14 It's a gift.

Jackie never took his eyes off Lijuan as she shopped.

They had been there for two hours already and he would have already gotten seriously tired if he wasn't already used to her.

He knew the reason she spent more time there wasn't exactly because she wanted to buy too many things. It was because she was studying every design and brand carefully. One hidden aspect of Lijuan's life was her desire to become a fashion designer one day. She spent most of her time huddled up inside her room making designs.

"What would you like for Lunch young mistress?" Jackie asked her.

Lijuan stared blankly at his face for a few seconds before his words seemed to register.

"Oh.. Lunch? I don't feel hungry." She remembered the feast she had that morning and didn't think she would be able to eat till the next day.

"Are you hungry? We could go get you something..."

"I'm okay. Thank you" He said with a curt bow.

"What's with the sudden formality?" She asked, quirking a brow at him. "Now that I think about it, you've been acting quite strange since this morning. Is something wrong?" She asked with a worried frown.

"Did my father or sisters tell you anything?"

"No young mistr—"

"Stop that!" She interrupted with a deeper frown. "I don't like it."

"I'm sorry." He apologised with a bow making her sigh.

***************

Wang Yun thought the place would have been nicer if it wasn't very close to where the Mei family lived. It was only about a 5 minutes driving distance between his place and hers and even though he knew it might be impossible to bump into her, the fact that there was a possiblity tired him out.

"So what do you think Vice President Wang?" His realtor asked him with a smile, thankful he was checking out this place at last. He had rejected almost all the other houses without even bothering to look at them after the pictures he sent him. Either he didn't like the environment or the house was too small or the house was too large or he didn't like the painting or the roof looked strange. There was always one excuse or the other to the point where he would have given up if he didn't know he was dealing with a big fish. He had been very certain Wang Yun wouldn't find any fault in this house. This was Dynasty Regency and only someone with real psychiatric problems would find fault.

"It's a livable place" Yun answered with indifference.

Although his realtor was annoyed by his indifference, he still managed to keep a big smile on his face.

"When do you plan to move in?"

"As soon as possible. Let's get this done quickly, I have a meeting to attend."

************

"You're moving out?" His mother barged into his room that evening to ask.

"I am. Don't you think you should knock before coming into my room like this?"

"Why? You've been away for a long time and now that you're supposed to spend time with the family, you want to move out?" She asked ignoring his question.

"It's something I have to do eventually and I believe I've gotten to that age. I can't continue to stay here with–"

"Excuses!" She cut in. "You are doing this because of that girl right? You want enough time for the both of you, isn't it?" She asked glaring at him.

Yun could not help but chuckle even though he was annoyed. "Where do you get these ideas from?" He asked.

"What's funny?" She asked with a frown.

"Everything... look mother, I don't want to tire you out so much so I'll tell you now. There's nothing going on between Mei Lijuan and I."

"How am I supposed to believe that? Everyone saw what happened at the party. You even went to her house and refused to answer that reporter's question thereby making them speculate something is actually going on between the two of you. Do you really think I am that stupid?" She asked eyeing him suspiciously.

Wang Yun sighed deeply. He knew the reason all of this was becoming an issue was the fact that he hadn't debunked the rumour. He had always been quick to debunk dating rumours like that— either his PR team handled it, or whenever he was asked during interviews whether he was dating a certain person who was seen together with him, he simply said a big NO.

He also would have done so when asked during the press conference but then he remembered the pen thief had lied to her family that they were going out. He didn't know how that thought had randomly popped into his head in that short time but he had refused to answer the question to at least save her from embarrassment even though he didn't know how that concerned him.

"You're not moving out! And I'm already in the process of finding you a suitable bride." She announced.

"I am moving out, mother. And I can find myself a bride." He said before planting a kiss on her cheek, and disappeared through the door making her fume with anger.

There was no way she was going to let him move out, neither was she going to allow that thieving girl end up with her son. She thought angrily as she walked into her room.

"What's the problem this time?" Her husband asked after dropping the book he had been reading.

"Yun is actually moving out, can you believe it?" She asked him disbelievingly.

"Yes I can. He is a grown up man. Why not allow him spread his wings?" He suggested as he moved over to wrap her in his arms.

"He is not a bird." She snapped at him before walking past him to sit on the bed.

"You're getting yourself unnecessarily worked up." He said before moving back to his side of the bed to pick up his book.

"Did you watch the interview today? Did you see how he refused to deny his relationship with that Kleptomaniac?" she turned to look at him and angrily snatched the book from his hands when she realized he was reading again and ignoring her.

He sighed deeply trying to hold on to his patience, "I saw the interview. He didn't accept nor deny it. He simply said he didn't want his private affairs to be made public." He said with forced patience.

"What does that sound like in your ears? Wasn't that the same thing I said to the reporters when I just started going out with you and I was interviewed?" She asked with a frown.

"What's wrong if he decides to date her? She is pretty and from a good home. Leave him alone and please allow me read my book in peace." He said snatching the book from her side.

Mr Wang was secretly pleased and really hoped Yun was truly interested in the Kleptomaniac. That could be something he would use against Yun in the future.

"I know what to do. His grandfather. I'll report him to his grandfather." She said nodding her head. He would never disobey his grandfather, she could count on that.

**********

"What's that?" Lijuan asked Jackie curiously when he handed her a chocolate bar.

"It's a gift." He said with a shrug.

"What for? It's not even my birthday yet." She reminded him.

"I decided to get you a gift everytime you fail to pick something. I noticed you didn't today even when I wasn't standing too close to you." He said with a flushed face.

"Aw, that's really sweet of you. But don't you think if I stop stealing you will no longer have a job? and if you no longer have your job I'll lose your friendship." She said with a frown.

"At least you'll have 'your Yun'." Jackie pointed out before turning to leave.