It was a good thing that Long Tengfei had a wife who was very fastidious in taking care of his health. Yang Jiahui could be such a nag when it came to maintaining good health, but now he was thankful for her. If not for her, he could very well likely be experiencing a heart attack at this very moment.
Him? The father-in-law of the current most powerful man in the country's business world? And what was more, it was because of his estranged daughter, Xiulan?
"Father-in-law, please be assured that I am serious in my intention of marrying Xiulan. We still have many issues that we need to face and overcome together, but I hope that when we are both ready to take the step, you'll be able to support our marriage," Jin Liwei said.
Long Tengfei took slow, deep breaths to calm himself. He had met Jin Liwei several times before during some business and social events but their conversations revolved mainly around greetings and pleasantries. They may be both wealthy and powerful businessmen but the levels of their companies were vastly different, like that of Mt. Everest and a very small mountain or a big hill. He never imagined that such a figure would want to marry his estranged daughter and call him father-in-law.
Fortunately, Long Tengfei's innate astuteness kicked in. One must have the flexibility and ability to adapt into whatever unexpected situation in order to be a successful businessperson. Although he was still perplexed at this turn of events, he was now calm when he spoke to Jin Liwei.
"Are you and my daughter already engaged? Have you talked about when you want to get married?"
"Not yet. As much as I want to marry her as soon as possible and build a family with her as my wife, I know that she wants to focus on developing a successful career before anything else. I don't want to put her in a situation where she has to choose between me and her career. She doesn't need to choose because she can have both. But right now, her career lacks stability. She needs to stabilize her career first. I can do it for her of course, but I know that she wants to do it using her own abilities. I also have the utmost trust on her talents and skills."
Moreover, Jin Liwei knew deep inside that if his baby girl was ever given the choice between him and her career, she would choose her career over him without hesitation. It pained him to admit this to himself but he knew that this was true. That was why he needed to work harder on imprinting himself on her and on deepening their feelings for each other. He hoped that there would come a day when her feelings for him would come close to what he felt for her.
Long Tengfei nodded.
"Besides, she's still getting used to me. Now that we know what can happen to her health when she becomes too overwhelmed, I don't want to add to her stress by rushing her. After all, I want a healthy and happy wife."
"Thank you, father-in-law."
Long Tengfei cleared his throat, feeling awkward by Jin Liwei's address to him.
"Father-in-law, you must already know that Xiulan was attacked the other day. Fortunately, she was able to defend herself and her attackers were just three skinny girls. But what happens if she were to be attacked by men or stronger people next time? I'm very worried for her safety. I believe that she needs some bodyguards."
"I agree."
The two men, one older and one younger, began discussing Iris' need for bodyguards.
"You two have absolutely NO right to make decisions like that for me without informing me first. I am NOT getting bodyguards." Suddenly, Iris' hoarse, cold voice interrupted the men's deep discussion.
"Baby!" Jin Liwei immediately stood up and crossed the space to reach her in just a few long steps. "How are you feeling? Are you hurting anywhere?"
Iris slapped his hand away. "Tell me what you two were just talking about."
She didn't hear much of their conversation, only catching the part where they were debating whether to hire her some new bodyguards or to give her some of their own subordinates.
Long Tengfei stood a few steps away, watching the two interact with each other.
Iris was shaking in anger as she glared at the two men. One was her boyfriend while the other was the original Iris' father. To her, Long Tengfei was a stranger. She had not personally met with him ever since she woke up in this new body.
However, at this moment, Jin Liwei and Long Tengfei's figures overlapped with the images of her older brother and father in her previous life. They were all the same, these two pairs of different men. They wanted her followed by bodyguards…to protect her! It was for her own safety, for her own good…what bullsh*t! They just wanted to cage her like their own little bird!
If now they wanted bodyguards to follow her everywhere, what would they do next? Give her a curfew? Then what? Lock her up in a mansion because the outside world was too dangerous?
Did she have to live that kind of life again? That suffocating life of being watched all the time? Of having no freedom?
No!
A great panic flooded her like a tsunami. She couldn't live like that again! She would rather die than live a life of no freedom like that again!
"You liar, Jin Liwei! You said you won't cage me! You said you're not going to restrict me, imprison me! You're the same as them! Liar!"