His Eccentric Wife - Chapter 4 Family And Dreams
Xin Qian was sitting beside Wang Yong in his car as the driver drove them to the Wang mansion. With a smile on her face, she was looking out at the passing scenery. She had spent some amazing moments, getting to know Wang Yong better. His likes, dislikes, his academic qualifications, and even his hobbies, in short everything. Starting from what color he likes to the brand of cologne he prefers and the side of the bed he likes to sleep on.
She got to know so much about him and yet there was so much uncovered, that she didn’t know. The time just wasn’t enough.
“So, are we meeting again tomorrow?” Wang Yong asked, breaking the silent atmosphere.
Xin Qian narrowed her eyes slightly as she stared at Wang Yong for a few seconds before asking, “Tomorrow? Anything special?”
“Well, it’s only fair that you tell me something about yourself as you got to know so much about me today.” Wang Yong shrugged slightly, “So what do you think?”
Xin Qian gave Wang Yong a charming smile matching his own, “You didn’t deny when I said that you had me investigated, what do you want to know now?”
“A top scorer in academics, a great artist and a philanthropist, that was all that I got to know. And I am sure that these three words don’t describe all of you. So shall I book us a table at your favorite restaurant for tomorrow?” Wang Yong asked.
“Let’s meet at your place. That way we would also be able to discuss about setting up my office in one of those empty rooms on the second floor.” Xin Qian replied.
“Okay.” Wang Yong looked at her with confused and curious eyes, “That reminds me about something that I wanted to ask you. What do you exactly do? I know that you have studied fashion designing but I got no information on where and for whom do you work.”
Xin Qian smiled cryptically, “That’s a mystery for some other day.”
“Why not today, why not now?” Wang Yong couldn’t handle the curiosity. It was another first for him.
Xin Qian didn’t bother to reply, instead, she announced, “Ah! We are here. Time to meet the in-laws.” she gave Wang Yong a sugary sweet smile as the car stopped in front of the huge Wang mansion and she got out of the car.
Wang Yong rolled his eyes but didn’t press the issue further. If not today then he will get his answer someday, after all, she was going to be his wife and just 12 days after they will be staying together. There’s no way she would be able to hide then.
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Xin Qian was feeling a bit uncomfortable and hell lot nervous sitting among the Wang family. Only 4 chairs out of 24 were occupied on the huge dining table that sat in the middle of a huge room that was used only for dining purposes. Wang Yong’s younger brother, Wang Jiang was not present.
She could feel the burn of the glares that Wang Lei, Wang Yong’s father was shooting her way. Xin Qian knew that he was assessing his ‘new’ daughter-in-law, trying to analyze if she would fit in his family and benefit the Wang name. While, on the other hand, Wang Yong’s stepmother was giving her appreciative and encouraging smile. Just like the mother she was, sweet and kind.
“What are your academic qualifications?” Wang Lei asked, taking a bit of his food, “If you don’t mind.”
Xin Qian gave him the smile that she had mastered over the years. That one particular business smile, “I have completed a degree in fashion designing from Fashion Institute of Technology, New York. I am a painter as well, have sold a few paintings of my own over the years while I was staying in New York.”
“Painter, huh?” Xin Qian didn’t like the way he looked at her and the humiliating tone of his.
“Father, she is the one who made the painting that you have hung in your office, ‘The Three Watcher’s West’,” added Wang Yong.
Now that had Wang Lei’s eyes widen in surprise, “You are the Mosaic?” he asked.
Xin Qian gave him the best sugary smile that she could muster at that moment, “Yeah, I sign my paintings using that name.” she kept it simple.
Hearing that Wang Lei’s expression changed in an instant and now he was smiling like a proud father, “That’s very impressive. A few paintings you said? Dear girl, you are counted among the best painters of this era. Don’t you know how famous you are?”
Xin Qian was thankful that the fact that she had also done fashion designing was forgotten and that her being the famous painter ‘Mosaic’ was enough to satisfy the old man. Phew!
“I am not that famous Mr. Wang. There are many wonderful painters out in the world that are much better than me.” said Xin Qian taking a sip of water.
