When Lin Heng and Zhao Meixiang reached the gates of the Viscount home in the Capital City, the young woman want to rush inside but was stopped by the much taller, stronger man beside her.
"Lin-gongzi_"
"Meixiang!"
Because they were no longer in public, Lin Heng didn't hide his uneasiness. It took him so long to have Meixiang called him intimately by his name only for her to revert back to her previous formal self. It took him even longer to get the reserved Meixiang to open up and relax around him. He felt a deep ache in his heart to be rebuff by the little girl in front of him - one he painstakingly waited years for.
"You've again forgotten our agreement" Again, Meixiang did not forget.
"Meixiang" Lin Heng touched her cheek, carefully like a precious treasure. "Please..."
"Heng-ge..." Meixiang voice was soft and sweet, causing a smile to spread on Lin Heng's face.
Lin Heng wrapped his arms around the smaller girl and held her to his taller, harder body. He had been afraid that she would push him away, but when she placed her cheek on his chest, he felt an indescribable happiness.
It was the first time the girl responded to him so affectionately.
Gazing down at her bewitching eyes, Lin Heng bends his head to kiss the flower birth mark under her eye. For a young man to hold a soft body of a beautiful woman was pure temptation, but he fought his inner demons so that she wouldn't be afraid of him. Kissing the birth mark again, Lin Heng's heart was beating fiercely as the palm of Meixiang's hand.
"Heng-ge..."
At the sound of Meixiang's alluring voice, Lin Heng held her to his heart.
"Meixiang" Lin Heng's voice was hoarse and deep. "Meixiang, your heart... Tell me your heart have this Lin Heng..."
Because he was holding Meixiang against his chest, he did not see the sly smile on her face. Purposely keeping quiet, the girl gripped onto his robe and allowed him to hold her tighter.
"Meixiang... your heart can only be mine"
Lin Heng's sudden possessiveness made Meixiang smile even more.
"Quite bold of you to hug my daughter in front of my home"
Startled, the couple quickly broke apart.
"Daddy..." Meixiang played her part as the shy little girl, pulling on her fingers with embarrassment.
Which father could resist such an adorable expression from his daughter? The Viscount smiled softly at his shy daughter before throwing a stern look at Lin Heng.
"Lin Heng, I remind you Meixiang have yet to enter the Lin Family. Keep proper distance from my daughter or_"
"Daddy" Meixiang rushed to her father's side and pouted quietly by shaking his arm, using full powers of her big round eyes. "Heng-ge just took daughter home. Heng-ge_"
"You speak back to your father for your beloved?" The Viscount words were scolding but his eyes and tone were gentle and soft toward his daughter. "Ungrateful girl"
"Daddy" Meixiang blushed softly and pulled at her father's arm. "Of course not..."
Meixiang glanced over at Lin Heng seeing the man was smiling warmly at her interaction with her father.
"Don't be upset..." Meixiang turned back to her father and smile sweetly. "Meixiang will cook your favorite food for dinner... okay?"
Only then did the Viscount truly smile.
"Meixiang..." Lin Heng soft call brought Meixiang attention back to him.
"It's already late Lin-gongzi" The Viscount could see through Lin Heng desire to join them for dinner but quickly poured cold water on the younger man. "You should go home"
The Viscount then turned and made his way back into the estate. It did not escape Meixiang's eyes how unwilling Lin Heng was to leave. But like the Viscount, Meixiang had no intention of making things easy for him. Still, she had to put on a soft, innocent smile.
"Heng-ge... can Meixiang visit you tomorrow?" Meixiang asked shyly.
"Of course" Lin Heng quickly responded. "Meixiang, you never need to ask for permission to visit the Lin family. Soon, as my wife, my home will be yours"
Meixiang responded with a soft blush making Lin Heng want to hug her again.
"Meixiang, why are you still dawdling at the gate?" The Viscount voice was heard in the distant.
"T_ Then Meixiang will visit Heng-ge tomorrow"
Lin Heng watched as the girl rushed inside her home. Even when the gates were closed, the man stood there transfixed by the smile he received before Meixiang disappeared.
The next day, Meixiang barely woke up when her maids came in announcing that Lin Heng sent a 4 seats carriage for her and the Viscount. The maids were happy that their young mistress is being exceptionally doting on by her fiancé and could only imagine how much love their mistress will receive after the marriage.
