Something Mediocre

Inside the case, a small box made of shiny black leather caught Lily's attention. She picked up the box and opened it, revealing three rings inside. Two of the rings looked like they came in a pair, obviously wedding bands. The last ring was made of white gold with a big cushion shaped blue stone as the centerpiece, surrounded by many small sparkling diamonds.

"What kind of stone is this? Is this sapphire?" she asked.

"Blue diamond. I had this ring made years ago. Do you like it?" he smiled, thinking back on all the time he spent designing it until he was satisfied. Then he hired a skilled craftsman to make it. 

Lily only smiled in response and did not continue to inquire about the jewelry anymore. She then proceeded to examine the rest of the papers from the top. Most of the documents were stock certificates from big and well-known companies. There was also a stock certificate for Qin Enterprises and that made Lily smile. 

While Lily was checking through the documents meticulously, Zhuo Jingren was feeling on the edge. He couldn't wait for Lily to get to the last document and sign her name on it.

"I noticed that the name on these documents is Lily Facci-Qin, when did you update the name?" Lily asked

"Hmmmm…. Shortly after you arrived in Hong Kong, I made arrangements to update the name from Qin Jinghua to Lily Facci-Qin, the name you go by now," he replied, as he contemplated whether to ask the next question. "Erm...Can you check out the last document and then sign it?" he asked. 'The last document is the most important ah.'

"Okay," Lily said, skipping to the last document. You could imagine her surprise when she saw a marriage certificate. "When did you prepare this?"

"Back when you agreed to let me woo you."

"That confident?" She raised an eyebrow.

"I knew that you would agree eventually. It's not confidence. I just know that you cannot resist me." Zhuo Jingren laughed at his own words. Just a few days ago, Lily was still distant with him but Zhuo Jingren was confident that he could make her say 'yes'. All he needed was to spend more time with her and get close to her. "Sign it and be Mrs. Zhuo," he said, his smile reaching his ears.

Without a word, Lily grabbed a pen and signed her name on the marriage certificate. "I will pass Secretary Go the relevant documents so that he can process this when we get back."

Seeing as the legal matters were settled, Zhuo Jingren grabbed the ring box and slid on two rings on Lily's finger. One ring was an engagement ring and the other was the wedding band. He couldn't wait to tell the whole world that Lily was his. Although everything happened so suddenly, Lily also did not mind it at all, in fact, she was satisfied through and through. 

After all, her husband-to-be was not only good-looking but very capable as well. Moreover, the man treated her like a queen. What more could she ask for?

"About the condition in your late paternal grandfather's Will, the one where you have to get married within three months…." Zhuo Jingren trailed off as he wore his wedding band. "You were not in any relationship then and yet you had refused my proposal before. Who were you planning to marry?"

"My friend, Fernando."

Zhuo Jingren immediately frowned. So she was already planning to marry someone else? Was that why she did not agree to marry him the first time that he asked? Zhuo Jingren made a mental note to talk to this Fernando guy as soon as possible.

"Did he agree to marry you?" he asked.

"I haven't had the chance to discuss this with him yet. But I'm sure he would have agreed especially if I offer to invest in his business or give him some money. It's no big deal." Lily shrugged as she held her hand up towards the light, appreciating the brilliance from the rings. "But, now that I am getting married to you…nothing else matters right? This is a very beautiful ring by the way," she quickly changed the topic. "Is my wedding band made of diamonds?" 

"Yes. I know you like sparkly things," Zhuo Jingren said nonchalantly. If his memory served him right, Lily would frequently walk along a riverbed that was located at the back of the orphanage. She would make trips to the riverbed to hunt for sparkly stones to add to her collections. Somehow, thinking about it now, Lily reminded him of a magpie. 

"Hmmmm…. I am surprised that you still remember small details like that but you don't remember that I am sensitive and allergic to heavily scented things."

"When you are in love, you tend to remember the good stuff and forget about the bad," he said in his defense as he pulled her closer to him. Surprisingly, Lily did not resist and even leaned her head on his shoulders.

"True enough," she said. "We are now almost married, but why do I feel like you have been given the short end of the stick? I haven't offered you anything in return yet. I can't keep house but I am really good at making money. Why don't you tell me something that you really want? I can buy it for you."

A sudden laugh exploded inside the room and Zhuo Jingren's shoulders were shaking with glee. 

Lily was unamused. "Why are you laughing? I am being serious here. We should be equals in this relationship. Since you have given me lots of stocks, I should give you something in return too!" she feverently said.

"Then buy me your heart," he said before he burst into laughter again.

"What is so funny?" Lily raised her brows, wondering what was so funny about her statement. She was seriously considering gifting something luxurious to her soon-to-be husband ah. 

"Little lady… you…" Zhuo Jingren's laughter slowly came to a stop.

"Don't call me little! I am asking you what is so funny!"

"Alright… don't be angry. I don't know… I mean I've only heard of women offering their husbands their..." Zhuo Jingren's eyes slowly trailed down to Lily's body before his lips turned into a smirk. "Why don't you offer your body to me instead?"

Lily only narrowed her eyes at Zhuo Jingren. "I would…. But too bad you are still wounded. Your performance would not be up to my standards." Then she slowly pushed the man away from her and got up. She eyed his body and said, "I won't settle for something mediocre."

A flash of mirth was seen in Zhuo Jingren's eyes and he pulled her back in his arms but before he could say anything, he was interrupted by a knock on the door. Then Secretary Go opened the door with a big smile on his face.

"President… here is the porridge that I cooked for you." Secretary Go's smile immediately faltered when he saw the dark look that President Zhuo was giving him. 'What is happening? Did he disturb something?' 

….

Editor: Swaning