"MISS. XIU. MEI…" Feng Dingxiong gritted his teeth, enunciating each word. "Who wants your villa? I need to clarify my request. My son is recovering from an injury, and I want YOU to keep him in your villa until he's fully healed. That means you have to take care of him personally."
He sighed, grabbing a glass of water to soothe his dry throat.
"Huh?" Xiu Mei panicked.
Feng Dingxiong smirked. "Not willing? If you don't want to do it, I can arrange something else. Keeping a sick person company isn't much of a task, but if you're uncomfortable…"
His voice was casual, but the reminder of her promise weighed heavily on her.
"....."
Xiu Mei closed her eyes, contemplating. Inviting a stranger to her villa felt daunting.
"Mr. Feng, can I call you in an hour to think it over?" she asked.
"No! Sleep on it and let me know tomorrow morning," he replied, his tone final. "And remember, Miss Xiu Mei, keep this conversation to yourself."
No matter how long you take, everything will go according to my plan, he thought with a satisfied smile, puffing on his pipe tobacco.
Unbeknownst to him, his wife Liu Ning stood by the door, holding a glass of water, having overheard everything. She frowned but chose not to confront him, retreating back to their bedroom.
On the other side, Xiu Mei's thoughts were racing.
She stepped onto the balcony for fresh air and brewed a cup of chrysanthemum tea. Sipping it, she tried to calm her nerves and figure out why Mr. Feng insisted on sending his son to her villa. He could easily arrange for advanced rehabilitation elsewhere.
Why me? She sighed, feeling trapped.
"If I say no, it questions my credibility. If I say yes, I'm digging my own grave. Stuck between a rock and a hard place."
After contemplating her options, she realized this would be the first time she'd allowed someone into her villa besides her best friend, Fei Hong.
"Hong! I need to discuss this with her. Where's my phone?" Xiu Mei placed her teacup down and was about to call when she remembered Feng Dingxiong's warning.
She rolled her eyes and sank into thought. For years, she had kept her identity secret, revealing it to only a select few.
But she owed a favor, and accommodating a sick person wouldn't be difficult.
Gradually, fatigue overtook her, and she drifted into a deep sleep.
The next morning, sunlight streamed into her eyes, waking her up in an unfamiliar environment.
Where am I? Xiu Mei thought, confused.
Realizing she had slept on the balcony, she playfully hit her forehead and headed to the bathroom to freshen up.
She dialed Feng Dingxiong's number.
At Feng Manor:
Feng Dingxiong sat in the garden reading the newspaper while his wife prepared tea beside him.
"Careful, it's hot," Liu Ning warned, handing him a cup.
Just as he was about to take a sip, his phone rang.
"Sorry, it's urgent. I have to take this call," he said, kissing his wife's forehead before heading to his study.
Liu Ning watched him leave, her brow furrowing at the name Xiu Mei.
In the study, he closed the door and answered the phone.
"Good morning, Miss Xiu Mei. I didn't expect you to call so early," he said, feigning amusement.
"Mr. Feng, can we discuss this now? I want to settle it quickly," Xiu Mei replied directly.
Feng Dingxiong chuckled, sitting back in his chair. "Yes, I'm listening."
"I'm ready to accept your proposal, but I have a few requests," she stated. "I know I owe you a favor, so I don't have the right to impose conditions, but here they are."
"What requests?" he asked, intrigued.
"First, you will never disclose my identity. Second, you will only tell a few necessary people about this arrangement. Third, no one will interfere with my personal matters."
"In return, I promise to take care of your son until he recovers. I'll ensure he's safe from any harm," she added, waiting for his response.
"Okay," he replied, surprisingly straightforward.
"That's it?" Xiu Mei was taken aback.
"Yes, but I want these conditions in a contract," he stated.
"Contract? What if we breach it?" she asked.
"Simple! If you fail to fulfill your promise, you still owe me. If I don't comply, you're free from your debt," he explained.
"Fair enough. You can move your son in two days," she agreed.
"Two days? Why not today?" he asked.
"I need to upgrade my security first," she reasoned.
"Fine. I'll give you two days, and then I'll shift him," Feng Dingxiong said before hanging up.
Her determination to take care of his son and her cleverness impressed him, knowing she would keep her word.
*******