Destined to be his Wife - Forced by Fate

Starting School

“Are you sure this is everything? We could check out the new store over there.” Linlin offered but TangShi shook her head without looking to see what the store was and finished putting the shopping bags into the boot of Linlin’s orange car. Glad to have finally finished ticking off her list.

“I already have so many supplies and don’t need much. It’s an art school, not a college for scholars, and I’m sure I can pick up anything later I may have forgotten.” TangShi was excited about her starting date in only a few days and was eagerly counting them down. It seemed like it was coming so fast, and she was more than ready to start. To have something to fill her days with.

“Clothes?” Linlin offered with a small smile. “I’m sure you need some fashionable and arty overalls or something!”

“You mean, TangShi do you want to go shopping so I can spend money on things I don’t need in the name of passing time?” TangShi c****d a brow at her friend and smiled as she closed the car boot.

“I always need clothes; besides I have a hot date with that jackass playboy ZhengLi, and I need to out sexy him. He thinks too highly of himself, and I should put him back in his place and remind him how lucky he is that I am giving him the time of day.”

It had been almost a week since the nightclub incident where Rhea had slapped TangShi, and Linlin had seen ZhengLi three times already. Both adamant that it was a friend with benefits relationship and no serious ties, but TangShi could tell Linlin liked him enough to break her own rule of seeing the same guy only once in a week.

It had been quiet since YuZhi had smoothed things over with Rhea and set the record straight, but she still hadn’t shown up or called TangShi to apologize about hitting her. TangShi still felt uptight and antsy about it and would check her phone every so often in case she missed a call. YuZhi had left that night in the past and told her not to worry about it, but TangShi couldn’t shake the nerves she felt over it. If Rhea really was fine then why hadn’t she reached out, and why had she stopped coming to the house to see TangShi since? She was too reluctant to reach out to her first in case it made things worse and was scared Rhea really did hate her now and suspected her of trying to seduce YuZhi.

Cheng thankfully had very particular standards of clientele for his club, ones who valued their privacy when being there. This meant event though the whole scene had been witnessed by many, not a single report, video, or picture had shown up and TangShi could stop worrying it would. Cheng’s club was a private place with a keypad entry for members. Only those who were accepted could get in and those inside all had reason to stay out of the public eye.

“I don’t have other plans, so lead the way.” TangShi relented, knowing she would rather get sore feet from following her shopaholic friend around for the afternoon than sit at home alone and stress over her current predicament and overthink. Although things were better between YuZhi and her and they had started to find a balanced way of co-existing, it was the only relationship in that house that was easy, excluding XiaoSu. It wasn’t a home for her and when she was there, she tiptoed around, either staying in their room or sitting in the sunroom to paint. She tried to keep out of everyone’s way and always felt uptight.

Grandfather ignored her or avoided her and seemed like he didn’t want to make any lasting bond to a girl who would leave one day. Aunt still treated her like a leper and Rhea’s inferior, and the other uncles and occasional family gave her the cold treatment or bored expressions. They didn’t want pulled into Aunt’s drama and knew she would flip out if they were kind to TangShi, although some felt a modicum of pity for her.

YuZhi’s sister had gone abroad for a few months and never got around to hanging out which had disappointed TangShi, hoping she would have had a friend and ally in her. She figured it was Auntie’s doing that she was suddenly whisked off to a six-month educational trip of importance the minute she showed interest in being friends with TangShi. That meant the house was big and lonely, with only Xiaosu in the day to talk to and YuZhi when he came home at night, sometimes late.

“We could do lunch, shop, then go hang out at my house. I want you to help me find an apartment. I want to move out from my parents seeing as they are never there. It’s too big and I can’t stand their décor choices.”

This had been something they had talked about many times, that Linlin wanted her own place, but never ever committed to doing it. She probably wouldn’t this time either.

“Sounds good to me. Only, can we not go anywhere too high profile, I’m really not in the mood for being followed.”

The press was calming down of late, once again stirred up by the picture on ZhengLi’s WeChat last week but there was lingering paparazzi and the odd citizen who recognized TangShi. She wasn’t used to this and was starting to get why celebrities stayed out of sight or wore masks to move around the city. It was exhausting to always be aware of people around you and monitor your own behavior and company.

“I want western food though and nowhere cheap and cheerful does what I want.” Linlin whined, puppy eyes making TangShi feel guilty for denying her and she sighed heavily.

“Fine. As long as we leave if I start getting unwanted attention. I’m not in the mood.” Some reporters were relentless and would question and yell after her while snapping a hundred pictures, flashes going off in her face. She couldn’t understand why people were even interested.

