A week passed as the whole family was convincing Li Bao to have the surgery until he told them that he had come to a final decision.
When all of them had gathered in the parlour, he announced," I have decided to go for the surgery." The three smiled and sighed in relief when he continued," But I have a condition." This attracted their attention and Li Mei asked," What's that Li Bao?"
He looked at Li Fei and patted the space next to him and said," Come here, Li Fei." She stood up and went to sit next to him when he took her hands in his. It made her wonder what he wanted to say.
His eyes looked at the other two members of the family before they settled on Li Fei and he said," I will have the surgery only if you get married." With this, she pulled out her hands from his and said," What are you saying, Dad?" "You heard me correctly. I will have for the surgery after attending your wedding. Without that, I will be happy to live just like this," he said. Li Fei couldn't believe it. Just like her, Li Mei and Li Jiang were equally shocked.
"B-but Dad, I'm not yet ready for marriage and perhaps, I haven't found that someone," she said. "You shouldn't worry about it. I have a very suitable candidate for that. Yan Jianyu," he mentioned and she looked at him flabbergasted. "Dad, I can't get married to him! And who told you that he will agree to it?" she asked. "I will talk to him. You don't have to worry about that," he said.
She looked at him with her eyes glistening with tears and she said," You can't do this to me, Dad. You're blackmailing me." "I'm not blackmailing you, Li Fei. I'm simply securing your future. There's no guarantee that I will make it after the surgery and I want you to be in safe hands yet I trust no other man to do it but him," he explained.
"I can perfectly take care of myself Dad. I'm no longer that spoiled daughter. Don't do this to me," she pleaded looking at him.
Taking a deep breath, he said," I knew you wouldn't like it at first but in the future, you will get to appreciate me." Li Fei looked at him speechless and he added," Unless if you're telling me that you have someone else in your life. If that is the case, I would like to meet him soon and see if he's worthy. But as I said, I'm not going for surgery without attending your wedding first." Li Fei stood up and left the place then ran off to her room.
Li Jiang gave it a thought and concluded that it was a good idea. That would be good riddance to that man Jin Liwei. It would also be the perfect opportunity to separate the two and perhaps, Jianyu was a perfect man for his sister. He was sure that he would never hurt her. At this, Li Jiang said," Dad, I too think that Jianyu is the perfect man for elder sister."
Nodding his head, he said," I carefully thought about it." When Li Jiang stood up to go to his sister's room, his mother said," Leave her alone for a while. She needs time." Understanding, he nodded and wished them a good night before leaving.
A long while later, Li Mei went to her daughter's room and knocked on the door before pushing it open. She found her curled in the corner and her head bowed as she rested it on her folded knees. Her hair was messy. She walked to sit next to her on the floor and she said," FeiFei, stop crying." She slowly raised her head and looked at her to ask," Why is he doing this, Mom?" "I think he wants what's best for you," she said.
"But I don't love Jianyu mother," she said wiping her tear stained cheeks.
"Then invite your boyfriend tomorrow and introduce him to us. That way your father will change his decision," she said.
She didn't know what to say. If only they knew...
"That can't happen Mom," she said clutching her hair frustratedly.
"Why's that? Why doesn't he want to meet us? I've been patient enough?" she asked confused. "I..I can't explain," was all she could say.
Li Mei took a while to say," I'm sorry to say this but I think that boyfriend of yours is just playing around with you." When she shook her head, she continued to say," If he was serious, he would have come to meet us already. You're sleeping with him when you two are not married. Had he been serious or responsible, we would have been knowing him by now." At that, tears flowed again from her eyes and she closed them.
"In that case FeiFei, I agree with your Dad that Jianyu is the best man for you," she said before leaving her room.
She remained behind crying her eyes out. At some moment, she could hear her phone ringing and she knew that it was Jin Liwei calling but she couldn't talk to him in this condition. She had to figure out what to do soon.
A long while later, she dragged herself to her bed and slept with a throbbing headache.
...
The next day, Li Fei spent the day in her room and all her meals were delivered there.
In the evening, Zhan took fruits to her room and before she could leave, she asked," Ms Li Fei, are you fine?" "Yes. Don't I look fine?" she asked. "You look pale. As if you're sick," she said. Forcing a smile, she said," I'm fine." Returning it, she said," Ms Fei, I don't mean to be an interloper but I think Mr Yan Jianyu is a good man." Li Fei looked at her surprisingly and asked," What do you mean?" "I heard what your Dad was discussing yesterday. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, I just happened to be around," she said. "Thank you but I prefer not to talk about it, if you will excuse me," she said and Zhan turned to leave her room and she paused.