Once given an inch, people like Zhang Liling who have been waiting for the opportunity, would take a mile just like the opportunity that presented itself now.
Now that Jia Li had taken the first move to make their relationship go beyond an idol and a fan, Zhang Liling was not going to let this opportunity go to waste.
Soon, she was already chatting happily with her while laughing out loud, leaving Fang Bingwen to be on his own.
In fact that would have been the case if Fu Hua hadn't come to distract him.
"I used to be as cold as you a few years back," Fu Hua said as he came to sit next to him, given that Jia Li and Zhang Liling were now sitting together.
In order for his mate not to die from annoyance, he had to come to his side to keep him company.
Retracting his gaze from the little woman that was now holding hands with Jia Li, Mr. Fang replied without a change in his facial expression.
"You haven't changed."
Fang Bingwen knew that the only reason he looked like he was friendly at the moment, was because of the kind of setting their meet-up had.
If it were to be in public, the man would have been keeping a poker look on his face.
But his response, Fu Hua denied it.
"I have changed. If I didn't have my sweetheart to love hard, my heart would have been cold-stoned." He said while stealing a loving glance at Jia Li who was occupied with Zhang Liling's chit-chat.
Following his gaze back to the women chatting all by themselves in their small voices, Fang Bingwen asked blatantly without holding back.
"Are you saying that I have a rock in my chest in place of a heart because I do not love my fiancée as much as you love your wife?"
Mr. Fang could not believe his ears. What sort of logic was that?
"Bingo!" Fu Hua snapped his fingers in acknowledgement and then went on to relax his back on the couch comfortably.
"This is not something to be annoyed about. Just take the truth as it is. Time will tell if I said the truth or if I was teasing you."
Fu Hua had said that with all confidence.
He could remember how he was in the past before he met His Li. He used to keep a poker face with everyone as if they owed him a billion dollars but today, look at him.
Although he was not too friendly with others, he doesn't always have a death look on his face because happiness and fulfillment filled his heart.
At that time before he had a change of heart, he didn't let anyone get close to him. He used to be very cold, but as soon as Jia Li stepped into his life, things changed.
Light started to come out of Darkness.
At that moment he first saw her, he knew that his life would change because of her, and like fate, his grandfather arranged their marriage.
Even though he had disagreed on the union because he didn't want to betray the witch he was dating at that time, he let his heart lead him to taking the best decision he had ever made and today, he would always remain grateful to his late old man, Grandfather Fu.
Sensing the confidence in his tone, Fang Bingwen calmed down considerably.
Although he didn't want to agree with him just to not make him feel proud of himself, he was forced to submit because somehow, he could relate to what he just said.
Facts were surrounding him, plus evidences he couldn't deny.
Shifting his gaze to Zhang Liling, that was enough prove for him not to have any chance to deny anything.
How did he come to this point with her?
How did he fall for her?
Those were some of the questions he had to answer by himself.
Also, he noticed that his character traits had changed a bit in the course of dating Zhang Liling.
Things were indeed a bit different from the him now when compared to him of the past.
Watching his facial expression, Fu Hua smiled to himself. 'Seems like this fellow is starting to get it.'
All of a sudden, Fang Bingwen turned to him to ask in a low tone, "How did you fall for someone like your wife?"
Hearing that question, a smile lit up in Fu Hua's eyes. How did he fall for Jia Li? That was a simple question.
"She was so innocent, and that made it easy for my fangs to sink into her."
Speaking on that, he went on to tell him a little story, giving him a little insight to how Jia Li used to be innocent.
But the irony of the whole thing, was that Jia Li was no longer that shy and innocent girl she used to be in the past. She was now bolder and more confidence.
Concluding the story, Fu Hua added, "Now, I have influenced her to be like me."
"Hmmm..." Fang Bingwen stared thoughtfully at Zhang Liling. "How do one fall for someone like that little rascal?"
Hearing him call Zhang Liling a little rascal, Fu Hua couldn't help chuckling softly. At least he knew the reason the man spoke that way. It was only because she was disturbing his wife.
"I wouldn't know, but all I know is that love changes people knowingly or unknowingly."
Nodding in understanding, Fang Bingwen kept watching Zhang Liling from the corner of his eyes.
That little brat that was usually all over him without giving him a small break as soon as she found the opportunity to be with him, hadn't even looked his way since she got hooked with another man's wife.
What a brat!
***
"I see that you are putting on this dress that reminds me of my humble beginnings." Jia Li's said while staring intently at the purple dress on Zhang Liling's body.
Finally, she had brought up the topic.
"Yes. I love all the dresses you make, but today I wanted to impress you as I know that most of your designs has a story to tell, so I picked this one."
Staring at that beautiful face that looked like it hasn't aged one bit, Zhang Liling pleaded. "Can you tell me a little more about the story?"
"Of course, why not!" Instantly, Jia Li was happy and got ready to go down the memory lane.
A few minutes later, Zhang Liling couldn't help being wowed a d inspired as Jia Libcanw to the end of her story.
In turns out that the dress Zhang Liling was putting on was inspired from one of the dresses Jia Li had made when she joining FJ newly through a contest.
The purple dress had the same colour of the purple cabbage Jia Li had turned into a dress back then, but because she love it so much, she was inspired to remake it, but decided to give it a little touch.
Zhang Liling was truly inspired by her story, and was now even more determined to thrive hard withy her brand.
Zhang Liling and Jia Li hit it off on the smooth path and in no time, they were chatting like they had known each other for a long time.
From learning a bit about her Jia Li's humble but tragic beginning, to how much she grew in a few years because of the love and support by one man called her husband.
Not just that, there was also an elder figure in her life.
Zhang Liling came to know how much her idol loved and respected her husband's grandfather because the man was the first person to believe in her.
And when she didn't know how her life was going to turn out, he took her under his wings.
Even though Jia Li's life didn't become smoothly immediately, she sure had a happy ending, and that was all that matters.
"Ms. I really love your story. You should write a novel, I'm sure it would do well out there because you inspire a lot of people." Zhang Liling suggested while taking her hands.
Before, the little woman was laughing out loud and chatting but now, she had quietened down a bit, but that was only because she felt sorry for some of the challenges Jia Li's passed through.
"Really?" Jia Li asked as her eyes shone brightly.
"Yes! Your story would really inspire a lot of people. Your story had already made me to become stronger." Zhang Liling said as encouragement.
She was reminded about how her mother had suffered to bring her up alone and now, anything she does, a few people would think she only managed to get that far because of the people surrounding her.
How come they never allowed their eyes to see that she had also put in some effort? Were they totally blind or were they selectively blind?
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