“Coolio!” Linlin darted up and kissed her taller friend on the cheek with a mischievous grin on her cute face and hooked her arm in hers as TangShi’s phone to started to ring. TangShi could never resist Linlin’s requests.

“Hold up a second.” She slid it out of her bag and smiled impulsively when she saw YuZhi’s name on screen. He didn’t often call her, so she rushed to answer it, that familiar feeling of butterflies rearing their heads in her stomach and a ripple of happiness that ignited her childish bubbly side.

“Hello?” Her voice was immediately softer, pulling a raised brow from Linlin who observed with interest. Seeing the physical change in her friend was a sure sign her suspicions of TangShi falling for YuZhi again were confirmed.

“Hey. Are you busy? I need you to do something for me.” YuZhi was lounging at his desk with his feet propped up, halfway down his chair in a mirroring pose to ZhengLi on the other side of his desk. Both recently stuffed themselves on take out after going through today’s schedule and were letting it digest.

“Not really, just shopping with Linlin for my school supplies. What is it?”

“Be my date. I have this thing this afternoon that requires one. I’ll pay for an outfit; I just need you to get here for four pm. Outside my building. If you want to, that is?” YuZhi slid up in his chair, pulling his feet down and motioned for ZhengLi to move his as he pulled documents from under them. “It’s a formal early dinner. So, something modest and understated. It’ll be a table of old men and their rich wives so nothing to cause high blood pressure.” He jested as he found the contracts related to this afternoon and then tossed him to ZhengLi while motioning that he needed three copies. ZhengLi heaved up, sighing that their break was over while still nursing his food baby and scooped up the papers to go back to his own desk and copy machine. Throwing a backwards handwave and thumbs up at his friend.

TangShi’s nerves rose, and her face colored at the thought of something like this and she faltered as she replied. Knowing that public things like this were expected, but it still made her antsy.

“Do I have to do anything?” her voice trembled a little, making it obvious she was nervous about it.

“Just look pretty and be polite. The model fiancée. I’ll do the talking and you can hang on my arm or hide behind me if you like. If I don’t take a date, they’ll try marrying me off to their daughters before they let me leave.” He joked, smiling to himself as he listened intently to her shallowed breathing, knowing she wasn’t a fan of this kind of thing. It still made him feel bad that he had once bullied this girl relentlessly. The more he knew her the more it amped his guilt because she was like a sweet kitten with no real claws, and she got uptight about the weirdest things.

“Okay. Linlin can help me pick something. She can drop me off too.” TangShi nodded at her friend, asking if that would be okay, getting Linlin’s nod and thumbs up as approval.

“She can amuse my assistant while I’m gone if she wants. He’ll be free from four onwards.” YuZhi smirked, teasing because he was aware those two had been hooking up since that night at Cheng’s, even if ZhengLi was denying anything between them beyond kissing that night. It wasn’t like him to play coy and hide the sordid details of his playthings, so he had a suspicion this was different.

“Oh, they already have a date tonight anyway.” TangShi offered innocently and YuZhi burst into a full smile on the other end of the call. He had implied he was busy tonight but not with whom, but it was all fitting together.

“Is there anything else?” TangShi waited with a pensive breath.

“Nope. I’ll see you at four, outside. Don’t forget. I’m sure Linlin knows where Leng Group HQ is though, right? I’ll be waiting for you.”

“Yes, she does.”

“Wait… Tang….” YuZhi had started shortening her name these past few days and it always made her feel a little peculiar. As though it was a sign that his affection for her was growing. It felt personal somehow, almost cute. “Rhea might be there tonight. Her father is one of the investors and it’s not abnormal for him to take her as his partner. I know you two haven’t talked since the club, so maybe it might be a chance to smooth things over. I didn’t want you walking in without a heads up.” He rolled his shoulders, the pit in his stomach tightening as though he was getting stressed on her behalf.

He had spoken to Rhea a few times since that night and told TangShi it was all sorted, which was a little white lie. The truth was that Rhea was being difficult and her insecurity and jealousy had amped up to another level. She accepted his explanation and admitted she shouldn’t have touched TangShi, but YuZhi’s threat had left them at a cold standoff. He told her that if she ever laid hands on TangShi again or verbally attacked her then they would be over for good, without reprieve. And he meant it. He couldn’t stomach women who used violence to sort their conflicts, especially against other girls who would never retaliate.

He had never made any kind of threats like this in the whole time they dated, it was more Rhea’s style, but this was something he was furious over and Rhea was sulking and pissed about it. He assumed it’s why she hadn’t contacted TangShi and was probably mulling over it like a spoiled child while holding back the apology in pettiness. Rhea could be a stubborn child at times.

