Chapter 19- "President Jin, My Darling!"

As she examined the stuffed luggage, Dongmei nervously bit her nails. After returning to Li Zhen's minimalist villa, she remembered her situation. She was terrified of motion sickness.

Autumn entered her room carrying a black hardback book with a floral design. "What's the name of the book you're reading?" Dongmei inquired, looking up.

Autumn was surprised and quickly put her index finger over her mouth, saying, "Shsh... reduce your voice."

"Madam Li can't be aware of this."

Dongmei removed her hand from her lips and asked annoyed, "What's wrong? Did you steal it?"

Autumn spoke furrowing her brows, "Of course not!"

"Look at the title." She showed her the book still holding it from the other end, practicing caution.

"President Jin, My Darling!" Dongmei spoke as if it was nothing new to her. She said, "What's so secretive about it?"

"I know the author."

"I read the other version of the book."

"And this….." Dongmei's eyes widened and looked like they would drop to the ground anytime.

"This….this her new version????" She screamed. Autumn hurriedly covered Dongmei's mouth and said, "Miss Bai, keep your voice low."

Dongmei nodded and snatched the book from her. Autumn was helpless and acted generously by letting her take a look.

Dongmei flipped through the book blankly and could tell it was from the same author. The author was famous online, she was no less than a celebrity but no one knew her real identity. Dongmei was one of her biggest fans, the author was famous for real fan-fiction. Not based on any book or drama but directly related to celebrities like Wang Yibo, She wrote a novel; 'Bye! Dragon King.'

Dongmei asked, "Why did I not get an update?" she looked around and said biting her lips, "I forgot I don't have my iPad."

Autumn said taking the book back, "You can buy a new one."

"Even if you do, you won't find the book's soft copy. This one is exclusive."

Dongmei looked at Autumn with puppy doll eyes and said, "Can you buy one for me?"

Autumn said coldly, "No! After I am finished reading the last chapter tonight."

"I will lend it to you."

Dongmei nodded as if she got a bone for her treat. Autumn left winking at her. A few moments later, she came back, gasping, and said, "You are from the Bai family?" Her entire body was sweating not because of running back to her room but out of fear.

"The richest family?" she asked stunned.

Dongmei nodded puzzled, didn't she know that? How come? But why was she asking this out of the blue?

Autumn coughed several times and said, "Bai Shouyi is here, looking for you."

"She is colder in real life," Autumn spoke as a chill ran through her bones. She grabbed Dongmei's hand and pulled her out.

Going down the stairs, she whispered, "Is she your aunt?"

Dongmei was lost and did not reply. The seed sown in her heart was growing. She was blooming in joy when she saw the back of her mother.

Shouyi turned her neck and saw Dongmei who was staring at her with glittering eyes. However, she was not very happy to see her daughter.

Li Zhen said as she approached them, "Dongmei, come! Have a sit."

"No need to sit," Shouyi spoke without a blink.

"Stand there!" She said without looking at her.

Dongmei teared up. She knew her mother well. This was not the first time she asked her to stand. She knew her mother was not happy with her.

She obeyed and stood behind the couch with her neck glued to the ground. She could not hide her smile and tears that kept flowing down her cheeks.

"Do you know your mistake now?"

"Madam Li told me you locked yourself up."

"Did you reflect on your action?" Shouyi inquired.

Li Zhen was amazed, "Didn't she lock herself up because of depression?" She asked.

"Depression?"

"Dong'er and depression?"

"What are you saying?"

"Joke of the day?" Shouyi laughed so hard that Li Zhen and Autumn were dumbfounded.

"Madam Li, She is a certified counselor herself."

"What depression can she get?"

"Dong'er, you made Madam Li worry about you?"

"Why did you not tell her you were reflecting?"

Dongmei had no words to say that's because Shouyi did not want her to answer.

Autumn laughed like a fool and said, "What era is this?"

"Is Miss Bai a princess, who is grounded to reflect on her action?"

Shouyi glanced at Autumn sending an electric shock to her nerves as she asked, "Madam Li, is this how you train your maids?"

Li Zhen signaled Autumn to leave immediately, however, she was reluctant to go. In the end, she had to leave her Madam alone.

"Why are you not speaking?"

"Did you lose your tongue with your brain?" Shouyi yelled at Dongmei.

It was at this point when the overjoyed Dongmei came back to her senses. She felt her mother was scolding her in front of other people.

"I…I did." Dongmei replied in a very soft tone.

"What?"

"I can't hear you," Shouyi yelled again leaning her ears towards Dongmei.

"I did reflect on my action."

