You Think Too Highly Of Yourself

"Is this what you want?" Mo Nianchen questioned Li Shengxia with a frown.

"Yes."

His brows furrowed deeper. D*mn it! There he was thinking of throwing a grant wedding for the woman but for what? His gosh darned terrible memory! He knew she hated him but this was beyond his expectations. Would having both their names side by side embarrassed her as well?

The delight that filled his heart earlier was replaced by indifference. "You think too highly of yourself. You're only but a toy to me. Do you really think you're the crown princess?"

The woman became quiet.

There was a hint of disdain in his eyes. For reasons unknown to herself, her heart sank all of a sudden. This felt ten times worse than being pestered by Thunder earlier.

This was Mo Nianchen's specialty; only he could embarrass her to this extent.

"I know where I belong without having to be reminded," she said after a long silence.

There was an expression on his face she could not quite place. The corners of his lips twitched into a sarcastic smile before announcing domineeringly, "If so, move into my place tomorrow as well."

Startled, she lifted her head to look at him with disbelief. "What? I can't…"

"Try challenging me if you wish to have everything you own turn into ashes within seconds!"

Her retort was stuck in her throat because she knew there was nothing the man would not do.

She regained her composure before asking tentatively once more. "So, will you not publicize the relationship between us?"

There seemed to be a baffling rage hidden deep beneath his eyes as his lips curled into a sardonic smile. "Between us? The relationship between an owner and his toy? Is it even worth mentioning?"

The nonchalance and evident ridicule in his voice sent a piercing pain through her heart.

He always had his ways of hurting her.

An owner and his toy. A game.

Exactly, why would he waste the energy to publicize something like this…

The condition she offered must have sounded ridiculous.

She held both her hands tightly for fear of revealing her emotion. "Sure, I'll give you my word."

She had long accustomed to his moodiness thus she always tried her best to cooperate with his desires so as to not offend him. Otherwise, her father would undoubtedly fly off the handle if he learned about this trade.

There was no other way than lying to her parents if she intended to move out of the Li residence. She could tell them she had rented a place somewhere closer to the Emperor Heritance for ease of traveling to work. They would probably believe her since she had never lied before.

Given Mo Nianchen's personality, this game might end sooner than expected.

"Don't bother bringing your dirty belongings. Come over right after work. I'll deal with the people from your house."

The woman's hands balled into fists. "It's alright. I'll tell them myself," she finally said.

"Bang." He kicked the coffee table next to him before storming off in a rage.

She stood there motionless in silence. In her mind, he still got upset after she fulfilled all his wishes! Why was he the one throwing a tantrum? She should be the one that was rendered speechless?!

The owner and his toy… His toy… Ha!

In fact, she did not think highly of herself. She just did not want to indulge herself in fantasy again.

Mo Niancheng's behavior always confused her, which was something she would have trouble recognizing if he really cared for her. However, she learned from previous lessons that she was nothing but a game to him. There was no need to take any details seriously because he would have treated someone else with the same feigned gentleness as well.

On the other hand, the man who stormed off in rage was sulking too. The fury in his heart grew more intense as her words kept ringing in his mind.

'I don't mind going to work but please don't publicize our relationship. That'll make me uncomfortable."

To hell with that!

Was she that eager to cut off ties with him?

What was the matter? Was she afraid that other men would not approach her after learning about the news?

Haha... Hahaha!

His pace picked up as he was lost in his own thoughts. "Bang." He threw a fist into the car window. The window stayed intact but his hand started to bleed. It was not unlike the one-sided love he had for her; he was the only one suffering whereas she was invincible to any sort of pain. 

That woman! Even if he imprisoned her by his side day and night, she would still not develop any feelings for him…

*

Rao Xueyue and Li Wanqiao were watching TV in the living room when Li Shengxia returned home.

Li Wanqiao, the daughter of Rao Xueyue, joined the Li family when the latter married Li Shengxia's father. She was technically Li Shengxia's elder sister although they were not blood-related.

Li Shengxia was the Young Lady of the family but her life was not actually as elegant as the title sounded. Her father remarried Rao Xueyue when her mother disappeared in the early years.

Besides, the Li family's status was reclining lately, not to mention her father was currently bedridden. Li Shengxia became the servant of the household that took charge of every responsibility.

Li Wanqiao threw a sideways glance as the door opened. "Hey, look, the Great Young Lady finally returns. The dishes are stacking high in the sink so hurry up and do the washing."

"The bin in the bathroom needs emptying as well," the mother added.

"Don't forget to sweep the living room too."

The two women yelled out the instructions while their eyes remained glued to the television. 

Li Shengxia tidied up quietly. Finally, she rehearsed the words in her mind several times before slowly approaching the other women.

"Oi, you're blocking my view so get out of the way. Go take a shower if you're done cleaning up. You stink!" Li Wanqiao said with a frown.

Her mother too had her brows furrowed. "Didn't you hear your elder sister? Why're you still standing there?" she said with her nose pinched.

Li Shengxia bit her lips and finally mustered her courage. "Aunt, Elder Sister, I might move out for a little while…"

Li Wanqiao leaped from the couch before she could finish her sentence. "What? You're moving out? Who's going to tidy up the house? What about money? Who's going to support the family? Don't you want your father to stay in the hospital?"

The other woman also turned infuriated immediately. "Li Shengxia, how dare you? Not only did you break off the engagement with the suitor I arranged but he even needed to visit the hospital after that. You're thinking of moving out? Do you think I'll be here to clear up your mess?"

'The man is already seventy years old thus it's not surprising for him to suffer a heart attack. He's even a decade older than my father,' Li Shengxia thought to herself.

She would not have tolerated Rao Xueyue if not for her father. However, her father's deteriorating health could not afford to be burdened by more shocking news…

In the beginning, she thought Rao Xueyue was kind and approachable but the woman gradually turned into a mean and harsh person.