"I believe, you don't understand what I was trying to say. " Liu Cheng'er secretly observed Mo Li's reaction. She was hoping to see the disappointment in Mo Li's face. After all, marrying someone who lacks proper expected manners was as bad as dying. Sadly, Mo Li didn't react to her words. Instead, he continued adding various food to Bella's plate. And the other just ate whatever it was that Mo Li gave her!
She fumed, her eyes squinted as she added. "We women should have the basic manners to become model wives. If you lack those manners then, I am sure marriage wouldn't last too long." Bella's first marriage didn't last because of her lack of manners— this was something that Liu Cheng'er wanted Mo Li to understand.
"It seems that Dr. Liu is one of those upright women in society," Bella answered. "I am sure Dr. Liu's husband would be very proud to know this. Ah… I know a couple of upright men from the university on the island too. Please tell me if you want to meet one of those men who value filial piety."
Liu Cheng'er's mouth fell. Did Bella fail to understand the real meaning behind her words? "There is no need for that."
"Oh? Is Dr. Liu already in love with another man?"
"That— " Liu Cheng'er's eyes Mo Li who was still ignoring her.
Seeing Liu Cheng'er's scarlet face, Bella chuckled. "Hey, husband… it seems that Dr. Liu already has someone in her heart. Why don't we help her with this person?"
"Hm. Of course, Miss Liu you can give the name and information of this man to one of my secretaries. We will research everything about this man and make sure that he is available. Then… we will help you propose marriage to his family."
Liu Cheng'er let out a surprised gasp at Mo Li's words. She opened her mouth, intending to tell him that it was actually Mo Li. It was him. However, she soon realized how it would only make her the laughing stock. She doesn't want to sound like an ultimate loser in front of these people! "I don't think there is a need for such things. I can handle it."
"Oh?" Bella just nodded and smiled before she started eating her food once again. "I would have love to play as a matchmaker for you and the love of your life." She sent another gentle smile towards Liu Cheng'er before dragging her gaze towards the angry grandmother and mother. Right now, she is slowly starting to understand why Mo Li never mentioned his family when they first met. These women were just… too much.
"Why don't we stop talking about these things and start talking about your relationship? I mean…" Mo Li's father uttered. "Let's be honest here. Not everyone would want a mayor who would just marry a divorced woman. We don't want people to start calling Mo Li mean names. As his political analyst, are you also planning to deal with this? Are you perhaps planning to tell everyone that you only engaged instead of being married? Perhaps people would understand that way."
"What do you want them to understand, father?" Mo Li asked.
"Well… there is a lot of things to understand in this arrangement. First…." Mo Li's father started talking about the thoughts and opinions of conservative families in the City. This topic was already expected but it still made Bella a little bored. His father loved to coat his words with different terms yet his meaning was only the same. 'MO LI MARRIED A DIVORCE WOMAN AND THAT IS FROWN UPON IN THE SOCIETY.'
Sadly, it seems that the man is showing some fear towards Mo Li. It seems that he was planning to turn his words over and over until Mo Li would somehow understand his simple point.
"Please… excuse me. I will freshen up." Bella suddenly said when she notice that Mo Li's father started using society as an excuse to make their status private until the election. Bella could only sigh inwardly. This society is extremely patriarchal that women were forced to abide by the rules or suffer being kicked out of her family.
Lily didn't know how the original Bella managed to choose this set up for herself. Either way, she extremely wanted to pat Bella's back for standing to her ground. Despite all the judgment and mockery that she experienced, the woman still chose to divorce that man. Bella frowned. The thought of Su Xieren was enough to ruin her mood.
Until now, she was still thinking about the way that Bella use to call that man. 'Renren'
She — she doesn't like to call that man Renren and she couldn't understand why she had such strong feelings with the name.
"Bella?"
Bella turned towards the toilet reserved for the males and lifted her eyebrow at none other than Su Xieren! She immediately noted not to think of this man again. "Mr. Su… fancy seeing you here." She smiled and turned towards the female's toilet only to stopped walking when Su Xieren suddenly held her arm.
"Can we talk in private?" he asked.
"No."
Su Xieren stared at Bella's calm expression. "Can we just— Look— A few minutes will do. Can we please have a decent conversation?"
"Ummm…" Bella eyed his hand that was on her arm. Seeing this, Su Xieren immediately let go of her arm. "Still a no." She returned her gaze towards the man's eyes.
"But— "
"No… means No." Bella interrupted him and attempted to walk towards the toilet.
"Don't you miss your Renren?"
For a few seconds, Bella stood as still as a statue. There it was again. 'Renren'
The mere mention of the name made her heart raced. Was this Bella's reaction to Su Xieren's nickname? "I don't think you have the right to use that name." She said without turning to look at him.
"Why not? You use to call me that name."
"That was when I was in love." She finally turned her head and squinted her eyes at him. "You have no right to use that name anymore."