"And I regret it."

"I should not have turned back on my words."

Shouyi narrowed her eyes and said, "Now, this is how you talk."

"Good! That you know."

"Shouldn't you rectify yourself now?" she asked.

Dongmei nodded without even thinking. Shouyi smiled and said with a little softer tone, "I have made a lot of effort in coaxing the Lin Family."

"The wedding is next month."

"Madam Li told me she is taking you to some resort."

"Enjoy meanwhile then."

"Do you want me to send you the jet?"

"I bought the one I showed you the other day," she spoke like it was normal for her to ask Dongmei to get married.

Li Zhen stopped her and said, "Madam Bai! Your old man has given me the responsibility for her marriage."

Shouyi said with a very calm tone, "Madam Li, Our old man was mad at her."

"He is her grandfather after all."

"My father-in-law just wants the best for her," she explained.

"Now that she can marry Lin Xie again."

"There is no need for him to be mad at her."

"Doesn't this solve the problem?" she said looking at Dongmei whose legs felt numb and her heart was about to drop down in her stomach.

Li Zhen stood up and said, "Madam Bai! Please leave!"

"There is no way I will hand her back to you."

"It was your old man who gave her to me."

"Her future lies with me."

"And how can you let her marry that mafia?"

"You don't know how many Mistress he has?"

"Haven't you heard about his love affairs?"

"He even has a son whose mother had to leave because of Lin Xie's torture."

Li Zhen was burning in fire. Shouyi was insulted and said, " Madam Li, she is my daughter!"

"I am her guardian."

"You can't be serious." She said. But Li Zhen refused to hear anything and said, "Madam Bai, Unless you ask Old Bai to call me and explain the situation or I am not letting this girl go."

Shouyi knew she could not disturb her father-in-law when she was doing everything without her permission.

She turned to ask her daughter who was trembling, "Dong'er? What do you say? You will marry him right?"

Dongmei could not speak, her lips fluttered and her ability to comprehend her feelings seemed to have disappeared.

She could not believe her mother who knew Lin Xie's dark side but still wanted her to marry him.

Shouyi knew Dongmei was not in a state to reply and she used her condition in her favor.

She walked up to her and took out her iPad and showed her the album in the gallery.

"Look! I have sent you his photos."

"I did not give him yours so rest assured."

"I am giving you a small task to stare at his picture in your free time. I am pretty sure you will fall for him."

"Look how handsome he is."

"Believe me, I am your mother after all."

"I won't force you to marry an ugly man."

Dongmei's eyes were filled with tears, she looked at the screen with blurry vision and nodded her head forcefully.

"What if I don't fall for him?" she stuttered.

"You will marry him anyway love can be cultivated later," she said and left the living room in a tense atmosphere.

Dongmei fell and cried her heart out on the floor. Li Zhen hurried to her and patted her back.

The poor lady leaned her head on Li Zhen's shoulder and said, "I don't want to marry him."

"Don't worry! I will help you. I won't let your mother be willful like this."

"After all, Your grandfather has the say!"

"He has given me your responsibility."

"I won't back down."

"Let's go on this trip and let you taste freedom."

"Once you touch the new atmosphere, you will go to every extent to save your freedom."

"Dongmei! It's a blessing in disguise. You have to live it to the fullest." Li Zhen was feeling bad for her savior. She was also an heiress of a rich family, she had seen all sorts of people. However, a mother like Shouyi was a rare case.

In all the events, Li Zhen had only one confusion or we could say a question bothering her ever since she got to meet Bai Dongmei, 'Why are they treating her in such a way?'

Bai family was the richest family, they had no issues with their business. They did not lack support in any aspect, why must they ally with a mafia family. Dongmei was the only female descendant born in 200 years. What was making them turn against her?

Dongmei was caught up in a dilemma. She was against this marriage. The tiny reluctant feeling that she might be persuaded to marry him was all gone after hearing Madam Li's word. She did not know what to do when her mother was acting parallel to what she desired.

She had never been outside her mansion and was homeschooled. After spending her life locked up, Her desire to meet the world outside vanished. In her teenage years, She was always curious about having friends, going to school, getting punishment, Shopping in malls, etc... But her wish to meet the world was gone as she matured. The indifferent behavior of her family that struck her heart like a rod piercing in, made her drop all her wishes and burn them away with birthday candles.

With the candles that burnt all night, her desires were melted with the candle-shaped 18. The loneliness of that night had made her accept her fate of being imprisoned in a mansion. No matter how huge it was, it was still nothing before the entire world that her eyes were waiting to meet.