Dongfang Liuyun did not dream all night though she slept more lightly than ever as she was not feeling very comfortable. Therefore, she woke up very early in the morning, changed into a set of gray casual clothes, and went downstairs directly after freshening up.
Aunt Wang and the other servants had just gotten up too. Aunt Wang stayed with the servants in a small bungalow next to the villa. Since Qi Lei did not like being served by someone when he was at home, Aunt Wang had purposely made such arrangements.
However, when she came down, she happened to see Aunt Wang preparing to start making breakfast. Dongfang Liuyun told her that she would do it herself, so Aunt Wang left the kitchen with a smile.
When Qi Lei woke up, he naturally did not see the woman beside him. He quickly got up to freshen up and put on clean casual wear, then went downstairs unhurriedly.
Dongfang Liuyun, who was preparing breakfast, did not look back when she heard the movement from the staircase. She poured some juice into the glass and greeted directly “Good morning!”
“Why are you up so early? Just leave these chores to Aunt Wang.” Qi Lei walked down the stairs and approached her in a few strides. He took the juice from her and glanced at her. He then breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that her complexion was no longer as pale as last night and that she was as calm and indifferent as before.
“She’s gone out for some groceries. When I was in the front yard, I heard that students are now on summer vacation. Aunt Wang’s grandson is staying in the countryside now due to the holiday, so why don’t we let her go back and pay him a visit? Anyway, we don’t need so many people to take care of the house. It would be nice for her to come back after summer vacation,” Dongfang Liuyun suggested as she turned her head and raised her glistening eyes to gaze at him.
His eyes were still for a split second, and he nodded happily. “That’s up to you. I’ll talk to her about that later.”
He also sat down while saying so.
“Remember to reward her from time to time. I heard that she’s been serving your mother for a long time.” Dongfang Liuyun poured him another glass of juice and then sat down opposite him.
“Oh my, you do know how to be considerate about them, don’t you?” He seemed to have realized something, and the corners of his lips curved as he gave her a sideways gaze.
“Have I been busted? Anyway, I believe that all relationships between people are mutual. Not to mention, I’ll be living with you for many years to come, so I’ll benefit from all these simple efforts, thus I don’t see why shouldn’t I do so,” Dongfang Liuyun answered calmly without hiding her thoughts at all. As she explained, she handed Qi Lei half a bowl of millet porridge that she had just prepared.
After Qi Lei took it from her unceremoniously, he looked down at the porridge in the bowl and stirred it a bit with the spoon. He did not look at her as he replied, “That’s good. You’re starting to grind and shape yourself into a businessman, but I strongly agree with what you said.”
“Are you saying that I’m suitable to become a brazen businessman like you?”
Facing her scrutinizing gaze, Qi Lei answered without hesitation, “No, you’re only suitable in becoming an inscrutable, superb businessman. The word ‘brazen’ is apt for someone like me.”
She then gave him a sideways glance, lifted the corners of her lips, and lowered her head to enjoy her breakfast.
When breakfast was over, he suddenly raised his head to look at her and asked, “What are you going to do today?”
Dongfang Liuyun did not stop her actions and calmly replied, “Tomorrow is a big day, so I have to prepare some gifts.”
“For the engagement banquet between Jin Sheng and Dongfang Rouer?” Qi Lei recalled the red invitation card that she was flipping through last night immediately.
“Well, of course. I have to go back and attend it.”
“Whatever is occurring back home seems to make you feel rather uneasy.” Qi Lei seemed to be ruefully moved deep down and he gave her a pregnant glance.
At this moment, Dongfang Liuyun’s movements paused for a second, and she smiled after a while. “Every family has its issues especially for a big family like mine. Otherwise, what do you think? However, this has been how I live since I was a child, and I’ve already gotten used to it. Well, I’ll roughly sort out the relationship between the members of the Dongfang family and send it to you via email tonight.”
Qi Lei nodded before hesitating for a moment, and said, “There’s almost nobody in my family now. You know everything except…”
He wanted to say something after that, but when he thought about it, it seemed that there was no need for that, so he paused for a moment and did not continue. Dongfang Liuyun also raised her eyes to glance at him as she thought about it and responded, “I can roughly understand your situation. You’re leading a very peaceful life now. Marrying me may not be a good choice for you. That’s a fact that with your conditions, there are so many great women to choose from.”
“Just assume that you have earned it from the choice that I’ve made.” With a smile, Qi Lei took a piece of tissue from the side to wipe his mouth gracefully and looked at her with a heavy gaze. “Moreover, I’m quite picky when it comes to women. I’ve tried almost every type that the world has to offer, so if when it comes to you, I don’t mind having it the hard way because…”
“Because we were partners and allies before this, and I know that you don’t love me either. Us being together right now has nothing to do with love, and I don’t know if it’s the right thing to do. Still, some things need to be practiced. So, since we’ve both chosen, we can only bet on it.”
Dongfang Liuyun took a shallow breath as she suddenly picked up the cup and stared ahead in a trance before continuing, “Don’t worry. I’m not a hypocritical woman. Since I have the guts to marry you, I’m mentally prepared for anything to be thrown at me, so if you’re not blindly pursuing something like love, I think I’ll be very suitable for you.”
She raised the cup in her hand and motioned a toast to him.
However, Qi Lei was a little surprised when she said that, and his gaze became a little unpredictable and enigmatic.
‘If I’m not blindly pursuing something like love?’
Well, if…
“What if love is truly what I pursue? Can’t you give it to me?” he could not help but ask after giving it a thought for a long time. His eyes were fixed on her indifferent eyes, not wanting to miss the change of emotions in her gaze.
When those words came hurtling out, Dongfang Liuyun was taken aback for a second. She remained quiet for a while as she put the glass in her hand down and silently lowered her gaze. After some time, she raised her eyes and looked at him. Honesty was all he could see in her eyes as she said, “That’s because I don’t even know whether if I still have this feeling within me. I reckon that I can’t even give it to myself, so how can I give it to others?
“Furthermore, we…are allies. It’s a husband-and-wife relationship formed based on a comrades-in-arms partnership, which is also a good choice, although I might have wronged you a little in that sense.”
