Wei stared at her unblinkingly, eyeing from top to bottom. The violet dress perfectly accentuated her slim and slender features. She tied her hair into a neat bun with a lock of curled hair dangling on her left cheek. The crimson lipstick on her lips gave an amazing contrast to her violet dress. She had put on light makeup that didn't look too showy and bright.
Wei walked up to her in a trance. He relished her beautiful sight once again. A gulp passed down his throat. Lihua straightened up. "Boss I am ready-"
Suddenly, she was unable to speak as Wei held her cheek. His penetrating stare made her quiver and her eyelashes fluttered. "You look beautiful," he whispered.
Lihua's smile faltered. "Thank you."
Tonight is your engagement ceremony. I have to look my best even if it hurts me.
Wei had an urge to kiss her red and inviting lips, but he held himself. He took a deep breath to calm his desire. "Shall we go?"
Her eyes slightly shone in tears, but she didn't let Wei see it. "Yes."
---
At exactly 6.30 PM, guests started pouring into the Jiang villa. Everyone from politicians to influential businessmen stepped in to attend the Mafia King's engagement ceremony. The engagement was just an excuse to form deeper connections to the Mafia King family. Who didn't want the Jiang family's grace?
The lavish arrangements took everybody's breath away. It was traditional just as the Old Madam wanted. The rich chandeliers cast a beautiful golden light upon the guests. The maids and butlers had already started serving refreshments. Everyone eagerly awaited for Wei and Ruomei to step in for the ceremony.
"Shi Ruomei is so lucky."
"Indeed. Getting married into the Jiang family is no joke."
"Of course. The Old Madam approves of her. What more does anyone want?" The ladies chatted among themselves.
In another villa located a little farther to the Jiang villa, a pale and beautiful woman looked at the guests from a window who came in one after the other in their lavish cars. Her gaze slightly dimmed in sadness.
She felt a pair of warm arms enveloping her in a hug and a gentle voice whispered in her ear. "Yubi."
"Weizhe."
Jiang Yubi smiled at her husband. She peeked at him and asked, feeling a little hesitant, "Weizhe I...Can I also-"
"No," he immediately answered as he understood her question.
She pursed her lips. "You didn't hear me out completely," she whispered.
"I don't need to," he kissed her temple.
She said, "Today is Wei's engagement. Though I would have liked it if it had been Song Lihua tonight, the woman that Wei likes… But I should be there as his mother…"
"No," he remained firm.
She slightly trembled and looked away. She knew her husband wouldn't budge on this. "You should leave then. The ceremony will be starting soon. At least, the father shouldn't be late."
He sensed the hint of displeasure and pain in her voice and his heart ached for her. "I am sorry, Yubi."
She said nothing.
"I am not letting you attend the ceremony just because of the usual reason."
"It's okay, Weizhe. You don't have to give excuses now," she acted a little distant.
Weizhe got anxious and pulled her into his arms. He softly said, "Please don't be mad at me. I am telling the truth. I am not letting you go because there will be no engagement ceremony."
Jiang Yubi was startled when she heard that. "What? No ceremony? What do you mean? The guests are already here."
"But Wei isn't and he won't be either."
She blinked her eyes. "Won't be here? Why not?"
Weizhe concisely told her about what he heard from the crying Fu Renshu. Her eyes slowly widened as she learned the truth.
"Huh!? Wei never knew about his engagement!? And he is with Song Lihua now?"
He nodded.
"B-But how...I mean what will happen now? The Old Madam will not take this lightly," she panicked and got more distressed for her son.
"Weizhe...my son…" Tears pooled in her eyes. "I don't want her to do anything against him. His absence will smear the Jiang family's reputation and she will not tolerate this. Weizhe, please do something. You have to help him."
He was a little displeased. "I helped him the last time when he was absent from the discussion."
She tearfully glared at her. "Will you be so calculative now in helping your own son!"
