''Aunt, I don't eat broccoli.'' Ana said and the smile on Mrs. Lee's face disappeared and she stiffened.
''You don't eat broccoli? Ana, you shouldn't be picky with food'' Mrs. Lee said.
''I am not picky with food. I am allergic to broccoli. Have you forgotten you gave me broccoli soup when I first came to the house and I fainted after drinking it? I told you I was allergic to broccoli but you said I was being picky until I was rushed to the ER, no one believed me.''
Ana's words made the table to become still. Talk about awkward!
Everyone looked at each other, feeling awkward after hearing Ana's words''
….
Outside the room, Lin Shen met with Shiao just at the door to where Ana and the others were.
''Elder brother, where is mother?''
''She is inside. Let me warn you, aunt He Mei's niece came and we couldn't prevent her from seeing you. Please be respectful when you go in there.'' Shiao warned.
''Depends on my mood.'' Lin Shen said and followed Shiao to the next room.
''What happened to your shirt?'' Shiao asked as he opened the door.
''This… I was kissed by a puppy at the zoo.''
''A zoo wearing lipstick? Why do I find that hard to believe?''
''Anything is possible at the zoo.'' Lin Shen replied before going to his mother.
''Lin Shen is here.'' Jiajia said as Lin Shen leaned to kiss her cheek.
''Mom, aunt, good evening.'' Lin Shen said and went to sit by his mother's side.
''Lin Shen, how are you?'' He Mei said excitedly.
''I'm fine, aunt.''
''Meet my niece, Daisy. She just came back from Country M after obtaining her Masters' degree in Hotel Management''
''Hi, Miss He!'' Lin Shen said politely but didn't take Daisy's stretched hand.
Daisy smiled and said shyly, ''hi Lin Shen''
''The food is getting cold. Let's eat. Oh, Shen'er, what happened to your shirt?'' Jiajia asked when she saw the lipstick on Lin Shen's shirt.
''I met an adorable puppy that didn't want to let go. It ended up showering kisses on me.'' Lin Shen said and Shiao shook his head and laughed.
Daisy looked at Lin Shen with a curious gaze. She didn't believe what he said but she also wondered which woman left her mark on his shirt.
She somewhat felt unhappy thinking about it. Since her aunt showed her a picture of Lin Shen, she had fallen for him. She had insisted on her aunt arranging for this dinner so that she could meet with him.
But seeing him, she could tell he was a difficult man but it didn't matter. A man with looks like Lin Shen was bound to be proud.
If she could get him to be engaged to him, her status will rise up.
Lin Shen noticed the intense gaze on him and looked up, meeting with Daisy's gaze. She was looking at him, it was hard not to notice. When he looked up, she looked away shyly.
Lin Shen furrowed his brows and continued to eat his food. He felt disgusted and wanted to go out for some fresh air.
Lin Shen quickly ate his food and stood up saying, ''I am going to the washroom.''
''Lin Shen, you ate so fast. Are you alright.'' Jiajia asked worriedly.
''I'm fine. I will be back, mom.'' Lin Shen said and walked out of the room.
…..
He silence in the room was deafening. Even the fall of a pin could make more noise at that point. Everyone seemed to have lost their appetite and the atmosphere in the room became intense.
''Ana is allergic to broccoli, it's alright. You can eat more parsley. You like parsley, right?'' Mrs. Hough asked as she picked parsley and placed it on Ana's plate. She wanted to ease the awkwardness in the room and indeed when she offered Ana the parsley, the room became less awkward.
''Thank you, aunt.'' Ana replied and continued to eat.
Mrs. Hough's actions ease the tensed atmosphere in the room. Everyone started eating happily.
As for Mrs. Lee, she was still foaming mad within her and thought of ways to get back at Ana later on.
This dinner was also on her. She was the one who called and arranged this dinner. Her plan was to get Ana engaged so that she could forge forward with making Lin Shen, Shanshan's fiancé.
This marriage was also going to be an alliance between the family since it would open doors for her daughter who wanted to go into the entertainment industry later on.
Gloria Lee was making preparations to make sure that her children had the best of everything. She had already secured the Director position for Andrew by paying off the Board of Directors. She now just had to get Ana engaged so that she could push her into leaving the company to become a housewife to Richard Hough.
Even though she knew, not just her, everyone in the industry knew the character of Richard Hough. It is rumored that he has slept with almost all the female artistes in his agency.
Some would even fight because of him. But that wasn't Gloria's problem. She just wanted to put Ana in a humbled position where she would become defenseless and no longer a threat to her son's career.
Shanshan looked at Richard and smirked. His gaze was on Ana, it was so hard not to notice. It was like he was smitten by her. He was basically stripping her naked with his eyes.
Who didn't know about Richard in their society? He was a dog. A dog, who would have sex with any woman wearing skirt. His sexual drive was known to be top tier.
Just thinking about how Ana was going to be under Richard's mercy made Shanshan's mood to become a little livelier.
She has always hated Ana and felt that Ana was arrogant. But of course, the fact that Ana was beautiful was what made her even madder every time. She always wanted to pour acid on Ana's face and damage it but she was afraid because her father supported Ana.