Chapter 43: Chapter 43

YuZhi came back to the table with his grandfather in tow, missing the bickering as it quieted down and they all plastered on merry smiles. His aunt and uncle behind him and everyone stood to make the perfunctory greetings. Showing respects for their elders, bowing as they were seated. The Lei family was almost right behind them and soon the whole table was settled with the addition of Mr Lei, his wife, and Juefeng, TangShi's sister, after a second round of polite welcomes while TangShi avoided looking family members in the eye.

Juefeng sneered at her half-sister although she tried to conceal it and hated how much she appeared to have changed. She was dressed in designer clothes and her hair and make up was different to the TangShi she knew. Her hair had been cut into long stylish layers and had some natural lowlights added. Her skin was looking healthier and glowy, with a professional application of makeup, and her nails were manicured and stylish to match her outfit. Juefeng hated it all and slammed her hands onto her lap to conceal her jealous reaction as she sat down. Like this TangShi was passable as a rich daughter of the Leng family and it angered her more so that YuZhi seemed relaxed beside her in a companionable way. She had hoped his obvious dislike on the day she left would continue and grow once he was stuck living with her. There didn't seem to be any obvious friction between them now.

TangShi spent the duration of the dinner in silence, her eyes on the courses of food that were served to them and listened into the idle chatter among the seated. She made sure she concentrated on eating and trying to remain invisible in case anyone should notice her.

Linlin occasionally tried to talk to her quietly but knew that TangShi was so out of her comfort zone in this setting that she wouldn't really interact. She was the queen of reverting inside her own shell sometimes. YuZhi however had become hyperaware of her beside him, could sense her shrinking into herself and had been watching the Lei's and their attitudes towards her for the last hour with growing resentment. Concluding that everything Alice had told him eight years ago, held merit. They didn't act like they were pleased to see her or missed her after all this time. Instead, there was a cold distance between them and her, and he could have sworn he had caught sneers from the two women while TangShi kept staring down. He was biting his tongue not to say anything but the longer they sat here the worse his temper was getting.

ZhengLi and he shared a couple of glances towards one another, that confirmed ZhengLi agreed and could see it too, and this strange protective instinct in him fired up somewhere from his soul. He finally had enough of seeing her like this.

"You're quiet. Are you tired? Unwell? Sit up, show the table your pretty face." He coaxed her loud enough that the girl opposite him who had been making eyes his way in an unconcealed manner would hear. He tucked his pointer finger gently under TangShi's chin to lift it up and force her to stop stopping down. "Stop staring into your lap. I want to see you when I talk to you." He coaxed with a warmer tone, encouraging her.

"She's shy. She doesn't do social gatherings very often and turns into a scared little mouse. She needs to acclimatize by coming out for dinner more often." Linlin smiled warmly, making excuses for her, and deflecting conversation away. Protecting TangShi like she always did and swooping in to always shield her from criticism.

"We should double date regularly and help her get used to it." ZhengLi offered, winking at Linlin when seeing an opportunity, who rolled her eyes and ignored him.

"I'm fine. I'm just enjoying my food and listening to everyone talk." TangShi offered in a low tone and quickly glanced up at YuZhi. She sat back trying to lift her chin and look confident like he was asking her to and immediately caught her stepmother's direct stare. That hint of disgust and intolerance and could have sworn she heard her tut.

"Nice to see you settling into your new life and looking so.... Polished. If only you had taken such care about your appearance when you lived at home, we might have taken you out more. Who knew you could be almost pretty?" Mrs. Lei raised a catty brow, her disdain subtle in her smiley tone, but her words left no doubts. YuZhi was a seasoned people reader and disliked her instantly when she sat but now, he began to internally rage and despise her with a passion. Hating her snide remark given TangShi didn't look all that different to the day he took her from their house. He hadn't given her much attention at their previous encounter but now she was on his radar, and he could sense TangShi's apprehension to reply was not unfounded.

"Maybe if they hadn't kept you like a beggar and earning your own money to clothe yourself..." Linlin mumbled under her breath, so it was barely a whisper but TangShi, ZhengLi, and YuZhi all caught it as TangShi nudged her under the table to hush.

"Thank you. Being a public interest meant I had to care more. I do try now." TangShi deflected, but YuZhi hated that her response which was probably conditioned from years of living with them was self-depreciating. His flash of temper grew from a small warm spot in his belly and erupted into his chest a bit like a growing fire.

"There was nothing wrong with how she looked or dressed before. She's a natural beauty who doesn't need designer clothes or expensive haircuts. She's not just pretty, she's beautiful, even as she was." He snapped, losing his calm control momentarily and letting his words rasp out.

Aunt RuiZi caught YuZhi's eye with a flash and scowled a warning at him that his edgy tone was disrespectful and that in her opinion his words were wrong. She had been another one who felt TangShi was a plain mess on arrival and couldn't believe he was defending her. She shook her head to warn him to back down and narrowed her eyes to scold him. YuZhi bit his tongue knowing he should relent but she made him madder.

"Nothing wrong with self-improvement. She looked great before, and great after." ZhengLi was the master of diffusion when the time called for it and he raised a glass with a grin and clinked his fork against it. Raising it high to pull all eyes to him. "How about a toast. To the meeting of two notable families who will be joined by a joyous union. The coming together of two great names in Shanghai and future business alliances. A big wedding, a happy event, and hopefully some future Leng babies."

"Here, here" Linlin joined in, helping move them from uneasy bad feeling, even though she knew this was all fake and for show, but all she cared about was getting the focus from TangShi before she threw something at these awful women. She was about ready to jump up and rip hair extensions out of the hags opposite had YuZhi not spoken first. YuZhi had impressed her though and cemented in her heart that under that coolness, he was a good guy after all.

Grandfather raised his glass and commanded with a loud 'Here, here' in response and no one dared to defy him so quickly joined in. It was a mix of moods, mostly concealed disdain around the table, minus the four sitting to one side who were ready to end this and leave.

YuZhi hated all this, hated the formality and that it was a necessity in this play of a story. He had been over this crap before they even started being hounded by the press weeks ago.

TangShi was desperate to go home and hide and ZhengLi and Linlin were both hoping to cut loose with their best friends and find a bar to shake this experience off. This formality didn't need to be repeated anytime soon as no doubt the netziens would soon have gossip swirling that the families dining together were a sure sign of an impending marriage. The public opinion about them dating was mostly positive now Rhea seemed to be happy and also rumored to have a new famous boyfriend. Things were going to plan.

They were halfway there. Next was an engagement party, a big one to show that the Leng's had money and status and were overjoyed about this union, and finally the wedding would be the last curtain call. After that they could relax and have a relatively normal life until TangShi gave birth to an heir. Once she did that, she would be free, and a quiet divorce could take place and give them some time before announcing a separation. It seemed so easy, but it was a lot of jumping through hoops.