Alix blinked in surprise like a deer caught in headlights in the middle of the road. How did he know about Wei Tao? Was he spying on her? Did he do a background check on her already?
"I am not spying on you." he informed her.
She gasped extravagantly and covered her mouth. Did she say her thoughts out loud? No way, or perhaps, did he read her mind?
She gasped and looked at him suspiciously. She had a system, and the system did say that there were others playing the game besides her. Could he be a game player?
"System, come out and explain." she called in worry.
She wanted to rely on her ability to fix his legs and maybe wow him with other extra ordinary things to sponge off him and borrow his power. If he was a game player, she was doomed.
Caishen in the meantime scoffed and shook his head in dismay. This woman's thoughts were written all over her face. She could not even hide what she was thinking, she was like a baby with zero survival skills. If she was a business woman and this was a deal, he would have gobbled her up already.
Someone like her should never play poker or any kind of game that involved bluffing.
"I did not read your mind." he told her.
Alix gasped again, and Caishen chuckled.
"What is going on in your mind? You have watched too many movies. Nobody can really read another person's mind in reality. We read facial cues, behavior and other small things to tell what others are thinking. It was not hard to guess what you were thinking."
"Oh," she gasped.
She blinked about five times and repeated her words, "Oh, oh, oooh." she drawled on as her brain caught up with what he was saying.
He was using psychology to get into her mind. No wonder he was a rich business man.
"Sit down." he told her.
He hated people standing over him ever since his his accident, it made him uncomfortable. He needed to read the face of whoever he was talking to directly in order to understand what they were thinking better.
Alix slowly approached the navy blue sofa which was closest to her and she sat down. The canary cage, she put down on the ground slowly.
Caishen preferred it this way, they were face to face and he could speak to her without having to strain his neck.
A knock on Caishen's door made them both look at that way. The door was opened and his mother came in with a tray in her hands.
Between Caishen and Alix was a small table on which she placed the drinks and then looked at Alix.
There was that warning in her eyes, the one she gave her yesterday when she ordered to do whatever her son wanted.
"Mother, good evening." Alix stood up and greeted her politely.
"En, good evening." Yura answered.
Alix's eyes trailed over her mother-in-law who looked elegant even now at home. Her beautiful skin was glowing, the dress on her body was made of smooth silk and she smelled amazing.
Alix pretended to look down and she sniffed herself. Her cheap perfume had already faded but at least she did not stink so that was a relief.
"What are you two up to?" Yura asked them.
"Having a conversation, mother." Caishen answered.
"En, I heard that you are going to have your dinner here together." she was speaking slowly, but her voice was firm and questioning.
Just come out and ask what you want, Alix thought.
"Mmm, there is a lot to discuss." Caishen answered.
He expected his mother to leave but Yura pursed her lips and looked back and forth between him and Alix. She tapped her fingers against the tray as she contemplated.
"I heard that you brought home a kitten for Caishen. Is that it?" Yura pointed to the kitten whose head was buried in Caishen's chest like a little baby.
"Yes mother." Alix answered.
"Is it vaccinated? Where did it come from? Is it home trained and do you have the appropriate certificates?" she asked.
"Mother, can this wait? Alix and I really need to discuss our marriage." Caishen touched her arm, and looked at her with a request in his eyes.
She was here to talk about small inconsequential things simply because she was worried about his health and the possibility of him being upset.
"If you are worried about vaccinations, I will take it to the vet tomorrow." he assured her.
Still uncertain, Yura nodded, shot one last warning look at Alix and then left.
Talk about an overly protective mother, Alix thought. Did she think that she would eat her son or have the cat assasinate him?
"My mother means well." Caishen looked at her and said.
Alix smiled at him and replied softly, "I understand, you were involved in a big accident after all so she must be worried all the time now."
She took a sip of the juice which was in the glass, she had been feeling a little parched since she stepped into this room.
Apple juice, I don't like apple juice, Alix thought. She could eat apples but the juice itself made her throat itchy.
She put the glass down and smiled at him.
He did not smile back or attempt to make her feel at ease. Rather, he stared at her grimly and said, "About your ex boyfriend, I want to make it clear that I did not spy on you. I sent some body guards to watch over you after what happened when you went to work. They took pictures and identified every suspicious person coming from your music school in case it turned out to be a journalist with malicious intent.
It just so happened that Wei Tao was seen by them. I will not make it a secret that I have done a background search on you.
For a man like me, everything must be cautiously approached because I treat it like business. Basically almost everything in my life is treated like a business deal. Our marriage too is like a business deal in a way, you gain something out of it and I do the same.
