Chu Yifeng’s maternal grandfather had not yet returned, but the Aimer residence welcomed the person least expected to appear there: Chu Yifeng’s mother, Emily. Only two days earlier they had heard she was enjoying herself in China with a handsome younger man, so it was a surprise to see her now.
“My darling son! Mommy’s home! Did you miss me? Give Mommy a kiss!”
Emily threw her arms around Chu Yifeng, puckering her brilliantly red lips to kiss his cheek. A large hand suddenly blocked her face and pushed her back at arm’s length.
“Stay away from me,” Chu Yifeng said expressionlessly. A closer look would have revealed a hint of distaste. Emily promptly clutched her chest as if devastated. With special effects, two streams of tears would have been running down her face. “Son! Mommy loves you so much! How can you reject me? Boo-hoo, Mommy doesn’t want to live anymore!”
Chu Yifeng released her and headed upstairs.
Emily was acting with such heartfelt enthusiasm that seeing her leading man walk away ruined the performance. Her expression changed at once. “Hey! I wasn’t finished talking! How did I raise such an impolite child? I wonder who gave birth to him!”
She chased him for two steps, realized she could not catch up, and stamped her feet.
Wang Cheng, who had been drinking coffee on the sofa, was already doubled over laughing.
Mother Emily really was entertaining. Someone so beautiful, aristocratic, wealthy and influential ought to have seemed aloof and unapproachable, but she behaved like an ordinary young woman. Somehow, she was still a delight to look at.
Noticing that Emily had spotted him, Wang Cheng hastily restrained his expression and pretended to concentrate on his coffee.
Emily sat beside him with a warm smile. “Chengcheng, are you comfortable here? If there’s anything you’re not used to, just say so.”
“Thank you, Mother Emily. I’m comfortable. There’s no need to trouble anyone.” Wang Cheng edged discreetly away.
“That’s good. Since Leo brought you home, he clearly accepts you wholeheartedly as his partner. We parents won’t interfere, as long as the two of you are happy. But there’s one obstacle you need to overcome. Leo’s grandfather has always placed enormous expectations on him, and there’s only one way to win the old man over.” Emily giggled.
Wang Cheng’s scalp prickled. “W-what way?”
Emily gently took his hand and patted it. “It’s actually simple. The two of you just need to work hard and have a baby.”
Wang Cheng: “…”
He suddenly felt that the entire world was conspiring against him.
Emily winked, smiling with obvious satisfaction. “Isn’t that a wonderful suggestion? I think so too.”
You’re asking yourself, aren’t you?
Wang Cheng grumbled inwardly, then asked, “Mother Emily, can I ask you something? You still look so young. Wouldn’t having another child yourself solve the problem?” Surely it made more sense to ask a woman to give birth than a man. Right? Right!
“Oh, I can’t do that.” Emily wagged a finger at him mysteriously.
Before Wang Cheng could ask why, Chu Yifeng came downstairs. The subject was dropped, but Wang Cheng vaguely suspected that the answer involved Chu Yifeng. Perhaps he would find out another day.
The two men then left for their offices. Wang Cheng had visited the overseas subsidiary the day before. Its market expansion was still in the early stages, and the branch desperately needed manpower, so he was going to work on his second day in Italy. Chu Yifeng, despite being the president, seemed to have a lighter schedule. He even came to collect Wang Cheng before Wang Cheng finished work.
The overseas subsidiary stood in the busiest commercial district of the capital. Office buildings surrounded it, their Gothic architecture lending the area an atmosphere very different from China. Wang Cheng sometimes felt as though he were sightseeing rather than working. The headquarters had chosen this location because of the partnership with Aimer. The two offices were in different buildings but were not far apart. Rent was exorbitant, though Zhou Group could afford it.
Employees at Aimer’s headquarters were astonished that their normally elusive president had actually been working in his office for the last two days. People whispered that something extraordinary must have happened, but only a few knew the real reason. The rest could only speculate.
As soon as Chu Yifeng entered his office, Lawyer Fang strode in.
“Don’t you know how to knock?”
