"It suits your skin tone,"
"Too sharp."
"It's too high, you won't be comfortable."
"If you don't like it, just tell me, Mo Yi."
That was the theme of my whole morning: trying on clothes, shoes, and picking which bags would fit every possible occasion. I should have been rejecting all the gifts, but I was a sucker for shopping.
Seeing the piles of bags and boxes made me melt.
I couldn't help but try every single item. My heart softened with the way Mo Yichen, the man who was always cold and cruel, considered my comfort and my look.
He knew my measurements too well. Even when his phone rang for business calls, he ignored them and continued to pick out outfits for me.
"I will get you another one to replace those that didn't suit your skin. Is there anyone you don't like? I will replace them," he said nonchalantly, I bit my inner lip.
How could I hate any of the dresses here? He knew my favorite colors and the types of clothes I preferred to wear. They were all my style.
Just as we finally let down the last dress, the door clicked open. Nanny Chen entered into view, shock written all over her face.
"Oh my, what is this? Are we having Christmas a little too early?" she asked, and my face warmed.
I felt like a little girl opening gifts.
Even when I was back at the Zhen manor, I had never truly received gifts of this calibar before. He studied me and offered compliments, although cold.
He was very serious as if he was at a business meeting. Guess you can't really remove his nature in things like this. But why was he focusing too much on me?
Can I really get used to his change? Or should I use it to my advantage?
Mo Yichen quickly went ahead to help Nanny Chen with the heavy grocery bags.
"Nanny Chen. Is it just me, or do you think Mo Yichen overdid it?" I whined, skipping to her front, hungry to show off my new dress.
She cocked her eyebrows, then laughed. "Oh please, if you ask me, I would say it's a little too small as a gesture to you, Little Yi."
"No, this is too much, a lot of money, Nanny Chen!" I complained, gesturing toward the pile of clothes. I followed her to the kitchen. "If someone could look, they would think that he is buying me off."
A loud sound of something dropping on the counter pulled me to look at Yichen. A dark look settled in his gaze.
I raised my chin in defiance.
Nanny Chen hummed, as she analyzed the whole living room. "That's true. Compared to how cold this house was all through the years of your marriage, it does look like that," she nodded.
Yess! I jumped, and widened my eyes at him, sticking my tongue out.
"Nanny Chen," Yichen glowered, in a low warning.
Pfft!
I laughed, holding my stomach as I leaned against a couch for support.
"What?" she scolded. "The two of you married, and you just dumped her here alone! I should be beating you! You didn't even call to ask of her!"
The laughter died in my throat.
Massive regret was etched on Yichen's face. For a second, I thought it wouldn't be bad to give him a second chance.
If he remained like this, perhaps we could actually be good couples.
Just standing pretty beside me, could show all those women and their daughters that I was Mo Yi, the wife of Mo Yichen. Country X's Tycoon.
The Tyrant.
"Nanny Chen, I told Zi An to pack up my things and bring them here. I truly feel bad for what I did," he groaned, running a hand through his hair.
"Tsk! Don't just feel bad, look at your wife! Try to make it up to her, if she wants to you to steal, do it! if she wants you to kneel, do it! How did I raise a reckless boy like you!" Nanny Chen finished, putting the groceries into the freezer.
Their bickering was so satisfying, that I laughed, breaking their conversation as they looked at me.
When I noticed, it died down. "Did I disturb your conversation?" I meekly asked.
"Look at how beautiful she is, Little Chen! You missed up on alot of things, I can't even remember the last time, she laughed so beautifully." Madam Chen grumbled as she continued on with her work.
I truly don't remember the last time, I freely laughed.
Mo Yichen stepped closer to me, his eyes said a lot of words as they looked at me. 'Why didn't you say anything,' 'I am sorry', and 'I was such a fool'
But there was nothing he could do now. I gave him a weak smile.
He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me into a hug. "Let's do everything you ever wanted to do." He whispered into my ears.
"Um.—"
His phone suddenly buzzed, and I swallowed my reply. He finally stepped aside to answer the call he had been ignoring all morning.
I didn't even notice Mama Chen looking at me.
"He is quite a hunk, right?" Nanny Chen whispered, winking. My cheeks burned hotter. I coughed awkwardly as I settled into a stool.
"Doesn't mean I would easily overlook things. Besides, I still have a lot to finish, and maybe we might get a divorce later on," I muttered, but the words felt hollow.
She gave me a soft sympathetic look and I shrugged. Taking my hand, she gazed at me silently.
"Take a moment to breathe, Little Yi. If you focus on one thing too much, it would strangle your happiness. You deserve to be happy." She said.
For a second, when she withdrew, the only thing I could think about was the freedom I was chasing for.
The countryside. That would be my only happiness.
Mo Yichen returned, settling into the stool next to me. I could feel his prying gaze on me.
"My mother just called. They've arranged a family dinner tonight. The family wants to meet you," he declared.
My mouth dropped in shock. "I—"
"Get ready in one hour."