174 Marry her

When Liam got to the restaurant, he dialed Ying Sheng's number and the person directed him into a private booth.

Liam couldn't help but feel scared. He was afraid something had happened to her. Wasn't she going for horse riding with her cousin? How did she end up here?

Lots of thoughts were running in Liam's mind as his heart beat quicken. 

When he reached the booth, he opened and saw a man sitting inside. 

Liam furrowed his brows in confusion. 'What was going on?'

"Hello?" He called out as he walked towards the man.

Lei Zhao looked at the man in front of him and a trace of light passed through his eyes. He was expecting some dude with leather jackets and tattoos since those people are the ones Ying Sheng normally hangs out with but this…

The guy's hair was neatly trimmed and he was decently dressed too. 

"Liam?" Lei Zhao asked with a hint of curiosity in his voice. When and where did Ying Sheng meet such a nice boy?

"Yes. Where is Ying Sheng?" Liam asked as he looked at the person in front of him.

"Mr. Lei…" Liam trailed off when he clearly saw the face of the person in front of him.

"You know me?" Lei Zhao asked, clearly surprised.

"Yes. Aren't you Ying Sheng's cousin?"

Lei Zhao nodded, "Sit down."

Liam sat down and looked at Lei Zhao. He knew Lei Zhao had probably called him here for a reason.

He couldn't help but swallow from Lei Zhao's cold gaze.

"How old are you?" Lei Zhao finally spoke after a few minutes of silence.

"Twenty-three." Liam replied.

"Are you still in college?" Lei Zhao asked again.

"No. I completed earlier and I already have a PhD."

Lei Zhao's eyes flickered with admiration but he quickly masked it.

"Hmm. How did you meet Ying Sheng?" 

Liam arched his brows. Why does it feel like Lei Zhao was interrogating him?

"At the birthday banquet of Mrs. Li. She approached me...is there something wrong?"

Liam finally asked Lei Zhao. He wanted to know the reason for this meeting and setup.

"Well..it depends Liam. Why are you staying together with my cousin? Do you know what the public will think when the news leaks that the heiress of the Ying empire is staying with a boy?"

Lei Zhao said in a cold, hard voice. 

Liam frowned. He didn't really think about the scandal this would cause if news broke out that he is staying with Ying Sheng.

"I would be responsible if the news got leaked!" Liam said hurriedly. 

"Responsible? And how are you planning on being responsible? Will you marry her?"

"Yes."

Dead silence fell in the room after Liam spoke. Lei Zhao's eyes widened in shock. Did he just say….

"Do you think marriage is a child's play?" Lei Zhao snorted.

Liam shifted uncomfortably in his seat. 

"I...I.."

"Which household do you come from?" Lei Zhao inquired suddenly. He has met many people in the upper class society and it's rare to see a decent guy like Liam he has to admit.

Based on his mannerism, he knew he was brought up well.

"The Xia family." Liam mumbled.

"Xia family in the northern area?" Lei Zhao asked surprisingly. This young man keeps surprising him.

"Yes." Liam nodded. His palm was clammy at this moment.

"Oh..does your family know you're associated with Ying Sheng?"

Lei Zhao knew the Xia family was a respectable family in City S. Their lives were really private and only a handful of people have seen them. You might be talking to one of them at a party and you wouldn't even know.

Even the media doesn't dare report anything about them. This shows how powerful they are.

Even though Lei Zhao doesn't know how large their influence is, he knew the Xia family could compete on par with his family.

"Yes, they do." 

Lei Zhao fell into a deep thought.  As he looked at the young man in front of him. 

"What do you think about Ying Sheng?" Lei Zhao threw the unexpected question at Liam.

Liam blushed and avoided Lei Zhao's gaze.

"You like her." Lei Zhao stated when he saw his reaction.

"Ye-No. We are just friends." Liam shook his head aggressively.

Lei Zhao chuckled at his reaction.

"Relax. I don't care if you like her but if you hurt her…."

"I wouldn't! Never." Liam interrupted Lei Zhao as he said boldly. How can he hurt the woman he loves. He would rather hurt himself.

Lei Zhao looked at Liam and nodded in satisfaction.

"Good. Ying Sheng is in the next booth. You can go and see her."

Liam stood up and nodded at Lei Zhao. 

"I will take care of her!" Lei Zhao lips curved into a slight smile and nodded.

Liam breathed a sigh of relief. This unexpectedly went well.

*****************************************

"Who is that guy, you bumped into?" Yan Mei asked Ying Sheng once they were alone. Lei Zhao had ordered another private booth to talk to Liam leaving both of them alone.

Ying Sheng stiffened, "He is a friend."

Yan Mei lips curved slightly, "Hmm...just a friend?"

Ying Sheng blushed and nodded. 

Yan Mei nodded. "With your reaction I thought he was an ex." Yan Mei chuckled as she said.

Ying Sheng widened her eyes and busted into laughter.

"No-no. It's just….. complicated."

Yan Mei nodded, "It's okay. You're still young. It's normal to have complicated feelings. If you need someone to talk to or ask anything I'm here."

Ying Sheng smiled, "Alright."

"What is taking this man so long?" Yan Mei pouted looking at the entrance.

Ying Sheng also looked at the entrance. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Liam.

"Liam, hey. I hope my cousin didn't scare you."

Ying Sheng said as she stood up and walked towards him.

Liam shook his head and flashed her a smile.

"Hello." He greeted Yan Mei respectfully.

"Hello." Yan Mei nodded and stood up.

"I will go find Lei Zhao. See you later, Ying Sheng."

Yan Mei nodded at them and left them alone.