Chu Yifeng handed the last set of papers to his secretary. They were accumulated documents that needed only his signature. The secretary gathered them and hurried out.
“I did knock,” Fang He replied indignantly. He had knocked, after all, although only after coming inside and receiving Chu Yifeng’s glare.
“Do you think I’ve given Charlie too little vacation time?”
Fang He immediately recalled Charlie’s vacation the previous year and involuntarily tensed. Just thinking about the experience made him want to weep. He blamed the man before him most of all. If Chu Yifeng had not indulged his subordinate, Fang He would not have ended up on the receiving end of Charlie’s relentless bedroom attentions. The memory was an enduring reminder of who he considered responsible.
Then Fang He smiled wickedly. “That threat doesn’t work anymore. Even if Charlie never takes another vacation, the fellow still has his way with me at night. So why should I be afraid of you?”
“Have you accepted your fate so completely?” Chu Yifeng asked.
Fang He gave him a dead-eyed stare. “Whose fault is that? You should be grateful I haven’t taken revenge. But speaking of that…”
His sly smile returned. “Your sweetheart has come to Italy, hasn’t he? Better keep him safe. If certain unpleasant stories reach his ears, he might quarrel with you.”
Both men knew exactly what he meant. Chu Yifeng was the ultimate eligible bachelor, wealthy, powerful and handsome, practically the ideal partner in countless women’s eyes. Women had thrown themselves at him since he was young, and quite a few men had too.
Before meeting Wang Cheng, Chu Yifeng had not lived like a monk. He had maintained relationships with several women. Since meeting Wang Cheng, however, he had been devoted exclusively to him. That did not mean his admirers vanished. They had stayed away only because Chu Yifeng was in China. Now that he was back, the news was bound to draw them out.
Chu Yifeng was not easily threatened. Calmly, he said, “Yesterday I saw a woman looking for Charlie. The two of them spent over an hour alone in his office.”
Fang He’s eyes went flat again. “She must have been a client. Don’t try to fool me.”
Chu Yifeng shrugged and offered no explanation.
Fang He nearly burst with frustration. Finally he muttered, “You win,” and left, forgetting why he had come in the first place. Once suspicion took root, even someone who trusted their partner might begin to wonder. As a lawyer, Fang He was skilled at influencing how people thought and understood that all too well.
When working hours ended, Chu Yifeng left punctually to collect Wang Cheng.
His employees were astonished again. Their president almost never left work exactly on time. That alone was enough to heighten curiosity. Something must have happened. Perhaps someone had finally appeared who could tame their formidable boss?
It was the closest guess to the truth, yet almost nobody believed it. People immediately scoffed. What sort of woman could possibly deserve their president? They considered every candidate they knew and concluded that none did.
By then, Chu Yifeng had already picked up Wang Cheng.
In a few more days, once the subsidiary’s operations settled down, Wang Cheng would not need to work quite so hard.
When they returned to the estate, they found several additional people in the sitting room. Wang Cheng immediately noticed the old man in an armchair. His hair was gray-white, and wrinkles marked his pale face. He looked elderly but energetic, with sharp eyes. Wang Cheng saw him frown faintly when their gazes met. He had to be Chu Yifeng’s maternal grandfather, Old Locke.
Chu Yifeng took his hand. “Grandfather’s home. Let’s greet him.”
Wang Cheng glanced at their joined hands and smiled. He was not nervous, but he understood what Chu Yifeng was doing. It was partly reassurance and partly a declaration that they belonged together.
As the pair approached, everyone’s gaze fell on their clasped hands. Emily looked as though she had settled in to watch a show.
Old Locke no longer displayed his initial displeasure. He studied them impassively.
Ignoring the heavy atmosphere, Chu Yifeng said, “Grandfather, this is the partner I have chosen to spend my life with. His name is Zhou Cheng.”
Old Locke said nothing.
Wang Cheng sensibly stepped forward. “Hello, Grandfather. I’m Zhou Cheng.” He spoke English. After practicing for some time, his pronunciation had become quite good. Before Old Locke could answer, the girl sitting beside Emily suddenly spoke in Italian.