Later that evening, as they were about to have dinner the maid announced that Mr. Shen had arrived.

“Let him join us for dinner, aunty Rue,” Mrs Liang said from the dining room .

Mei sat at the far end of the table, her posture straight, her eyes lowered. She hadn’t touched her wine.

Mr. Shen sat beside Mr. Liang, his smile polished, his confidence simmering just beneath the surface. Across from him, Mrs. Liang swirled her glass watching Mei . Bai Liang scrolled through his phone, barely present.

The meal was halfway through when Mr. Shen cleared his throat and placed his utensils down with deliberate care.

“I’d like to make a proposal,” he said, voice smooth eyes fixed on Mr Liang and Mrs Liang. “Both personal and professional.”

Mr. Liang raised an eyebrow. “Go on.”

Mr. Shen leaned forward slightly. “I’ve been thinking about Skyline’s future. The market is shifting. Clients want authenticity, artistry and Mei has that. She’s the kind of designer who could lead a new division, something boutique and something bold. I want to build it with her.”

Mei’s gaze lifted slowly, her expression unreadable; he was at it again. Her fingers tightened around the chopsticks.

“And,” Mr. Shen continued, “So I’d like to ask for her hand in marriage.”

The room fell into a stunned silence. Even Bai Liang looked up from his phone.

Mei’s breath caught. Her lips parted slightly, but no words came. Her eyes darted to Mr. Shen, then to Mr. Liang, then to Mrs Liang who was already smiling—a calculating smile.

“Well,” Mrs. Liang said, setting her glass down with a soft clink(this was what she needed, she thought; she had never thought about it that way but the gods had brought it to her on a platter) . “That’s a wonderful idea. Mei needs direction and stability as a designer and a focused partner like Mr Shen who has more knowledge in designing could be a game changer for Skyline—l approve.”

Mei’s jaw clenched. She looked down, blinking rapidly, her shoulders stiffening like stone— So that was what he had thought to propose to her before her family, haaaaa then he had thought wrong.

Mr Liang nodded slowly, as if the decision had already been made. “If my wife agrees, then I agree. It’s a good match. Stability. Progress.”

“I don’t mind,” Bai Liang added casually. “It’s not like she’s seeing anyone.”

Mei stood up abruptly. Her chair scraped against the floor, sharp and jarring.

“I’m not property and you don't talk about my future, decide about it like l am a 2 year old,” she said, voice low but firm. “And I don’t need to be rescued or stabilized by a man and Mr Shen l thought l was clear when l told you I am not interested in anything you just said or wasn't l clear enough?”

“Then here me for the last time l don't like you and l will never like you”

Mr. Shen’s smile faltered. “Mei, I didn’t mean…. ”

She turned and walked out, her footsteps echoing down the hallway. If she stayed here for one second she could end up saying something that they won't like.

Mrs. Liang sighed. “She’s always been dramatic.”

Mr. Liang waved a hand. “She’ll come around. She has nowhere else to go.”

The silence that followed Mei’s exit was thick. No one had moved.

Mr. Shen cleared his throat, trying to recover his composure. “She’s passionate. That’s what makes her brilliant.”

Mrs. Liang leaned back in her chair, swirling her wine with a smirk. “Brilliant or not, she’s ungrateful. We’ve given her everything, roof, clothes, food and a career. Now she doesn't listen to what we think is best for her?”

“She’s always been like this,” Bai Liang added, already back to scrolling. “Quiet until she explodes. She’ll cool off.”

Mr. Liang nodded, his tone dismissive. “She’ll see the reason. She’s not foolish enough to walk away from this opportunity.”

Mr. Shen forced a smile, but his jaw was tight. “I’ll speak to her privately. She just needs time.”

Mrs. Liang’s eyes narrowed. “Time is a luxury Mr Shen. If you want her, you’ll have to take control. Mei doesn’t respond to softness. She needs structure.”

Mr. Shen’s fingers tapped the edge of his glass. “I understand.”

But he didn't fully. Mei’s rejection had pierced something deeper than pride, what was so special about her to reject him. Yes she was pretty but she wasn't like the wild girls she hung around . It wasn’t just about romance anymore. It was about power,about proving that she couldn’t outmaneuver him.

