Lin Shuyun waited quietly in her husband's office. Beyond the glass door, she could see her husband and her son furiously arguing about something. As it happens, she knew exactly what got them both so agitated.
She adjusted her qipao again, and calmly poured herself some tea - with grace and elegance a few women could mimic. With the hot water pouring down the spout like a white dragon, steam curled around her, giving her an almost otherworldly look.
It wasn't hard to guess what the father and son were talking about. Lu Mian's showdown in the breakfast shop has spread so fast, three separate women in her circle had shared it "with kindness". The consequences were now a lot bigger. She was curious to see how her son would handle this. "I hope you won't let me down again" she murmured quietly.
Within a few minutes the two men walked in looking visibly upset. "Thank god you are here A'Yun" said Father Pei while picking up a cup of tea. "We need you to talk some sense into that girl. Do you want to call her now?"
Instead of agreeing or disagreeing with the statement, Lin Shuyun asked "What do you mean husband? What's happening?"
As if on cue Pei Yan burst in "Your precious daughter in law to be has absolutely ruined us. There's a video of her being a shrew and accusing me of baseless things. Now it's viral! It has to be taken down and Mianmian has to give a statement before our stock prices start falling. I don't want to be called up by the board to give an explanation for this" he cursed.
"Did you wonder how that uninteresting video quickly became so viral?" Asked Lin Shuyun mildly. Indeed, he's a complete idiot.
"Does it matter? What matters now is that she posts a retraction so that our stocks become stable and our company doesn't suffer. A'yun…" before her husband could continue she calmly interrupted him.
"None of what Lu Mian said was false. It is indeed our son who's shamelessly flirting around. And", she continued sternly, "who asked him to go seek her out? None of this would've happened if he didn't try to provoke her in the first place."
Pei Yan flushed red. His mother had really spared him no face and had laid out his intentions bare. "I wanted to go in and talk to her. She was the one who started yelling."
Lin Shuyun was disgusted "Since when did mighty CEO Pei start blaming an underage girl for his mistakes? Yan'er as a man can't you take responsibility for what you did?"
"A'Yun, regardless of how things happened, we need to do damage control now. There's no use blaming someone." Interjected father Pei hurriedly. "Or, we can only go to the Lu family for an explanation.."
"Our Lu family doesn't have such a shameless daughter…" declared a mighty voice from the door. It was Grandma Lu. Along with Lu Yezhao, she had come to twist the engagement in Xinxin's favor. She was quite thrilled to see how unhappy this family was with that jinx. This would be really easy now.
The Pei family immediately got up "Grandma" murmured Pei Yan. Pleased at the show of respect, Grandma Lu walked in and patted Pei Yan's hand. "Good Child. You're suffering all because of that jinx. It's not your fault."
Pei Yan frowned. That didn't sound ok. He knew perfectly well that it was he who had messed up. However, he still wanted Lu Mian to bail him out this time - so that his reputation doesn't get damaged. As for her, she was going to be his wife. He would treat her well. Once he explained to her and apologised for not giving her attention, he was confident Lu Mian would come back to him. What he didn't expect was the family's attitude towards Lu Mian. As the eldest daughter of the Lu family, he always thought Mianmian was pampered. At least, that's what Xinxin had told him. Seeing her participate in the company, and have control of the prescriptions, he had assumed that was true. Grandma Lu's words however, didn't sound like it.
Pei Chengyuan was smarter. He sensed the Lu family was planning something - and realized that he still held the upper hand. Quickly adjusting his mindset, he said "Indeed it wasn't his fault. But it is true that the Pei family is now suffering. We need to do something before our shares fall even further."
Grandma Lu wasn't fazed "We indeed have a solution. Our family Mianmian is at fault. She has a temper and will not make a virtuous wife. Infact, looking at how disrespectful she is, she doesn't deserve the good fortune. That's why, we propose changing the engagement - to our Xinxin instead. She is very capable of being your Pei family wife and will be able to help Yan'er with work."
Pei Chengyuan was stunned. He didn't for a moment think this would be the plan. He wasn't all for it though. He knew how smart the Lu girl actually was. Letting go of a pearl for a fish eye would be a big mistake. Before he could interject however, his son spoke up.
"Absolutely not." said Pei Yan. "I never wanted to marry anyone other than Mianmian. She will be my wife. We have been childhood sweethearts and love each other. She will see it my way once I explain it to her."
Pei Chengyuan didn't interrupt. Indeed, at this stage, speaking up for Lu Xinya really wouldn't help. What qualifications did the Second Miss Lu have to help the Pei family?! Having a deadbeat wife who couldn't help with fame or fortune would be a big loss. The elder branch would immediately gain an upper hand and they would lose the advantage they had.
Grandma Lu expected this response. "Our Xinxin is smarter than Mianmian. She has learnt Chinese medicine herself and as her dowry, we give you all of the Lu family's prescriptions."
There was dead silence. The Lu family prescriptions were supposed to be hidden treasures. Everyone thought it was a farce, given how the Lu family could never make any money with it. Until recently, in the last two decades, they suddenly shot to fame. Even father Pei had to admit how effective the prescriptions were. They held just 5 of them - and every single drug made by the prescription was a treasure.
Pei Chengyuan was moved. He wanted the prescriptions. And, if it could help resolve this mess, then that would be a win for him as well!
"Oh, can Grandma Lu now decide on this?" Lin Shuyun's voice was sharply sweet. "Forgive my ignorance - I thought the Lu family prescriptions were modified by the first young madam of the family and belong to Lu Mian?"