“Hhhmm. Humble and a known name, you will be the perfect daughter-in-law for our family.” said Wang Lei.
“Xin Qian, do have this sweet & sour meat, I made this especially for you.” interjected Ming Yue, changing the topic of discussion on the table. Thanks to her the rest of the luch went uneventful.
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“I am happy that my son is getting married to you instead of your sister.” exclaimed Ming Yue as she sat beside Xin Qian. She was keeping her company while Wang Yong was discussing some office issues with his father in the latter’s study.
“Don’t mind but Yu Yan wasn’t the right choice for Yong. I am glad that things are falling in place. You were meant to be our daughter-in-law and Yong’s wife.”
Xin Qian didn’t know how to react at that so she just stayed quiet. “Here, take this. It belongs to you.” said Ming Yue, placing a wooden box in Xin Qian’s hands.
“What is this?” Xin Qian asked.
“Something that Yong’s late mother had it made for her daughter-in-law, for you.” Ming Yue smiled.
Xin Qian opened the box and found a gorgeous Jade and gold bracelet. Carefully she picked up the piece of jewelry, staring at it with admiring eyes. “This is beautiful.” was all Xin Qian could say.
“And now this is yours.” Ming Yue took the bracelet for Xin Qian’s hand and made her wear it, “Take good care of both of them. This bracelet and Wang Yong both are precious in their own way. I hope you’ll take good care of both of them. Especially Yong, give my son the love he deserves, hhmm.”
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After spending another half an hour with the Wang parents, Xin Qian and Wang Yong were now on their way back to Wang Yong’s house as Xin Qian’s car was still there.
“By the way, what type of wedding do you want? Traditional Chinese wedding or Church wedding ceremony?” asked Wang Yong, completely out of the blue.
“We don’t have the right to make a decision regarding the wedding guest list. The children of the country’s top 2 families are getting married so it will be a huge affair. But can we do both the ceremonies?” asked Xin Qian.
“What do you have in mind?” questioned Wang Yong.
Xin Qian shifted a bit close to Wang Yong, “We can do the huge traditional wedding to please our families and a small church ceremony for just us. No outsider will be invited, just family and friends and us.”
“I like the way you think.” he commented.
“See, I respect and honor our traditions, and the traditional wedding does mean a lot to me. But getting married in a church and saying my own vows is a dream of mine.” Xin Qian had that beautiful smile on her face to which Wang Yong couldn’t refuse.
“If you want this, then you will get it. I will let my parents know about it, you talk with yours and we can have our private ceremony the next day after the traditional wedding.” Wang Yong suggested.
“Okay.” Xin Qian’s smile turned into a wide grin. She was happy that Wang Yong was understanding and respectful towards her wishes. Slowly and steadily he was kind of becoming the Mr. Right that she had been trying to find. Li Qiang was a mistake and she was thankful to him and Yu Yan for doing what they did because that only brought Wang Yong in her life.
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Li Qiang sighed. He was tired and feeling extremely bored. He and Yu Yan had come to meet a designer to design the wedding dress, the “perfect” wedding dress that Yu Yan wanted to wear on their wedding. And from the past 7 hours, 7 long hours, Yu Yan had been looking at various dresses and other accessories but nothing seemed to please her.
It was as if the almighty God finally heard his plea when suddenly Yu Yan announced, “Oh my God! This is the perfect dress that I was looking for.”
Li Qiang stretched his limbs and heaved a sigh of relief, “Finally indeed!” he muttered to himself.
He didn’t see the wedding dress because of the age-old superstition but he was the one who was going to pay for Yu Yan’s dress. And when the bill of the dress and the accessories that Yu Yan had chosen was presented to Li Qiang, he was left shocked.
“I.5 million dollars?!” Li Qiang whisper yelled, looking at Yu Yan with wide eyes.
Yu Yan gently clutched the collar of the shirt that Li Qiang was wearing and softly murmured, “This is my perfect wedding dress Li Qiang, won’t you buy this for me?” she made a face that was hard to resist for Li Qiang.
“Okay.” he said like a dutiful and fiance and signed 1.5 million dollars cheque to the designer.