I can handle it

"You-- you---," Lin Wenshun wanted to say 'bitch,' but she was brought up to be a polite lady and still couldn't bring herself to say that unpleasant word. "You vile thing!"

Ying Yue suppressed the urge to giggle and made a gasping sound, as if she was surprised with the woman's choice of words. "Oh, dear me, mother, now what did I do wrong?"

"You have no right to call me that--"

"But I'm legally your daughter-in-law--"

"I do not recognize you as my daughter-in-law!"

"Oh," Ying Yue cocked her head to one side with a smile. She would have given anything to have seen the face of Fei Huangjin's mother when she read the newspaper this morning. "Don't worry so much about that, mother. It doesn't matter what you think. The important thing is that everyone else recognizes me as the young madame of the Fei's."

Lin Wenshun's eyes blazed with fury. It was true; because of the marriage announcement, everyone would now be treating her as Fei Huangjin's wife. "What in the world did my son ever see in you?"

"I'm not so sure either," she smirked, "perhaps you should ask Huangjin himself."

"Ask me what?" Fei Huangjin's deep voice filled her ear. His eyebrows were raised questioningly as he gazed at the mischievous look on Ying Yue's face. What was this woman up to now?

She answered him with a wide grin, handing him her phone. "Here, for you." She stood up and disappeared upstairs as soon as he picked up the call.

The moment Fei Huangjin placed the phone against his ear, he could instantly make out the sound of his mother's yapping, making his face grim with displeasure. "--not fooling me! I can get the Fei's to cancel that marriage certificate! You don't deserve--"

"Stop right there before you agitate me." He growled.

Lin Wenshun didn't seem to notice the annoyance in his tone and went ahead with what she wanted to say. "Huangjin? Huangjin! Oh, thank God it's you. Why did you marry that woman? She's just a measly secretary. Other than that pretty face, what can she do?--"

"Mother,--"

She continued, "--She just wants your money--"

"--Mother, stop,--"

"--She'll ruin you--"

"I SAID STOP!" Fei Huangjin yelled, heaving slightly amidst the awkward and uncomfortable silence charging the air.

His mother was rendered speechless at his outburst. In the 29 years that he had existed, even if they weren't as close as she'd hoped, she had never ever been yelled at by Fei Huangjin this way. At least, not until today.

"Ying Yue is my wife. And I chose her to be my wife. Grandfather has approved of my marriage. Do I need to spell that out for you?" His lips pursed from the tension as he waited for Lin Wenshun to say something.

"Fine."

The line clicked and ended there, but the frosty look on his face didn't.

***

Fei Huangjin took hold of her hand as they stepped out of the Audi. Cameras flashed and mics were thrusted to their direction. It was still a few minutes past seven in the morning, and yet there was already a large crowd of reporters gathered right outside the Fei International building.

"CEO Fei, how does your family feel about your wife?"

"CEO Fei, when's the wedding?"

"CEO Fei, how long have you two been dating?"

The man ignored them all and wrapped an arm around Ying Yue, ushering her towards the building. However, it didn't end there. Once inside, there were poignant stares directed at her from almost every young female employee.

He cocked his head to one side thoughtfully. "I should have given you a day off," he said quietly.

Ying Yue turned to him with a confused look. "Why? We already took the day off yesterday. I want to work."

"The news of our marriage seemed to have quite the stimulating effect on people." He eyed her carefully as he loosened his hold on her and unlocked his office door.

One corner of her lips turned up. She knew he was trying to be protective, but she didn't need that. "I can handle it."

"Mmm. Alright." A gleam of playfulness flashed in his eyes as he looked her up and down. She was stunning and looking very amorous in a burgundy dress and high heels. She looked like she was dressed to kill. "Well, if that isn't a problem, why don't you come inside my office so we can… work… on things."

She gave him a look that said 'I know what you're thinking about' and rolled her eyes. Her pink-tinged cheeks and the barely-noticeable lifting of her lips didn't allow her to deny the fact that she was both amused and a bit embarrassed. Instead, she turned to her desk and busied her thoughts about work. "I'm not going to do that with you in your office. Dream on. I've sent your schedule to your e-mail. Your first meeting starts in half an hour."