Leaving the hotel, Wen Zac didn't return home but went to his office. Ming Lan was back but he got to know it when she came to visit his grandma. He was always updated about her status but this time he missed it. He remembered his man brought pictures to him that day but he kept them in the file without even checking them and asked the man to stop following her.

Reaching his office, he took that file out and the envelope inside. They were all the latest pictures of Ming Lan from her visit to some needy places and then her pictures from the airports and reaching her home.

'That day I didn't check these,' he realized. 'Doesn't matter. I need to throw these away anyways.'

Keeping that file inside the drawer, Wen Zac leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. He remembered what he said to Ming Lan when she came to him. 'Why don't you marry me?'

"I didn't mean it. I was just being impulsive," he mumbled and then thought, 'What if she agrees to marry me. Will I be happy that way? It's like forcing her. I hope she will just forget what I said.'

He sighed and then conflicted thoughts came to him, 'But what if we marry. Not like she loves someone else. She can at least be my wife in name only that way I won't have to marry another woman. Though just in name, won't it feel nice to have her as my wife? At least I will know she is just with me and not with someone else. Am I being selfish here? Do I still love her?.... Sure I do but she doesn't love me, so no use.Marry her? Can only be my wishful thinking.'

-------------

The next day, JiangYuyan went to the office as the weekend was over and the first working day of the week had started. She didn't return home for two days after leaving home early in the morning, being covered from head to toe. Thankfully those marks on her neck were gone and she could relax.

Xiao Min informed her about her entire day's schedule. "This is for the day." he finished.

"Anything else?" she asked, already busy with her work.

Xiao Min nodded, "Fourth young master left for a business trip early in the morning."

"Who accompanied him? Noah?"

"Hmm, only those two left."

That evening when Lu Lijun took her to that hillside, he told her that he was leaving for work. "When will they return?"

"Most probably in a week," Xiao Min informed.

'For one week everything will be peaceful at least,' she sighed a relief.

"What about the project with Songs?"

"Mr. Shen Li had to leave the city due to some work. Once he is back, we will start working together."

The light smirk painted on her lips, "You better focus on work other than just.."

"Rest assured boss," he interrupted before his boss would say anything to embarrass him.

-----------

Ming Rusheng's office.

He was serious the entire day and everyone around him could sense the cold air around him. Not just him but Ming Lan who was working on some normal work given to her while sitting on the couch in her brother's office looked a bit lost. The two siblings didn't talk much with each other and neither of them asked what happened. They just chose to be in their own world.

Ming Lan kept peeking at her brother in between and she knew the reason why he was like that but Ming Rushen was not aware of why his sister was so silent.

When Ming Rusheng's assistant came to him, Ming Rusheng gave him one file, "Ask Ms. Lu to finish left part of design today itself."

The assistant left and Ming Lan noticed her brother was still angry for sure.

Once the office hours were over, Ming Rusheng finally spoke, "Lanlan!"

"Yes, brother?"

He looked at her. "Can you go home on your own today? I have something important to do."

"I can. Don't worry about me," she replied and was ready to leave.

"My assistant will take you back," he added.

Ming Lan was sure her brother would talk to Lu Lian and she had to leave them alone. After office hours everyone left while Ming Rusheng was still there. He made sure Lu Lian would stay back too as he had given her urgent work to do.

Ming Rusheng went to Lu Lian's office where she was working in the workshop on the design sent by Ming Rusheng at the last moment. She is loyal to her work and would never leave it half done.

He stood at the door of her workshop and she noticed his presence. Looking at him for a moment she resumed her work and said, "I am yet to finish it, Mr. Ming. Will hand it over by the next morning."

"I am here to talk with you," he said and stepped towards her.

She didn't look at him and replied, "Only if it's related to work."

"It's about us."

"There is no us, Mr. Ming."

Ignoring her, Ming Rusheng spoke, "Stay away from Wen Zac. Don't do it only to take revenge on me."

"You are not that important to me that I will waste my precious time on useless revenge."

"Then? Why are you doing it?"

"Because I want to marry a nice man and he seems the best option," she replied, still not looking at him and unaware of how her words were affecting him.

"You can not marry someone else," he said.

She finally looked at him with a mocking gaze, "And why do you think so?"

"Because you are mine," he replied coldly.

When he came to her, he thought he would be loving and gentle but seeing her acting so indifferent turned to his colder self.

She chuckled, "I didn't give myself to you to call me yours and I am not a thing that you will claim as yours."

Thud!

He slammed his hand on the sheet she was working on and glared in her eyes while leaning down looking at her face to face, "Though you are not a thing, I can certainly make you mine. You just don't provoke me."