I find it easier to handle situations and people when I know their motives and expectations. So, tell me Lin Alix, what is it that you hope to gain from this marriage?"
The moment of truth was here and she could admit the truth and say what it was that she truly wanted. Or perhaps, she could lay everything on the table just as Jin Kang had advised her to do. Marriage was one of those it takes two to tangle situations after all.
"I want to be your wife." she declared.
Caishen had just lifted the glass juice and when she said that he placed it back down. She was already his wife, perhaps she misunderstood him.
"Miss Lin, did you not understand me when I said that I have investigated your background. There is no single point where our live intersected so I don't believe you when you say that you have always liked me or want to be my wife."
Alix folded her arms, leaned back against the chair and said confidently, "Your investigation did not cover my personal feelings, did it? How did you investigate my heart?"
Caishen chuckled and looked down, he suddenly thought that what he needed was glass of wine and not juice.
"I have seen you on television, I have seen your pictures in newspapers or financial magazines and I have always kept in mind that you were engaged to me before Billi came along. You used the document yourself to prove it so that the public would stop referring to me as a mistress.
It's concrete evidence that you are my man. Am I wrong?" She faced him boldly, daring him with her gaze to prove her wrong.
Caishen shook his head, and leaned back in his wheel chair.
"Fine, we were once engaged." he admitted. "But.."
"I want us to give the marriage the chance, no divorce, marriage of convenience, or sexless marriage crap." She further declared boldly, cutting him off.
Surprised, Caishen tilted his head and gave her an amused look , chuckling again.
Alix was determined and she pushed her chin out and looked at him almost defiantly even though he had not replied.
I am going to make you a man that every woman desires, a man that Billi will want but never get. I am going to make her eat her heart out in regret as I take your hand and show you off.
"I don't think you understand what you are saying." Caishen told her. He looked at the glass of juice from which she had taken one sip. Is there alcohol in there? he asked himself. "I am already aware that your father threatened you.."
"No, I could have run away if I wanted." she cut him off. "Whatever road led us here, the deal is done. You can only reject me if I am not your type physically but do not push me away because of your physical condition."
She saw him clench his jaw when she mentioned his physical condition.
"I will make you stand again, or I will contribute and the rest will be on you and a physical therapist."
Annoyed, Caishen stared with her with rage and he sneered. Then he asked her through gritted teeth, "Are you mocking me?"
He had been to the best and most expensive doctors, he had seen every expert in the country and outside. His mother had hired every miracle worker, been to every temple, church and mosque. She had visited every known practitioner of Chinese traditional medicine.
The diagnosis did not change, he could not walk again. If this was the trick she had up her sleeve than he might as well kick her out immediately.
Alix took off the glove and showed him her hand, her fingers. "You are not the only one here with a physical disability. When my fingers were broken, I looked for every way to get them fixed.
When I was old enough, I sold some of my mothers jewels and raised money which I used to go from one expert to another. Most of them told me the same thing and I almost gave up but I met the right one by chance.
I could not even move these fingers but look at them now, they can move. They are not healed but I am making progress. That mysterious man told me that his medicine can fix every broken bone in the body, no matter how bad the situation is.
I will share all of my medicines with you but if you think that I am going to poison you we can even drink from the same bottle. All I want in return is you, your name, your power and your influence.
That is the deal on the table on my end. So, what about you, what do you want out of this marriage?"
Caishen grabbed her hand slightly roughly so that he could take a closer look at her fingers. He already knew that they were broken, it's why she gave up on playing the piano.
According to the information that had been dug up on her, these fingers were useless, and it was also true that she had searched high and low for a cure, her financial statements proved it.
"I don't see it." he said and threw her hand to the side.
Alix, put the glove back on her hand as told him, "You will, very soon. I am not in a hurry to prove myself to you so you can watch patiently and wait. Take your time deciding what you want, marriage involves two people after all.
Think about it carefully and then you can share what you think is best for us moving forward."
He had been expecting her to push the subject or find another way of convincing him but she backed down.
Is that it? he asked himself.
His eyes strayed to her gloved hand, and a myriad questions bounced around in his mind but he was too afraid to ask and too afraid to hope. It was better to keep her close and observe.
If her mysterious medicine could save him from the plight of the wheelchair, he would take it.
His original plan was to initiate a divorce after a year in which he would pay her a sizeable fee and they could go their separate ways quietly. Now, he changed his mind on a whim. It would be better if she remained his wife for a while, he would bring up the divorce later.
Meow, the kitten cried.
Caishen raised his hand and soothed it, beaming with confidence in the new plan which he had made. If she wanted a real marriage he would play along with her for a while.
How hard could it be?
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