Destined to be his Wife - Forced by Fate

Fans

“I’m so full. We ate too much.” TangShi flopped back on the couch, nursing her food baby belly and groaning as Linlin picked up the takeout containers from the coffee table and dumped them in the kitchen.

“You could use a little extra fat; you’re so thin lately.” Linlin appraised her with a critical eye. Glad that since moving here to YuZhi’s apartment she seemed less stressed out and unhappy in life and was back to being her fun and sunny friend. The diet that nasty Aunt had forced on her had made her lose weight and it was her job to fatten TangShi back up again. Feeding her anyway she could.

The girls had met up after TangShi was finished with school and had gone shopping, before heading here for takeout and relaxing with a movie. YuZhi and ZhengLi had been MIA these past few days, something to do with an entertainment center being built in Shanghai and it was causing them endless issues with funding.

“What shall we watch?” Linlin wandered back and pushed her deadweight of a friend over so she could climb on the long space beside her to get comfy. Shoving her with a cushion to make her move.

“Hmmm anything. I am so sleepy I may fall asleep. I don’t have your energy and I was at school all day before you dragged me to walk miles.” TangShi protested, sitting up to turn and curl up against Linlin instead. The girls intertwined arms and legs, snuggling up as she browsed menus on the huge TV on the fireplace wall. YuZhi liked his gadgets, and his house had all the best technology.

“Nothing romantic, I am not in the mood.” Linlin huffed and then pouted as ZhengLi crossed her mind. Lately his absence was getting on her nerves even though he had a valid excuse. It had been over a week since their last date, in which he abandoned her and four days since he last called or text her. They had no definite plans for anytime soon either and it felt like she was being ghosted. She refused to be the one to reach out and chase him.

“Still mad at him for having a job?” TangShi poked her in the cheek, grinning and adoring her stroppy best friend. Still amused with this denial that ZhengLi was more than a passing fad, and that her feelings for him were growing.

“Hmmm.” Linlin snorted, waving towards the window, that TangShi should close the blinds as a way to avoid the question, and she did so obediently. Picking up the remote to plunge the room into darkness.

The door entry pad tones going off made them both sit up slightly to look in that direction and TangShi impulsively checked her watch.

“It must be YuZhi. He’s early for once, it’s only eight.” She knew that wasn’t early by normal standards but sometimes he didn’t come home until after ten or later. Lately he had been after midnight more frequently and as she was asleep she didn’t see him until breakfast. Linlin had been her chauffer most days as her own part time college was near where TangShi went to school.

TangShi and he had reached that companiable easiness again where they had left the bad feeling in the past and had settled into cohabiting in peace. Having their own rooms meant they saw one another less than before with his schedule and she was missing him. Getting used to his habits in their own spaces and also spending time alone, more than she ever did when home.

The two men wandered into the apartment carrying heavy box files and YuZhi blinked around in surprise at the lack of light. Balancing his load on his leg, reaching up to feel out the switch despite this place having an automatic system and then almost blinded the two women as he illuminated the apartment on high.

“Hey!!” Linlin squeaked and covered her eyes at the assault. They had been in low light before the blinds were shut so this was a shock to their retinas.

“Well, well. This is a welcome surprise.” ZhengLi’s smooth tone came over like warm honey as he put his boxes on the floor and casually wandered over to them to haul Linlin over on the couch. “I missed my she devil and yet here she is. Looking irresistible, like a little prize.” He smirked, sitting down and sliding her towards him so he could put an arm around her shoulders, which she batted away.

“Do I know you?” She snorted and crossed her arms giving him the cold shoulder. Sulking about the lack of him in her life but it only amused him.

“Linnybooo, you know I’ve been busy. Show me some love.” ZhengLi leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, earning a palm to his face as she shoved it away and remained stiff and unyielding. Refusing to look at him.

