The day of the engagement ceremony came in the blink of an eye. A lavish hotel was booked for the ceremony to take place between Jiang Ruiling and Wen Yaoting.
Inside the bridal chamber, Jiang Ruiling was sitting in front of the mirror with the makeup artist tying her hair into a beautiful braid. She wore an elegant lavender dress that accentuated her fair skin and her breathtaking beauty could make men drop dead at her sight.
Jiang Ninghong stepped in and signaled the artist to leave. She nodded and promptly left.
Jiang Ruiling got up. "Mom."
"Ruiling. So, you are ready."
She smiled. "Yes, Mom."
Her mother quietly observed her. "Do you think your father or I should have said something before? Do you like Wen Yaoting?"
She calmly said, "No, Mom. I didn't expect anything from you, Dad or big brother. I am really okay with this engagement. Wen Yaoting is a good man."
She raised her brow. "I see. You know what you are doing, right?"
"Rest assured, Mom."
Outside the room, Shen Yang stood at guard. He could hear their conversation even if he didn't want to.
'Wen Yaoting is a good man.'
The light in his gaze turned dimmer and his eyes lowered. Only he knew how he was holding his emotions together. In the last few weeks, he did everything he could to talk her out of this marriage proposal. The more he got to know about Wen Yaoting and his adulterous lifestyle, the more he couldn't let her go. He knew it was a disaster. This relationship would end in shambles, and she would end up just like Jiang Xiurang.
But Jiang Ruiling was adamant to go ahead. She refused to listen to him.
Young mistress…
"...Yang. Shen Yang."
He broke from his trance and saw Jiang Weiyuan standing before him with his gaze locked on to him. He froze and immediately straightened in attention.
"Boss!"
Jiang Weiyuan tilted his head. "You seemed to be lost somewhere."
"Apologies, Boss-"
"Were you thinking about Ruiling?" He raised his brow.
His eyes widened and he didn't know how to answer. The sudden question took him aback. "N-No. I mean yes. It's such a big evening for the young mistress…I am happy for her," he clenched his fist.
"I see," his expression was unreadable.
"Should I inform young mistress about your arrival?"
"It's alright. Tell Ninghong I am waiting at that hall for her."
"Yes, Boss."
Shen Yang let out a sigh as he left.
Boss is really... unpredictable.
*Meow*
He lowered his head and was startled to see Lihua, the cat by his feet.
He bent and ruffled her head. "How did you come here alone?"
Lihua, the cat arrogantly turned her head.
I make my own decisions, human. I can go anywhere I want.
He looked around but didn't see Wei or Lihua anywhere.
Maybe she went off on her own.
Shen Yang smiled at her and picked her in his arms. He gently stroked her head and then under her chin. He liked animals, and he was happy to know that there was a pet now at the Jiang villa.
Lihua was really pleased with his petting.
Good job!
"Let me quickly take you to Madam Lixue."
Lihua jumped down from his arms.
No, I don't want to go back!
She hopped away much to his surprise. "Wait!"
Shen Yang was hesitant to leave his post, but he didn't want her to lose her way in this huge mansion. He didn't want any accident to happen, so he quickly chased after her.
A minute later, he finally caught up with her and swiftly held her in his arms again. He sighed. "Madam Lihua, you cannot run away like that or you could get into trouble. What if you hurt yourself?"
*Meowww*
Lihua showed her obvious protest at being caught. She was about to scratch him with her paws, but looking at his gentle smile, she retracted them.
Hmph. I will let it off this time.
Shen Yang heard some whispers from a distance just as he was about to walk away. He felt the voice was familiar. He frowned and thought to take a quick look.
As he turned in the corridor, he was aghast to see Wen Yaoting flirting with a woman. He had donned his engagement suit and was chuckling with a waitress.
His expression turned extremely frosty and he felt his blood boil at that sight.
How dare he…
"Mr. Wen Yaoting," his quiet voice rumbled with a hint of danger and threat.
Wen Yaoting was taken aback to see him, but then smiled. "Oh, the bodyguard!" He looked at the waitress and winked. "Talk to you later."
She blushed and went away.
Shen Yang was so mad with rage that he wanted to punch the shit out of him. He stormed his way to him and grabbed his collar. "What are you doing!?"
Wen Yaoting shook his hand away in anger. "What is your problem! Last time, you grabbed my wrist and now it is my collar! How dare a pathetic bodyguard like you insult me like that!? Know your place!"
"Insult? What are you doing then flirting with a woman when it's your engagement with young mistress?"
Wen Yaoting's face darkened. "What the hell! I was just talking with her. Is it a crime?"
Shen Yang's razor-sharp cut through his argument. "Standing so close to her in such an intimate position and fiddling with her hair is what you call just talking? Mr. Wen, do you understand what event it is tonight. You are going to get engaged to young mistress and you are blatantly flirting with some other woman here."
"Oh shut it. She just needed some help and I was just helping her. Don't fucking teach me what I should do and what I shouldn't! The Jiang family has really spoiled their servants! Get out of my way!"
Shen Yang suddenly held his shoulder and stopped him from leaving. "Mr. Wen. This is not acceptable. If you are not serious about this marriage and cannot be loyal to young mistress, then I suggest you break off this engagement."