Lei Zhengyang's fist lashed out, not particularly swift by appearance, but unstoppable. The middle-aged manager crossed his arms to block, deflecting the strike—but the raw power behind it was overwhelming. Even parried, the punch slammed into his chest.
He didn't spit blood, but the internal injury was undeniable, forcing him back three steps.
"Zhengyang, stop this!" Liu Weiwei's voice cut through the tension as she rushed forward. If she didn't intervene, the surrounding guards might swarm, and she couldn't bear to see anyone hurt—Lei or otherwise.
Behind her trailed Song Yingfei, her face a mix of embarrassment and fury. She'd hoped to see Lei humbled, but even Uncle Zhong, a man her grandfather admired, had been bested. She'd watched it all—how could someone Grandpa respected fall so easily?
Ignoring the crowd, Weiwei threw herself into Lei's arms, hugging him tightly. "Zhengyang, you came! I was so scared you'd ignore me," she said, her voice bubbling with joy.
Lei was at a loss for words. Did this woman really doubt herself so much?
"Of course I came," he replied, a teasing edge to his voice. "When a moth flutters to my flame, offering herself, how could I refuse? Weiwei, are you sure? This is a one-way road."
Weiwei snatched the bouquet of eleven roses, her face flushing as she grinned. "Since you followed my orders so well, I'll agree to be your girlfriend. Consider yourself lucky."
Despite the scuffle, the roses remained vibrant, their beauty accentuating Weiwei's radiant charm. The male executives of Tianding Group watched with envy, wishing they were the ones she clung to. The company's most coveted flower—second only to Song Yingfei—had been plucked. Their hopes were dashed.
"Let's go," Lei said, taking her hand. "We've got a date, and I've got you all day." Holding her as his girlfriend felt different, a tremor in his heart unlike the fleeting thrills of past flings. This was love, not just desire—a profound distinction.
Weiwei glanced at Song Yingfei with a pleading look. Yingfei was her boss, and skipping work without permission was risky.
Yingfei loathed Lei, but seeing Weiwei's blissful smile and cozy affection, she sighed. "Fine, take the day off. Go have fun."
"Thanks, Miss Song," Lei said with a grin, adding, "Your security team's impressive!" He whisked Weiwei away, her joyful laughter echoing behind them—a sound Tianding's staff had never heard from her before.
"Miss," Uncle Zhong began, but Yingfei cut him off. "Are you okay, Uncle Zhong?"
"I'm fine," he said. "But he's strong. No one would believe he's that Lei Zhengyang."
In that moment, Uncle Zhong realized the man with the sunny smile was none other than the capital's infamous troublemaker, Lei Zhengyang.
Yingfei didn't dwell on it, only sighing for Weiwei. Such a remarkable woman, choosing such a path. Love, it seemed, truly blinded women.
Downstairs, as Lei escorted the beaming executive president out, the receptionists gaped, speechless. This man was unreal—winning over Tianding's most popular president with just a few roses.
In Lei's sports car, he began introductions. "My grandpa's Lei Yunbao, my dad's Lei Chunping, my mom's Xu Miaoli—you met her yesterday. Dad's one of four brothers, with three sisters. I've got two brothers, so Mom's desperate for girls. Since she can't have more kids, she's banking on us bringing home wives."
Weiwei's heart raced. Meeting Xu Miaoli had hinted at the Lei family's prominence, but hearing Lei Yunbao's name confirmed it—they weren't just elite, they were a dynasty among dynasties.
She'd overheard friends dream of snagging a rich husband or marrying into a powerful clan. The Lei family was the pinnacle of such fantasies.
Weiwei had never dared imagine herself in such a world. It wasn't her ambition. Her ordinary background made her unworthy of the Lei family's stature. From chats with Yingfei, she knew how rigid these elite clans were about status.
"If this were ancient times, you'd be a little prince," she teased, her smile tinged with bitterness. She'd fallen for a man she wasn't meant to love—perhaps this was her fate. Gazing at his profile, she exhaled softly, clenching her fists. She'd seize the present and ignore the future.
Lei chuckled. "No need to be nervous. My family's a riot. Grandpa's got a stern face, but deep down, he's a kind old man."
If Lei Yunbao heard that, he'd be thrilled. He'd never thought of himself as kind, always ruling the Lei family with an iron fist.
Weiwei leaned her head against his arm. "Zhengyang, I love you. I really do. When we parted in Tianhai, it broke my heart. After three months in the capital, I realized leaving you was the worst mistake of my life. Zhengyang, no matter what happens, don't leave me, okay?"
Her love poured out like a flood, fierce and overwhelming. Lei felt its heat.
"I don't need forever," she whispered. "Just keep a piece of your heart for me always, and I'll have no regrets."
Her sudden, raw devotion melted him. Slamming the brakes, he pulled her close, claiming her lips in a fierce kiss. His hand roamed to her chest, rough yet passionate, as if channeling his emotions into this primal act.
Far from resisting, Weiwei wrapped her arms around his neck, baring her heart to the man she loved, giving herself fully without restraint.
"I promise you," Lei growled. "From now on, you're mine. Everything you are belongs to me."
Beep! Beep! Angry horns blared behind them. In moments, a hundred cars were backed up. Weiwei, lips flushed and face rosy, glanced back, giggling shyly. "Drive, quick! They'll rip the roof off if we don't move. I'm yours—today and always. We've got time."
She loved this feeling. If not for the interruption, she wouldn't have stopped him from taking her then and there. His wicked grin sent her heart racing, too shy to meet his eyes.
So, even she could feel bashful.
Hand in hand, they roamed the capital's sights. At Heart Lake, a heart-shaped pool, the season wasn't ideal, but to lovers, every view was breathtaking. Weiwei's pouty lips, stolen by Lei's sneaky kisses, and her playful swats as she chased him, made them a charming spectacle for onlookers.
Weiwei was stunning, her love shimmering in every glance, a living masterpiece. Even Lei was captivated by her beauty.
In the afternoon, they visited the Wishing Well and the Lover's Tree—romantic haunts for couples. Wherever they went, they were the most striking pair.
Lei stood tall and handsome, his sunny demeanor softened by the tender care he showed Weiwei. She was a vision, her allure like a mysterious star in the night sky, drawing eyes with every glance. Her curvaceous figure, elegant and fiery, was pure temptation.
As Weiwei knelt devoutly at the wishing shrine, hands clasped in prayer, Lei watched, his thoughts drifting. This woman was his now, and the feeling was unexpectedly profound.
Before, women came and went with a wave of his hand. But Weiwei? He'd cherish her for life.
She returned, beaming like a blooming flower. "Zhengyang, I made a wish! The gods promised we'll be together forever, never apart. Yingfei says this place is magical—it's true, we'll never part!"
Lei smiled gently. Gods were just comfort, not truth, but he didn't argue. "Of course. Even if you wanted to leave, I wouldn't let you go."
Weiwei blushed, her voice soft and coy. "I'm not going anywhere."
In Lei's eyes, Weiwei was mature and rational, a self-reliant woman who'd carved her own path. Yet now, her gentleness was that of a teenage girl, her heart an untouched canvas in the realm of love.
Her strength was a facade; beneath it, she was fragile.
"I'll love you and protect you for life, Weiwei," Lei vowed. "Trust me."
"I do," she whispered, nestling into his arms. "I'll always love you quietly by your side, not asking for your gaze, only hoping you feel my love." Her voice turned shy. "Tonight, don't leave. Stay with me, okay?"