Feng Xinying continued, "You see you look like my husband a lot. The problem is that he is not feeling well, which we cannot tell anyone. So we were looking for someone to replace him as my husband for others to see on the façade. Someone told me about you and I went to look for you."
He listened to her with rapt attention trying to make the head or tail out of it.
However, when I reached your place I saw that you were shot at and I had to bring you to the hospital. For one month I have stopped going outside and somehow managed it but now it is getting tough. I have to attend so many functions and parties. So you have to be there with me acting as my husband Xie Yuansheng but this is only until my husband is well again."
Xie Yuansheng listened to Feng Xinying with rapt attention. Once she finished, he said, "Oh, so that is why you were so keen."
"Keen on what?" she asked, perplexed by the way he sounded. It looked as if he was doing her a favor.
"Keen on employing me," he completed the sentence.
"I was keen on employing you because-"
"Yes, that is why we were very keen," interrupted Xie Shengjun. He looked so eager to stop this contract thing and make his brother feel comfortable.
Xie Yuansheng crossed his arms across his chest. He now had an upper hand. He tilted his head and raised an eyebrow.
Feng Xinying clenched her jaws for Xie Shengjun to suddenly p.o.o.p in between. What was the necessity of speaking like that? Couldn"t he wait for Xie Yuansheng to agree to it? Now all he would do is feel weird and may disagree. He may just go away. She suddenly felt anxious and glared at Xie Shengjun.
The atmosphere became quiet for sometime with neither of them speaking a word.
Xie Yuansheng nodded and sighed. He looked very content and said, "In that case you need to increase my salary."
He stated that so cutely that Xie Shengjun started laughing.
Feng Xinying had to sound serious and as though she was really negotiating. Once again she glared at the older brother.
"Why are you laughing?" he asked to Xie Shengjun.
"Please ignore him. Yes, I agree to increase your salary to hundred thousand Yuan per month till you act as my husband in front of outsiders," she said very politely.
Xie Yuansheng"s face fell on the ground. "A hundred thousand Yuan! I can be your contract husband for that money!" He joked and started laughing along with Xie Shengjun who was obviously enjoying it all. "But I will be sleeping in a different room!" added Xie Yuansheng suddenly as he stopped laughing.
"Of course! What do mean by even saying that? You will be husband only in front of outsiders. Inside here you will only be my Chef," replied Feng Xinying and signed the contract. She forwarded the contract to Xie Yuansheng who also signed it. Once the details were gone through, Feng Xinying made a copy of the contract and gave it to Xie Yuansheng.
Xie Yuansheng was extremely happy. He had not only got a good job, he got an extra negotiation of a hundred thousand Yuan to act as her husband. This was epic. He jumped from his place and said, "Miss Xinying, what would you like to have for lunch?"
Feng Xinying smiled and said, "First please make chicken soup for me and bring it to my bedroom." Saying that she left the kitchen and went to her bedroom.
When she entered she saw that Keira had been busy giving instructions to the servants to clean it up and arrange it nicely. She went and hugged Keira. "Keira, finally my wait is over. I just hope Xie Yuansheng recovers soon."
Keira patted her back and replied, "Your efforts won"t go wasted dear."
Feng Xinying smiled. She was feeling encouraged after so long that she was ecstatic. Keira left her after half an hour. She went back home along with Xie Shengjun who wasn"t going. She had to tell him that Feng Xinying needed that alone time with Xie Yuansheng. The therapy had started. Reluctantly Xie Shengjun left with her but he knew that he would keep coming here everyday until his brother was fine.
Feng Xinying looked around her room and went to lie on the bed. She covered herself with the blanket after changing into something comfortable. She was happy that now Xie Yuansheng was home and safe.
As she was thinking, there was a soft knock on the door. "Miss Xinying, the soup is here," said Xie Yuansheng from the outside.
"Come in Shengu," she said softly.
As the door opened, she pretended to look at her phone while Shengu kept the soup on her bedside table and stood a little away silently. She knew that he wanted to ask her how it tasted but she also wanted him to stay there in the room, so she delayed in looking up and kept seeing her emails. After about ten minutes, she looked up and took the soup in her hand. She took a sip and it was simply too good.
"How is it, Miss Xinying?" asked Xie Yuansheng keenly.
"It is excellent Shengu, but could you please warm it for me?" she requested very softly.
Xie Yuansheng looked at her and was lost in her eyes for a moment. Then suddenly he recovered after two seconds and immediately said, "Sure Miss Xinying. I will get it soon." He went downstairs, warmed the soup for her and went back again.
This time Feng Xinying had removed the blanket and was sitting upright on her bed. Her pajamas had come up to her calves exposing her white skin.
Xie Yuansheng gulped and averted his gaze. He kept the soup on the bedside table and started to leave when she said, "Wait Shengu. Please take this soup bowl back. I don"t like dirty dishes in my room."
And Shengu waited. He couldn"t help looking at her white porcelain legs. Her husband was really lucky, he thought.