"What?" Lijuan asked her mother nervously when her mother just sat on her bed and just kept staring at her without saying a word.
Her mother had followed her into her room the moment she left the sitting room to change her clothes so she could go out with Jackie.
"You're lying about Wang Yun aren't you?" Mother Mei asked giving her a suspicious look.
"Didn't you see him when he came over here to pick me up?" Lijuan asked unable to meet her mother's eyes.
"Now that I think about it, how come you were the only one laughing so much while he wasn't?" Mother Mei asked suspiciously.
"Why are you suddenly asking so many questions?" Lijuan asked wearily. Even though she felt bad about lying to her mother, she didn't have any choice.
"Mei Lijuan..." Her mother continued to look at her suspiciously which made her feel uncomfortable.
She really couldn't believe her mother who never understood a simple joke unless it was explained to her several times had caught her in her act.
"I can see through that mask. You took something from him didn't you?" Mother Mei asked in worry.
"I didn't mean to lie to you, I'm sorry." Lijuan said before going to sit beside her mother.
Mother Mei sighed deeply when she heard her. How could Lijuan steal from Wang Yun!?
"What did you take from him that made him come to the house?" She asked curiously, always careful not to use the word 'steal'.
"His pen. And he has refused to let me be. It's so embarrassing..." Lijuan complained with a pout.
"You should know people attach sentimental value to things, it's not just about the price tag " Mother Mei chided her.
"I know and I'm sorry." Lijuan said looking remorseful.
"And why haven't you returned the pen to him? Don't tell me you lost it?" Mother Mei sat up as she asked.
"I can't even think about losing it. He's probably going to kill me!"
"Kill you? He seemed like a good guy. I noticed it at the party and I heard about how he treated you when he brought you back home yesterday. And to think he played along with you.. does he like you? Or is something really going on between the both of you?" Mother Mei asked with a hopeful expression.
"Nah, I'm not interested in him. He is too stiff. I don't even know why I lied about going out on a date with him, maybe it was just to spite Rong." Lijuan said.
"Since you started already I really hope you can get a chance to win his heart for real. It's not impossible you know?" Mother Mei asked with a smile.
"Me? Win his heart? I don't like him. He is such a condescending prude." Lijuan said with deviance.
"And how was he supposed to treat you? You should be grateful he is not trying to expose you."
Mother Mei pat her hand gently before standing up.
"I'll just pretend I didn't hear anything from you. Just make sure neither your sisters nor your father finds out about this sham." She warned before heading towards the door.
"Don't worry mother, I've got it covered." She said with a reassuring smile.
**********
"Jackie!" Jiaying called in a whisper making Jackie frown at her.
"What were you going to say earlier on? Why did Yun really come to the house?" Jiaying asked curiously.
"Why are you asking me that?" Jackie asked with a frown. He really hoped the junior lady wasn't forgetting her place.
"I just want to know. Tell me the truth, she stole from him right?" Jiaying asked him again.
"You do realize she is your elder sister? And you know I work for her? If that was actually the case why would I want to confide in you about it?" Jackie asked.
"I'm not going to report to my father, I just want to know that's all. If she isn't dating him then I can get a chance with his younger brother." Jiaying said in an attempt to convince him.
"Don't think I haven't noticed the way you look at her. I know you have feelings for her. Will you be happy to lose her to Yun? don't you think you're best for her?" Jiaying added trying her luck.
Jackie simply stood up and left the living room without sparing her another glance. He had no idea what Lijuan was doing with Wang Yun, but he wasn't going to get involved in her family drama.
**********
Wang Yun placed a call across to his realtor for the third time that week..
"You haven't gotten a place for me yet?" He asked immediately the call connected.
"I was just about to call you. I did get one at Dynasty Regency. It's an estate." He explained.
Dynasty Regency? Wasn't that the place he had gone to the other day? That was definitely the estate where that pen thief lived. No way, he had no intention of living in the same estate with her.
"I don't want it. How soon can you get me another?" He asked.
"Getting a house of your taste will be difficult but should be achievable in a few weeks." The realtor said.
Yun sighed and used a hand to massage his forehead. Just then, his mother entered inside his office without even knocking.
"I'll get back to you." He said to the realtor and ended the call.
"I saw your interview." Madam Wang said with barely concealed anger.
"I'm sure you did." Yun said as he kept going through the documents on his desk. Knowing his mother, she was going to say whatever she wanted to say whether or not he gave her his attention.
"Are you dating that girl?" She asked.
"Which girl?" Yun asked playing dumb.
"The girl the reporter mentioned." Madam Yun said.
"Why are you also asking me that when I already answered?" Yun asked raising his head to look at his mother.
"Have you been with her after the Party?" Madam Yun asked trying not to blow up.
"Yes. I was at her house just yesterday." He knew she was definitely going to blow up now.
"How can you go to her house? Didn't I specifically say you can't be friends with you?" She yelled at him.
"And I remember telling you that you don't have that right. I will be friends with whoever I choose." He said in a very calm voice.
"Also, I don't appreciate you yelling in my office. I'm the vice president of this company and when we are at work you're my staff. You can only do this when we are at home." Yun told her, making her grit her teeth in anger.
"We will finish this at home. Get ready to start going on blind dates." Madam Yun said before storming out.
'Reason I hate being around all of them' He reminded himself angrily.
This pen thief was causing problems for him in every way possible. Had God sent her into his life to punish him for a crime he didn't know he committed?
He quickly brought out his phone to call his realtor again..
"I'll just come and see the house at Dynasty Regency " Yun said quickly.
He will just have to find a way to stay away from the thief. She didn't have to know he lived there anyway. It's not like he was going to be moving about announcing to everyone that he lived there.