"Then what about soup spilling?" Her mother demanded, coming towards her and tugging at her clothes, expecting to see burn marks. Xue Ning hurriedly tugged her clothes away from her - she couldn't let her mom see the hickies Jingwei left on her!

"A complete accident! How can I yell at the underpaid and overworked service staff, Mom?"

"Xue Ning was really kind not to pursue the incident." Jingwei said. "I was going to sue the pants off her for doing it on purpose!"

"On purpose?!" Yue Niang's head swivelled back to her daughter. "You said it was an accident!"

"Well she didn't want to do it, but she was forced to do it, so I'm considering it an accident." Xue Ning said as she discreetly stomped on Jingwei's foot, giving him a warning glare.

Jingwei nodded and mimed a zip over his mouth. He was going to keep his mouth shut from now on.

Unfortunately for them, everyone else saw this blatant attempt at silencing.

"Forced to do it by who?" Her mother asked. "His father?"

"Of course not!" Jingwei declared, forgetting his vow of silence in just 10 seconds. "It was - ouch ouch - Xue Ning babe my foot.."

"It was?"

"Some other woman that wanted to kidnap Jingwei to fuck him. He's really popular," Xue Ning said, refusing to mention how said woman was part of a scheme concocted by Jingwei's ex-best friend, who now leads an organisation that's out for revenge.

And the fact that she was now dead after being sent to the police.

Her parents didn't need to know things like that! It's bad for their hearts!

"Then the car accident?" Her father asked worriedly.

"Nothing serious! This idiot didn't look left and right before crossing the road!" Xue Ning definitely wasn't going to tell them about the attempted murder.

Meanwhile, said idiot nodded agreeably. Whatever Xue Ning said, he would support.

"I'm used to cars stopping for me all the time."

"Privileged brat," Tai Xuan scoffed, and he focused on one other statement. "Your ex-fiancee made you cry? What a loser."

How could he entrust his sister's future happiness to such a useless man?

"She thought so too, that's why she cheated on me with the waiter, used me to make the man she liked jealous, and then now she's upset because I've moved on." Jingwei shrugged as everyone digested that statement.

"My apologies," Xin Yu said quietly. "That must have felt terrible."

"But then it worked out in the end! If she liked me, I wouldn't have met your sister, and that would be a tragedy." Jingwei said cheerfully, holding Xue Ning's hand.

"Ge, you being like his ex-fiancee is not a compliment. She was an utter bitch!" Xue Ning added.

"Tai Xuan don't be rude," Tai Cheng said, his brain aching from all the new information. He thought Xue Ning and Jingwei sleeping together were the worst of his problems, but he realised that his daughter had been severely underplaying her exciting life in Shanghai!

From what he deduced from Jingwei's body language, that man spoke nothing but the truth when he listed out all of Xue Ning's good attributes, which meant that all those incidents did happen - including the stabbing!

His daughter was embroiled in dangerous waters, and the longer she stayed with Sun Jingwei, the higher the chances of drowning. He caught Yue Niang's eyes - and she nodded, understanding him implicitly.

"Well, the both of you are consenting adults, I have no right to stop you." Tai Cheng said. "But Jingwei, can you give me some time to talk to you outside?"

"Sure," Jingwei replied.

"I'll come with you!" Xue Ning said.

"You will do no such thing. You're talking with me," Yue Niang said ominously. "Now everybody, get out! I need to speak to my daughter alone."

========

"Break up with my daughter tonight," Tai Cheng declared, with no room for argument in his voice.historical

They were now talking in the kitchen of their family restaurant, in a bid to be free of eavesdropping family members. Tai Cheng had heaved a huge sigh before dropping the ultimatum.

"Why? Uncle, is this about us sleeping together before marriage?" Jingwei asked hesitantly. If he had known Xue Ning's dad was so opposed to the idea, he would have simply put on his clothes and left the room!

"No, this is about you putting my daughter into unnecessary danger." Tai Cheng said, a fierce glint in his eye. He looked less like a jovial noodle store owner, and more like a veteran of a thousand wars. A shiver shot through Jingwei's spine, and he found that he could not respond.

"I had years of experience determining truth from lies, and I believe you, when you say you love my daughter. As a father, it warms my heart to know there's someone who thinks so highly of her despite her flaws."

"She has no flaws," Jingwei said determinedly. Tai Cheng rolled his eyes. Men in love were always stupid.

"And I suppose her fart smells of roses too?" Tai Cheng retorted, holding up a hand to stop him from continuing. He couldn't be distracted now. "More importantly, I know that all these.. incidents you have mentioned, aren't exaggerated lies."

Jingwei froze. Cold sweat began to form on his temples.

"My daughter, for all her violent tendencies, had never stabbed a man in the hand before. I shudder to know what could have pushed her to this point." Tai Cheng said evenly.

"The press of a sharp knife against skin, the give of flesh as the blade sinks in, cutting through thick muscles.. hot blood spurting out.. this is not something I wish my daughter to ever experience."

"Hahahah, Uncle, why does it sound like.. you have personal experience in that?"

"Because I do."

Jingwei suddenly felt very cold. The kitchen was full of knives, wasn't it?

"And the car accident was most likely pre-mediated murder too."

"How did you know?" Jingwei whispered shakily.

"You're Sun Haowei's son," Tai Cheng shrugged. "For every ten people that want you alive, there must be more that want you dead."

"And that is why you must leave my daughter for good, before she ends up dying on your behalf!"