“Hey, Tang.” YuZhi ignored the two of them, used to this push pull behavior of that pair, and wandered straight to TangShi, perching his ass opposite her on the coffee table so they were only a couple of feet apart and reached out to hand her something. “Here. They were giving these out to the employees today and I knew you would want one.”

TangShi sat up promptly, spying the small cupcake box in his hand and leaned for it with excitement. Despite being stuffed she always had space for cupcakes and beamed at him. Happiness in the small things always lit up her entire face and made YuZhi relax.

“Cake! Thank you!!” TangShi blushed at his thoughtfulness, coiling her legs underneath her while she focused on opening it. Basking under his content gaze at watching her happy with her gift.

Linlin wasn’t the only one who felt TangShi had lost too much weight these past months and YuZhi made sure to bring her snacks and treats frequently and keep the refrigerator stocked so she ate. All the medicines aunt sent for her were resigned to a cupboard by him where she couldn’t see them as he didn’t really agree with forcing her to take anything until she was pregnant.

“We have a lot of work, so we decided to come home and do it here. We won’t disturb you guys. I guess it’s movie and junk food, huh?” YuZhi nodded at the array of unopened sweets and crisps on the table beside him and had spotted all the takeout containers in the kitchen when he walked in.

“Hmmm. Undecided on what to watch as someone is against love and fluff today.” She side eyed Linlin who was being coaxed and whispered to by a smiling ZhengLi and the pair were battling with hushed words and juvenile hand slapping. TangShi sighed at them.

“They’re entertaining for sure. Love’s young dream.” YuZhi mocked in sarcasm and got up patting TangShi on the head gently before wandering back to his boxes of files. Deflated by the thought of the long night ahead.

“Have you eaten?” TangShi got up and paced after him, giving those two space as it seemed like they were getting a little too touchy feely to be around.

“Not yet. We worked through dinner and packed up for home soon as we got most of it done.” YuZhi piled two boxes on the counter and put one between his feet as he figured out which he needed first.

“I can make something. Beef noodle soup, or seafood porridge? TangShi offered, coming up beside him.

“No, go enjoy your downtime with your friend. I can order in and take it to my study with Zheng. You look tired. Don’t cook for me.” YuZhi impulsively reached out to brush her hair from her face, his thumb trailing over her cheek softly in that way he had developed of stroking her. TangShi’s cheeks warmed, and her inner happiness bubbled up.

“You work too hard. Don’t skip meals.” TangShi scolded him.

“I know. I swear, we’ll eat. Go do your thing.” YuZhi turned her by the shoulders and gave her a gentle push back towards the couch, but TangShi caught sight of ZhengLi and Linlin kissing and turned back abruptly, her face flaming and eyes wide.

“Ummm.” She mumbled, flustered, and YuZhi looked up over her head to see why. Shaking his head and chuckling at his best friends antics, before catching TangShi’s hand and tugging her with him.

“Come on, let’s go down and buy some food. Leave those two to get it out of their system. Anyone would think they were actually dating.” He smiled.

TangShi followed obediently as he swiped his wallet and car keys out of his jacket and stood at the door while she pulled her shoes on. Walking out together hand in hand and down to the car park.

They drove to the nearest take out and wandered in together while he placed an order for the usual food him and ZhengLi frequently ate, pulling TangShi beside him at the counter so he could rest his arm around her shoulder to lean on her. He was tired from the past few weeks and work and somehow he always felt better when she was around. It was his favorite part of the day seeing her in the apartment and feeling calm because she had that kind of aura around him.

“Mr. Leng, can we take your picture?” A young over excited voice pulled them from behind and he turned to see two teen girls standing side by side, clutching their cell phones and bouncing on the spot at having bumped into one of their idols. YuZhi got this frequently and didn’t hesitate in nodding and smiling like it was no big deal. Knowing one bad experience could start a trend on Weibo, while he felt TangShi curl away to hide.

