The corner of his mouth twitched, amusement, or disdain, she couldn't tell. "A bold strategy. Most people would be nervous, meeting me for the first time."
"I'm not 'most people.' " She leaned back, crossing one leg over the other, the red of her corset blazing like a challenge between them. "You wanted to meet me. That means you need me. Which puts me in the position of power."
His gaze flicked down, briefly, at her trousers, her posture, her deliberate defiance. Then back to her face. "Is that what you think?" he murmured.
The waiter slipped in quietly with a tray of pastries and tea, head bowed so low he was practically invisible. The food was set between them like an offering at an altar before the waiter vanished again.
Yunyin plucked up a pastry, broke it neatly in two, and took a bite. "I don't think.." she said around the delicate crumbs, "I know."
Liang Xiyuan didn't respond immediately. He simply watched her eat, utterly composed, like a king indulging a court jester's performance. When he finally spoke, his words were quiet but sharp.
"You're beautiful, Miss Han. And clever. But beauty fades, and cleverness can be dangerous if not reined in."
She dabbed her lips with a napkin, her smile as sharp as broken glass. "Then it's a good thing I've built an empire on both."
For the first time, his lips curved into the faintest, most unreadable smile. "Perhaps this won't be so dull after all."
Their eyes locked across the table, fire and ice colliding in a silence thick enough to cut. Yunyin leaned forward, sliding the folder across the polished surface toward him.
"My terms."
He placed a hand on the folder, but didn't open it. "You came prepared. Impressive."
"I don't gamble with my life."
"And yet you agreed to marry me."
The air between them snapped, tense and electric. She met his gaze unflinching, her heart steady, her mind sharper than ever.
"I agreed to meet you.." she corrected softly. "Marriage depends on whether you sign."
Liang Xiyuan studied her for a long moment, then finally opened the folder. His calm expression never wavered as his eyes scanned the pages. Clause after clause. Career autonomy. Financial independence. Mutual respect.
Most men would have balked. Most men would have scoffed. He only looked up at her, utterly calm. "You've thought of everything.." he said at last.
"Of course I have. If you have any terms I'll be sure to listen to it. But just so you know, the marriage is simply contractual.."
Yunyin's brows arched, but she said nothing, only motioned for him to continue.
"The reason I'm marrying.." he began, his voice low and measured, "is simple. I need an heir. Let's just say a child is need to keep my position. And the mother of my child should be the most exceptional, the most beautiful woman in Asia. And that, Miss Han…" His gaze lingered on her, steady and unflinching. "…is you."
Her breath hitched, just slightly, almost imperceptibly but she covered it with a cool sip of tea. "Flattery, Mr. Liang? I thought you weren't the type."
"It's not flattery. It's true." He leaned back, hands folding neatly. "When you get pregnant, I won't interfere with your career. You may continue working. But you will adjust your schedule as necessary.."
Yunyin twirled the porcelain cup between her fingers, eyes narrowing. "How considerate. The great Liang Xiyuan, giving me autonomy over my own body. Should I applaud?"
He ignored the jab. "Secondly.." he continued, his tone sharpening, "I don't want to see you with another man. Handling scandals is a hassle ."
Her laugh rang, bright and mocking. "And here I thought you were marrying a model. What do you expect me to do? Cancel photoshoots? Refuse male co-stars? Hide in a tower until you summon me? Because I'm raqunzel and you're mother gothel.."
-_-
His gaze darkened, but his voice remained calm. "Professional obligations, I can tolerate. Anything beyond that, I cannot. I trust you can tell the difference."
The smile slipped from her lips.
Something about the way he said it—so calm, so final—made it clear this wasn't negotiable.
"Third.." he said smoothly, "late-night parties. You may attend, but only until nine. No exceptions, whatsoever."
She gaped at him, incredulous. "Nine? Are you serious? Do I look like a grandmother to you?"
His expression didn't flicker. "I dislike reckless indulgence. You are free to defy me, Miss Han. But every action has consequences."
Yunyin leaned back and sighed, she had no issue with his demands.
But the fact that she had to get pregnant.
"Can't we hold off having a kid for at least 5 years?.."
Pregnancy wasn't good for her career right now, getting pregnant basically meant she was retiring.
"Why? If it's a decent reason then I might reconsider it?" Xiyuan sighed, taking a sip of tea, he was only here listening to her demands because he needed to have an heir with her. If she didn't want to have a kid then he'd have to find a different woman.
"You know, pregnancy changes the body, stretch marks, back pain… and as a model my body's supposed to be flawless.."
Xiyuan didn't say anything for a while, he understood where she was coming on.
He sighed and stood up "Then we shouldn't get married. As I said earlier, I need a kid, and since you're not ready. I'll find a different person."
Yunyin hissed, was a child an item that he could casually use and dispose off?
"You do realise you'd have an actual child right? A human being? The fact that they're just a medium for you to inherit some company…just irks me."
Xiyuan smiled, placing his hands in his pocket. "That may be so. But that doesn't mean I won't take care of the child when they arrive? I'm 35 years old, I'm also under a lot of pressure here. So what do you want me to do? Fact remains, I need a kid, and if you can't agree to that term, then this is goodbye. Miss Han.."
Yunyin sighed, biting her lips, would having a kid even damage her career more than it's already become? They're already urging her to retire, apparently she's too old to be a high fashion model now..
"You can have a seat. I'll agree to your terms.."
Xiyuan stared at her, for someone so put together, it seems her desperation was finally starting to show.
"What made you change your mind?"
Yunyin's eyes lowered as she took a sip of the tea, she stared at him back, a cool smile on her lips.
"The industry is so demanding, you know. I'm too old now to continue being a high fashion model, people are already asking when I'm going to retire. How cruel.." she placed the cup down. "I used to like this job.."