*Meanwhile, in Mei’s Room*

Mei shut the door behind her, her breath shallow, her hands trembling. She paced the room like a caged animal, the walls closing in with every step.

They think I’ll come around haaaaa that I’ll fold like paper.

She opened her drawer and pulled out her sketchpad—the one with the courtyard, the koi pond, the lanterns. Her fingers hovered over the pages, then flipped to the back where she’d scribbled notes for her workshop: budget plans, logo ideas, a list of potential clients she’d connected with online.

She was going to change her life, she had watched them home school her, blocked her from socializing with anyone, she had Noone she had no friends, the only person close to her was auntie Rue bt that was an elder to her so she was just alone but she was going to change it from today onwards

Bai Liang's Bedroom

The bedroom had a soft light and the scent of imported jasmine. Mrs. Liang sat in Bai Liang’s vanity, brushing serum into her cheekbones with slow, deliberate strokes. Bai Liang lounged on the edge of the bed, legs crossed with her phone in hand.

“He’s gone,” Bai said, glancing toward the hallway.

Mrs. Liang didn’t look up. “Good now, listen.”

Bai Liang raised an eyebrow.

“Your father said he’ll propose a marriage alliance with the Lu family soon,” Mrs Liang said, voice low and clipped. “Which means Mei needs to be out of sight, make sure you help Shen Ji with winning her trust . I’m not saying she’s prettier than you—but just in case. I won’t have her standing next to Lu Rowan and suddenly claiming she owns half of Skyline’s designs.”

Bai scoffed. “She wouldn’t dare.”

Mrs. Liang turned, her eyes sharp. “She wouldn’t dare now but be given a platform she’ll find her voice. That girl’s been collecting praise in silence,l see it and I feel it.”

Bai Liang frowned. “So what do we do?”

“We put her under surveillance,” Mrs Liang said, “and Mr Shen is useful. He only cares about money. I’ll feed him enough to keep him loyal or maybe get him promoted . He’ll do whatever I want. And through him, Mei will be under our control forever.”

Bai Liang leaned back, thoughtful. “So I should be nice to him.”

Mrs. Liang smiled, cold and satisfied. “Extra kind. Make him feel important. Make him feel wanted. Men like him are easy to bend.”

The next morning, the office was quiet, the sun barely casting shadows across the marble floors. Mr. Shen arrived early, as he often did. He walked past the reception desk, nodding at the sleepy intern, and made his way to Mei’s corner.

Her desk was neat, almost too neat. But he knew where to look.

He opened the drawer slowly, fingers grazing the edge of her sketchpad. There it was—the draft, so this girl really thought she could be ahead of her, his ego couldn't allow that to happen; he had been the top designer at Skyline and he couldn't allow some unrecognized girl take his place—The draft was the one with the courtyard, the koi pond, the lanterns. The lines were delicate, intentional and It was art that was perfect.

He smiled and said we are going to use this for the Jingling project instead.

He tucked the sketchpad under his arm and walked briskly to Bai Liang’s office.

Bai Liang’s Office*

Bai Liang was sipping iced coffee, scrolling through her emails when Mr Shen walked in.

“I have something that l was working on,” he said, placing the sketchpad on her desk. “An idea for the Crafts project. I think Lu Rowan will like it.”

Bai Liang flipped through the pages, her eyes widening; this is Mei’s handwriting what was going on in that girl's mind. Maybe her mom was right; they had to be mindful of her. “This is good. Really good.”

Mr. Shen nodded. “I thought so too. I’ll present it as a concept the Skyline has been developing. Mei’s been distracted lately and I'm sure she forgot to show us this draft.”

Bai Liang smirked. “She seems distracted these days. That's why you need to move fast and marry her because Lu Rowan’s tough, he wants things clean and sharp, we need to keep up and to do that we have to have Mei under our control.”

Neither of them knew that the sketch had already been posted anonymously on Mei’s design account. And Lu Rowan had already seen it.

He was considering it seriously because it really seemed like the draft came from someone who understood interior design like it was poetry.