282— A Conversation With Gao Tinghua

Like now, drawing closer to Xu Kexin meant moving away a bit from Li Chuanmo, who didn't like the space and gently drew her back to his side with a hand on her waist.

Xu Kexin pretended not to notice and focused on giving Pei Yueran her news. Handing her an exquisitely embroidered envelope, she said with a smile, "I'm fine. Speaking of which, I wanted to use this opportunity to invite you to my wedding."

Pleasantly surprised, Pei Yueran gave her a hug, "Wonderful news. Congratulations."

Reading the details, she smiled, "The groom is Du Zimo? The young man who came with you to our wedding?"

"The one and the same," Xu Kexin said, looking shy. After months of couple therapy, her phobia had increased by leaps and bounds, and now, Xu Kexin felt she could give marriage and intimacy a shot.

The wedding date was still about two months away, and Pei Yueran roughly checked their schedule mentally. She planned to attend. "We'll do our best to be there. Congratulations again."

"Thank you, we'd love to have you." Xu Kexin said before releasing them to go and greet another guest.

The gathering lasted for about three and half hours. After the cutting of the cake, everyone took to the dance floor for a waltz or three, before the guests began leaving one after the other.

All the gifts had been loaded into the car and sent ahead by the time Pei Yueran and Li Chuanmo were leaving.

Pei Yueran rested her head against the passenger seat as Gong Anwei drove them home.

"Tired?" Li Chuanmo asked as he held her hand.

"A little bit. I'm glad the party went well though."

Li Chuanmo nodded, "Wife, you've worked hard."

Pei Yueran smiled as she tried to massage her stiff neck, "My mouth hurts from smiling too much at this point, and my neck hurts too."

"Who needs the massager now?" Li Chuanmo teased.

"Whatever." Pei Yueran almost pouted.

"On a second thought, I could be of help," Li Chuanmo said as he gently massaged the back of her neck slowly, working out the tension.

Pei Yueran swallowed her sound of relief even as she reluctantly said, "Remove your hand."

"Why? Don't you feel better?" This was while he made circles on her sensitive skin with the tip of his fingers, making her shiver. Could this still be called a massage?

Pei Yueran gritted her teeth and swatted his hand away. She had been embarrassed enough today, and she refused to take anymore chances.

Seeing that he wasn't listening to her, she threatened him.

"Behave, or you won't get your final gift."

Intrigued, Li Chuanmo let his hand drop. "I still have a gift? Wife, you're so full of surprises today."

Pei Yueran smiled sweetly, "That's why you should behave and be a good boy, so that you can enjoy it while it lasts."

Li Chuanmo laughed in his low, deep baritone, filling the car with the sound.

Gong Anwei couldn't hear their conversation because they were talking in low voices, and he was thankful for that. He just knew his boss would have been saying things that were not for a third party's ears.

Pei Yueran's phone rang at that moment, and she hesitated a moment at the name displayed before picking it.

"Elder Sister, how are you doing?"

Pei Yueran could not explain how awkward it felt hearing Gao Tinghua call her elder sister, but she forced it down and responded normally, "I'm fine thank you....and you?"

Gao Tinghua heard her voice and gave a wry smile. He also found it very awkward to address her that way, but he had no choice, that was who she was.

More than that, he said it more for his ears than for her. The best way to get over his "heartbreak" was to let his errant heart understand that it was familial love he felt for her, nothing more.

"I'm doing well too, thanks."

After a short pause, he continued, "Is Chairman Li there? I would like to wish him a happy birthday."

Acquiescing, Pei Yueran gave one of her ear buds to Li Chuanmo.

"I'm here." Li Chuanmo's deep voice that was full of laughter just moments ago was now decidedly cool.

"Happy birthday Chairman Li. Wishing you a year of good health, happiness, success, and prosperity."

Li Chuanmo raised a brow at the stream of good wishes, but he accepted it all calmly, "Thank you."

After a brief moment of silence, Gao Tinghua continued to speak, "That aside, I called to inform the both of you that my mother has spoken with the rest of the family.

"We're looking at a suitable date for introducing you to high society. Mother is considering a date three weeks from now. It will be a dinner banquet."

Pei Yueran looked askance at Li Chuanmo with a trace of panic. Weren't they moving too fast?

Li Chuanmo squeezed her hand in a gesture of reassurance.

Both of them were quiet for so long that the person beside Gao Tinghua became anxious, "Ran'er, why aren't you saying anything?"

Pei Yueran rubbed her forehead when she heard Qiao Mingran's voice. "Madam, I just don't know how to feel about this. Isn't it too fast? Are you sure I've been accepted by your family?"

Qiao Mingran collected the phone from her son, "Ran'er, that's of course. I will never do anything to harm you. You just need to show your face and be acknowledged by the family elders, that's all. I would of course love it if you would also stay a few days at the house, you know, to get acquainted with us and the Capital."

Pei Yueran could not bear the careful caution in the older woman's voice.

Looking at Li Chuanmo who nodded in silent support of whatever decision she planned to make, she exhaled, "Please give me a few days to think about it and make some arrangements."

Qiao Mingran nodded happily. At least that was not an outright rejection, "Wonderful. You just leave any arrangements to me. Once you decide on when you're coming, just send me a message, or tell your younger brother. He'll take care of everything."

Gao Tinghua, this "younger brother " that was still nursing his broken heart: "..."

Pei Yueran nodded as if Qiao Mingran could see her.

"My regards to your husband. Tell him happy birthday for me."

Since Li Chuanmo didn't respond, Pei Yueran answered, "Okay Madam. Good bye."

"Bye Ran'er."

The call ended and the car remained silent, save for the soft music Gong Anwei had put on.

"If it bothers you, you can just say no. You don't have to do this if you don't want to." Li Chuanmo tried to put her at ease.

"I know, but I feel so conflicted, and honestly, a bit scared," Pei Yueran spoke.

"Ran, look at me."