The whole ride to Azure Hotel, all Dylan did was interrogate Zhou Yuexi non stop. Well, he did stopped for a few times but only to heave heavy breaths to calm his self down, then continue with his barrage of questions.
It was hard for him to fully take in that his "baby girl" was already married. Aded to the fact that she was just 22 and he's turning 28 but still single, he just couldn't help but fume. He himself doesn't know what irritated him more, the former or the latter.
"Let's cut this here. I'll talk to you in private later.", Dylan said while massaging his temples then he turned to Zhang Yixing who was driving at the front with threatening eyes. "We need to talk as well."
When they arrived at Azure, an employee was already waiting for them and escorted them into a private dining room. As they sat around the table, servers simultaneously placed food on the table til it was full. They were served American dinner, steak, mashed potato, salad, mac and cheese, and red wine.
The three were all hungry and dug in the food with any hesitation.
"Tell me... What's your name again?", Dylan asked Zhang Yixing, acting as if he forgot an unimportant information.
Zhang Yixing's back straightened up as he braised himself for the upcoming tirade of questions. "I'm Zhang Yixing."
"Yixing... What do you do for a living? And how much do you make every year?"
"I'm self employed and I believe I earn enough money to pamper Yuexi with the luxury she deserves.", Zhang Yixing humbly answered.
Dylan's brow shot up at Zhang Yixing's vague reply. "How do I know you make enough? I want statistics.", he demanded.
Zhou Yuexi, on the other hand, felt that her cousin was just finding loopholes on Zhang Yixing so he could pick on him. So she decided to answer on behalf of her husband. "Bro, he owns the biggest business corporation here in China. And he also owns this very place we are at. As we speak, millions of yuan are going in to his bank account. He makes that much!", she whispered to Dylan.
"Really?", he whispered back then cleared his throat. "Are your family treating my Yuexi well?"
"Yes, they actually loved her the moment they saw her. And my sister is her good friend."
"They should! My Yuexi is the most amazing woman in the planet.", Dylan exclaimed.
Zhang Yixing nodded in agreement. "She is...", he said as he looked lovingly with a love stricken smile at his wife who was queitly looking back and forth at him and her cousin. "She is."
When Zhou Yuexi's eyes met with Zhang Yixing's, her face automatically blushed. She couldn't stand the emotions she felt the moment she saw how loving her husband gazed at her. It was heart fluttering and overwhelming at the same time yet a little embarrassing.
To avoid his gaze, she decided to start cutting her steak and so she could quietly eat while the two men continue their question and answer portion. However, to her surprise, a plate of neatly cut steak was placed before her by Zhang Yixing and her barely touched steak was taken away.
When she looked over to her husband, he was busy talking to Dylan again while cutting the food on his plate, as if what he did was the most natural thing in the world, not knowing that what he did caused an explosion in Zhou Yuexi's heart. All the surging feelings with in her were all inexplicable but the one thing she's sure of is that she's happy, that's clearly written with her sweet smile. A smile she tries to hide by biting her lower lips but still manages to break through.
Yes, she feels touched whenever Zhang Yixing says sweet stuff but she appreciates him more whenever he does little things like this. Because small things are mostly what you really mean to do, it's what you feel inside your heart, not just because it's what you think will make someone happy. It is the little things that shows how thoughtful he was and how much he cares about her.
This gestures didn't miss Dylan's keen eyes. Though, he didn't approve of their sudden relationship that he just knew of a few hours ago, he couldn't deny that the man in front of him does indeed take good care of his cousin slash daughter. He might not like to admit it but he is slowly beginning to like this "son-in-law" of his.
What's there to complain about when it is clearly visible how good Zhang Yixing treats Zhou Yuexi? What more could he ask when he could see how Zhang Yixing's small efforts could make Zhou Yuexi smile so happily, a happiness he saw for the first time?
After that, they all proceeded to eat quietly. It was like Dylan decided to get back on Zhang Yixing by pigging out on the dinner he bought for them. Moreover, he also plans to exploit his privileges at Azure Hotel as he was going to stay there for his whole week of vacation in China, note that it is for free.
Zhang Yixing being the bootlicking master that he was, knew that Dylan would most probably want to suck off a bit of his riches so that he could get even with him stealing for Zhou Yuexi away, so he was willing to sacrifice a few thousand Yuans on him. Besides, it's Dylan Parker we're talking about here, the one man who was able to make the Mighty Ice King's hands sweat. And with all the money he earns, it wouldn't hurt to lose on a few bucks especially when it means he gets on his "father-in-law's" good side.
...
When they finished eating, Zhang Yixing excused himself for a while to answer a call. Dylan took this time to have a personal talk with Zhou Yuexi.
"So... you're really sure about this? I mean, I wouldn't oppose if you're happy with him.", Dylan seriously asked.
Zhou Yuexi answered with a reassuring smile. "I know our marriage happened too quickly and that we didn't go through the normal phase most couple went through... but so far, I don't find any reason to regret getting married. We didn't get married because we love each other but we both promised that we would do our best to make our marriage work. I'm doing my best to be a good wife to my husband... and I can see and feel how much he's trying to be the best husband he could be.", she said while thinking of all the things Zhang Yixing did for her for the past month that they knew each other, especially on the past week that they spent together as a married couple. "I like him bro. He's a good man, a good brother, a good son, and most importantly he's a good husband to me. He's not hard to like... and he doesn't seem hard to love."
"I can see that... and you're just as good as him. In this marriage, he's the one who hit the jackpot for marrying you. He'll never find someone as good as you.", Dylan said then messed Zhou Yuexi's hair once again. "Always remember that no matter what happens, I'm still your bro, you can always count on me. If ever that guy hurts you, just call me and I'll fly across the globe to break his neck for you."
Zhou Yuexi just chuckled at her cousins words. With how caring Zhang Yixing was to her, she highly doubts it that there will come a time that he will hurt her intentionally.
"Don't laugh, I'm being serious here!", Dylan reprimanded. "I just want you to be happy. I promised myself back then that I would do my best to make you happy. I promised that I would do my best to make all with all the hurt you've been through. I hope I succeeded for the past 12 years but now I have to hand you over to someone else. It's now his job to make you happy and to shield you from pain, because that's what you deserve baby girl."
Listening to her cousin's speech made Zhou Yuexi tear up. She knew that Dylan carried on the responsibility of being her father since her dad died and she has always been thankful to him for that. With Dylan around, she could never ask for more as he gives her the best he could ever offer. She never had to ask for anything, he always gives it to her automatically without her asking.
"Why did you have to make me cry? Now my make up's ruined!", Zhou Yuexi complained as she wiped her tears with her fingers. "Thank you, though. I am and will always be thankful to you. Love you, Dad. I promise I will be happy."
"You should be.", Dylan said smugly, back to his playful disposition. "Now go call that husband of yours, I need to talk to him in private."