Chapter 20: Chapter 20
“So, are you still mad at him?” Linlin giggled in her sweet sunshine tones at her friend on the phone, swinging a leg over the arm of her oversized armchair as she listened to TangShi vent and strop around her room while picking out clothes. She had been ranting nonstop since picking up her call thirty minutes ago and seemed to be on the warpath with YuZhi again. This was becoming a daily occurrence now. Linlin smiled brightly, the phone propped under her chin and against her ear as she painted her nails in neon orange for the day ahead.
“If you are asking if I am still not talking to him, then no, I’m not. He’s the most infuriating man I have ever met, and do you know what he did to me for breakfast?” TangShi stopped mid pacing, her voice pitched and her anger obvious, and threw another dress on the bed to join the pile she was amassing there. Each one tossed in an undignified heap as she tried to expel these wound up feelings and urges towards violence.
“No…but I can guess it was something annoying.” Linlin grinned to herself and stopped to blow on her pointer finger and admire her handiwork.
“He made a point of asking me what foods I don’t like so he could have my diet plan altered and then had the cook make me everything I told him I hated. He’s beyond immature and petty and everyday he finds a new level of low to hit. I honestly couldn’t think he would get any worse!!” TangShi was even more annoyed at herself over this, that she had fallen into his trap and stupidly given him a list of foods she hated. She must have been momentarily dumbstruck.
Linlin snorted with laughter and then tried to cover it with a cough and pressed her lips together to stop the noise before her friend murdered her. She couldn’t help it but to her these two were really something. She found their antics oddly amusing rather than cruel and was starting to enjoy these daily updates. To her, they were two kids playing house and finding ways to one up each other in this weird war. She hoped sexual chemistry was the basis for this behavior and still held out hope that YuZhi would eventually fall for Tang’s charms.
“Don’t you dare laugh.” TangShi scolded with a stern tone. Not amused at her.
“I’m not.”
“I heard you. Now get off the phone so I can get ready, he’ll be here soon, and I don’t want a row about my being late.”
“Still no idea where he’s taking you? And when can we meet, you’re way too busy since marrying that asshat?” Linlin interjected bringing back to the main reason TangShi had called her today. Linlin wanted to see her and was trying to make her commit to a lunch date tomorrow but as always, the Lengs were keeping TangShi active around the clock.
“Soon, I swear, and no. He seemed smug about it too so it can’t be anywhere good. He hinted that it had a bearing on tonight, you know, umm…..” She trailed off shyly and Linlin beamed at the innocence of her sweet girl.
“Consummating your marriage? Getting it on? Losing your V card? Gurl, you need to just grab that man and get over it. He’s YuZhi Leng. Unless you are blind, I cannot see any reason you would turn that fine thing down. He’s hotter than a heatwave in Hawaii. If I could go back and lose mine again, I would give all my money for a chance at that man. He’s one of the seven wonders of the world.”
“Hardly, and you’re not really helping. I’m not shallow like you and happen to need more than some poser who knows he’s attractive. If you like him so much, then you try living with him. He’s unbearable.”
“Except… you already had some pretty steamy make out sessions with him some time ago so we both know he floats your boat. I would gladly swap but his family want Lei babies and I’m not qualified.” Linlin poked fun at her bestie, them both knowing that despite her saying she would hook up with YuZhi given half a chance, they both know she never would. It was part of the best friend code and Linlin had now pegged superstar hot boy YuZhi Leng as her friends first love and a man to never be touched. He was on the no go list.
“Again, not helping!” TangShi’s face flamed at her inability to deny what Linlin was saying, hating that she always brought this up. Eight years ago, even with a mask on, he had made her heart flutter and her knees turn to jelly. Without the mask YuZhi was definitely a face you couldn’t ignore but he was also still a massive jerk.
“I’m just sayin!!! Two years locked up as Mrs. Leng, you have to find the perks. YuZhi in my book would be one of those if he could keep his mouth shut whenever he entered the boudoir.” Linlin’s dirty laugh erupted like a bubbling brook and TangShi could only sigh, knowing fine well they would never agree on this. Linlin and TangShi had completely different personalities and views on sex.
“Dammit. It’s almost time and I’m not dressed. I need to go!” TangShi had caught sight of the clock across the room and cursed herself out for wasting so much time. She had no idea why picking an outfit to go somewhere alone with him was causing her so much trouble. This wasn’t the first time they would be just the two of them but it was the first time he was taking her somewhere alone.
“Kay, gurl, call me later and tell me what it was all about. I’m intrigued.”
“Okay, I love you, bye.” TangShi air kissed over the phone and hung up quickly before hauling out the very first dress she had dumped there and rushing to get it on over her underwear. Checking her makeup and brushing her hair again quickly, she rushed out grabbing her bag and shoes and made her way to the main stairs to go and meet him. Panic stricken at being late.
She dropped her slippers in the main hall of the entranceway, slid on the uncomfortable heels that she had in about every color and made her way outside into the bright sunshine to meet her ride. Just as she swept down the stairs, her floral summer dress floating gracefully around her legs, the beaming shine of sun against glass reflected at her and alerted her to the car coming up the drive. Synchronized almost to the second as the hands hit the half past.
YuZhi had several sports cars but today he opted for a black chauffer driven four by four that was used by their company and had tinted out windows so no one could see inside. Today he needed the secrecy considering they were going to a fertility clinic, and he didn’t want questions raised as to why his female companion wasn’t Rhea. This week the news of their split would go public and their statements about there not being any romantic love between them anymore. Last thing he needed was to be spotted with TangShi out and about before the preplanned timeline of Rhea getting them together.
He hated that his life required this level of deception and a story to cover their asses, but such was his life as a an heir to one of Chinas biggest companies, and a life in the public eye as a celebrity. Netziens could destroy a family name and hurt their stocks, so they didn’t want any scandals. He never asked for the fame, it just sort of happened thanks to good DNA and an easy personality that translated well in interviews. Those who favored wealth and good looks put him on a pedestal and had turned him into one of Shanghai’s most sought-after men. It amused him sometimes, but mostly he found it tiring.
The chauffer jumped out and opened the door for TangShi as quickly as he could, knowing they had a tight schedule, ushering her into the semi dark interior. She climbed in as gracefully as she could, avoiding looking at YuZhi and sat in the seat beside him while leaving a considerable distance between them. She waited until the door was slid closed again, giving them privacy once more, to turn to him and lay down her bag on the seat between them.