and walked out without a backwards glance. Not shy about snubbing the girl as he had been doing for a decade. Rhea didn’t react because she was used to this from him, but it was the first time TangShi witnessed it and her heart actually ached for the girl. Seeing it for herself that Rhea was never the accepted and loved daughter of Leng the press made her out to be all these years.“YuZhi.” TangShi tugged at his hand softly, knowing this couldn’t hurt while he had told Rhea they could try and
“Baby? Have you seen the file I had last night?” YuZhi was wandering around the Livingroom, pulling up couch cushions and kneeling down to check under furniture, trying hard to remember what he did with it. Frustrated with himself for losing something so important in one night and clock watching because he was already running late. He was tired, head already buzzing with so many details about today and agitated with this delay.“Try the bedroom. You came in with it, I think, when I was falling asleep.” TangShi was in the bathroom tying her hair up into a high ponytail for a day at school, checking the time while YuZhi seemed unusually scatterbrained. His normal CEO composure out the window today. He had been like this since he jumped out of bed with his alarm and seemed to be out of whack. Losing things, his schedule upside down and he had even showered without eating breakfast today.“God dammit. It’s the proposal for this morning&r
“Babe?” YuZhi came back from the bathroom sliding his phone into his inside pocket, deflated in mood and tone, and spotted her getting ready by the main door. Coming to slide his own shoes on and eyeing her with a remorseful frown. Cute boy face firing on all cylinders and she immediately knew something was wrong.“I need to drop you off fast and get to the office. ZhengLi has problems. I may have to cancel tonight’s meetings and fly early to Hong Kong instead of this weekend. I might be gone all week.”TangShi’s heart dropped, and her eyes widened in disappointment, already not looking forward to him going away as it was but now he might be gone for days. Sometimes things like this happened but this was a first where it was more than a day or two.“I know, don’t look at me like that. If you didn’t have school and this show I’d be taking you with me.” YuZhi was upset about it too. Feeling li
“We’re heading over now. Grab your things.” Rong Cai appeared at TangShi’s desk, startling her out of her daydream and she scurried to grab her bag and phone and put her paints aside. It had been a hectic week of prepping new artwork and today was the last day of overseeing the hanging in the gallery for the opening in the morning. In terms of work the days were swift, but in terms of missing YuZhi it felt endless. She was glad it was getting close to being over.“Coming.” She called after him, swiping up the last framed piece, a small one from YuZhi’s study that she really wanted to be included and knew exactly where to hang it. He had bought it long ago before they were even friends and yet it was the only artwork that graced his office. It made her happy anytime she walked in there and saw how much he appreciated her skill, even when he didn’t like her. So she wanted that small piece of sentimentality displayed in among the p
“Hello.” She answered with sudden enthusiasm.“Hey, baby, how’s the set up going? Are you almost done? Did you eat yet?” YuZhi stretched out in his office chair of the temporary room he was working from, straining his neck side to side and ignoring the mountain of files sat in front of him. He needed a break, and he missed his girl.“All done. Just a few tweaks and we’re all set for tomorrow. How’s things on your end today?” She walked to a quiet corner and leaned against a wall, closing her eyes to picture her gorgeous fiancée and sink into the sound of his husky, sexy voice. Missing him so badly it made her suddenly tearful, and she hoped he really would come back tomorrow.“Up to my eyeballs in paperwork. I have a flight to you at four pm, so I’ll get to you a little after seven. I need to get on one back to Hong Kong at two am, but I can’t miss your first show.” He knew the
“Take it easy, watch the step.” YuZhi slid his arms around TangShi and guided her down the steps from the back patio into the decorated garden. Carefully holding her weight and concentrating on getting her down safely.“I’m pregnant, not disabled.” TangShi smiled at him wistfully, more in love with him every single day as he seemed to become more and more attentive to her needs and never failed to anticipate them. Taking his arm and obediently walking slowly down the steps into the sunshine, enjoying the gentle breeze on her skin of a pleasant day.“Come on you two, I was starting to worry. You were an age!” Linlin appeared, smiling brightly but with a tern stone of an unimpressed mother hen. She was looking ethereal in white today, a flowy sheer gown over a mini dress that was much like TangShi’s, although tang’s wasn’t a short underlayer but a long flowy skirt. “With you being this close you can&
“How about I marry a girl I love and you can cut me off and disown me from the Kim family, so I don’t tarnish it’s perfect name. I’m not doing this today, mom. So have a nice lunch and I’ll talk to you in a few days. I’m busy here.” ZhengLi closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose with his forefinger and thumb, his head aching already and knew she was only just getting started. He had no doubts if they figured out he had a girlfriend, a serious one, they probably did a background check on her.“Love? Don’t be ridiculous. It’s a passing fleeting feeling and doesn’t always guarantee a long and happy marriage. This is pure and simple lust because a wild playmate is currently fun, but her loose behaviors will be the end of you. A good pairing is the most important thing. A woman who matches you in every way.”“Well, I guess I’m lucky I found one. Who matches me in every way and is
