Married to his secret crush

''It's all done. Here, see this,'' Edward passed the files to her.

Li Shuang flipped through the pages. Her fingers paused, ''Please take a seat,'' she told him when she realized that he was still standing. Her mind was preoocupied with some random thoughts and she forgot to ask him to sit.

Edward chuckled, ''I am tired of sitting all the time. That's why I'm standing. We are going out anyway. Is there any need for you to be so formal?" he raised an eyebrow and placed both his hands on the desk.

Li Shuang raised her head to look at him. Edward was a handsome man and he looked especially charming when he smiled but she.... did not feel any 'butterflies' that her friends mentioned.

In fact, Yu Mei, Shi Luo and Mia gave her multiple tips to upgrade her dating life and those tips eventually ended up becoming '101 ways to Spice Up your Love Life'.

Even though she did not feel butterflies, she did not find anything wrong with it. After all, real life was not some fiction.

In the fiction, the leads have their lives centered around each other but she refused to accept that in her life. Why would she prioritise a man over her work and everything else? They would be partners, she would support him, be there for him and that should be more than enough.

''What are you thinking about?" Edward snapped his fingers in front of her.

''I was thinking about romance,'' she looked at him.

The corner of his lips twitched, ''Huh?"

''Maybe I should do a research on it in my spare time, what do you think?''

''But why?" he was speechless.

''You know why the deals work out perfectly when I work on them?" she asked.

Edward shook his head.

''Because I do my research on them. Simple,'' She gave him a 'how can you not know it' look as she continued, ''Back in University, I used to do my sample papers thrice before I felt like I was ready for the exams.''

''That sounds like something you would do,'' he said as he held her hand.

Li Shuang instinctively pulled her hand back. It took her a moment to realize what she just did, ''I didn't...''

''It's okay,'' he smiled and shook his head, ''You will get used to it over time.''

When she did not say anything, he spoke up again, ''So, shall we go on a date tonight?"

''Give me a moment,'' Li Shuang checked her schedules before she called her secretary, ''Postpone my last meeting.''

Edward was surprised, ''Are you putting your work aside for me?"

She nodded, ''To make it up to you. I might've come off as rude earlier,'' It was only basic that there will be physical contacts while dating someone.

Although they weren't official yet but since she was going out with him on dates, she should try to be more sincere towards him.

''I'll pick you up in an hour,'' Edward flashed her his signature smile before he winked and walked out the office.

Li Shuang leaned back on her swivel chair, ''This is going to be fine,'' she patted her chest.

She did not realize when she started drifting off from dating, relationships, physical contact...

She massaged her forehead. It was still fine initially because she had decided that she would never let a man in her life.

But now she changed her decision because of her grandpa and the only thing she hoped that she would not mess this up.

She did not want to meet any guy arranged by her old man. Edward was someone she trusted and he was a decent friend. The perfect match.

...

''How do I look?'' Li Shuang twirled in front of the mirror before she looked at her phone which was leaning on the large mirror desk.

Yu Mei nodded in appreciation, ''You've got the best genes from Uncle and Aunt,'' she said while looking at her sister who was dressed in an elegant navy blue 'BUSINESS SUIT' for the date. It accentuated her curves and her hair reached till her waist. She had soft makeup on her face, ''But consider wearing something proper for a date."

''They were both beautiful,'' Li Shuang promptly ignored her second remark as she thought of her parents. It had been a long time since she had the leisure to reminisce the past properly.

She missed them. When she accomplished something, she wished they were here to watch her.

Noticing her in a daze, Yu Mei cleared her throat and switched the topic, ''Not that. Pick a dark shade of lipstick.''

''How about this?" Li Shuang flashed a ruby red lipstick.

''That looks pretty. Put that on.''

Li Shuang finished her makeup and looked at her reflection in the mirror, ''Looks decent.''

Yu Mei rolled her eyes, ''Put on a smile first. What's with that poker face?"

''Why does everyone asks me to keep smiling?'' Li Shuang frowned, ''I need a reason to smile. People will call me crazy if I keep smile baselessly.''

''What do you know? A smile is your weapon to nail anything,'' Yu Mei rolled around in the bed.

''Is it?'' Li Shuang raised an eyebrow, ''Mei, I'll call you later. Edward is calling me. Maybe he is here already.''

''Go ahead but make sure to change into something decent for the date,'' Yu Mei rolled her eyes before hanging up.

Li Shuang glanced at her reflection in the mirrow, ''Where do I look indecent?" She made sure to check her body for any improper skin exposure.

Not finding anything wrong with her outfit, she frowned, ''Why is my cousin so picky?" she wondered as she took the phone and walked towards the terrace before answering it, ''Hey.''

''It took you so long to answer the call.''

''Well, I was checking something,'' Li Shuang placed her palm on the glass pane as she looked at the sky.

''Actually, I am really sorry. I just realized that I have some urgent work pending. Shuang, can we postpone out date?"