Chapter 176 - Arranged Marriage

"You have embarrassed me, mother." Liam groaned as he ran his hand over his face, sighing deeply.

Mrs. Xia smiled as if she didn't hear what her son had said.

"Oh, Liam I was just trying to help"

"Help?" Liam asked slowly, watching his mother's expression closely as it contour from scheming to a knowing smile.

"Yes. I know you like her and I saw you blushing. I'm your mother, Liam you can't lie to me."..

Mrs Xia winked at Liam. Liam scoffed at his mother.

"What did that stupid Lucas tell you. I will kill him when I see him!"

Mrs Xia chuckled and changed the subject.

"Have you eaten yet? Let me cook for you."

Liam shook his head. He was about to have lunch when he was asked by Lei Zhao to meet him.  Liam sighed. He knew Lei Zhao was worried about Ying Sheng so he didn't mind his interrogations.

Mrs. Xia walked to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. She narrowed her eyes when she saw the ingredients stocked in the fridge.

She knew her son couldn't cook so she sends him food every week or comes personally to cook for him. 

"Have you learned how to cook by yourself?" Mrs Xia said surprised.

"No, I can't cook. Ying Sheng does the cooking."

Mrs Xia nodded. She wasn't expecting the rich heiress to know how to cook. Good thing, she didn't listen to rumors about Ying Sheng. 

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Twenty minutes later, Liam sat opposite his mother bringing his plate towards him. His mother had prepared his favorite noddle for him. A smile graced his lips as he dug in his food 

"So how is work?" Mrs Xia asked as she twirled her fork into her plate before bringing it to her lips.

"Good." He replied with his head still buried in his food.

Mrs Xia frowned slightly. "I hope you are not overworking Liam. You're still young and should be enjoying life. If you decide not to work for the rest of your life, our family money can sustain you and your great great great grandchildren. Why do you insist on working hard?"

Liam inwardly groaned. Not this conversation again. His mother has always been against him building his own company and working at this age. She said he was too young and should be enjoying life. 

While some parents wanted their child to be responsible and avoid trouble his mother was the exact opposite. That's why his brother was so carefree. When they were growing up their mother told them,

"Have fun. Do anything that makes you happy. If there is a mess, I will be there to clean it up."

Who would say that? His mother. His parents were so different but somehow they worked together.

"I'm fine,mother. No need to worry. Didn't you tell us to do anything that makes us happy? I love my job and it makes me happy."

Mrs Xia snorted  but said nothing as they ate in silence. Mrs Xia picked and placed the dirty played into the sink .

"Actually, the Gu family came to seek a marriage alliance. They wanted us to merge our real estate business together in a business marriage."

Liam stiffened and widened his eyes. The Gu family and the Xia family had been friends for a very long time so everyone knew a business marriage was inevitable but….

"They wanted you to marry their daughter since you know...your brother has quite the reputation."

Liam's mind went blank and he couldn't hear anything his mother said again. 

'Marriage?' If Liam hadn't met Ying Sheng, he would have married the young miss of the Gu family. After all, he knew it was his responsibility as his father's son but now….

His love story hasn't even begun but it was already ending.

"Hey, Liam are you listening to me?!" His mother's harsh voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Please don't tell me Dad agreed." Liam mumbled.

Mrs Xia forced a smile, "I'm sorry Liam….."

Liam's face paled and he felt like his soul had been sucked out of him.

"No. I don't want to marry the young miss of the Gu family."

Mrs Xia  eyes flickered with amus.e.m.e.nt but she quickly masked it.

"Why, Liam? You don't have a girlfriend or anyone you like why don't you want to marry her. She is pretty, classy and intelligent too. You would first get engaged first and when you turn twenty-five you guys would get married."

Liam shook his head aggressively. "No, no I already like someone else." Liam said clearly irritated.

"Who?" His mother asked in disbelief.

"Ying Sheng!"

Liam stiffened when he realized what he has said. This is the first time he has vocally expressed that he likes Ying Sheng.

"I like Ying Sheng and I won't marry anyone apart from her."

Liam and his mother stared at each other for a fleeting second before Mrs Xia busted into laughter.

Mrs Xia felt extremely happy and had tears brimming her eyes. She hadn't heard her son refused their request before nor has he vocally expressed what he wants. He bottles everything inside him and never argues about anything.

But today he didn't only refused their request he vocally expressed his feelings for a girl.

Liam frowned when he saw his mother laughing. Shouldn't she be angry?

"Don't worry, Liam. Your father didn't know about Ying Sheng so he agreed.  He thought you couldn't woo a girl so an arranged marriage would be good for you. 

But Lucas convinced him last night and he gave you six months. He said if within six months you haven't been able to win Miss Ying or bring home any girl as your girlfriend he would arrange the marriage for you."

Liam sighed and rubbed his temples. It seems he owes Lucas one. If not for him, he would have lost Ying Sheng forever.

Mrs Xia patted his shoulders. 

"Good luck son. You have six months to make her yours, if not I'm sorry. You would have to marry the young miss of the Gu family. This is the arrangement your father made with the Gu family."