ZhengLi stroked back Linlin’s hair as he watched her toss and turn on the bed, unable to get comfy because of her pain. Her body bruised and sore and still not herself even after being treated for mild chloroform poisoning. Nausea plaguing her and an infernal headache that was adding to her distress.“I can ask them for more pain meds.” ZhengLi was perched on her bed to one side, staying close and watching her like a hawk, being his usual cool self even though internally he was chaotic. So many emotions about today and seeing his girlfriend bruised and sick and suffering from a concussion. He had the urge to find that motherfucker and beat seven shades of shit out of him for every tiny mark on her body.ZhengLi wasn’t one who normally showed a lot on the surface, always preferring the smooth wise guy persona but this was proving difficult. When it came to Linin, he became irrational and over protective. He wanted to take away her pain and wipe e
“YuZhi? I’m here.” She called out to him, straining an already raw throat as the suited figure of her handsome man came sliding in the open doorway with fumbling steps. Rushing and looking ruffled and distraught. His tie was loose, his jacket open, hair disheveled and his normally pulled together façade was rumpled and wrinkled as was his shirt. He looked like hell.“Oh my god. I’m here, baby. I’m here. Are you okay? Are you hurt?” He flew to her side, cupping her hand in his and bent down smothering her face as he tried a hug in an awkward position and somehow squashed her nose against his chest and yet still managed to get his arms under her and squeeze her. YuZhi’s emotions on full display as he sniffed back the worried tears he had been keeping at bay. His body trembling with both adrenaline and fear at not knowing how hurt she was or
TangShi blinked open her eyes, her head throbbing from the impact, her eyes blurry as they rolled around inside her skull and she slowly came to. Aware of her body being heavy and still, warm and somehow relaxed, as nausea swirled and her head thumped so painfully she couldn’t move properly.“Linlin?” She mumbled with effort, woozy and disorientated and reaching out to feel out her friend beside her. “Are you okay?” Knowing the crash would have hurt her too. Only she found she wasn’t sitting forward at all but lying down and flat on her back and there was a hum of noise gently pulsating around her while her hand paused in midair finding nothing close. Confusion rising as she turned her head and forced her eyes open properly.“It’s okay Miss. Lei. It’s okay. Just relax and stay still whil
TangShi flicked her glance back in horror, seeing him come to and hurried Linlin towards their escape.“You can’t drive. It has to be me.” Linlin pointed out as TangShi tried to lever her into the open passenger door.“Look at you. How can you drive like this? We don’t need to go far, just away from here while you call the cops and we find out where we are. I can do that. I can try.” TangShi pushed Linlin in without further argument, having learned the basics of driving as a teen even though she never went onto pass her test. Linlin relented, slumping in and TangShi closed the door after handing her the phone and ran around the other side. One eye on him as she dashed as fast as she could.The keys were still in the ignition, much to her relief and she started it quickly. Her hands shaking, her vision blurry and she took a long calming breath to get her brain to work on the mechanics of getting going. Pulling up her lessons fo
“What are you doing?” Rong barked at her, sliding her body with him as he dragged her out of the car and dumped her at his feet in a careless manner. TangShi crumbling like an empty sack. Not able to keep a grip with the way he had to crawl backwards out of the car.“HELP…SOMEONE HELP, I’VE BEEN KIDNAPPED. HELP ME!!” TangShi screamed at the top of her voice, hurting her throat in the process, aiming at the car’s open door knowing she left the call connected to emergency services and praying they would have some way to track the cellphone. That if they could hear her then they would have some procedure in place to find them.Rong’s eyes followed her line of vision, confused with her erratic behavior once more, peering inside the car and spotted the illuminated cell on the floor. Rong lost his temper in instant fury, betrayed that this bitch would try and call for help and slapped TangShi hard across the face to shut her u
“He’s coming. You only have one chance. GO. Just go!” Linlin could see him over TangShi’s shoulder, pulling out of the car with water bottles and knew it was their only chance. TangShi’s blood ran cold, the way Linlin was glaring over her shoulder catapulted her into instinctive action. Fight or flight response initiating and not giving her a moment to think it through. Stroking a final hand across Linlin’s head and sobbing as she jumped up.“I’m sorry. I’ll come back for you. I’ll get help.” She hushed her saddened words at her through jumbled tears and broke off into an instant run in the opposite direction of Rong Cai.TangShi put her all into it, head down, legs and arms swinging fast as they could. She made a break for freedom and adrenaline gave her a speed she had never achieved before. The sheer fear of running for her life without looking back.“TangShi, No!” Rong yelled after
TangShi didn’t respond, her heartbeat racing and her palms clammy which was making the bar hard to grip, but instead kept on with her steady backwards sliding. Until she came level with Linlin and pushed Linlin’s outstretched leg gently with her foot to rouse her.“Linlin, are you awake, can you hear me? Please say something.” TangShi so desperately needed to hear her, even if it was just a groan to signal she was still alive. She looked completely lifeless and it was scaring her that he had done something awful.“Mmmmm.” A soft mumbling moan came from behind Linlin’s duct taped mouth covering and TangShi exhaled in sagging relief. Her head swimming with dizziness at hearing her respond and thanking god that she was conscious and breathing still. It made her less alone in this predicament and gave her hope that Linlin could still recover.“Did you think I killed her?” Rong started laughing, a cackling and man