“Oh. Okay.” TangShi didn’t know what else to say. Her insides turning over like a washing machine cycle had been switched on and she swallowed hard.

“Don’t worry about it though. Rhea knows you did nothing wrong but she’s stubborn and sometimes takes a bit of time to admit to a mistake.” That was an understatement.

“It’s fine. I can handle it.” TangShi wanted to reassure him even if she didn’t feel great about it.

Linlin eyeballed her weirdly, knowing something was up and frustrated at only hearing half a conversation. She narrowed her eyes and leaned in to listen, but TangShi batted her away with a playful poke in her temple.

“You can! So, four. We can go do something fun after to make it up to you. Maybe a movie? A walk after? You pick.”

TangShi wasn’t expecting the offer to do something like that after, and blushed profusely, aware that her feelings for YuZhi lately were getting complicated and scolded herself for being stupid. She knew that as they grew closer, he was treating her like a friend and trying to make this amicable, but things like invites to a movie confused her emotions and made her hope for things she shouldn’t. She had to remind herself frequently that he loved Rhea, and this was only a platonic arrangement. That she shouldn’t be disloyal to Rhea either, as apart from that one night, she had shown her kindness and friendship while others were being cold.

“I’d like that. I’ll see you at four.”

“Have fun shopping. Don’t let Linlin max your credit card.” He joked with a smile, his mood light because TangShi always made his day seem better, even with the briefest of interactions. She was a sunny personality that had long been missing in his life. She had a pure innocence about her that you never had to question or doubt. What you saw is what you got, and she had no devious plans behind the smile and sweetness. In this society of the super-rich, it was rare.

They hung up without further conversation and TangShi relayed everything to her best friend. Eyeing her up in confusion as Linlin beamed brighter and brighter and her grin overtook her face.

“A fake date followed by a real one. Maybe we should add lingerie shopping to the list.” She jested, poking TangShi in the ribs and then dodging a well-aimed retaliation slap.

“It’s not like that.” TangShi’s face reddened right up to the top of her ears, and she turned away to hide it.

“Sure it isn’t! You know, ZhengLi is with me on this. That you two are not as platonic and straightforward as you both want to pretend. That it’s only a matter of time!”

“Not again.” TangShi covered Linlin’s mouth with her palm, shaking her head at her for once again bringing this up. “I could say something similar about you two. You say it’s a no strings arrangement, yet I have never seen you date one man at a time, and so many hook ups in one week. Hmmm?”

Linlin batted her hand away instantly defensive and turned to shake her ass at her friend. Winking over her shoulder with a sassy grin.

“He’s good in bed and he’s an amazing kisser. Of course, I’m going to get full use of it before I move on to the next one. I’m indulging my needs until he bores me.” Linlin deflected wandering off in search of the nearest place to eat in hopes the rise of her own blush wasn’t noticeable but refused to admit to herself that she had a major crush on ZhengLi Kim. He wasn’t like any other guy she had ever known. He was better at game playing and being aloof than Linlin and for the first time in her life, she was not the master behind the wheel of a new dating partnership. ZhengLi was pulling all the strings.

“Except…I know you haven’t slept with him, so that’s a lie. And another clue this is not all about hook ups.” TangShi followed, knowing that had they had s*x she would know all the sordid details, because Linlin was not one to keep them to herself. So far, she had told her about every date and nothing after. That was a big clue that ZhengLi was dropping her off and not staying over. She just didn’t understand the fact Linlin was hiding it. She also was confused about the lack of s*x, given both ZhengLi and Linlin were born players and fine with casual one-night stands.

“Pffft. You have no idea.” Linlin blushed, caught out by her friend and ignored the thumpity thump of her own betraying heart. The truth was, ZhengLi hadn’t made any moves to get her into bed yet and Linlin was strangely apprehensive about crossing that line. She had lost all confidence in her s****l prowess when it came to him.

She had never hesitated about s*x with a hot man before, yet when things got close to it with ZhengLi, she lost all her vavoom and her nerves almost suffocated her. He didn’t seem all that worried about pushing her into it either. Infuriatingly cool and the last two dates he had kissed her until her toes curled and her breath was crazy heavy, at the door, and left without pushing for more. She couldn’t read him at all. It was like he was enjoying getting her worked up and turned on, just so he could walk off and leave her frustrated. If this was a game plan for him, she wasn’t going to fall for it and be the one to beg or make the moves.

“Come on. Let’s eat fast, you have to help me pick out suitable clothes.” TangShi dropped the subject, caught up to her friend so she could link arms and was led down a side alley to find somewhere they could get some western food. Excitement brimming inside because she was starting to love spending time with YuZhi, and this was going to be a whole afternoon and evening with him.