The moment she returned to her room, her mother came that instant and said," You didn't tell me that you had a hot Boss!" Li Fei's eyes widened and she immediately said," Mom! There's nothing between us at all. He's just my boss." "Are you sure about that?" she asked sitting on her bed. "Yes Mom. Totally sure," she said adjusting herself on the bed.
"I don't think it's the same case with him. I've been seeing him during the party and the way he looks at you, I think he likes you," she said. "Come on Mom. That's not true," objected Li Fei tying her hair into a bun.
"I'm sure about what I saw and when I asked your Dad, he told me that he's a nice man. What do you think about him?" she asked. "Nothing," was all she said. "Why? Are you scared that he might turn out to be like Hu Feng?" "No Mom. It's just that....I love someone else," she confessed and Li Mei became attentive at this and asked," Who's he? Tell me about him."
"He doesn't feel the same way," she said sadly. "Why? Did he tell you that?" Li Mei asked. "He didn't have to," she said.
"Uhm...Maybe your Dad and I can talk to him," she offered and Li Fei shook her head before saying," It's not necessary. I will heal with time."
Li Mei looked at her daughter and felt sadness engulf her before asking," Did you meet him in Shanghai?" She nodded and Li Mei came closer to hug her and said,"Don't worry everything will be okay. Whenever you need our help on it, you can tell us." Li Fei nodded even though she knew she would never seek their help on it.
Before Li Fei could sleep, she spoke to Liling. "I'm so tired. I was walking for almost the whole day looking for a dress," complained Liling. "Where are you going?" asked Li Fei. "Jing Yue told me that we are going for a business partner's birthday the day after tomorrow. Uhm...Mr Jin Liwei is going to be there too," said Liling. "Oh! I honestly don't know what to say," said Li Fei. "I understand. Can I perhaps tell Jing Yue to talk to him about you?" she asked and Li Fei immediately said," No! Don't it Liling!" "Okay okay. It was just a suggestion," she said.
Two days later, photos had circulated all over social media of Jin Liwei and a woman called Meili.
She had been his date at the party and rumors had it that considering the way they were seen so close at the party, something was expected to blossom between the two if not already.
Li Fei looked at the woman who was dressed in a peach revealing dress. She had to admit to herself that she was beautiful but she couldn't control the pang of jealousy that coursed through her veins. Jin Liwei's one hand was wrapped around her waist as the woman smiled. Even though Jin Liwei had a serious look on his face as always, it didn't change the fact that he was touching her. Reading through the comments, most of them were praising them at they looked perfect together although some women were attacking Meili for stealing the sexy widower.
She left Weibo and placed the phone on the table then she stood up. She had no idea that jealousy over a man could be this intense. This feeling was so foreign to her because in the past, the jealousy she would feel was for failing to win a contest or endorsement. But that was nothing compared to what she was feeling right now. She walked to the carboy and gulped a number of glasses of water. For the whole day, she failed to concentrate on work.
In the evening when she was leaving, Liling called her.
"Have you seen the pictures all over?" it was the first thing she asked. "Yes," Li Fei simply said. "How are you feeling?" she asked. "Bad of course. But I will manage," she said.
"I know. That woman was clinging onto him but I swear that he was doing everything to keep a distance. I also asked Jing Yue and he assured me that nothing was going on between the two," she said. "Liling, let's not talk about them," she said.
When dinner was done, Li Mei walked with Li Fei to her bedroom saying," I want us to talk about your birthday which is in two weeks. I want us to organize a big party." "That's so thoughtful of you Mom but I wouldn't want that," said Li Fei. "What do you want?" "Something small. A family dinner will be enough," she said. Reaching her room, both entered and Li Mei said," I'm sorry but I'm not listening to you this time round. I haven't celebrated your birthday for four years. We are definitely hosting a party. And a big one."
As Li Mei went ahead with the birthday party preparations, Li Fei went on with her job.
On one evening, Li Fei was leaving her office when she found Jianyu entering the elevator and she joined him. "You're fine?" he asked her the moment it closed. "Yes. Why?" she asked back. "You don't seem to be fine. I noticed it a few days ago," he said as they went out of the elevator making way to the parking lot.
"I'm okay," she assured. "If you say so," he said and walked her to her car. She looked at him questioningly and he said," Let me treat you to dinner and don't say no. I'm sure that you will like the place."
Li Fei looked at him and thought. She had rejected his invitations multiple times. "Okay. We are taking my car though," she said and he readily agreed. She decided to do it so that she could get him off her back.
Shortly, they reached the restaurant and Li Fei was glad that it wasn't far. They took a seat at in the corner and Li Fei looked around the place. It had enough privacy and as he had said, she liked it. On looking at the menu, she saw that it specialised in Chinese traditional food and they made their orders. Talking about random things, Jianyu decided to dig more into her private life. "Your boyfriend must be proud of you," he said.