394 Two years (2/2)

Jeremy did follow her. His shoulders still dropped and he lost the smile. How could he not be sad when his love refused to marry him?

Even when they got into the car, none of them spoke. Ryn took out her phone and dialed Mei Li's number. She needed to inform her manager that she was on the way.

Jeremy, on the other hand, was still thinking about his failed proposal. Although he was driving the car to the agency, his mind was full of what went wrong with his proposal just now. Was it because he did not prepare a bouquet of flowers? Or because it was lunch? Should he propose during dinner? Candlelit dinner with a romantic violin playing in the background?

Would it be too common?

He sighed. He thought Ryn did not care about this whole thing as long as he proposed. She would gladly say yes and they would begin their life as an engaged couple. He let go of his right hand from the steering wheel and touched the velvet box in his pocket.

*~*~*~*

”I have listed the betrothal gifts,” Mrs. Long said proudly as she showed the A4 paper to her mother-in-law once the Dowager arrived home.

”Let me see,” the Dowager put on her reading glasses and read the list silently.

Mrs. Long watched nervously. Would her mother-in-law approve of her list?

The Dowager finally put down the list. She reached for the cup of hot tea and drank it slowly.

”We have two days to prepare,” she said after she drank the whole cup in three graceful gulps.

”Two... two days?” Mrs. Long choked out. She reached for the list and gulped. Maybe... maybe she was being too adventurous when she started to write the list. Would they have enough time to prepare everything?

”You don't have to prepare everything. Bring another set of gifts for the parents. The betrothal gifts can be sent during the engagement day. Just bring the list so the in-laws can check,” the Dowager decided.

Mrs. Long sighed in relief. She was glad that her mother-in-law did not insist on preparing everything, especially the jewelry she had her mind in. She needed time to get them anyway. Two days was not enough.

”This evening you will follow me to choose ginseng and bird nest for the in-laws. Also, go check what hippy eats. I don't want them to think we are not respecting them,” the Dowager hit the floor with her cane. Why was the couple still insisted on being a hippy? Does being vegetarian must be a hippy? She then stood up and walked to the stairs, ”When will the elevator get repaired?”

”The men will come later. I have insisted for them to give us a discount,” Mrs. Long said quickly.

”You should. How could a newly installed elevator not working after a week?” the Dowager again thumped her cane angrily. They just installed the elevator to make it easier for the family to move around the mansion but it ended up went broke just a week after. Of course, she would be very-very-very angry. They spent a lot to install it.

”Remember to be here at 4. Inform the store we are coming,” the Dowager said before she climbed up the stairs.

”Yes, Mother.”

Mrs. Long took a sip of her hot tea before signaled the maid to clear the table. She then waved her hand for the butler to follow her as she went to the elevator. She grumbled under her breath as she looked at it.

”Call them again and confirm the time they're coming. Make sure this thing works perfectly by tomorrow,” she told the butler.

”Yes, Madam.”

Mrs. Long gave the broken elevator a last look before she went to her bedroom for a short nap. She needed to gather her strength for the 'shopping' this evening. Her mother-in-law would spend hours choosing before she made up her mind.

The butler quickly did what was ordered while checking the maids did not fall on their job. He also went to the kitchen to discuss with the Cook.

”I heard that Old Madam went to get the auspicious dates for Young Master,” the Cook said hurriedly as she nodded at the result the maid found for her on the internet. She decided to make croissants from scratch for the tea. Although the maids told her it was complicated to make, she believed with a recipe, she could do it.

”We will have our meeting today after they go out,” the butler told her. He signaled one of the maids to inform the others.

”Ah... I guess we have a lot of things to do,” the Cook rubbed her hands full with anticipation.

”Yes.”