Hello, Mr Li Chapter 296 - What's so special about you?

"Stop it" 

Jianjun said to Sara in embarrassment without even raising his head to look at her.

He was tired of watching her grin teasingly to him ever since she entered the kitchen. 

It would have been better if she opened her mouth to ask him questions or say out whatever she was keeping inside her little head.

"I thought you said you did not like her?" Sara asked with that same smile still plastered on her face. 

"I did not know old people still did naughty things. You're really something" 

This time, she grinned cheekily and began to laugh when he shot her a 'dangerous' look.

"She wants to see you. Go and meet her and stop troubling me."

Sara began to chuckled before hopping out of the room to 'Changyu's room' next. 

There was no point in her teasing Changyu too much since it had always been obvious that she liked Jianjun. 

"That was one moment I ruined yea?" Sara laughed as she spoke to Changyu. 

"Yea. It's always difficult having him around." Changyu admitted and began to smile sheepishly. 

"What are you thinking about?" Sara asked curiously when she saw the kind of smile on her face.

"It's a good thing your Aunt is around. I know he may want to suggest you sleeping in this room with me since your aunt would be sleeping with Joreen. But don't ever agree. Make him sleep here tonight."

"Oooh.... How shameless!" Sara started laughing when she saw the naughty look on Changyu's face. 

She was now certain she was leaving her father in good hands. 

At first, she had not thought about getting married because she did not want to leave her father. But now, she felt like she was obstructing the both of them. 

"How did it go last night between you two?" Changyu asked curiously since she was already asleep by the time Muchen called to inform them that Sara could not return home.

"Mr Li?" 

"I can't believe you call your boyfriend that. You must have learned how not to be romantic from your father."

Sara looked at the ring in her finger and knew that neither Jianjun nor Changyu had taken note of it that's why they had not asked.

Sara suddenly remembered she had not told them about his proposal yet because of the many distractions so, she dragged Changyu with her to the sitting room and called everyone else to gather. 

"What is wrong?" Jianjun asked first since she had forced him out of the kitchen and distracted his cooking.

Cixi was the only one who knew the information Sara wanted to share so she just smiled and kept mute. She still did not feel  very comfortable since she was sure the others had not yet forgiven her. 

Sara raised her hand and flashed the ring in front of all their eyes. 

"Mr Li asked me to marry him" She announced excitedly. 

There was silence after she dropped the news.

The first excited squeal she heard came from Joreen after about 30 seconds. 

"Wow, Congratulations!" Changyu smiled warmly at her before pulling her into a hug. 

"I am happy for you my dear" 

"Oh my God. I can't believe this!" Joreen hopped happily into Sara's embrace. 

She could not believe Li Muchen was going to be her Cousin-in-law. Heya also.

Cixi also congratulated her again. 

It was not every time that some gets to find a perfect Nephew-in-law like Li Muchen, who was not only rich but respectful.

But Jianjun just stood there without saying anything. He did not even look like someone who was happy for her at all. 

When he noticed they were all staring at him, he said a simple "Congratulations" before heading back inside the kitchen. 

"What's wrong with Dad?" Joreen asked first. 

"He obviously did not think she would ever be getting married" Cixi explained. 

"Pffft... Does he want to get married to his own daughter?" Changyu murmured before going to meet him inside the kitchen. Sara also followed behind her. 

"I'll speak with him for you. Do not worry." Changyu said to her and Sara nodded in appreciation before going back to join Cixi and Joreen.

"What's with the long face? You aren't happy for Sara?"  Changyu asked. 

"Who said I am not?" He got busy with chopping some veggies and when he went to stir something on the fire, she washed her hands, wore some kitchen gloves and continued chopping the veggies for him which surprised him. 

"Well, you looked sad." 

He sighed and lowered the heat he was frying with. 

"That's a given. She was all I had. I knew a day like this would come but I was not really expecting it any time soon." He admitted.

Changyu smiled as she listened to him. 

He was behind her and could only see her back so he did not see the grin on her face. 

'She was all I had' he had said. 

It meant now, he had more. Probably her right? Changyu tried to convince herself. 

"What are you smiling for?" He asked with a strange look on his face.

Changyu was startled and flinched back. She had no idea when he appeared in front of her, on the other side of the table. 

"Erm..well... She's a lady and all grown up now. It's normal for her to get married to the love of her life. Any you know CEO Li also loves her a lot."

"I know."

"It's okay. I'll continue chopping them. You should go freshen up for dinner. You know he'll be here soon"

 "I want to help out also. He's going to be our son-in-law remember?" 

Jianjun pursed his lips and said nothing.

"Don't give me that look. You don't have to worry about Sara. She's in good hands. You're also in good hands" She said before laughing at how cheesy it sounded. 

"What a weird woman" Jianjun shook his head before returning to the side of the fire. 

When they were done cooking, he had to literally force Changyu to leave the kitchen and go freshen up. 

It was not long before he felt a hand wrap around his waist when he was doing the dishes. 

Without turning around, he knew it was Sara behind him. "Stop playing around" he said in a neutral tone. 

"How are you dad?" She did not move away but instead, she rested her head on his back and with her hands still around his belly. 

"I am good. Are you done dressing up?"

