It wasn't that they had not thought of the possibility that Li Chuanmo and Pei Yueran might not hit it off - they had.
But their plan wasn't really to make them fall in love with each other or force them to marry, but to let them notice each other at least. In their opinion, they were a perfect fit.
It is true that opposites attract, but the Li couple believed that like had the potential to attract even more. A couple could be opposite in personality, but they absolutely had to have common views on important issues, else they would be pulling the family in different directions, which would eventually lead to tears and fractures in their relationship.
Zhang Heying arrived just as they were about leaving. She persuaded them to stay a while long, but they had another appointment soon, so they had to leave. Seeing Zhang Heying's crestfallen look, Pei Yueran impulsively promised to come visit them on Friday.
The smile that blossomed on Zhang Heying's face made Pei Yueran unaware that she had fallen into a trap.
"Friday it is then. I'll be expecting you", she said, patting Pei Yueran's hand.
They then left.
"Old lady, you're getting better at manipulation", Li Qianye praised, coming closer to pinch her soft cheeks.
"What manipulation? I was just showing her how much I want to have her around." Zhang Heying said, smiling at him.
Li Qianye looked into her eyes, smiling. He wife looked breathtaking, as always. The atmosphere suddenly became ambiguous. In the blink of an eye, he had closed the distance between them, aiming for her lips ....
Just then, Butler Nan came in to announce, "Miss Mengyao is here!"
"Again?" Zhang Heying muttered under her breath. Li Qianye directly glared at Butler Nan, who shivered.
The Master looked like a tiger who had his meal interrupted. Miss Fu definitely came at the wrong time.
Li Qianye wanted to carry Zhang Heying upstairs to their room, but she patted his arm. "It would be rude of us to leave her here. Don't worry, I'll handle it. You just follow my lead."
When Fu Mengyao entered, she met them sitting down, frowning.
"Good day Auntie, Uncle. What happened?"
"Mengyao you're here. Nothing much, just that I ordered a variety of fruits and vegetables from Regal Gardens in City D, and they just called to tell me that they would not be able to deliver it today, for flimsy reasons. I would have just left it, but I really need them by today, else they would be useless to me. All the servants are very busy, and there's no one I can send." Zhang Heying said, looking worried.
Li Qianye didn't even talk, he was just looking at his wife and admiring her ability. The fact that the lie was flimsy and that anyone with a brain would know this, yet Fu Mengyao had to fall for it whether she had brains or not, made a smile almost break out.
"Oh, I can do that easily. Regal Gardens right? Let me quickly be on my way", Fu Mengyao hastily volunteered. City D was about two hours away by car.
"Oh would you? But I don't want to trouble you, it's quite far away. I don't know why I even decided to order from another city", Zhang Heying said insincerely.
"It's no trouble at all Auntie, I'll be back." Fu Mengyao said. "By the way, I think I saw Li Chuanmo outside as I was coming in. He was with someone", she said, trying to fish for information.
"Oh yes, he came on official business from the company", Zhang Heying said without a change in expression.
Fu Mengyao had no choice but to drop the topic and leave.
"Wifey, your brains are on fire!" Li Qianye bootlicked enthusiastically. "But when did you order anything from City D?"
"I'm waiting for you to order it now. Butler Nan", Zhang Heying called.
When he came, she said, " When Fu Mengyao returns, collect the produce and send them immediately to the City orphanage home. Tell her that we retired to bed early, and that you would deliver her message to us."
"Understood Madam." Butler Nan answered and retreated.
"Still looking at me? Won't you order quickly so we can continue from where we stopped?"
"Oh, I'm on it. Right away!" Li Qianye almost broke his fingers in his haste to order, while Zhang Heying smiled and went to their room.
Good thing that she bought a new set of lingerie just recently.
*****
Li Chuanmo had indeed seen Fu Mengyao, but he was too engrossed in his discussion with Pei Yueran to acknowledge her. Pei Yueran didn't even see her at all. She was busy trying to explain her point of view on the assignment they had received.
Li Chuanmo just looked at her, his mind not exactly on what she was saying. Her eyes were golden again. He found them fascinating. He noticed that her brown eyes always turned golden when she was arguing passionately about something, and they had argued a lot today, so her eyes looked like they were changing ever so often. It made him feel like he could catch the light in her eyes if he concentrated a bit.
"Chairman Li? Did you hear what I said?" Pei Yueran asked?
Li Chuanmo came to his senses. Thankfully he heard bits and pieces of what she was saying, so he was able to come up with a decent reply.
They continued discussing in the car until the got to the company and each went to their office. They still had a pending contract to discuss, so Pei Yueran went to his office after some minutes.
The secretary, Min Shiyi: "..."
Why did they even have different offices if they were going to be together most of the time?
She would have loved to peer in or eavesdrop on what they were doing, but asides from the fact that the doors were solid and soundproof, she had a reputation to protect. She didn't want to be caught while "scouting" for information.
She could afford to wait. Information, that is, 'good things', come to those who are patient.