Half an hour earlier, at w.a.n.g House

"So what do you think? Do we need to change the exterior look of the house? Or does it suit your style?" Wei stopped the car in the courtyard and asked Jia Li.

She glared at him again. Her eyes were getting tired of doing so but apparently Wei was immune to them!

"You better not say these things to me in front of anyone, especially your parents," she warned him.

"Ooh, someone is worried about the wrong impressions in front of future relatives, already," he didn't stop ribbing her.

He had thoroughly enjoyed the gentle, almost poetic phase of friends.h.i.+p with her during the past months. But this kind of interaction was leaving him breathless with antic.i.p.ation. The colour blooming on Jia Li's transparent face was a source of delight for him. It was amazingly liberating to say all the words aloud which he had only wished and dreamt of, in the previous months.

He placed his arm under her elbow and helped her alight from the car. He, then, instructed the staff to bring the luggage in. The solid mahogany door was wide open and there stood his father with a smile on his face. Jia Li thought Wei looked just like him, same features, same colouring.

"Why aren't you at work? I wasn't expecting to see you here at this hour," he spoke in surprise.

"A little bird informed me that my son was bringing an important guest home. Naturally, I was curious to greet that person and welcome her to our house," he told him with a wink.

It was Wei's turn to get slightly red in the face. He had never shared such a comfortable relations.h.i.+p with his father before.

"h.e.l.lo, Uncle w.a.n.g, I am Lin Jia Li. Thank you for welcoming me to your wonderful abode," she stepped ahead, looking at Wei's expressions.

"Oh! You are such a pretty little thing. No wonder my son suddenly started finding Shanghai colourless recently. It seems that he discovered a hidden gem up in the hills," he told her flatteringly.

Jia Li lowered her head in embarra.s.sment. It seemed that smooth flirting ran in the DNA of the w.a.n.g men. Still, her heart was a little comforted by the warmth behind his teasing. She had been extremely apprehensive about the reaction his parents would dish out to her.

"Where are my manners? Please come in…don't stay standing at the door," Mr. w.a.n.g said to her.

A beautiful traditional house greeted her. There was a sky well right in the centre of the courtyard, and the huge room overlooked a serene pond at the backyard. Intricate tapestry decorated the otherwise simple yet s.p.a.cious place.

"My grandparents believed in Feng Shui and everything in the house has been built and placed accordingly," he explained, seeing her keen interest in the surroundings.

"No wonder the place has a great vibe and a calming effect," she said in wonder.

"Who knows if Feng Shui will be able to protect the house any further and ward off the evil presence which lurks around it, though," a cold voice echoed in the hallway.

Both men grimaced as the words reached them. Mr. Wan turned to give his wife a warning glance while Wei closed in on Jia Li, subconsciously coming to stand in front of her in a s.h.i.+elding position.

"So, you are the famous Lin Jia Li who seems to have conquered the hearts across the length and breadth of China," she walked up to where they were standing.

Jia Li could sense the displeasure radiating from Mrs. w.a.n.g but she offered polite greetings to her, as she had done to her husband.

"I see that you have come with your bags packed already. Make yourself at home. After all, you have captured the fancy of the young master of the house. This is the least we can do for you," with those words, she went back to her own room, without paying attention to either of the w.a.n.g men.

Mr. w.a.n.g cleared his throat loudly and addressed Wei, "you guys must be tired after the journey. Why don't you show her to her room and I will ask the cook to send some refreshments for both of you up to the room, itself."

Wei reined in the reaction to his mother's words. He didn't want to make Jia Li any more uncomfortable than what she already was. Placing a hand at her back, he guided her towards the rear of the house.

After fifteen minutes, he knocked at her door.

"Are you feeling up to sitting at the terrace and having a light lunch? It is not too windy today and the sun seems to be in a playful mood?" he asked her when she opened the door.