Interrupted

Back to the present:

Ye-Jin: (confused) who's Liu Ming and Yu Wan?

Mr Liu: (rolling eyes) you would have already known it if you hadn't interrupted us.

Although his words seemed stern he wasn't actually scolding her. His eyes were filled with warmth for his future daughter-in-law. He was extremely satisfied by his son's choice. Apples really don't fall far away from trees. This young woman did remind him of his wife back home.

Ray: (displeased) why are you scolding her father?

Ye-Jin frowned. She didn't want this father-son duo to have another argument as they had half an hour ago. She was already tired of their childish behaviour. She sighed and rubbed her temples. She couldn't help but remember what happened thirty minutes ago.

***

[Ye-Jin was shocked to know that Mr Liu was Ray's father. But given her mild temperament, she recovered pretty quickly. But it was Ray, who was having a difficult time curbing his anxiety. Part of it came from the fact that he was facing his father after five years. The little grey hairs splattered across the elder man's head was a clear indication of the stress he went through. He couldn't help but feel stifled by guilt. To distract himself he opened his mouth only to invite a pointless argument.

Ray: (complaining) how can you upset my woman, father?

Jian Yi: (sneering) why can't I? You've hurt my woman for five years already. This is just payback.

Ray was speechless. How could his father become this shameless that he dared to use his mother as an excuse?

Ye-Jin wasn't any better either. Her jaw had already hit the floor.

Jian Yi: (smirking) I heard someone tried to put their hands on your woman? Did you give them candy before sending them off?

He was mocking Ray's soft personality. He couldn't help it. All the anger and disappointment suppressed inside him was slowly coming out when he was faced with this unreliable son of his.

Ye-Jin: (chiming in) I took care of them.

Liu Jian Yi or Mr Liu raised an eyebrow at her defensive reply. She was protecting his useless son and his lips couldn't help but twitch. Also, he was curious to know how she dealt with them.

Jian Yi: oh... so how did you deal with them?

Ye-Jin: (hesitating) um...

Jian Yi: you can tell me, I won't judge you.

Ye-Jin: (reluctant) well... I made sure that the man experienced enough pleasure with animals and men alike before he was cut and died from blood loss.

Jian Yi: (impressed) you really did that?

He couldn't help but laugh out loud when he saw her nod her head meekly. Indeed his son had good tastes just like him.

Ray: (defensive) stop it, father! You're making her uncomfortable!

Jian Yi: (frowning) am I? I was having a peaceful lunch with my daughter-in-law but you came and ruined it!

Ray: (surprised) who ruined what? You ruined my lunch plans with her!

He deliberately didn't mention the topic of his father's acceptance of his relationship. If he did, he would flush and stutter and that would result in more mocking. Ye-Jin almost chocked on her spit. The more she listened, the more absurd they were sounding.

Jian Yi: I didn't! I made these plans last night!

Ray: Well, I asked her first!

Jian Yi: (smug) I got her father's permission.

So many things were wrong with this statement but what father Liu wanted to rub in Ray's face was that her father himself arranged this meeting whereas the guy had barely spoken with his son. There were no other intentions.

Ray: I already have her whole family's blessing!

Ye-Jin couldn't take it anymore. She smacked Ray hard on his head. Since she was irritated and she couldn't vent on Mr Liu- it was a hard hit. Ray winced in pain and rubbed his head. He turned to look at her only to be knocked down by her fierce glare.

Ye-Jin: Finally you guys are quiet.

She couldn't hit Mr Liu but that didn't stop her from abusing her boyfriend. He had asked for it. Who told him to engage in pointless verbal battle instead of explaining the situation to her.

Jian Yi: (chuckling) So, when shall we set the date for marriage?

Ye-Jin: (glaring) not until you explain what is happening here.

Her glare forced the formidable Liu Jian Yi to hang his head down. Sadly, the Liu family men were all submissive to the females of the family. Be it their wife, daughter or daughter-in-law.

Ye-Jin had connected some dots but she still didn't understand what was the young master of the great Liu family doing in this small country as an idol?

Thus they started to narrate the story.]

***

Ye-Jin shook her head to rid herself of the flashback. She looked up to see the father and son still arguing with each other. Her palm itched once again but she held in the urge.

Ye-Jin: (cutting through their argument) so, who are Liu Ming and Yu Wan?

Her question effectively put a stop to the banter of the 'kids'. Ray looked at her sheepishly before replying

Ray: they are my birth parents.

Ye-Jin took little time to digest this information. She could feel the little pain concealed in Ray's voice. She turned to Mr Liu who nodded and continued with the story.

***

In the past:

The party was ruined. The guests had all left. The only people standing in the venue were Liu couple, their kids and the unconscious Yi Meng.

Jian Yi took a deep breath and turned to his wife who was desperately trying to get a word out from their son. He had been sitting like a rock for a while now.

Yi Qing had tears pooling in the corners of her eyes. She could guess what her son was going through. She held his head and pressed it to her bosom refusing to let go.

Yi Qing: (almost choking) don't believe what he says, baby. He isn't a good man. Whatever he said isn't true.

Wei Xin: (stirring) mom?

Yi Qing: (happily) yes darling!

Wei Xin: I want to know the truth from you guys.

The Liu couple looked at each other and with an unspoken consent, they faced their son before retelling the events which happenned about tw decades ago.