"Yes. You should go freshen up. I'll do the rest." Sara left him and tried to pull him out of there but he refused. 

"Dad..." She pouted like a little girl but he still did not look at her. 

"I am happy you are going to get married. Don't think I am sad. It's just that I am used to having you around."

He took in a deep breath and sighed deeply. "It's a good thing he's taking this stubborn daughter away. Too bad I did not get the chance to teach you how to cook. I am just troubled he might send you back here for being a very lazy wife" He joked.

Sara chuckled before standing on her toes to give him a kiss on his cheek.

"I'm still here. You should hurry up and do something about mum. You have a nice company beside you. Stop being shy" 

"I am not being shy!" He shot back.

"Besides.. We are.. we are too old for all that" He said in an embarrassed tone.

"No one is ever too old for love. We all know you like her. You should do the right thing and keep giving her some nice kisses" 

Sara puckered her lips and released a smack sound. 

"You're being naughty." He laughed before turning around to wipe his hands on his apron. 

He looked at her for the first time and smiled proudly.

She was dressed in a gown he had never seen her wear before. 

It was a simple and short blue gown. Her hair was in a bun and her face had little make-up.

On her neck was a little necklace with her initials on it. And on her earlobes, were two pretty little earrings.

"You'll make a really beautiful bride" He complimented.

"I thought so too" She added proudly. 

"They are here" Joreen informed Changyu and Sara who were having a private talk inside the room. 

"They?" Sara asked herself in confusion. Muchen had not told her he was bringing anyone else. 

As both women stood up, Sara remembered to add..

"He knows you are my mother. So you should not act out of character and act freely" She said to Changyu before they both went to the sitting room. 

They saw Muchen and Heya talking to Jianjun while the ever joyful Cixi was just standing by the side saying nothing. 

Heya's eyes widened when she saw Changyu come out from the room with Sara. She wondered what the woman was doing there. Was she that really close with Sara?

After greeting her, she turned to look at Sara.

"Congratulations sis" Heya said with a smile before hugging her. 

She had been so excited the moment Muchen told her he proposed to Sara and she had agreed. He had even told everyone in the family about it and she was excited that Sara was going to be her sister-in-law. She could not ask for a better woman.

Muchen's heart skipped the moment he saw Changyu approach with Sara. He took in a deep breath before greeting her awkwardly as 'Mother'.

Heya was surprised when she heard it. What did he mean by mother? 

Did Changyu by chance adopt Sara?

Her eyes shone even wider at that thought but she still remained quiet and composed.

Dinner was quiet.

Once they were done, it was time for the proper talk. 

Muchen would never have believed it if someone had told him a year back that he would be so nervous while facing a small group of people.

He had faced and spoken to hundreds of people during conferences; young,old, foreign, local.

He was not even nervous when he met with potential investors who he expected to contribute billions in a project.

But right now in the presence of six people, his hands were sweaty.

This was the biggest business deal; He was asking for their precious daughter in exchange for nothing in particular.

Jianjun mostly threw questions at him since Cixi and Changyu were both quiet. 

"I believe Sara's mother and Aunt should have something to say. They are all part of this family"

"Sara's mother?" Heya asked out and looked at them in confusion.

"Did Miss Changyu really adopt Sara?" She asked aloud.

Jianjun explained that Changyu was Sara's real mother and for a minute, Heya was dumbstruck and dumbfounded. 

"Oh my God!" Heya quickly stood up and kowtowed in front of Changyu. 

"I am so happy for Sara. Thank you for being Sara's mother" 

Heya said genuinely with tears in her eyes. 

She still remembered the day her own mother had slapped Sara and how she kept saying Sara's family was not a reputable one. What a sweet slap to her mother's face this was!

"You're a sweet girl. I'm glad you're Sara's friend" Changyu said with a warm smile before getting up to pull Heya up. 

"We hope you treat Sara well. We can't ask for more than that" Cixi said with a smile.

She had practically watched Sara grow up so Sara was like her own daughter. 

At first Cixi had been quiet because she felt she did not deserve to say anything. But Jianjun signalled for her to speak and so she had to even though she still felt guilty about everything she had done.

"If you hurt her, the Wang's will come for you. We might not be very rich, but we do not joke with our own." Joreen nodded in agreement to her mother's words. 

No one messed with a Wang.

It was time for Changyu to say something since she was the only one left.

"I don't really have much to say since I was separated from my daughter for so many years and never watched her grow up."

Changyu said sadly. 

She felt even Joreen had more right to say something than herself.

"You are still Sara's mother. And your consent matters a lot to us" Muchen added modestly. 

And he regretted saying those words. Because he had no idea what was coming for him. 

Changyu crossed her legs before going into character. 

"So why do you think I should give my precious daughter to you?" She asked.

"We all know you are a CEO and all that. But that does not guarantee that you are a nice person or that your family would treat her well. Why should I allow my precious daughter into your family? What's so special about you? Because you are a CEO? Anyone can be a CEO... Even Sara would be one soon.."

There was total silence immediately she was done with her questions. 

Everyone shifted uncomfortably, even Muchen looked at her in shock. 

Sara's jaw dropped as she continued to stare at Changyu who resumed throwing questions at him.

Chapter end