Chapter 14 - The Agreement

As soon as they got out of the ballroom, she jerked her hand off aggressively out of Jian's tight grasp.

"What was that about?!" Mei exclaimed, enraged by his actions.

"What?" he said, looking the other way.

"Are you seriou..." she was about complete her sentence when Jian cut her off by saying

"Look, I know why you're here okay? And I know what your dad wants you to do because that's precisely what my father wants me to do", He critiqued, looking annoyed.

"Listen to me clearly now woman, I don't know you nor do I care about you, and clearly, it is the same for you. But because of my father, I have to "MARRY" you," He jeered, looking disgusted, air quoting and emphasizing the word marry.

"I.." Mei tried to say until Jian cut her off again by placing his finger on her mouth.

"I'm not finished yet. I told your dad and my family something so that they would be happy once and for all. I know how Feng has been behaving since he got his new wife, and this is the first time I've seen him happy so I'm sure you wouldn't want to ruin that now, Would you? Not just that; but if we get "MARRIED" I will be able to run as the CEO for Liu Entertainment, making everyone's lives easier."

Squinting her eyes, she asked, "What do you mean able to run as CEO?"

"Just some deal about me being responsible, you don't have to worry about that because the point is that you would be helping me, and in return, I will help you prepare for your debut," Jian responded, dismissing her question.

Mei looked at him, dissatisfied, "I am capable of debuting on my own, Thank you very much but I don't need your help."

He smirked and scoffed, "Hmm, I seem to be recalling a specific trainee in our academy, who has been struggling since the past years because she isn't able to promote to the advanced classes. You should know her."

Her breathing hastened by the second as she grimaced at him, burying her nails in her palms again, blocked by the band-aid he had applied just moments ago.

"I'll make you a deal. You help me become the CEO, while I promote you to Class C's final group, which will debut in one month from now." Jian alluded.

"One month?! Won't people suspect anything?" Mei gaped, her eyes wide open.

"I can arrange for a director to sign a deal with you and cast you as the lead in a movie. You've been in the academy for far too long and have got quite the attention due to this recent scandal of yours. I don't think people would suspect too much regarding this." he clarified, shrugging his shoulders.

Mei looked at him and thought deeply.

"If you are uneasy of the fact that I would force you to comply with anything you don't want to do, I can assure you that that is a needless worry; I just want to get married to appease my parents."

"I...I don't know."

"Well either you accept it and embrace it or cry over it because if you tell your father that you aren't gonna marry me now, he would be more devastated than ever." Jian berated her as he raised one of his eyebrows.

She stammered back, hesitating, " It...It just doesn't f....feel right."

"That's why I say, accept it and embrace it and get it done over it, You're not the only one my father can choose," Jian stated, a slight grin on his lips.

Mei looked down at her fingers and started fiddling.

'I wanted to get my debut with my own efforts. But if it wasn't for Daiyu, I would have debuted 3 years ago.'

Rubbing her eyes she nodded,

"It's for the best."

"I would take that as you accepting the deal and that you're gonna work with it. I hope you'll stick with your statement." He said, sliding his hands through his hair and walking backward.

"Now, if you will, I don't want to waste any more of my time with you," Jian concluded, turning his back around and styling his tuxedo,

"Oh and, We won't be revealing to anyone that we are married."

Walking off in the distance leaving behind Mei gaping at his back with her mind screaming in her.

'Wasting his time? Pretentious a##hole, but at least I won't have to marry some random dude chosen by Suyin.' sighing she stepped back into the ballroom where everyone seemed to be having the time of their lives.

Groups of people dancing, occupying more than half of the ballroom.

Mei headed towards the bar, her mind blank as she stared at the people laughing away.

She heard a loud tapping sound coming from the middle of the room as Chen, alongside Jian and Ai, held a mic to his lips and announced,

"My dear family and friends, I apologize for disrupting your enjoyment but to tell you the truth the purpose of this party isn't simple as reconnecting with our long-time friends. As you all know, this year was my 60th birthday and I have been contemplating my retirement for some months now. After careful consideration, I have decided to pass the torch. So without further ado, I would like to formally introduce you to the new CEO of Liu Entertainment!"

Deafening screams and applause commenced when Chen grabbed his son's hand and pulled him forward.

When the noise dimmed down, Chen gave the mic to Jian, ushering him to give a short speech.

He took a deep breath and began, "It's been years since I imagined what this would be like. Since I was a child, I always saw how hard my father worked for the company and I clearly remember how young me was always fascinated by his meetings and presentations. His style of leadership intrigued my youthful heart. It was then that I realized that this is what I want to do. Solving problems, progressing our business, all to make people smile. I wish I could be as great as him and I truly hope my seniors will accept and help me reach a similar level."

Bowing down, he beamed at the crowd, who were going wild, while the board members of the company walked up to him and congratulated him.

The women blushed when they saw the cold Jian Liu with a radiating and warm face, arguing amongst each other that he smiled at them.

Chen took the mic back, continuing another announcement, "And I am pleased to..." as Jian snatched it back, mumbling something in his ears, making him frown. He looked up at his father, mouthing the words 'Please' as Chen sighed and nodded a yes.

Mei glanced at them, squinting her eyes and shrugging her shoulders off.

"Who knows? Excuse me! Can I get a dry apple martini please?"