Marriage too is business

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?"