Weizhe pursed his lips. "Yubi. This day was going to come sooner or later. We cannot always hide him from the Old Madam. The sooner this engagement breaks, the better it is for everyone. If he wants to be with Song Lihua, he has to face this one day or the other."
He looked at her downcast expression and sighed. "But I will help him tonight. Wei is with Song Lihua for some special day and they wouldn't want anybody disturbing them. I will see to it that the Old Madam doesn't reach them."
That made her feel a little relieved though she was still afraid of the inevitable confrontation.
---
Shi Cuifen looked at her daughter who looked beautiful in her ceremony dress for the engagement. "Ah, Ruomei. You look lovely. Wei will be so mesmerized," she giggled.
Ruomei shyly smiled. "Mom…" she asked, "Mom, what about Wei? Is he ready too?"
She laughed. "I am sure he must have. Already cannot wait huh?"
She pouted. "I cannot help it, Mom. I worked so hard for the Old Madam to notice me and approve me for Wei. I cannot wait for the ceremony and finally become his fiance officially!"
Suddenly, the temperature dipped in the room as the Old Madam entered. Ruomei bowed. "Old Madam."
She narrowed her eyes and scrutinized Ruomei carefully. "Hm. I don't need to tell you how you should behave. Don't talk to the guests. Wei will attend to them. You just have to stand beside him and smile."
She nodded.
The Old Madam left and as she saw Fu Renshu outside, she said, "Where is Wei?"
He gulped. "Boss is on his way!"
It was too soon to tell the explosive news that there would be no groom tonight. He wanted to delay it as long as possible while Jiang Weizhe also made preparations for making it unable to trace his whereabouts.
"He is still on his way?" The Old Madam's gaze darkened. "What is he doing?"
"Tomorrow is a weekend so he had to sort out a lot of stuff," he anxiously said.
"The ceremony will start in thirty minutes. Exactly at seven, I want him down and dressed exactly like I want him to. I don't care where he is now. He must be on time."
He quickly nodded. "Yes, Old Madam."
As she left, Fu Renshu leaned on the wall.
Oh, God. How long will I be able to hold onto this farce?
---
The car stopped and Wei stepped out. He opened the passenger seat door. "We are here."
Lihua silently took a deep breath.
Okay. Let's do this.
As Wei led her the way, she saw a massive mansion. Her eyes popped out of her sockets, seeing such a huge and intimidating structure.
"S-so huge…But this is not Sunshine Meadows, right…?" She mumbled.
"No," Wei said. "It's a house I have newly bought for the special celebration."
Her shoulders slumped.
So nice…That crease woman is so lucky.
Suddenly, she felt darkness around. "Ah? Boss, why did you put a blindfold on me?"
"You will find it once we head inside. Let's go."
Wei smiled and walked inside with her. As he stopped, he opened the blindfold and said, "En. You can open your eyes now."
Lihua tightened her fingers into her palm and as her heart thudded faster in her chest, she slowly opened her eyes. But the scene she witnessed shocked her out of her wits.
The whole mansion was decorated in violet. Violet curtains, balloons and flowers... wherever she gazed at, she could only see everything in violet. There was a small fountain in the garden outside that was arranged with lights in such a way that the water reflected violet light as it gushed upwards. The floor of the mansion had a violet hue in the tiles as well. The chandeliers above cast a golden light with a violet tinge in them.
It was so breathtaking that Lihua forgot to breathe. Everything was in her favorite color, but at the same time, it didn't look too excessive and gaudy. The shades perfectly matched in sync with all the arrangements.
"This is so beautiful…"
Wei, who felt nervous about her reaction, heaved a sigh of relief as he noticed the visible happiness and gleam in her eyes. Lihua looked at him in a daze and asked, "Boss, what is this?"
Instead of answering her, Wei pulled her towards a table at the center of the massive hall and showed her the cake that was also decorated with violet sweet confetti and the icing upon it was plum violet. Lihua widened her eyes. "Cake?"
On the cake, it was written - Happy One Month Anniversary!