Meanwhile, Meixiang was not fazed by the attention Lin Heng was giving her. In the last four years, the man had put a lot of effort in showing her his interest.
Meixiang was not stupid so understood the man was wooing her. The root of the problem is the soul residing inside Zhao Meixiang.
As a realist, the woman uses her brain more than her heart. Added her slightly pessimistic thinking, she is not someone who could trust others intention easily. Despite Lin Heng seemingly perfect husband material, Meixiang could not fully trust him. To be accurate, the woman could not trust human's ever-changing emotions.
After properly dressed, Meixiang joined her father for their usual morning meals before they head out to the Lin estate. It did not surprise the father-daughter pair when the Lin elders spoke to them in regards to the impending engagement. Zhao Meixiang is now 18 years old and a stunningly beautiful one that that. The 20 years old Lin Heng is also at a proper age to start marry. Being the only son of the Lin family and the heir to the Prime Minister, the Lin especially wanted to push forward the wedding as soon as possible. While the Viscount had wanted his beloved daughter to have the best marriage partner, he was reluctant to part with his daughter so soon.
"Viscount Zhao, I have bought land nearby and have arrange construction for a new home"
Lin Heng could see the Viscount hesitation at the wedding invitation in his hand. "With the Viscount permission, Lin Heng will make arrangement to have the Zhao estate in the Capital to move to the new home. This way, even after Meixiang move here, the she can still easily visit the Viscount whenever she wants"
Lin Heng had carefully arranged a new, larger home for the Viscount nearby the Lin estate just so the man could ease his worry about his precious daughter. Plus, he ensured the Viscount that Meixiang could come and go as she pleases.
For a married woman, her husband home is her new life. It was rare for any woman to have such freedom.
"Very well..." The Viscount sighed softly. "If Madam Lin and Elder Lin have deem the date auspicious, then I have no reason to reject"
Lin Heng's smile made everyone hold back their laughter. It was obvious now happy the young man was at the Viscount acceptance.
"Meixiang" Elder Lin had sat beside the young woman so was first to notice her blushing cheeks. "Are you happy with the arrangements?"
Everyone in the Lin Family was pleased with Meixiang's graceful temperament. The last four years since they first met her, they found nothing to complain. Her manner, speech, and looks were all top notch. Her only setback was her arts and music skills, but still, everyone found her adorable while she attempts to please them with her skills. If anything, her poor skills only made her more endearing.
"M_Meixiang_" The girl was red with everyone eyes on her. "M_ Meixiang has_ has no opinion"
To see how the normally graceful girl shuttered so much only delighted everyone's heart. It caused people desire to tease the girl even more.
"Of course your opinion matters" Elder Lin continues as she patted Meixiang's hand. "If you do not want to get marry, no one will force you"
Everyone knew the old woman was teasing Meixiang, but Lin Heng still felt anxious.
"Grandmother_"
"Hush you" Elder Lin glanced over at her grandson before she looked back at Meixiang. "If Meixiang does not wish to marry Heng, then_"
"Grandmother!" Lin Heng eyes furrow.
"What?" Elder Lin looked at her grandson, challenging him to refute her.
"M_ Meixiang is willing" A soft, shy voice caused Elder Lin to smile and Lin Heng's heart to race.
"Willing to what?" Elder Lin wanted the girl to be sure with her decision.
"Meixiang is willing..." Meixiang glance up shyly at Lin Heng, scratching at his heart more and more. "Willing to marry Heng-ge..."
"Good-good" Elder Lin smiled softly while everyone laughed happily.
Meixiang - like the white lotus flower she was, could only cover her face and let out a cute embarrassed sound making everyone laugh more at her cuteness.
"Grandmother" Lin Heng stepped forward, asking the eldest of the table. "Can I have some time alone with Meixiang?"
"Impatient boy" The old woman scolded but smile. "Meixiang, Heng has arranged several new plum gardens in the estate. Would you like to see?"
Meixiang's eyes held surprised and glanced up at Lin Heng to see the man's bashful expression.
"Grandmother, it's supposed to be a surprise" Lin Heng said helplessly.
"Oh?" The old woman shamelessly feint innocence.
"Grandmother..."
"No matter" The old woman return her attention to the beautiful girl beside her. "Go on and enjoy yourself. In the meantime, we elders still need to discuss details for the wedding"
Lin Heng took the chance to take Meixiang's hand and quickly lead her out. He didn't care the laughter that echoed behind him as he rushed out with Meixiang in his hand.