"Wei…about your mother, uh, she isn"t too happy with my presence. I can sense that. I think it would be better if…" Jia Li started. He took her hand in his own and said, "this is my house and you are here on my invitation. Still, if it makes you happy, once we finish lunch, let"s go check out a couple of residential apartments which the nearby hotels offer. Is that ok?"
In fact, before coming to her room, he had already decided that he wouldn"t let her face his mother"s harsh words. It seemed that his mother wasn"t going to have a change of heart anytime soon. And Wei didn"t want to spend his precious time with Jia Li in Shanghai trying to cover up for the stubborn woman.
She nodded her head in relief and went to get her coat. Mr. w.a.n.g had declined the invite to join them and had gone back to the office after a quiet word with his wife. He had asked her to behave herself at least till they could talk this matter out amongst themselves.
Downstairs at w.a.n.g Residence
"Aunt w.a.n.g, don"t be upset. I am here now. Tell me what is happening," Mei Zhen met Mrs. w.a.n.g who was waiting impatiently for her at the foyer.
"I can"t believe it. He actually got her home. She has been putting up a "damsel in distress" act ever since she has walked in. No wonder, the men keep falling for her," Mrs. w.a.n.g said bitterly.
"Yes, I have seen her innocent act with my own eyes. She is the one because of whom my marriage is in shambles," she said in a broken voice.
Mrs. w.a.n.g took her hands in her own and asked, "what happened? I am so sorry. I have been caught up in my own misery that I didn"t pay attention to your red rimmed eyes."
"Let me tell you all about it in front of the person responsible for it. If you don"t mind, I want to meet her face to face and talk about this," Mei Zhen said in a decisive voice.
Mrs. w.a.n.g nodded and led her towards the terrace. Wei was putting food in Jia Li"s bowl and she was laughing at something he said to her.
"How dare she sit and bask in the company of a handsome man after destroying my marriage? Does she have no shame at all?" Mei Zhen got all burned up, looking at the scene in front of her.
"What a touching scene? Makes my heart all warm and mushy," she said to gain their attention.
Wei got up with a frown and asked, "this is a surprise. what brings you here, Mei Zhen?"
Though they all moved in the same social circles and she was married to his business partner, this was the first time she had visited the w.a.n.g house. The timing didn"t bode well. A sense of foreboding rose up inside Wei.
"Is that a way to greet a guest in our house? Or are only the guests you bring in, are welcome here henceforth?" his mother spoke archly, standing next to Mei Zhen.
"That"s alright, Aunt w.a.n.g. It is my fault since I came unannounced and intruded upon their date," she said sweetly.
Jia Li got up as well but stood quietly. She was trying to figure out the reason for Mei Zhen"s visit as well.
"Actually, I couldn"t hold myself back and came to ask Jia Li for some tricks and tips," Mei Zhen started.
Jia Li raised her eyebrow at the comment which seemed to insinuate something else.
"As much as I try to figure out, I can"t see anything extraordinary about you. So how is it that the most eligible men in the city, who have been exposed to much prettier, more talented women than you, end up falling so badly for you? Look at poor w.a.n.g Wei next to you. He is completely smitten and almost helpless against your mysterious allure. Then there is your ex-husband, who has been reduced to his current state due to his obsession with you. And finally, my dear darling husband…an honest man, a model son, a decent husband. How powerful must have been your charm for him to be affected so badly by it, right," she ranted.
Wei was getting irked by her behaviour by every pa.s.sing second.
"I am afraid you have to excuse us. We have other plans after this. You are welcome to stay back and keep my mother company though. See you around," with that Wei took Jia Li"s arm and gestured her to move out of there.
"What is the hurry? Don"t you both want to know the juiciest scandal concerning the Xie heir?" she goaded them.
Jia Li halted in her steps.
"What has happened? Is Tang alright?" she asked in urgent concern.
Mei Zhen emitted a loud, harsh laugh.