“My girlfriend too, or just me?” He nodded at her, knowing she was too shy to assume she should be in it and tried to step away to let him enjoy his spotlight.

“Oh my god. Both, please. You two are hot topic in the fan groups.” One of the girls held up her phone, flashing it at him and he squinted seeing some sort of YuZhi Leng fan page, chuckling at his own face as a banner image and reaching out.

“May I?”

“Yesss… oh my, yes.” The girl seemed excited to share it with him and let him scroll the images and articles that were all about him and TangShi recently. So many candid shots that he wasn’t aware had even been taken in their normal daily life around Shanghai. This seemed to be a private fan group of two hundred thousand members, and all the recent posts were about how happy they were for the engagement announcements. It wasn’t a major shock as he had over a million followers on Weibo and hadn’t had any negative comments. The PR was working.

“I’m one of the admin who keep the page going and we don’t allow anyone to be negative or nasty. We really like Miss. Lei and love how her, and Miss. Cheng are close friends and the reason you met. So romantic.”

“It’s so dreamy.” The other girl mooned at them in equal enthusiasm, eyes soft and gooey as she clenched her hands to her chest. TangShi couldn’t help but giggle at them and obediently stepped in when YuZhi pulled her back into his arm. Curling up against him and making it look real.

“I’ll take one and then we can swap.” Girl one volunteered and they patiently posed first with one girl and then the other before they thanked them profusely and bid them farewell.

“That was weird.” TangShi admitted, having never had this herself yet, even though she had seen enough online pictures of YuZhi to know it happened a lot. To her it was a really unusual occurrence that she doubted she would ever understand.

“You’ll get used to it. Most of the time they either take pictures from afar or are extremely polite when asking. Be nice, smile, let them leave feeling good.”

“That’s easy for you to say. You look like a cover model for vogue in any outfit, no matter the time of day and your hair is always like this.” She reached up ruffling the front of his expensive styled hairdo, that she had never seen weird even after being in bed. He was infuriatingly perfect at all times. Handsome in a striking way and his tall height and muscular body gave him a presence you couldn’t ignore.

“You don’t think you’re beautiful?” YuZhi asked with interest, turning at the sound of the food server telling him their order was ready. Being serious in his question because to him, TangShi was stunning.

“No. I’m just average.” TangShi blushed. Having been told her whole life by her so called family she was a plain jane and worthless as a beauty.

“Tang, you’re beautiful. In any outfit, even with bed hair, at anytime of the day.” He smirked, ruffled her hair like she did him and then hooked her hand in his as he picked up the carrier bag of food and nodded a thank you at the server.

“You have to say that in case someone hears you insulting your ‘fiancée’!” She winked at him, not being serious and fell into an easy pace beside him as they strolled back out to the car. Aware the girls were huddled across the street with others who all stopped and looked their way as they made their getaway. Phones out to catch them leaving.

“I don’t lie. You’re a natural. You don’t have to try to be pretty, you just are.” He turned and bopped her on the nose with his forefinger, before opening the car door for her and ushering her in and handing her the bag. “Besides, don’t believe me… believe what their fan site said. They were calling you a goddess and hoped our future children took after both of us.” YuZhi smiled, warmed by the things he had scrolled quickly, about the public acceptance of TangShi and glad that it wasn’t just the hot news topics, but among his fanbase they seemed to like her. He walked around the car, waving to the group as he left, eliciting squeals and more flashes from cellphones before hopping in and getting them on their way.

“We might be a trending topic tomorrow.” He shook his head as they drove out, watching her relax back now they were no longer on display and eased his shoulders to disperse his own tension. He needed her to get used to this side of his life, because so much more was coming. They had their first public date to an event in a week and she would experience the red carpet for this first time. He didn’t want it to scare or intimidate her and was just as nervous as she was about taking her to something like that where Rhea would be with her new fake boyfriend.

He wasn’t sure if it was going to be a great night, or a night with Rhea drama given her recent behaviors.