After a few moments of silence and more eating during their dinner, Song Ren called out to him, "Su Feng?"
"Mhm," he responded.
"Are you having doubts about our engagement?" she asked earnestly.
"No," he answered as he placed another piece of steak in his mouth, "Why? Are you?"
Song Ren shook her head, "No; I was just curious." Song Ren still wondered why Su Feng agreed to marry her. She was not someone that people quickly got along. Song Ren was cold and aloof, and she was conscious of it. She was also afraid that he might get bored with her someday.
"I want to set some boundaries," she stated.
"I"m listening," he said, looking at her with a deep gaze that almost made her tremble.
"When we get married, I don"t want the two of us to overstep and overpower each other. We are both equals, and no party is dominant."
"Sounds reasonable," he quickly answered. Song Ren expected it.
"Also, if you meet a woman to your liking, I will allow you to court her as a mistress on your discretion. As long as it"s never in public, then I should never get in your way."
Su Feng took a napkin, wiped his mouth, and looked at her with frostiness. His ice-blue eyes resembled a brewing storm, and some of the time, she would get lost in them. But he appeared to be unhappy.
"Will you be seeing other men during our marriage?" he asked.
"No," she answered, "I am loyal when promised."
"And what do you take of me?" he asked genuinely, "Someone who would take a mistress? Several mistresses? He shook his head, "Why would I do that if I have you?"
Song Ren clenched her teeth and blushed, "What do you mean?" she asked.
Su Feng smiled, playfully and cold, "I mean, my soon-to-be wife is the future CEO to a large pharmaceutical company. She has the face of a G.o.ddess and the body that I dutifully l.u.s.t for. Do I make myself clear?"
Song Ren was taken aback. What?
"You may "l.u.s.t" over me, but that still doesn"t clear our boundaries. I am merely giving you the opportunity to seek other women," she said.
"I reject," Su Feng retorted.
"And why?" she asked.
Su Feng clenched his fingers together and gritted his teeth, offended by Song Ren"s words. "Because, when I have you, all I need is you. Can"t you understand?"
Song Ren"s lips parted slightly, lost for words. She couldn"t believe her ears. Su Feng was satisfied with her? But why? He hated her when they were younger.
Su Feng cleaned himself up with wipes, clearing the table for the waiter. "Let"s go," he said, seeming annoyed.
Song Ren unconciously followed. He left a wad of cash to cover the expenses of dinner and left a generous tip for the server. She kept quiet to the car and on their way home. She knew that Su Feng was angry, but he was silent about it. His face was hard and taut, his jaw sharp and his temples strained. Meanwhile, she was thinking long and hard for herself.
She remembered in senior high school; she had immeasurable feelings for him. But it dissipated when she overheard him speaking to a friend, expressing his disinterest for her and laughing about it. She heard him say, "Me? I like Song Ren?" he laughed, "Gross, that would never happen. She"s my mortal enemy."
It broke her heart, and since then she crossed him off, and her feelings froze, but now it began to melt, and she was someone who typically would not do that. But when she became the heiress, he came to find her, knowing that to secure her position, he had to marry her. It was not for money, but for ensuring her safety.
In the business world, it was not common for a daughter to inherit when sons are involved. Even she was surprised that her father Song Rui didn"t pa.s.s the inheritance to Song Jun. He was eighteen and inexperienced, but it didn"t mean he was incapable. He could have learned. Furthermore, he moved into her home, had cooked for her, and took her to bed. Su Feng showed her his private laboratory and drove her to work. Now, he mentioned that he would be loyal to her.
When they reached home, Su Feng walked ahead of her, and she paced behind him. She looked at his tall silhouette and was afraid that she pushed him beyond. "Su Feng," she called out.
Su Feng paused abruptly and faced her with furrowed brows. "What?" he asked unkindly.
"I want to give us a try," she stated. A cold breeze parted through them, brus.h.i.+ng their strands of hair. Su Feng"s lips parted open, trying to register her words. And suddenly they felt warm against the frost of night.