"Regardless, I will not change this engagement." cut in Pei Yan quickly. "Lu Mian will be my wife. I like her. I am not with her for the benefits she brings. I am perfectly capable of taking care of company matters." Why did everyone think he cant do anything without the prescriptions?! He was a perfectly capable Leader - he will show them.
"Mother, Father, Grandma Lu, Uncle Lu, I need to go now to attend to some company matters. Please continue chatting." and Pei Yan left.
"The Pei family should consider this more." continued Lu Yezhao. He wasn't ready to give up just yet. "Our Xinxin will also be participating in the Nine Strings Festival. It's hosted by the Lanting Acadamey of Music and Culture after all and she'll bring us glory - which could also be the Pei famili'es."
Pei Chengyuan was swayed. Looks like this girl is not totally useless afterall.
Lin Shuyun smiled sweetly "If our Yan'er agrees, we are ok with switching the bride." Well played Mianmian. I didn't expect your to work this well! "But I want to know more about the prescriptions. Does the Lu family really have the rights to decide the dowry?"
Lu Yezhao frowned "The Lu family prescriptions are legendary. What my late wife did was merely modify a few of them. Our Xinxin who is a prodigy in Chinese Medicine can definitely modify them too - and they will all belong to you."
Lu Shuyun pretended not to notice how he has danced around the issue of ownership. Looks like he knows he doesn't have the rights for Qinging's prescriptions after all. She merely hummed and let it slide.
"Well, we will see how the youngsters handle it." murmured Pei Chengyuan, not convinced yet. "Thank you for coming over, can I please trouble you to stay for lunch"?
And after exchanging pleasantries, the Lu family left. Pei Chengyuan walked up to his wife and picked up the next tea she had already poured for him. This is how a woman should be. Beautiful. Considerate of her man. Pei Chengyuan believed himself to be a fantastic husband. He didn't fool around and he had made their son a CEO.
"What do you think of the Lu family's proposal?" suddenly asked Lu Shuyun.
"Not a bad idea. If we could get benefits, I don't see why not. And, it looks like this girl will get more prescriptions. It will make our standing stronger." All that mattered to Pei Chengyuan was the company.
"Did you realize they don't own the modified prescriptions?"Lin Shuyun pressed.
"Only a fool would miss that" snorted Pei Chengyuan. "They think they are so clever, dancing around that issue. It's not a big deal in my opinion. If a woman 20yrs back could do it, I am sure as a learned Chinese Practitioner, the second girl could do it too."
Lin Shuyun quietly sipped her tea. "Do you remember our deal 20 yrs back Chengyuan"? She asked softly.
Pei Chengyuan was startled badly "Why bring it up now? I haven't let you down… and besides, aren't things working well?" He was really flustered.
He had met his wife for the first time on a business trip. She looked like a wealthy family's heiress. What had drawn him to her was her beauty and her elegance. And if he could marry a wealthy woman, there would be benefits afterall. After many rounds of wine and lots of promises to wed, they had a night of passion in a hotel. Their son Yan'er was conceived that night. However, when he woke up, she had left - and he couldn't find her no matter how much he tried.
A month later, Lin Shuyun had come to his door, with a pregnancy report and a suitcase full of jewllery and treasures. Her family had dissapporved of the pregnancy, he learnt. And had chased her out. But she had managed to get some money from her friend and had sought him out.
"Don't marry me because of the baby second master Pei." She had told him boldly. "I am here not to force you into marriage - but let you know I am planning to keep the baby and will raise him well. If one day you let me down, I will leave and not look back."
The riches she brought with her had helped him rise in his family, and with time, immersed in his success, he had forgotten all that she had done for him.
"A'yun, I promise I haven't done anything to let you down."
"And yet, here you are ready to plot against my best friend's daughter. Do you not know how much she has helped us? The riches I came to you with were all hers. You have no idea how much I owe her. If you loved me, won't my debts be yours too?" She asked him, her eyes piercing and not leaving his.
Pei Chengyuan backtracked "We will make sure we give her a different marriage - a good one. We can even adopt her as our daughter. This is about the Pei family after all…"
"Lu Mianmian doesn't need our measly Pei family's help." She cut him off coldly. "This is not about her…"
"Measly Pei family?" Pei Chengyuan was angry now. He took a lot of pride in his family and how far he has risen. "How dare you say that? It is that measly family that has clothed you and given you the life of luxury you enjoy today. Have you forgotten how you came to me? If not for this family what will you be? Don't be ungrateful Lin Shuyun" he roared.
"So that's how Master Pei has seen me all along." she whispered quietly, her face pale. Not once did she imagine the man she loved and had built a life with would think she needed to be grateful to him. She got up with dignity and quietly moved to the door.
"You've indeed forgotten our initial days Master Pei." she said quietly, not looking back. She had helped her husband with the company so much - not just with money, but with strategy and acumen too. "I did all that because of love. Not because I expected you to be grateful." And she slowly walked out the door.
Pei Chengyuan was frustrated. He knew he had indeed gone too far. "A'yun, wait…" he rushed through the door and grabbed her hand.
Lin Shuyun turned "I will not live with a man who betrays my values, my friend, and thinks so poorly of me." and she decisively freed herself and walked away.
"Dad - grandpa and the older branch are coming. We need to act now" Pei Yan called from the conference room next door.
Pei Chengyuan watched her retreating back for one more second and turned to meet his son. I will explain it to her when I get back.